^On the other hand, they could probably get much bigger crowds if they fully committed to being "Six Flags Branson" - but they'd be younger, spend less, and be less loyal as customers. The 'old crowd' is either already gone or is OK with all the new rides and increased prices. Kids like rides. Heck, most of us like the rides. They do a ton of market research and see what sells tickets, and obviously its rides. People say they like the crafts, shows, etc, and they do, but what really moves tickets right now is the coasters.
It's still differentiated by the theming, location, and festivals, but there is always competition when rides are the biggest draw.
All that said though, it's getting more expensive along with everything else, people have less room in their budgets, and there's more competition than ever for entertainment dollars. Branson will remain a tourist hotspot however, so I expect WOF/SFStL to suffer more than SDC in a short term economic crunch.
A lot of SDC guests visit while on vacation in the area and may only stop in for part of the day over the course of staying in Branson for several days. It used to be easier to hop from SDC to Branson to catch a show. With the park growing so much, it's harder to get in and out, not to mention the prices are so much higher now so you have to stay longer or visit more often for it to be worth it. I wonder if there'll be an inflection point where some people see it as too much hassle or money. Of course, adding a resort will make it easier for some...
It's the issues that come up on crowded days that are probably the biggest threat right now. SDC basically has two modes: dead or super crowded, and when it's super crowded their operations are hit and miss. They definitely need more staff and it's something they are working on. Let's hope 2023 is a smoother year all around.
