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[Swoosh]

Was there Saturday and honestly had a great day until Moonlight Madness started.  There was a huge influx of people then that either used free passes or the reduced admission then.  Add into the fact that Powder Keg had been down since 2PM and the fact that they were using a very extreme skeleton crew across the park, SDC was rather overwhelmed.  Lines for food were up to over and hour.  WildFire for some reason refused to open its inside queue line area so the line stretched up to American Plunge.  TNT had a line through the extened queue in the station down the stairs.  Grand Expo area rides all had lines filling their queues.  American Plunge had a line down out the entrance to the furniture store, but wouldn't open the extended queue line either. 

Oh and when PowderKeg reopened at about 9pm, the line for that swelled through the entire queue and the line was down to the entrance arch down near the Saloon area.  It was well over 2 hours wait.

While I did not mind the lines for the rides, the lines for the food got under my skin.  'specially the at Lumbercamp.  The lady taking orders was slow as molasses.  Then on top of that she had the nerve to whine she had been there since 11am to everyone in line. 

The event is getting there , but I think they still have a ways to go before they have it to "SDC level".

[themeparkguy]

Our the rides running at max capacity or just one train per coaster?

[Swoosh]

TNT - 2 trains
WildFire - 2 trains
PowderKeg - 2 trains

I honestly thought they should have thrown the 3 train on PK, but I doubt they wanted to press their luck since it had been down since 2pm.

[shavethewhales]

Geez, this is what I was worried about. Why would you start a promotion that's sure to draw immense crowds and then run everything at anything but max capacity? I thought they would have learned by now, but I guess they're making lots of money off the cheap passes and skeleton crew combo. I just wonder how many moonlight madness memories will be worth repeating.

[Swoosh]

Well I had a "Silver Dollar Day" until about 6pm and then it became a "Six Flags Day" the rest of the evening (in other words I was NOT "Lovin' it")

Also if they are going to do this event, they need to either install more lights for the pathways or put up the Christmas Lights earlier.  It is way to dark and a potential safety nightmare in some areas.

[rubedugans]

Seeing it both on Friday, and Saturday, I have no inkling to attend! If I want to see a roller coaster in the dark I will shut my eyes next time I ride Powderkeg so I can avoid the masses of people.

[themeparkguy]

Sounds like they need to committ to a full scale operation or they risk some repeat visit issues for the future.

[Firstvisit1967]

We have had issues with one of the ladies at the lumberjack camp.  She is not SDC stuff.



I would think they would want to do this right and build sales for next year.  My guess is that when they run extended hours they do not have the staffing hours to keep from running into overtime.  Many profits are lost when you start running time and a half.

[Swoosh]

Then I would say that the profits vs what it "costs" are not worth doing this a third year.

[Joy]

I say make it a summer-long thing to be open 'til 10pm (seeing as how CC is currently closed). Maybe the crowds won't be quite as big because people will have all summer to check out the park during those hours...

Or, I dunno, take some cues from WoF's schedule... I seriously think SDC could do well having night hours; I mean, if the Tracks and mini-golf and stuff can stay open 'til 1-2am, why can't SDC, as least during the summer, stay open 'til, say, 10pm Mon-Thu, 11pm or 12pm Fri-Sat, and perhaps 8 or 9pm Sunday...?

Sure, they'd have to do something more crew-wise, but perhaps they'd get good returns and it'd pay for itself in the end...

I'd say the thing that grated on me the most when I was there Monday was when my sis and I were walking back to her BF and my niece after riding Wildfire, and I suddenly heard "This Diamond Ring" starting to play in the park... At first I started to complain, but then checked my watch and saw it was 6pm and remembered about them playing modern music for the Moonlight Madness hours....

Yeah, didn't fly too well with me. It was just TOO WEIRD hearing Golden Oldies streaming through an 1880's mining town. I mean, honestly, I doubt any of the people coming to ride the rides would give a fig if they were to play thematic music instead of freaking Oldies....

*takes deep breath*

Okay, okay, I will calm down now... *shrugs sheepishly*

Yeah, I really wish the SDCFans members had creative control over the park. As a whole, they're doing okay still, but there are certain details that really need to be reworked...

Joy

[betamike]

I'm heading to SDC to see Aunt June this Thursday!!!  Yipeeeee!!!!   

See some of you around the City!

[betamike]

Awesome day in the City on Thursday. Hardly any lines and I got to meet Copper...cool!!

[Hatfield McCoy]

Took a trip with the wife and kids today.  Great weather for August!  When we arrived at the park, we got a parking spot at the top of old C lot.  I don't think I have ever had that good of a spot.  I felt like George Costanza and hated leaving such a great spot at the end of the day.

I have to say the new trams and system are starting to work out nicely.  I was skeptical at first, but they are a big improvement over the old green machines.  The tram operators and parking attendants were top notch today and greeted everyone coming into the park.  It was a nice touch.

We rode the water rides in the AM and were pleasantly surprised to be able to walk right on the Lost River and The Toboggan.  I hadn't ridden the Toboggan in years and was surprised at how fast it was moving.  The family laughed non-stop to the bottom.  I didn't remember getting that wet before either.  I couldn't have gotten more wet if I had jumped in Lake Silver. 

We had a great day.  We rode everything kid friendly (3 & 5) including two trips through Grandfather's Mansion.  My kids have discovered a treasure, as they absolutely love that place.  I only wish I could take them through the Tree house!

The only complaint is the one that seems to be becoming common.  There were a few of the citizens that not only don't want to be there, but actually despise their jobs.  I've worked with the public in some much less interesting fields and know that it can be tough, and isn't for everyone, but I knew that going in.  These people are just plain gripey and shouldn't be sacking your groceries let alone "entertaining" you at a theme park.

Like I said we still had a great day, but here are a couple of examples.  Four teenagers were getting into a boat on the flooded mine and were excitedly trying to decide who was going to sit where.  They weren't jumping or yelling they were just discussing where to sit.  Suddenly the ride op bellows, "get in, sit down or get off the ride.  I know sometimes ops probably get tired of shenanigans, but the protocol should be "please have a seat boys",  or "for safety purposes I can't start the ride until you guys have a seat.....thanks".  However, when he starts out with the big guns he made almost everyone on the boats wonder who the heck this joker was talking to.  Another incident was in the candy shop.  My wife started to bring out her pass for the ten percent discount before she quickly remembered that that was only for the eateries, but before she could put her pass away, the comically cranky "semi-retired" guy shouts and I mean shouts with his hand in a stop position...."NO!"  I laughed and ask my shocked wife "what is he shouting about"?  Once again proper protocol should be, "sorry mam, but that is only for the eatieries".  How does any logical person think that shouting NO is going to have a posive outcome?  We took our final purchase ever from the candy store which was an over priced, tiny bag of fudge  and taffy fetching $12.70, and walked out of the store in amazement that this crankster was ever able to dupe someone in human resources into hiring him.

On a positive note, kudos to the young gal running the Lady bugs who smiled and laughed with all of the little kids who in turn laughed and waved at her during the whole ride.  I suggest they fire the cranky types that apparently were drafted to work at SDC without their consent, and give her a raise. 

[Firstvisit1967]

They can take the lady at the lumber camp with them.  On their way out stop by Molly's and pick up a couple of the lady's from there.

[sdcforever]

I don't think this has been brought up, but (sorry Swoosh, you'll hate this I wonder if some of the less than hospitable citizens might be due to the job market?  People lose their jobs and will literally take anything (I mean ANYTHING) to make ends meet.  Sure, you can try to weed them out in the hiring process, but if they really know the interview process they can sweet talk themselves into getting the position.  (I'm sure we've all done this to some extent).

Maybe if the job market is better next season there won't be so many inhospitable citizens.