Old Time Christmas at SDC

themeparkguy · November 06, 2009, 06:49:30 PM

Just let me say- last year on the 21 of December when the actual temp. was 18 and the pipes in molly mill's were bursting- nothing was operating.

Copper · November 08, 2009, 11:17:05 AM

I remember when it was bone chilling last December. FITH tracks froze and had to close. FITH hardly ever closes.

U Smell Smoke · November 14, 2009, 10:09:40 AM

I guess I can (barely) see only running Powderkeg on Saturdays in December while school is in session, but during the school holidays when more kids are at SDC they need to have it running. Using their attendance argument, they should probably shut down Wildfire too. I don't see a tremendous amount of seasoned citizens on that ride either. Then they could argue the Barn Swing and Thunderation ought to be closed. I hope the Powderkeg closing is not a trial balloon to see what reaction SDC gets before making other closures. Oh the slippery slope......

tinmann620 · November 14, 2009, 09:49:16 PM

The weather was beautiful today, so it was NO surprise that ALL parking lots were full at 4pm. A great, but crowded day, the longest lines were for the train (the one I was on broke down), all the way up to were you get your xmas ornaments, and the opera house had lines running up the hill to Honey Heaven. Powder Keg has been running all weekend, the past 2, by the way...

U Smell Smoke · November 15, 2009, 08:23:01 AM

That's good to hear about Powederkeg. But their closure announcement for it only mentioned December and not November.

StaceySue · November 15, 2009, 02:13:20 PM

I agree with Tinmann, it was a beautiful day. We were there from a little after 12 until about 8:30. If we didn't have the baby, they would've had to chase us out at closing. We did most everything we wanted. We were warm all day. I wore a short-sleeved shirt until about 8 when I put my sweatshirt on. We saw Dickens, a must-see for us. We rode Wildfire in the afternoon--walk-on. We rode Powderkeg at dusk--about a 20 minute wait for the front seat. We always skip the tree-lighting, but we watched the 7:00 parade across from the Culinary School. I'd been to the baby care center in the area, then I sat with the baby in a rocking chair on the Culinary School porch. My family saved us a spot across the street. We had two sets of grandparents with us. After the parade, we rode the train--about a 3o minute wait. We then gazed at the tree for awhile. When we left, we had the shortest tram line--stayed at Deer Run so we were at tram stop 7. We passed by long lines to the other stops.

Towards dark, the park was busier than we've ever seen it for any reason. The beautiful day made it a great idea for many people. But, by staying at Deer Run, we had a stress-free visit, even with a three- month old. We never drove our car on property.

mbrownx4 · November 17, 2009, 12:23:04 PM

I have a question about the Saloon show. The fellow who is the leader of the group during the Christmas season-Choctaw Charlie. He is always great, very entertaining, but I was wondering what he does the rest of the year. Is he at the park in another position or what? I am just nosy I guess.

Joy · November 17, 2009, 05:50:48 PM

So Choctaw Charlie IS still around? I haven't seen the Christmas show since they changed the regular season show, so didn't know that Charlie was there for Christmas. I guess that explains why the show is still called "Choctaw Charlie's Frontier Follies"; I'd been wondering about that but never got around to asking.

Joy

KBCraig · November 18, 2009, 07:39:21 PM

They're sending a group around to promote OTC. This was on a Shreveport station:

http://www.ktbs.com/news/celebrating-the-holidays-branson-style/

Joy · November 18, 2009, 10:59:42 PM

I heard a commercial for OTC on the radio and just about cried. The boy they've got narrating parts of the commercial sounds like they're aiming for a "Tom Sawyer" voice. And darn it if it didn't grab my heart right where it's meant to...

Man, I hope things work out to be able to go for OTC this year!

Joy

kerrydale · November 20, 2009, 11:06:51 AM

The guy that plays Choctaw Charlie looks a lot like one of the guys in the Comedy Jamboree at Grand Country...I thought about that when my wife and I were talking about the Frontier Follies show earlier this year. I don't know if it's the same guy, but they sure look alike. Maybe that's what he's doing the rest of the year.

HollyAnn · November 20, 2009, 10:41:38 PM

Choctaw Charlie is Jae McFerron. He hosts the Echo Hollow show in the summer and is the funny man in the Comedy Jamboree.

mbrownx4 · November 21, 2009, 07:29:05 AM

Thanks to you two ladies for the answer. Now I want to see him in those two venues just to see if he's just as good there.

History Buff · December 06, 2009, 03:16:32 PM

Terry at Kringle's Krossing:

OzarkBred · December 08, 2009, 12:22:30 PM

I'll be visiting the park solo on Sunday, Dec. 20. They're open 1-9pm. I could use everyone's advice:

How early would you arrive in order to hit the gate running at 1pm?

What kind of crowds do they normally have on the last day before the Christmas holiday closure?

What are your favorite can't-miss holiday shows? I'll definitely hit the Dickens Christmas Carol.

Thanks!