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Looking for a clean, quiet hotel near SDC (the closer the better but preferably not on 76) that has true, suite-type rooms, with a bed (or beds) in one separate room and a living area, kitchen and sleeper sofa in a separate room, hopefully for under $150/night.  Not wanting an enlarged standard room.

Thanks.

This is a good overview of what the FM was.  When you're no longer a kid, you begin to see things through more cynical eyes.  There were a lot of signs and visual clues in the FM (e.g. the canaries) to show the theme that things were "out of control and getting worse".  If I recall correctly, there were (decades ago) a couple of cast members in the guard house to the left as you enter the ride.  They would interact with guests that were arriving into the queue (something that's sorely missing from SDC today).   The addition of the arcade/shootout element, along with overall removal of various scenes in the ride, really took the wind out of the sails of the FM.

The theme has always been a flooded mine operated by prisoners.  Before the shootout was added, the scenes were timed to the oar cars arrival in each area.  The saw blade disconnected itself and hurled toward you and the lights would go out as it got to the edge (Can you here the saw sound any more?).  The dynamite went off and the water rushed in as a strobe light added to the effect (I'm gettin' outa here no matter what!).  My favorite part was the canaries.  The first canary had a sign to explain that its being alive meant there were no dangerous gases escaping.  Further into the mine, a second canary hung upside down from its perch (subtle with no sign of explanation).  There were no guards in the mine, and I think the riders were actually supposed to be the ones recruited to help as all the prisoners were attempting to escape the flooded mine.  It was a pretty cool ride actually before the laser sounds and digital guns were added.

Finally.  I'm glad there's a forum for SDC.

I've probably visited SDC a dozen times over the last 35 years or so.  Now that we live closer (St. Louis) we usually try to visit once or twice a year.  We're planning another trip in early October.  Does anyone have any info on what days are most crowded?  I know Hwy. 76 usually gets pretty heavy on weekends, especially during the summer and holidays. I would assume that Saturdays are busiest, followed by either Sunday or Friday but this is all speculation on my part.  Anyone know for sure?

Thanks.