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[runner1960]

The digital clocks do not bother me at all, and I have been visiting since the early 70's. I just wonder if they might be moving toward creating a app. That will update attraction wait times on your wireless device.W DW has this and it is very useful when in the parks.

[Joy]

Yeah, I used the Lines app from the author of the Unofficial WDW guide, and yeah, having a waiting times app is extremely helpful.

[Swoosh]

Let's just say that digital clocks are/will be popping up in other locations and leave it at that

[shavethewhales]

Sometimes the conversations we have on this site with regards to themeing/atmosphere/modernism/etc. remind me of the art class I was forced into in college where everyone argued over the merits of various artworks, each with their own unique approach. SDC has a uniquely broad spectrum of visitors, each of whom bring their own ideas into the park that effect how their experience is developed. I certainly still sympathize with the crowd that points out the modern deviations of the park from the original vision, but at the same time I am continually impressed that the modern corporation that is HFEC is still putting so much effort into theming and the overall experience.

Wish I had more time to follow this project recently and disseminate more updates, but school has been killer lately. Hopefully by the time the next big project rolls around I'll be a rich engineer who can afford to frequent the park and get updates.

[Zephon]

Tomorrow...the press will be here in the morning and given their first-hand Outlaw Run experience.  Then, in the afternoon, employees will have the opportunity to ride for the first official time (some employees have already ridden it)...YeeHaw...can't wait for 1:00 to roll around.

[oldsdcer]

Unfortantly, wife in hospital, my birthday present to myself of coming to the city on Friday is out. Have fun guys.

[Junior]

Other digital clocks around park? OK. But not in Miss Mary's Time. Oh yeah, it AIN'T Miss Mary's time anymore! 

[sanddunerider]

Zephon:  Good luck, HAVE A GREAT RIDE..

oldscdc: Sorry to hear about the wife, hope everything goes well for you both:

Junior:. Yep!, it aint Miss Mary's time no more..

[crash]

Ill be there today as well! Ill try and take some pictures if you all would like. I think today will be a great day!

[underdog]

Junior, I'd like your thoughts on why you think Silver Dollar City (and perhaps theme parks in general) seem to cut corners and get rid of a lot of the "extras" that they use to have. Is it because our economy is bad? Increased competition with other theme parks? The fact things like the internet and digital home theaters with direct video streaming are all new attention-getters that create entertainment competition for our limited free time that didn't exist before? I also think Silver Dollar City sees spending more money on bigger, more elaborate rides goes before the little things. Sometimes it's those little things like live shows at long lines that makes a visit memorable verses a state-of-the-art new ride.

Chittlins:  You are remembering some of the line entertainment, done by the employees to entertain and keep visitors minds off the fact they were standing in line. The diving bell had tug o war, the toss test, Ozarks bathing suit contest, turtle races, and the Juniors told jokes, sang songs, and visited with guests. FITH had the bucket brigade where visitors passed buckets full of water down the line. The warden at Flooded Mine would carry a short night stick and smack it on the railing at the the loading area, creating a loud bang which scared folks and made them laugh as he explained rules for the mine. The fishing guides at the float trip told jokes about "the mighty James River, 8th wonder of the world, the only river to run in a complete circle!" It was a fun time. I was stationed in Grandfathers Mansion in costume, would follow people through the halls, put a light on my face in a two way mirror to scare folks, and so on. I do wish they would revive the line entertainment, it would be fun for all.

[mammalone]

Man I am getting excited. From what I've heard it's a ride experience like nothing else. My buddy gets to ride this afternoon, then my turn Friday morning! Swoosh, I'll be lookin for ya so I can come say hi.

[sanddunerider]

Pics and comment all over the place on Facebook.!!!  Lots of people riding today!!

[underdog]

Here are a few sneak peak pics from the first rides on the coaster! Hope you enjoy.

[shavethewhales]

I'm watching the initial reactions and reviews come in from TPR and the like. It looks like Outlaw Run has lived up to the hype. I'm trying to hold off on watching the POV's for now until I get a chance to ride it.

[Junior]

Theme parks are like any other big business, they reflect the times they are presently in. In the early '60's, SDC had more of a western theme, because during that time westerns were big...Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rifleman, and so on were all on TV getting huge ratings. In the later '60's, the theme was tweaked to Ozark mountain village. That's the way things continued until about the early to mid '90's. The arts and crafts were huge in the '70's and 80's, but by the mid '80's public interest in arts and crafts and the back to the land trend was fading. The Herschend Brothers retired, and left things to hand picked corporate successors. SDC polls visitors constantly, and will follow suggestions made by their visitors because they want the visitors to return again and again. The SDC of my childhood was different from the SDC I worked at, and SDC today reflects the modern trends and times we live in. No wonder Facebook logos and electronic clocks are popping up on park. These are things that serve the public today. That's want the young folk today respond to. The reason there have been big cutbacks in the Hatfield/McCoy stuff, street entertainment, line entertainment, and SDC employees as "citizens" is because of cost. When I was at the diving bell, it took two full time maintenance men, a lead man, a second lead, and eight to twelve people to play Junior. That is labor intensive. That costs money. Also, technology changed in that time. The company that supplied the computer controls for the diving bell went out of business about a year or two later, causing maintenance to have to search far and wide for replacement parts. There used to be attendants that entertained at the treehouse, Grandfather's Mansion, and line entertainers at each attraction. You don't see much of that anymore because it is a big cost. I remember the music shows of the 1970's in Branson. There were parking lot attendants, ushers, concessions, gift shop and ticket shop support personnel, as well as the stage crew and cast. Go to most shows today and there are few, if any parking lot attendants, few if any ushers, a couple of folks in the concession opposed to the six to eight in the concession during my day, only one guy working a cash register in the gift shop. They have cut back because of cost of operation. A theme park is essentially a shopping mall with rides and shows. The rides and shows pull the public in, the merchandise shops and restaurants and concessions make the money. Hey, at SDC you can pay to park, pay to go to the front of a ride line, pay for many services that didn't exisit or that were free in years past...cause making money is what it is all about. As much as you may hear me gripe about how things have changed from the old days, SDC does what it does in order to turn a profit and to bring in repeat and new business. Even though some of the old character of the park is now part of the romantic history of a bygone time, enough of the flavor of the place still exisits to make it a superior experience to many other theme parks. I am a season pass holder. Five generations of my family have visited SDC and we will go back. My complaints...and they are minor ones really...do not outweigh the fact that SDC is still an outstanding, great experience for families, and I encourage all to visit as much as possible and enjoy your day. Memories worth repeating, for sure! God bless and enjoy the new 2013 season!  

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