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[Junior]

Good pics Swoosh, wonderful report! Thanks.

[runner1960]

I was there Monday also. Got there about 9:00 A.M am and parked within spitting distance of stop 2. We followed the morning run down the hill to OR and had a 10 minute wait. This was my first ride on it and I was impressed. Total excitement from start to finish. The only disappointment I have is the length of the ride. It really takes them longer to load the coaster than run the loop. They were enforcing the locker policy in the morning. We then did walk ons on PK, WF and FITH. Saw the 11:30 saloon show and when we hit the exit you could tell the park had been hit with a surge. Did the train( ho hum )and the FM then hit some shops. Walked over to the BBQ and Bluegrass but decided to try Danna's after we left. We did do one more ride on OR and it stated they had a 45 minute wait. It actually took just over 30 minutes though. This time they were letting people walk on the ride with cups and backpacks and the same ride attendants that were there in the morning were placing the items on the barrels for people. I really do not like the no cubby hole concept, but just keep it consistent is all I ask. If I know the rules I can play by them. We made our way to the exit and had some great BBQ at the place I mentioned above. Kind of disappointed that Reeds Springs Pizza was closed Monday, but that just gives me a excuse to go back.

Branson as a whole for the trip was a little less impressive. A lot of empty real estate and it is really starting to look dated. I hope they get the new project to redo the strip on the fast track soon.

[sanddunerider]

didnt want to start a new thread..  SDC just announced on FB, they are extending hours this sat. will be open until 8:00!

[mhguy77]

I am supposed to be there this Saturday, they are also unfortunately calling for rain.
But many a time I have gone to SDC in the rain and had a great time.  Sometimes the rain lets up and the rides open and you find yourself in a very empty park with short lines.   I am keeping my hopes up.

[Junior]

I used to love rainy days on park. The crowd thins out, only the hardcore stay. Short lines, usually pleasant attitudes. Weather is cooler, you don't care if you get soaked on the water rides 'cause you are already wet. Memories. Ahhhhh!

[qwed94]

I have been to SDC in the rain-even-SNOW (urgh) and have had some of the best visits then. When I worked at SFSL, I always liked seeing the rain for the reasons mentioned. Mainly because it was cooler. Of course SFSL keeps the coasters running in rain. (Not in high winds or lightening-but rain doesnt shut down rides there). So basically the park didnt really slow down that much in light rain. In a downpour-the place was empty.

Go ahead MHGUY you will still have fun.

Only thing keeping from SDC is lack of funds after a long slow spell at work. AND on a good note. My DW has to babysit 3 kids Sat. I hate that, but it is much needed money right now Soooooo. I will be 3 hours away from SDC this Sat.

[misskim]

We're back from a week in Branson. We spent three mornings at SDC and one at White Water.

Day 1 at SDC was last Sunday. We were there at park opening. DH and my two girls (I've got three teens... the boy isn't a rider) ran down to Outlaw Run and rode it. They were slowed down because on the tram in, the man said there were cubbies at Outlaw Run, so one of my daughters had kept her purse. Then at the ride they told her she'd have to lock it up. They would have been in the first train, but were scrambling for change for the locker when luckily my son and I walked up to watch them and she was able to pass me her purse. After OR, they went over to ride PowderKeg, but it was down, so they went over to Wildfire. Back to Giant Swing, a ride through the Lost River and then over to Grand Expo, where the swings weren't running so they did the ship. At this point, it was 11ish, so we headed off in search of food. We had some tater twisters and then stopped at one of the places up the hill and got some calico potatoes and some had chicken strips. We then floated through the Flooded Mine. Wanted to ride the train but the line was really long. Walked across the swinging bridge, stopped at the mill and bought some cinnamon bread. By that point, we were starting to get cranky and hot (and we were still wet from Lost River) and we were ready for some pool time... so we headed back to our resort and relaxed poolside.

Our second trip was on Tuesday. We arrived for Season Pass Holder Ride Time. I used our BAF for a coworker and her family (it was their first time in Branson and her kids loved SDC). DH and girls were able to go in right at 8:30 and got 2 rides on Outlaw Run before I was able to exchange our BAF vouchers and get the rest of the group through the gates and down to Outlaw Run. We'd missed Thunderation on Sunday, so we went over so DH and the girls could ride that. Since the flooded mine was right there, we rode it and then went ahead and got in line for the train. We were on the first train of the day, then booked it over and were able to almost walk right into the Saloon Show. We waited maybe 2 minutes for them to open the doors. We really enjoy the return of this version of the show. It was the one we saw on our first trip 12 years ago and DH was the "cousin" that got to be part of the show. Of course, it was Jamie Haage as Bart back then. After the show, we decided we'd go over to the Ribhouse and eat some lunch because it's our traditional favorite place. We had some issues here. First, I asked if I could get just a sandwich. Yes, but I'd pay full price because they only sell the sandwich with one side. So I decided I'd just go grab a BBQ skillet for me and then get one with no pork for my vegetarian son. This seemed to be an easy request because I watched them serve the skillet and the pork was added onto the potatoes separately. I asked if they could hold the pork (and at this point, I was willing to pay full price) and I was told "not this year." So I walked back to my family, who was checking out and said something about the lack of vegetarian options. I was told by the cashier I could get roasted corn or a side salad. We ended up eating in shifts... dh and the girl had already ordered their food at the Ribhouse. My son and I got some chips at another stand... chips were cold, cheese sauce was cold and it was just a really bad experience. SDC accomodates something like 8 food allergies. I just don't see where it would be that difficult to make some vegetarian options with all their wonderful skillets. (We were able to get the calico potatoes without meat the day before up by the Flooded Mine.) I was irritated enough to write SDC to specifically ask about vegetarian options. I did get a call from customer service within 48 hours saying they had asked food services to list the vegetarian options and get back to me. That's been 4 days ago and I still have no email from customer service. My guess is that other than pure vegetables, they have few (the only one I can think of is cheese pizza at the new place... maybe spaghetti up at the place across from the Mill). I did make a few suggestions -- cheese and fruit packs, hummus and veggie packs -- that they could just keep on hand in the counter service places. We like to eat as a family and we often go to theme parks, etc. and we've never had this much trouble finding a vegetarian entree for my son. Anyway, by the time we managed to get everyone fed, we were all frustrated and the lines were starting to build so we decided to leave the park.

Went back one more time on Thursday. Everyone but me went in around 9 am and got in line for the cave tour. I went to Eva and Delilah's and bought a pecan roll and a pop and sat outside, people watched, and read my Kindle while they did the cave tour. I did it once a few years ago but I hate heights and I was terrified the whole time. When I finally got back up, my legs were so weak I could barely walk (because I'd been shaking the whole climb down and back up). I wanted my family to have a tour where they weren't worrying about me having a panic attack, so I sent them down. We were all thrilled with how it turned out. We left after their cave tour and headed back to the resort to sit by the pool some more.

Although I was really frustrated with the eating situation, we did have a good time. We'll be back during Moonlight Madness, and we can't wait.

[sanddunerider]

i heard today crowd was much smaller than the park expected, only had 12,000 people today.. heard they were hoping for over 15,000 with the extended hours..

[Duelist]

Just got back from three great days at  SDC:

Friday May 31st left central Ark at  7:15 and got to the City at noon.  Rode Flooded Mine first ( a tradition for us and if it's closed boy does that throw us off) then headed over to Outlaw Run.  The wait time was 20 minutes so we got in line.  As you can guess from my past posts I'm obsessed with the Old West so the theming suits me right down to a T!  We listened to themes from different westerns while waiting in line (I remember hearing "The Cowboys" "The Magnificent 7" and "Silverado").  As many have posted you can't really imagine the intensity of this ride by the commericals.  It's saying something when you realize the 160 ft 81 degree first drop is probably the mildest part of the whole ride- well except for the lift hill of course.  My Stetson's off to SDC for this one!  We then went over to Fire in the Hole for a quick ride then went and saw the Mean Murphy show at the Saloon.  I'm so thrilled they brought this show back.  Went to ride the train and bought 3 frozen lemonades and a large $6 popcorn to split between the 4 of us while waiting on the train.  Took daughter on Thunderation while wife and son rode Wildfire then we all went and rode Powder Keg.  Lines were pretty short for these rides.  Went and looked inside a few shops then had supper at the Lumbercamp.  Rode Fire in the Hole and Thunderation again then stopped to talk to a couple of employees.  One whose name will be withheld to protect the innocent and because I can't remember their name-LOL- told us the new 2015 coaster would replace the old Waterboggan tower.  Days 2 and 3 reports to follow...           

[sanddunerider]

Must have been a better day at the city today, sound like they had a little better crowd.!!  good for them, !! 

15,000 today!

best day in the last couple of weeks! and on a sunday!

[jmc75]

Was at the park Memorial Day weekend and had no issues with using a copy of my drivers and season pass laminated. It was actually very handy all day.

[sanddunerider]

Anybody been the last couple of weeks? how was everything..

I know the traffic count can't be what the PTB was hoping for..  they averaged 11,000 per day last weekend,  Friday and sat this weekend they had about 11,000....

AND only 6500 today (sunday).. Sure wish we were there today..only 6500, that would almost be empty!!

[Gilligan]

What's the average attendance this time of year?  Maybe 650 is typical.

[cocodane3]

I was just at the city this past Tuesday. Everything was awesome and the park looked great! From what I have heard the typical Projection for a Tuesday during the summer is 8,500. If I remember correctly they hit right around 10,500 or 11,000. Didn't get to stay the entire day cause I was with a bunch of killjoys that had never been there. They didn't want anything to do with the history or what makes SDC what it is... Such as the cave, saloon, FM, FITH, or the FSDL.

[sanddunerider]

gilligan, they expected 9000 on sunday, only had 6500.

You know they are expecting bigger number with a new 10,000,000 coaster!!