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[Swoosh]

Looks like a horror movie.

[StaceySue]

Here are a couple more.  These are from my husband's phone.

[Gilligan]

Your pics are great.  Especially the one of the church in the haze!

[DeweyBald]

3/20:  Park was pretty crowded.  While in Heartlands, a citizen told me attendance was just above 15k.  Lines were long to nearly everything.  Rumor was OR line was 2-2.5 hours long.  I walked by to check it out and the line started just passed the new pizza joint,. so needless to say....I didn't ride it.  Took the 3:30 cave tour just to warm up!  Tour was full with several turned away.  On a sad note, while in the mill, I witnessed the guy filling the SDC corn meal sacks from a 50# sack of "corn meal" in the back.  That is certainly something you do NOT want to see.  To make matters worse, they were not even trying to hide the fact that their "ground corn from SDC's water powered mill" actually comes from a sack in the back.

3/21:  Despite the threat of snow and freezing temps, we went back to the city and it was pretty bare.  Never could get a firm number for attendance because every citizen I asked said "they haven't heard yet, but it's not much".  I doubt there was a thousand people there.  Streets were bare and we felt like we pretty much had the run of the park.  Kids rode OR and loved it.  I decided to face the cold watching the pickers in the cabin!  LOL  Snow started around 3pm or so and we headed back to the motel.  Snow continued and they received around 3-4 inches.  We were at the "SIX" show that night and at the end of the show they informed us to be careful on the way back to the motel because it's changed since when we got there.  On a funny note, when we reached our car, somebody had cleared our windshield for us by mistake no doubt, because ours was the only car with the windshield cleared!  A BIG thanks to whoever mistook our car for theirs!  LOL  Drive was slow back to the motel (Classic Motor Inn since Homestay isn't open yet), but the streets were clear the next morning.  Plows ran all night up and down the SotH Expressway and I can confirm because I woke up each time they went by! 

[How-doFolks]

8:53am - Sun. March 24th, my brother & his G-friend are the only ones at Mollys Mill, they were the first ones thru the turn-stiles. They are going to look for sanddunerider as we speak..

They were at the park yesterday & they got alil' cold & left after about 3-4 hours. They only got to ride Thunderation.

UPDATE as of 11:58.. My brother said they walked the entire park for afew hours & only saw about 8 guests, no rides we open because of the weather. They already left the park. He did not find sanddunerider.

[cjfootball_89]

Went to the park last Wednesday 3/20/13. We got there at about 9:45 and waited in the ticket line for a solid 30 minutes just to pick up our season passes. The ticket line was ridiculously slow; however, I did notice that some of the employees were standing around near the ticket booths exchanging guest vouchers so that season pass holders wouldn't have to take their guest up to the ticket booth. Once we got in the park at about 10:30 we went straight down towards Outlaw Run and noticed that the line was all the way past Crossroads, so we decided to just walk around a bit and see what all was new. I was able to get my first ride on Wildfire at about 12, before that everything (but Thunderation and FITH) was closed (because temperatures weren't high enough yet), including OR because of ride issues. There was such a large crowd in line for Wildfire that they had to queue us upstairs. That's the first time I have ever queued up there. After riding Wildfire I went over to Crossroads Pizza to eat. The pizza was good, but not the best. The service was terrible though. They have three different people filling three different pizza orders from three different lines. I sat and watched one lady continue to fill the orders in her line with out even caring about the other two ladies needing to fill their orders from their lines. I ended up getting my pizza after someone else who was farther back in the one lady's line. After eating I made it over to OR at about 2:30 which had a 120 minute wait. I timed it and noticed that it only took 80 minutes to get on. I rode in the back and it was AWESOME!!!!!!!! Easily a 10 out of 10! After riding OR i rode PK which had a 30 minute wait; then rode Wildfire and Thunderation which both had about a 15 minute wait. I finally made it over to FITH at about 5:30, there was absolutely no wait so I rode twice. They ended up extending the park hours to 7 so after about 5:45 the park was pretty much bare because most everyone had no idea they extended hours. I ended up getting 2 more rides on OR by the end of the night. Both those waits were about 10 minutes. Overall, it was an extremely busy day but I still got to do everything I wanted to. I got 2 WF rides, 1 PK ride, 1 Thunderation ride, 2 FITH rides, 3 OR rides, and I still managed to have time to do the Hi-Lo-Silos with my little sister!

Temperatures started in the upper 30s and hit about 47 around 3:00. Rather windy but still nice and sunny!!

Water rides were open and I did see some little kids on the Lost River and saw a family getting on American Plunge! Crazy people!!

[biscuitcreek]

Have been reading reviews here and on 1branson and Trip Advisor. There have been complaints about rides not running even though the temperature was above the stated temperature that rides would be shut down. Reviews have been mixed about Crossroads Pizza.  It seems as though more and more folks go to SDC every year during spring break yet it doesn't seem as though SDC is really prepared for the number of people who show up. Your thoughts? (Not sure if this is the right thread for this discussion.)

[Swoosh]

I think it is time for SDC to go ahead and do a full blown Spring Festival and be done with it

[DeweyBald]

I agree.  Actually, if I didn't have season tickets, I would have been pretty upset with last week.  Nearly all of the shops are closed and they only have two or three shows running.  If I were just a tourist that purchased a full price ticket last week, SDC would be bad memory.  SDC either needs to commit and open fully, or offer a DEEPLY discounted ticket price.

On a side note, I failed to mention those I saw on the water rides....CRAZY!  Saw several people on the Lost River get soaked and I really could not believe my eyes.  I about froze to death on TNT!

[qwed94]

We were there today (Sunday 3/24). Very dead. We left at 11:30 (or so). the attendence count I heard then was 100. There were still peeps coming in, so I imagine the final tally was more than 100, but I bet was less than 500.
We rode the train with the crew from Expostion area. About 12 people on the train including Wife & I.  We rode Flooded Mine twice. Walked the entire park. Spent lots of time talking to workers in different shops. We did go inside Crossroads Pizza. They just turned the ovens on. They was preparing to just close shop. We didnt eat there, but it sure did look nice. Brand new building and they couldnt get the doors to unlock. They had to push the bar to let us in. Walked up to OR area but never ventured real close to the shop or anything.  --  We wanted Pork Rinds, he was closed. Marys was closed. Ribhouse OPEN Lost River was running (WHY?)

Called "Sanddunerider" but he never returned. So I missed him too.  Anyway, We can meet up later this year I hope.
--On a good note, we didnt get snow. My Son called me tonite and said his snowfall was close to 10" (He lives north of I-70 closer to STL.).---Called Dad today (he lives 10 minutes from us South of I-44 closer to STL) he said maybe 3 or 4" on grassy areas, roads stayed clear.

Basically our Branson trip was great. Cold dont really bother Wife & I much. We came prepared. Hot Hot Hot really bothers us. We are planning on  May 4, but we will just see how that pans out.
--Well I guess i will get off here. going to hit the hay, and head back home tomorrow (Monday 3/25).

[U Smell Smoke]

I agree with Biscuit and Swoosh...it is time for SDC to be fully open for the spring.  Dollywood has everything up to speed from opening day and SDC should too.  I too have noticed how the spring break crowds continue to grow and it seems SDC is always caught off guard and unprepared.

[HikerDan]

doug, i think we could easily assune that the people that are posting complaints on the SDC FB page are just .............................WHINERS!!!!!.....................

And you can assume they really dont understand the whole SDC expierience anyway,,

Howdy sanddunerider.  While some folks complaining about things beyond SDC's control can be a little ridiculous, there are also legitimate grievances experienced by nearly anyone who visits this park fairly often.

SDC is a great, great place to enjoy many days through the year but the park does not operate without it's persistant faults, in my opinion. I don't feel the need to go into detail, but I've made more than a handful of trips to the hospitality house over the years, and have even written a few letters to the SDC brass from time to time explaining how my wife and I were less than satisfied with an experience in the park.


Sometimes our concerns were addressed by the folks at SDC and sometimes not. We still visit because we like the place in an overall sense, but we've also came to realize that certain things will never change in that park, so we just lower our expectations before our many visits.  Thus, we don't complain too much anymore.

[qwed94]

Well sometimes things really are out of SDC control.  Sometimes things have been addressed before and the powers that be at SDC may have decided that they will handle those problems in a certain manner NO exceptions.   SDC is a "public service business" (entertainment), at the same time they are a "for profit business".
Also consider that Customer Service "everywhere" isnt worth a grain of sand anymore.

Now consider this too. (I can say this since I worked at SFSL for a few years mostly in GR). Lots of guests will complain about "anything/everything" from getting "legitemently" injured to complaining about a child spilling a cup of ice in front of them.
I mean in this economy people will say/do anything they can to get a free ride. That is simply wrong on so many levels.  If a person truly deserves a kickback of sort, then please let him/her have it.  However sort out the BS and dont give in. ANYTIME there is a free "ride". Someone has to pay for that free ride.  And the person or (PEOPLE) that pays for it is "all-of-us" when prices increase.


I see nothing wrong with a "half-opened" park when temps are too cold.  I understand that cold temps DO affect the safety of some rides like "THE BOSS" at SFSL. Under 40 and the brakes work erradically. I know other parks including SDC have the same problem.

[sanddunerider]

1st of all, I aam sorry I missed meeting you all sunday.. we walked throuugh the turnsile @ 9:10 am, I was the # 10 visitor at that point..  headed to the main square and we sttod under the tent in front of the gazebo until opening ceremoney..

i was surprised they raised the flag in the snow and wind,. Was very odd we ere the only people on the square at that point.. we hung around fro a few minutes, but didnt see any one else in the immediate area..

Headed for OR area!  wanted to see it!  32 degress and windy at this point, but i wanted to see the area.

Very impressed with that whole area. pictures, and riding the train? NOPE dont do it ANY justice, you have to see it.!

Also i was very impressed with pizza,wax hands area,,  I will get 360 pictures next time.  (my camera decdied to take a vacation day sunday ..

of course over 1/2 the shops and concession were closed, so we said "screw it" and headed for the Gazebo to listen to the Sons of Silver dollar, just to find out they were cancelled as were the homestead pickers..

OH WELL!!  we are outta here!!  went to town for lunch and movie.. it will be nice in 3 weeks when we return..

i was told that at noon on sunday, they had only 224 people through the turnstiles

Last weeks attendence:
Wed........15,000
thursday:..1700...  17 hundred NOT thousand
Friday.......1400....hundred NOT thousand
Sat...........4,000

I will have PICS next time for sure,,

[qwed94]

Thats all right "Sand Dune".  It was about 9:10 when I called you. When we woke up Sunday my wife (who is diabetic), was low. We snacked a bit at the Motel till she started feeling somewhat better. Crooked roads really throw her ajar at times, especially when she is low or hungry. She decided the trip to SDC to eat at Mollys, wouldnt be good. We stopped at Golden Corral for breakfast.  Then waited for her food to settle and finally start feeling good.  It was about 9:00-9:15 when we left Golden Corral.  We got in SDC about 9:40 and left SDC about 11:15-11:30  We did have an OK time though.  I heard SDC was offering deeply discounted tickets Sunday. (But you had to go to GR and ask for money back) Otherwise the tickets was full price.  This is when having a season pass really pays off.

Anyway "Sand Dune" and "How-Do" lets try to pick another weekend.  Anyone/everyone else. Lets all have a meet up day at SDC!!!

"Green Trams"   We still have BAFs. I will offer them to you first since you couldnt meet up either.


JUNE 9 is my birthday. Can we all meet up on either Saturday June 8 or Sunday June 9???  Would be the best birthday of my life to get to meet up with everyone on this forum.  Can we plan on that weekend?