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[Copper]

That lady is super sweet and if she doesn't know an answer to your question she will try and find out; plus she doesn't even work for SDC.  You try hiring a workforce that big from a population of mostly retirees- they try to get local and American citizens, but sometimes they have to go elsewhere; and that lady is an American citizen.  The Christian teen programs in the summer really help SDC out; I don't know what they would do without them.

I read and re-read my posts before I put them out for others to read.  I would advise others to do the same- some are just plain mean.

[misskim]

Back to the complaining subject -- we had a bad experience earlier this year and I wrote an email to SDC to explain my frustrations and suggest ways they could make some changes to make our visit better. They called immediately (like we were still on vacation when they called) and offered us a $25 credit. Then -- somewhat comically -- the credit got sent with no signature on it, so I had to contact them again and they had to resend it. They sent me a postage paid envelope to return the unsigned credit. They do listen. Not sure they made any changes (that we saw on our following trip) but I felt my complaint was heard.

[mhguy77]

IMO if refunds for the paying guests could not be handled, then extra "bring a friend" passes were definitely in order.

Very true

[Duelist]

Saturday was a great day to be at the City.  we got there around 11.  our only glitch during the day was riding Thunderation.  it broke down at the bottom of the lift hill and we were escorted out the side door of the "mine".  we had to wait and ride a shuttle back to the employee entrance at browns candy factory and we're given a free pass to go to the front of any ride line.   we were going to do that at outlaw run because the wait clock said 40 minutes but couldn't find anyone to show the pass to and were on and off the ride in around 15 minutes anyway.  but it was nice of them to give us the pass.  we got to the city around 9:00 on Sunday and ate breakfast at the Mill.  watched the opening ceremony and went straight to the flooded mine.  the very nice girl working there told us the power was out for all the rides and wasn't sure when it would be on.  she said we could probably get a refund at the ticket gates but we told her we were seaon pass holders.  we then went to the frisco barn to buy something from Buck Taylor (note to Junior: i didn't get a chance to ask him about his dad and grandpappy dugan because there was a pretty long line forming behind me and he was trying to get to them before the power went out in the Barn.  Sorry, I'll try again in Ocotober).  after leaving the barn we went and looked at the different craft shops set up for the Festival.  I guess I looked at the power outage from a different perspective.  it wasn't too warm or too cold that we needed to be in a building to be comfortable, we were told what was going on very soon.  my son and i watched the Mean Murphy show at the saloon and got out about 0ne oclock and most of the rides were up and running.

[KBCraig]

The worse part is there is no way for them to follow up on paid tickets and try to offer them "reimbursement", and for sure no way to make it up to SP holders wanted to ride and enjoy the other benefits..

They know when every SP holder visits. Remember those scanners? An on-the-ball custumer relations department would send some vouchers or credits to everyone who visited on those days, and giving a partial credit to every card used to pay for a paid ticket.

[MissinTheGreenTrams]

I dropped by Buck Taylor and he said he could not be 100% sure it was his dad. But he did say if it was it would have been done in California and it would have been a voice over. He also said that it sounded like something his dad would have done. He was very nice and friendly but busy. Many folks coming to see him.

[Junior]

Well, I appreciate you speaking with Buck. I knew that his father's role was simply a voice over. It was done in California. It probably was a job that only took part of a day. It was probably such a quick, minor job, that he never spoke with Buck about it. This does not surprise me. I'm sure to get any deep details about this job, one would have to probe Dub's manager or agent at the time, and then maybe there would be some notes in a file about it. So thanks very much for checking! I will admit something here I have never discussed before. Slim Picken's role was also a voice over job, and it probably only took a few days to do. However, the developer of the diving bell told me in 2010 that Pickens blew some lines while doing the work, and that he (the project developer) had a reel of tape in his files of Picken's blown lines, along with some rather funny, explicit comments made by Pickens when he messed up. That would be a real gem to get a hold of and hear! 

[palallin]

I dropped by Buck Taylor and he said he could not be 100% sure it was his dad. But he did say if it was it would have been done in California and it would have been a voice over. He also said that it sounded like something his dad would have done. He was very nice and friendly but busy. Many folks coming to see him.

Same-same, though he wasn't very busy when we were there.

I wonder how many of us asked 

[palallin]

Our Saturday was a VERY pleasant visit right up till about 3.  Then the bottom fell out of the clouds.

We hit the lots at Stop 2 about 8 and got our own personal tramride to the gate.  There, we had a long talk with Jill, one of the picture takers--whom we have gotten to know over the past couple years.  Wonderful person!

The normal breakfast at Molly's preceded my wife grabbing a couple pins to trade.  (One of the pins broke while still on the card, and the folks at HH were very helpful in exchanging it for her.)  She went to trade at the Apple House--we again got to talk with the lady there, who is another wonderful person.  We also resupplied with fruit butters.

Then the Pickers.  Poor Walt broke a guitar string in the middle of a number and had to borrow   

We saw the Stunt show and the Trick Riding show.  The boys--as expected--loved the Stunt show.  The Trick Riding show didn't have very much riding at all--just one act.  Seems like a nice group of kids trying to keep a family tradition alive, but they ought to revisit their priorities.

We rode the train twice.  The first time in the morning, there was no line, and the train (4 cars) left without every seat filled.  The Bolin boys drew the skit out--Ma disavowed them--and the conductor didn't know what day it was, either.  We could easily tell they had a lot of fun with that performance.  It took longer than usual and was much appreciated!  Unfortunately, by the second ride in the afternoon, the rain had started, and the boys just waved at the train as it went by.

The one trip on FM was uncrowded.  They didn't even use the que inside.  Music and animatronics all seemed in fine fettle.

We bought two bottles of Black kettle seasoning at the Culinary School as my family really likes it, and they say their supply for next year is not secure.

There is a new consession in the wing added to Christmas Hollow--it's some sort of girlie, sparkly place with frilly stuff for little girls and a halo hairdo.  We did buy a hair band for the sister of our godson whose B-day party is next week.

When the rain started, my boys regretted the fact that they had left ponchos in the car.  The younger one has a cold, so we decided to skip the last turn thrugh the crafters--a BIG disappointment, though they were covering up their crafts, anyway--and headed out about 4.  Along with 90% of everybody else.

We stopped in OM so that the younger boy could buy an instrument at Cedar Creek; the older one bought another set of hammers for his dulcimer.

The attendants had the tram loading line back up underneath the roof, and they were pushing trams and busses through there as fast as they could load them--a good attempt to handle the sudden crowd as quickly and dryly as possible.  But once we got on the tram, is was like riding a submarine--a very FAST submarine.  No hope of staying dry, but the exposure time was cut to a minimum.

I really wish we could get another day of Harvest Fest thsi year, but it isn't to be--next time will be during OTC.  But at least it was a mostly good day for it--beautiful weather up till it wasn't beautiful anymore    Park wasn't crowded at all.

Oh, and see the Lye Soap thread for my report on that visit.

[History Buff]

The FM queue has been changed so the line no longer reaches the far wall.  As soon as riders are in the loading area, they are directed into a mine cart slot.  In much the same way, FitH was changed a while ago to keep the majority of the queue outside.   Is there an advantage to this.

In other news, I had to look up the word fettle.  Thanks for the new word.

[Junior]

Palallin: Thanks for speaking with Buck, as well. I wonder how many DID speak with him?  

[sanddunerider]

I talked to Buck on Sunday..  he looked at me and made some comment popular question, because he had been asked about his father and the recording thing..  he was busy the 2 times I went by his booth.. but made sure to ask.. it was humorous to see the look on his face,  " mr taylor, I have a questions for you"....   funny.

Back in 2 weeks for my last fall festival trip..!!

[qwed94]

Well we ran in to the terrential downpours while on the road Saturday. We didnt get to Homestay till after 10AM. Then after a bite to eat, we finally made to a "soaked" SDC about 12:30. We darted in and out of every shop between the front gate and the Red Gold  Watched the Trick Riders. The cancelled the Stunt Show because of the heavy rains.
      After that we "waded" thru the floods over to the OR area. (Well we made a quick stop at the Boatworks to watch the last 10-15 minutes of Pure Heart).

Much to my surprise ---- "Outlaw RAN" So of course I had to ride. I walked right on. No wait whatsoever. It was incredibly cold (since it was only about 50) and that hard hitting "ice" cold rain hitting you in the face. So I only rode 1 time, but still had a blast.

We then was planning on buying some Pork Rinds (closed), and heading up to the Gazebo. Instead we noticed the Saloon had one more show, so we watched that, I rode Wildfire, and we left  SDC (about 5PM).

Rain or not. Still had a great time at SDC and in Branson in general.

[Joy]

The FM queue has been changed so the line no longer reaches the far wall.  As soon as riders are in the loading area, they are directed into a mine cart slot.  In much the same way, FitH was changed a while ago to keep the majority of the queue outside.   Is there an advantage to this.

I really, really like the way they're doing the FitH queue now. It was always such a mess of people inside trying to figure out what line they were in and how many people were in front of each other and whether or not people in groups would make it on the same train. The new system makes it really easy to ride with your group and it's all very organized inside. I like it a lot.

[History Buff]

The problem is that the history that is missed by not spending enough time inside.  I like to spend time showing my children the mural inside and educating them about the ride.  They are not scared of the ride because they understand the history.  Now, we get only a moment before we are whisked away on the ride.  On FM there is no confusion about where to sit, so it's a completely different situation.  I don't know if they just don't want that many people in the loading room or what.