Silver Dollar City (SDC) Discussion Thread

[Shavethewhales]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's a law in Missouri against consecutive rides on coasters during normal operations. At least that's the excuse they gave when they stopped letting people stay on rides on slow days.

[Whodey]

I find that hard to believe. So one day in the MO capital building they debated and made a law so people couldn't ride rides more than once. Thank God the governor signed off on that law!! (sarcasm) I would think it would just be company policy not a state law.

 

Of course I could be wrong governments like to waste time and money on silly things.

[Zcev5454]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's a law in Missouri against consecutive rides on coasters during normal operations. At least that's the excuse they gave when they stopped letting people stay on rides on slow days.

What?!?!?!

[ernierocker]

Isn't it also illegal to mispronounce Missouri while standing in Missouri? No seriously, that has to just be a park policy. Other parks around the country also have the same rule.

[Whodey]

I was watching C-span and saw that the senate was going to make the Missouri law a national law. Obama thought that it was a good idea. Coming soon across the nation it will be illegal to ride 2 times in a row during normal hours.

[Chittlins]

Isn't it also illegal to mispronounce Missouri while standing in Missouri? No seriously, that has to just be a park policy. Other parks around the country also have the same rule.

 

Ree or Rah, it matters not.

[Shavethewhales]

It very well might just be a HFEC policy; like I said, I couldn't remember for sure. They did start making a big deal about it though a few years ago. It's all hazy now, but there must have been some sort of lawsuit/study/death that happened due to excessive coaster riding. I seem to remember WOF being involved, with someone riding the boomerang over and over again and having some sort of complication.

 

In any case, don't expect them to ever give you a re-ride. I haven't been to an ERT event at the park yet, but even then I thought I heard that they made people get off and go through the line again even with an empty station and no customers.

[Wes]

I seem to remember WOF being involved, with someone riding the boomerang over and over again and having some sort of complication.

 

If someone was riding a Boomerang over and over, the complication was pre-existing.

[ernierocker]

^^They do that at Dollywood as well during ERT, so this sounds like a HFEC policy.

Edited July 10, 2013 by ernierocker

[larrygator]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's a law in Missouri against consecutive rides on coasters during normal operations. At least that's the excuse they gave when they stopped letting people stay on rides on slow days.

 

Someone better send the State Troopers to SFStL, since they sell a Platinum Flash Pass that allows consecutive rides.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Last weekend I saw a parent swap and they also had 1 kid who could ride. I know some parks like Disney let the kid ride twice if there was going to be an open seat next to the second riding adult. Not at SDC. They unlocked the restraints and made the 8 year old get out. Personally I would have no problem letting the 8 year old ride. The seat went out empty anyways. If they could fill the seat with a single rider maybe that would be a different story. At least they have the swap.

Hmm, not sure what to make of your story here. Our kids got to ride twice in a row on Lost River of the Ozarks when we went, and they would have let my daughter go twice on American Plunge, but she decided once was enough. Maybe just that operator? I don't know. The parent swap just made our day much more relaxing, since we weren't having to spend all day with half of us in line while the other half waited.

[ernierocker]

^Probably just the Ride Op or the Supervisor at the time he rode it. Theme Park operations have never been 100% consistent.

[Whodey]

It was on Outlaw Run shortly after opening. I talked to the lady about it but it was her first ride of the day. Maybe other rides let the kid keep going. Did they let you do it on OR? I tend to agree with erinierocker because most parks are inconsistent.

[chadster]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's a law in Missouri against consecutive rides on coasters during normal operations. At least that's the excuse they gave when they stopped letting people stay on rides on slow days.

 

It's not a law, it's policy. It was instituted after finding they had extended downtime due to 'reverse of fortune'

[ytterbiumanalyst]

It was on Outlaw Run shortly after opening. I talked to the lady about it but it was her first ride of the day. Maybe other rides let the kid keep going. Did they let you do it on OR? I tend to agree with erinierocker because most parks are inconsistent.

My daughter didn't want to ride Outlaw Run, but the family in line in front of me was doing parent swap, and their kid only wanted to go once, so I'm not sure. All of the water rides let our kids ride twice.

[imagineerz]

Warning: Long Post

 

My family and I have decided that we're going to SDC is a couple of weeks, but we were hoping that you, the lovely slice of the internet that is TPR, could help us solve a slight dilemma. We're doing a Missouri road trip (last week of July/first week of August), starting in St. Louis, then going to Branson, and finishing in KC. We leave St. Louis on Wednesday morning, and we cannot decide if we want to go to the Johnson's Shut-ins State Park. If we do go, it makes the drive upwards of six hours, and putting us in Branson around 8PM (assuming lunch and swim time). If we don't go, the drive is around four hours and would have us in Branson around 3-4PM.

 

(I know what you're thinking: "WTF does this have ANYTHING to do with SDC?" It's coming full circle, I promise)

 

Either way we would go to the park on Thursday for the entire day. We were hoping to take advantage of the "Day Before Preview After 3PM" thing, so with that in mind, here come the questions:

 

1. Is Johnson's Shut-ins worth the extra couple of hours?

2. Knowing the time frame, do you think it's possible to hit all/most of the rides WITHOUT the preview?

[theymitbgi]

Johnson Shut-ins is definitely worth the extra time for your trip. It's really a unique one of a kind place. Plan on getting there early though, pack a cooler, and stop at elephant rock state park on the way out. Elephant rock can be done in about an hour, but it is really cool also.

[BenFreeze]

What should I expect crowd-wise if I'm going to the park this weekend? (Saturday-Sunday)

[Jhcbiinoc]

 

1. Is Johnson's Shut-ins worth the extra couple of hours?

 

I would say yes, absolutely! If you enjoy a great swimming hole, waterfalls and a nice natural area it is one of Missouri's best state parks.

[triggernel]

2. Knowing the time frame, do you think it's possible to hit all/most of the rides WITHOUT the preview?

 

Yes, we did the whole park over on the Sunday after the fourth. Should be no problem, as there isn't a ton of rides to do. Just make sure you get on all the coasters, RiverBlast, Flooded Mine, The Giant Swing, and you should have a great day.

 

I'd recommend doing the Molly's Mill Buffet Breakfast. It opens an hour before the park, and for $10 you can't beat it. Also, make time to do the cave tour, it's free and a really unique attraction. Buy a souvenir bottle and use it to get $2.50 frozen lemonade and Barq's Red Cream Soda Floats all day.

 

SDC is by far the best park in MO. All of their coasters are fantastic, and the atmosphere at the park is unmatched anywhere else in the country (yes, including Dollywood).

[Guy T. Koepp]

2. Knowing the time frame, do you think it's possible to hit all/most of the rides WITHOUT the preview?

 

Yes, we did the whole park over on the Sunday after the fourth. Should be no problem, as there isn't a ton of rides to do. Just make sure you get on all the coasters, RiverBlast, Flooded Mine, The Giant Swing, and you should have a great day.

 

I'd recommend doing the Molly's Mill Buffet Breakfast. It opens an hour before the park, and for $10 you can't beat it. Also, make time to do the cave tour, it's free and a really unique attraction. Buy a souvenir bottle and use it to get $2.50 frozen lemonade and Barq's Red Cream Soda Floats all day.

 

SDC is by far the best park in MO. All of their coasters are fantastic, and the atmosphere at the park is unmatched anywhere else in the country (not including Dollywood).

 

Fixed.

[imagineerz]

Thanks guys! We decided that we're going to do Johnson Shut-ins and leave St. Louis early in the morning.

 

I'd recommend doing the Molly's Mill Buffet Breakfast. It opens an hour before the park, and for $10 you can't beat it. Also, make time to do the cave tour, it's free and a really unique attraction. Buy a souvenir bottle and use it to get $2.50 frozen lemonade and Barq's Red Cream Soda Floats all day.

 

We've been thinking about doing this. Both my mom and I have Celiac (Gluten allergy ), and the breakfast buffet is advertised as having gluten free options. My only concern is contamination from item to item that can happen with buffets. Has anyone with a gluten allergy had the gluten free options in the park?

[Woodie Warrior]

Just got back from a 4-day Silver Dollar City trip. Instead of trying to remember the exact order of what I went on, I'll just make comments on everything in the park we saw/rode.

 

Flooded Mine- I think we rode twice. A fun, classic ride with lots of cool little touches.

 

Thunderation- One of my top mine trains, behind only Thunder Mountain. Lots of exciting moments, but the last drop is very anticlimactic.

 

Blown Glass Factory- Pretty much one of the most amazing things you'll see, the whole demonstration is captivating and awe-inspiring. Definitely the best craftsmen shop in the park.

 

The Grand Exposition- Definitely the worst area in the park. Even if the park needed more family rides (which IMO, they didn't), this whole area is kind of cheap and tacky. It's like they slapped a traveling carnival inside and forced them to stay forever. But it doesn't matter, the area still attracts a large percentage of the families with younger children. Electro Spin is the only ride worth waiting for at all.

 

Stunt Dog Show- Really cool to watch. Some cool stunts, but they wouldn't stop blasting cheesy music about dogs that were super annoying.

 

Wacky Science- Pure awesomeness. Random explosions, jokes, toilet paper fights, and science were included and they all added to the experience.

 

Geyser Gulch- One of the hidden gems of the park. Definitely worth a trip if you have an hour to spare. Time flies when you are blasting things with water and shooting foam balls.

 

Lost River- Pretty much the worst raft ride I've ever been on. Nobody got wet except for when people shot us with water cannons. Is something supposed to be inside the tunnel at the end? It was a really random tunnel.

 

RiverBlast- It's a blast for anyone on or off the ride. I found a place where I could shoot both people on the ride and people off the ride who were shooting people on the ride.

 

Barn Swing- It is actually one of the only rides that I've been on that still scares me. It is an adrenaline rush.

 

Outlaw Run- Best. Coaster. Ever. Short but speedy, twisty, and a whole lot of fun.

 

Saloon Show- A funny, but cheesy, show. The whole saloon experience is cool and is better than any show at Six Flags by a long shot.

 

Fire-in-the-Hole- This ride is really growing on me. It's cheesy, yes, but the sudden drops and classic lines said by the characters make this a fun coaster.

 

more to come soon

[Joe Cool]

Finally got myself down to Silver Dollar City yesterday to ride Outlaw Run and man it didn't disappoint. All I can say is that I have never felt that type of experience on any roller coaster. The thing kicks all types of ass!! One question though what year did they remove the water slide raft ride?

[mikeykaise]

I noticed that as well. There were several things still there that they closed down and never took down. Sawyer's Treehouse, a building and a clear path behind Geyser Gulch, and then the one that got me was a very tall loading platform that's probably like a 100 or 200 feet tall and you look up at it and it doesn't connect to anyplace, just standing there next to the path as you're walking down. I forget where its located but its on one of the downhill wooded paths, think its the one that brings you out by the whitewater rapids ride but could be mistaken.