Silver Dollar City (SDC) Discussion Thread

[chickenbowl]

If it is a spinning coaster, I do hope they go with Mack. My favorite spinning coaster is Mack's Space Fantasy at USJ - I also think Sierra Sidewinder is fun, but a bit meh...

[ytterbiumanalyst]

All right everyone, here's what you've been waiting for--Old Time Christmas photo TR!!!!

 

Today we went to Silver Dollar City for the Old Time Christmas festival. Every time I go there, I think, “this is the best festival they do”—but the Christmas festival is legit. This is one of the best events any park does anywhere. First of all, they run all the rides except the water rides, which only run through Halloween. That’s right, they run their log flume, rapids ride, and splash battle all the way through October. But I digress. Today we had a high of 60, low of 51, and intermittent rain—perfect day to experience Old Time Christmas in all its glory!

 

We arrived around 2 PM (park opened at 1) and went straight to Thunderation. My son was very excited for “roader coasters” as he calls them, and I wanted to see the construction progress during the day. Photos below—there’s been a lot happening since we were last here a month ago. Two-train operations made it a walk on for the front. That’s right, every coaster today was running two trains. I never really appreciated how good operations are here until I went out and visited a bunch of other parks. Cedar Point and Disneyland are the only other ones I’ve been to that compare. It’s that good.

 

Afterward, we headed to the Grand Expo for the kids’ favourite rides. They love all those spinning things, and I’m just glad they’re tall enough now to be able to go on that stuff by themselves. I’ve done my time on those. Anyway, everyone enjoyed themselves in that area, and we went in search of lunch. Crossroads Pizza was the choice this time around—SDC has some of the best park food anywhere. The supreme is some gooood sh*t.

 

Afterward, it was time for more coasters! Outlaw Run, Powder Keg, and Fire in the Hole, and then it was time to head up to the square for the tree lighting and Rudolph parade. This part of the event has some definite Disney vibes. Well, Disney-on-a-budget vibes. When the parade was over, we walked around and looked at some lights, then settled back in Fireman’s Landing. With the rain (drizzle really), everyone seemed to have left after the parade. The park was just so empty for the rest of the night! The kids had walk-ons on Up the Ladder—and that never happens!

 

The train was the only ride with any line. We’ll be back at least once more before the season’s over, so no rush on that one. We took one last lap on Thunderation to end a great day.

Ready for a great day at SDC!

Merry Christmas everyone!

The incline railway is all decked out!

Giant tree--we'll come back to this later.

We'll also be making a stop here. This sh*t is real.

Hanging out with some raindeer.

The Christmas store is jolly all year, but it really gets the vibe during the actual Christmas season.

Here's the classic Thunderation shot.

And one you haven't been able to see until recently.

Christmas tree displays in the Frisco barn.

Lake Silver has been partially drained.

We'll be back later.

Riverfront doesn't have a huge draw with its main ride not operating.

Rapids rides look really cool with the water drained.

The Cajun Connection donned Santa hats and played the same songs they always do.

The Carousel Barn is home to Santa Claus this time of year.

And look what Santa brought us!

Here's another perspective on the drained Lost River.

This is Elvis' favourite tree. He was dreaming of a blue Christmas. *rimshot*

We were on the last Powder Keg train before it shut down for rain!

Christmas lights really messed with my camera. Some of these are better than others.

The tree lighting ceremony began with a pianist.

And escalated from there to four-part Dickensian harmony!

Starburst!

Nice choreographed lights.

And followed by the Rudolph parade!

Abominable snowman!

And Rudolph himself, in his Rudolphmobile!

Burl Ives never looked better.

Only at SDC would Santa come in the middle of the parade.

It's the ornament!

Sentient candy canes....

Penguins, because everything's better with penguins.

I can't explain this.

Woohoo! A train!

And an angel to serve as harbinger to the anticlimax!

Here it is! Sh*t got real! No better way to end Rudolph's parade than with a stained glass window that proclaims "Hallelujah." Way to be sort of religious there without actually saying anything, SDC!

Off to see some lights! First stop, Midtown!

This is a beautiful opera house. I wish I knew where this was.

Thanks, railroad bridge--I remember now!

Thanks for a great day, SDC! We'll be back to do it again!

[Chiselphane]

Their Christmas Festival really is the best. Regarding the Hallelujah float: Even though I am not religious I do appreciate that they pay homage to the religious aspect of the holiday, but they do it somewhat subtly instead of beating you over the head. Having said that, the magician kind of went overboard on it this year, one of his 'tricks' was reading a Christian story off the back of some playing cards, which he then proceeded to make a sales pitch for. Kind of rubbed me a little wrong but what can you do.

 

Possibly stalkerish question but is not meant that way: Does anyone know the name of a Thunderation ride op: the older gentleman with the white mustache & goatee? Occasionally dances on the ride platform? I ask because my 9 year old daughter is a fan of his, especially when he's on ride announcement, nobody else pronounces Thunderation the way he does, and she wanted to send him a Christmas card. I suppose I could ask the park but again it feels like it might be a little weird of a question.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ He's one of my favourite ride ops! I don't know his name though. With you on the magic show thing--and that's not just this year. The whole show has always been a front for preaching.

[Nrthwnd]

^ & ^^ Next time, get a pic of the guy if you can.

Or ^^ have your daughter pose with him, somehow.

 

He sounds great, which makes me feel warm and fuzzy, for La Season.

Also, I just saw TROLLS this afternoon, so that's helping my feelings, a touch.

 

And ^^ Welcome to TPR!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Planning to be back there this weekend. I'll see what I can do.

[prozach626]

Their Christmas Festival really is the best. Regarding the Hallelujah float: Even though I am not religious I do appreciate that they pay homage to the religious aspect of the holiday, but they do it somewhat subtly instead of beating you over the head. Having said that, the magician kind of went overboard on it this year, one of his 'tricks' was reading a Christian story off the back of some playing cards, which he then proceeded to make a sales pitch for. Kind of rubbed me a little wrong but what can you do.

Well, I was waiting for this comment. This event is a celebration specifically based around a Christian Holiday. No one is dragging you to a baptism. If it's not your thing, don't go.

 

I'll reluctantly bite my tongue and stop there.

[Chiselphane]

I think you might be reading too much into what I said. I spoke positively about how the park overall handles it, and it's one of the things I really like about the park in general. Much of society could be improved by following their example. I just thought the magician's proselytizing coupled with a money grab didn't fit the tone of what the overall park is going for.

[Chiselphane]

Planning to be back there this weekend. I'll see what I can do.

 

That would be incredibly kind and thoughtful of you, I thank you in advance!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

I don't have a problem with the religious aspects of the festival. The train always has a reading from the Gospel each year, and there are plenty of religious symbols around the park. Even the name "Christ Mass" is a religious term. You know that's what they do, and I feel that religious or not, you can appreciate the festival. I was just amused that at the end of the parade the only religious symbol was a stained glass window, which is about as bland a religious symbol as possible. It stuck out as an anomaly in the Rudolph parade.

 

I don't like the magic act, though, because it's a bait and switch. He does a couple of illusions, then completely switches gears. The religious story is not even an illusion; he just pulls cards off a deck in a preset order as a pretense for preaching. It's just disingenuous.

[coasterbill]

Personally if the entire event was focused around worshiping the devil I'd still be totally cool with it if they let me ride Outlaw Run in the winter. I'm not overly religious but I love holiday events at parks. It doesn't bother me, I know what I'm getting into... especially with HFE parks.

[Shavethewhales]

I agree that the Magic show is not that well presented. It's not that it has a spiritual message, it's just that it's done so awkwardly. Definitely feels like they are trying to check off too many boxes by preaching and selling products at the same time, and trying too hard at both. It's been the same show for a long time now though, and there's always a crowd... I guess that's Branson for you.

 

Everything else seems to hit a good balance.

 

btw, if you ever want to experience SDC ERT without having to go to an ACE event, just come during the Christmas festival for the last couple of hours or so. Even Outlaw Run was a ghost town, and this was on a fairly crowded day. Hard to believe they keep adding coasters when so many people are there for everything else.

 

Gonna be cold for much of next month though...

[prozach626]

So what everyone is saying is that the Magic Show isn't overly religious, but from the sounds of it, it's just kind of awkward and weird? Hmmmm. You'd think they would change it up a bit if it has this kind of reputation.

[ZambeziZinger]

So what everyone is saying is that the Magic Show isn't overly religious, but from the sounds of it, it's just kind of awkward and weird? Hmmmm. You'd think they would change it up a bit if it has this kind of reputation.

 

It doesn't have a reputation other than a few posters here not liking it. He tells the Nativity story with his cards. It's the final part of his act. Don't like it? Leave the show early.

[ElvisLuv]

This is a theme park that actually holds services in it's chapel on Sundays. If you are uncomfortable with the Christian religion, particularly evangelical protestantism, this park might not be for you. Especially during Christmas.

[michaellynn4]

Yea, coming from someone who identifies himself as a secular humanist and definitely NOT religious, you should really know what to expect when visiting a park like this. I myself just spent a weekend in Dollywood specifically to attend its Christmas events. Overall I had a blast and am very happy I visited. Sure, the various religious aspects of some of the shows didn't mean anything to me as I didn't identify with them like their primary target audience does, but I never understood how it could make anyone uncomfortable or offended. People all around, religious and non-religious alike, need to be more tolerant and respectful of each others beliefs. FFS, It's not as if anyone at the park tried to force-feed a communion wafer down my throat and yelled at me to find Jesus.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ I don't know, man, I believe in Code Adam. Someone yells at me to find Jesus, I'm asking for a description and helping out. It's scary to lose a kid at a theme park.

[michaellynn4]

^ I don't know, man, I believe in Code Adam. Someone yells at me to find Jesus, I'm asking for a description and helping out. It's scary to lose a kid at a theme park.

 

 

Touché , good sir.

[Shavethewhales]

I don't know why you guys are trying to force this into a religious debate. The "magic" show is a let-down even for kids, religious message or not. It could easily be done ten times better with the same message. It's just kinda sloppy and over-forced most of the time. It's just something they could improve one of these days when they get around to it.

 

Not that anyone cares. It's not exactly a major production or anything, and is really just something they do on the side to promote the tiny magic trip shop. Like I said, it's Branson and people eat it up either way, but for visitors from farther away it's pretty weird to experience without warning.

[DoinItForTheFame]

This is a theme park that actually holds services in it's chapel on Sundays. If you are uncomfortable with the Christian religion, particularly evangelical protestantism, this park might not be for you. Especially during Christmas.

 

Since we are on the topic of the religious aspect of SDC. . .

 

Both my partner and I are both atheist, yet we visit SDC at least twice a month, sometimes more. We just ignore all of the religious touches around the park. We have only ever had one bad experience at the park, it was during this past Memorial day weekend. Of course it came from a park guest wearing a "Trump: Make America Great Again" shirt. She felt the need to "witness" to us. Mind you my partner and I never partake in PDA of any type, just to keep from making other people uncomfortable. . . So why she just assumed we were gay I'll never know. Regardless, she decided to give us this nice long speech about how "we are going to hell because the bible says a man shall not lay with another man the same way he lays with a woman..." I responded with "Ma'ma, now is not the time or place. We are all here just trying to have a good time. Don't ruin that for us, and for your family." She said "Well, I just felt the need to let you know that you are going to spend forever burning in hell if you don't change from your wicked ways." I said "Yes ma'ma, thanks for taking the time to warn us!" I hope you have a blessed day!" And we walked away, and went and rode Outlaw Run!

 

Aside from that one experience, which wasn't even SDC's fault, we have always had a good time. All most all of the park employees know us by name, and they always go out of their way to talk to us, and ask us how life has been, and how our visit is going. I find it awesome that SDC's employees are always so warm, and welcoming regardless of who you are, or what walk of life you come from. It's one of the things that makes the park as amazing as it is! We don't allow the heavy religious tone of the park deter us from visiting, and we will continue going every other weekend (probably) till we die.

 

(Okay, that's all the input I have on the religion + SDC topic!)

[djcoastermark]

^ Very tactful, well done.

[prozach626]

Don't believe that some idiot telling you that you are going to hell is something related to average Christian values (or an average Trump supporter for that matter...). Contrary to what a lot of people would like to believe, your average Christian is as silent and difficult to detect as your average Trump supporter. That lady was just a psycho bitch. Yes, I suppose it is the Christian 'duty' to make more believers, but going about it that way is just dumb. I think she was just trying to pick a fight.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

your average Christian is as silent and difficult to detect as your average Trump supporter.

Yep, you can pick both out quite easily by the expression of smug self-importance.

 

That lady was just a psycho bitch. Yes, I suppose it is the Christian 'duty' to make more believers, but going about it that way is just dumb. I think she was just trying to pick a fight.

Yep, psycho. If your religion causes you to behave that way, then you've missed the entire point of religion. It isn't about trying to control other people's behaviour (that's a sign of mental illness). It's about controlling yourself, considering the thoughts and feelings of others, and understanding yourself and the world around you.

 

The problem isn't really religion, but that people are stupid. Religious people are stupid with religion. If people would use it right, as a way to become a better person and not as an excuse to be a self-righteous judgmental prick, then religion wouldn't have such an awful reputation. But hoping people won't be stupid with something is the height of folly.

[prozach626]

I think we should just talk about lights, Outlaw Run, or any of the other various offerings at SDC. We can just avoid the magic show.

[jynx242]

^Probably a good idea

 

I remember the first time I rode Outlaw Run after watching it being built and hearing about it for over a year. I knew it was supposed to be insane, but BOY HOWDY did I not expect that.

 

Such an amazing ride and such a great park!