Silver Dollar City (SDC) Discussion Thread

Oh and....skilllllletsssss!!!!

While the Skillet(s) are excellent, you cannot miss out on the Cinnamon Bread

^ Is it the same as the cinnamon bread at Dollywood? I assume that a lot of the food there is probably a carbon copy, but don't think that I mean that as a bad thing.

Yes, we will definitely be getting cinnamon bread - and this is coming from someone that normally doesn't do sweets!

The parks actually do have their own cinnamon bread recipes actually. From what I remember, DW's is bigger and has more brown sugar, whereas SDC's is a little bit more dense and has more cinnamon and glaze with primarily white sugar. It's been awhile since I've had the DW stuff though, so my memory is fuzzy, but it was definitely different.

^ Great to know...looking even more forward to it now!

Time Traveler's trains look fantastic, and not just because they're some of the better-themed ones out there. I love the novelty of spinning trains traveling (no pun intended?) through a loop. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the vegetation around the ride grows in.

Oh, and dat first drop.

Photo TR: Time Keeps On Spinnin', Spinnin', Into the Fuuutuuure.

Today we went to Silver Dollar City to ride Time Traveler and see all the new stuff in Valley Road. We got up early and got to the park around 9AM for a 9:30 opening. There were thunderstorms early today, but scheduled to end around 9AM, so I knew they would scare off a lot of people while leaving a perfect day for us to enjoy.

When we arrived at the park, we discovered this jackass parked his car in the road near Tram Stop 2, despite plenty of parking spaces available, hundreds in fact.

On the way out of the park, we sat in the very back of the tram and I was chatting with the...er...conductor? Not sure what his job title is. The guy who sits in the back and has a radio. Anyway, that guy said the car had been towed to another section of the parking lot. I was glad to hear it wasn't towed off the lot, but on the other hand this guy did park in the road about 4 rows in, and was totally blocking everyone from leaving. Hope he found his car eventually but also had a lot of difficulty so that he uses an actual f*cking parking space next time.

We got into the park in time to line up for rope drop about 9:20 AM, and didn't see too many people ahead of us, so I was feeling optimistic. We went straight for Time Traveler and I measured my son...51 2/3"! Good enough for time travel!

The queue is fantastic, and easily on par with any of the other queues at Silver Dollar City. For those saying it's too sparse...really? There's literally always something to look at that's not your phone. What else do you want? Y'all are crazy.

I should also mention the soundtrack in the queue. They play bluegrass instrumental versions of pop songs related to time, such as Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle," Coldplay's "Clocks," and yes, the one I am on record in this very thread for recommending..."FLY LIKE AN EAGLE" BY STEVE MILLER BAND!!!!

BEST COASTER EVAR!!!!!!!!!1!!!

On a more serious note, I applaud the queue design for allowing for easy grouping. The last few switchbacks are very short and have a path kept clear with only a simple chain to the switchbacks, making it easy for the grouper to find just the right person, and for that person not to have to push past people awkwardly. Absolutely brilliant. I've never seen this before, but every coaster should have this. There are not enough superlatives to say how wonderful this is.

The station itself is vibrant. The pulsing light and moving gears really give a sense of anticipation, and I felt like I was participating in an event more than simply going on a ride. The cubbies that are accessible from both the secured and unsecured sections of the station were very much appreciated, as well as the ability of non-riders to go right into the unsecured part of the station and watch. Mega kudos here.

No coaster experience would be complete without a ride photo, but this one is done before the ride, as a part of the queue rather than on the ride itself. You're given a ticket before you ride, and you can scan it at the kiosks and order a photo if you wish. The system is quite intuitive, and though I passed on the photo (we're totally going to be riding this a lot, and there will be more opportunities), it's a really great system that I would like to be replicated.

Exit through the gift shop! Lots of fun steampunk stuff here. I may end up getting some of it, but honestly probably not. I really don't own much SDC merch, as I'm there literally every other week or so. Looks really cool, and if you're wanting a souvenir, this is a good spot for it. They have some "stats" shirts, but plenty of far more classy ones too.

The coaster was only one of my major goals for today, and the other was the new shops and restaurants on Valley Road. They've accomplished a great feat in making Valley Road wider and also moving it away from Flooded Mine enough that its exit no longer opens directly only onto a main path. There are so many improvements here, it feels like a whole different park now.

We ate lunch at a couple of the places, gathering at the picnic tables behind the restaurants with our various goodies. We got the Ultimate Grilled Cheese and Grilled Chicken and Cheese, and Chicken Sandwich from Traveler's Stop, and the jambalaya from the newly relocated/expanded Buckshot's Skillet Cookery. There are more good things than we could eat in one day, so we'll just have to go back!

After that, we had to hit our favourites in the Grand Expo and Fireman's Landing, as well as the rest of the coasters throughout the park, and we ended our day in Half Dollar Holler. Everyone had a great time and was exhausted but happy by the end of it. Good to see SDC back in action, and absolutely better than ever.

Great report! Everything about this ride looks incredible.

Coaster nerd question: do the lap bars lower automatically? I know they don’t on Manta at SWSD, but I ask because in almost every photo of people in the train, they have their hands up. I just thought that was interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, all the restraints in one car lower at once when the op pushes a button. They prompted us to raise our hands when it was time.

Looks like I need to get myself up there for a ride on this bad boy. Theming looks incredible!

Hey Andrew! Awesome report, but did I somehow miss the part where you told us what you thought of the ride?!?!

You did, but only because I forgot to write it first.

The first drop for us was backwards and off-kilter, and that angle straight down is maybe the most intense first drop I've ever been on. More than Outlaw Run. The rest of the ride backs off from that intensity and is just flat out fun. No part of it is too much, and that's really good because this coaster does so many things. It pretty much has something for everyone. It doesn't spin much at all, just kind of rotates to a new angle at each drop. Really mixes things up and makes it a unique experience.

I hate spinning rides in general, and I can barely stand spinning coasters. Time Traveler is awesome.

Awesome, thanks! I keep seeing comparisons to Cobras Curse, which we really liked so that's gotten me a little more interested in peoples opinions on this one.

I was wondering when you'd make it over to ride and got all stoked when I saw you posted a report. I got the bottom and was like "Wait... WTF. where is the part about the ride?" and went back through the report like 2-3 times thinking I was crazy. All the other stuff is cool but as someone unfamiliar to this park the sprucing up/new additions to the area are definitely less interesting than wtf does Andrew think of this crazyass new ride!?!?

What did your son think?

I enjoyed the details in your trip report. Helpful, interesting and fun!

I'm now mildly curious--in that photo op picture frame (second pic), it looks like you can flip "rode" to something else if you didn't ride? What would the other word be? Neat little detail if I'm seeing that right.

I enjoyed the details in your trip report. Helpful, interesting and fun!

 

I'm now mildly curious--in that photo op picture frame (second pic), it looks like you can flip "rode" to something else if you didn't ride? What would the other word be? Neat little detail if I'm seeing that right.

It actually just says "didn't ride" on the other side! lol

^Awesome, and glad I asked! I was thinking "saw" or something but that's even better.

I have to really say, when I see what I see in your photos Andrew, the whole thing definitely looks "bigger on the inside."

Which makes the simple design and colouring of the load building itself, look all the more.... mysterious enough,

to see what's inside such a plain looking building.....not.

Awesome, thanks! I keep seeing comparisons to Cobras Curse, which we really liked so that's gotten me a little more interested in peoples opinions on this one.

 

I was wondering when you'd make it over to ride and got all stoked when I saw you posted a report. I got the bottom and was like "Wait... WTF. where is the part about the ride?" and went back through the report like 2-3 times thinking I was crazy. All the other stuff is cool but as someone unfamiliar to this park the sprucing up/new additions to the area are definitely less interesting than wtf does Andrew think of this crazyass new ride!?!?

 

What did your son think?

Ha, yeah, just totally skipped that paragraph. Don't know why, I'll blame the exhaustion.

I know you guys joke about Dorney's new chicken sandwich place, but when SDC builds a chicken sandwich place, it's actually worth getting excited over. Once you've been to Dollywood or Knoebels, that'll give you an idea.

I've heard really good things about Cobra's Curse, and I do intend to get to Florida at some point. If it's like a less crazy version of Time Traveler, I'll enjoy it for sure.

Evan doesn't talk a whole lot, but he was very excited to go on it, and he's been watching TPR's video of it on Youtube the last couple of days. Big smile throughout and after we got off. I think he enjoyed it.

queue looks awesome im guessing the photo op is greenscreen?

That trip report is great and the ride looks amazing. I wish I could get out there soon enough.

One little easter egg from the report is that

The person closest to the camera has my favorite bands hoody from their last tour (which I also have, which also matches my avatar) so I found that extra cool.

Hey Andrew - great report!

Glad to see that this coaster is something that you and your son could ride together!

With regards to the idiot that parked in the tram stop, I love SDC's response! I would have towed it to the furthest, most extreme spot away that I could so the person (or persons) would have to walk like a mile or more.

You wanna know where your car is?

You see this red dot? That's where your car is, a$$hole. Buh.

The last few switchbacks are very short and have a path kept clear with only a simple chain to the switchbacks, making it easy for the grouper to find just the right person, and for that person not to have to push past people awkwardly. Absolutely brilliant. I've never seen this before, but every coaster should have this. There are not enough superlatives to say how wonderful this is.

Omg, as a former grouper that's a dream come true. Every coaster with limited capacity NEEDS this. Love the report and all the pictures of the queue. It really doesn't seem sparse to me either, and everything they've done is quite tasteful.

I know you guys joke about Dorney's new chicken sandwich place, but when SDC builds a chicken sandwich place, it's actually worth getting excited over. Once you've been to Dollywood or Knoebels, that'll give you an idea.

And YES, new food options at parks like SDC or Dollywood are just as exciting as new coasters!!

So happy to hear all the reports about the controlled spinning. I was worried it would make me nauseous, but now I'm just excited to ride!

Hey guys, I visited the park on opening day and Loved it! Find out more in my Trip Report Here

Just a little off topic, but America's Fun Park down the road just announced they are adding a second roller coaster: the Windstorm coaster from Fun Forest!

^And so we meet again. (Maybe. Actually, probably not.) But for real, it's nice to see those Hurricane/Windstorms enjoying so many new lives. They're a bit more thrilling than most portable coasters.

queue looks awesome im guessing the photo op is greenscreen?

Yes, green screen.

Hey Andrew - great report!

 

Glad to see that this coaster is something that you and your son could ride together!

 

With regards to the idiot that parked in the tram stop, I love SDC's response! I would have towed it to the furthest, most extreme spot away that I could so the person (or persons) would have to walk like a mile or more.

Thanks! That is evil, and I totally approve. That was a first for me, seeing someone parked in a place that isn't a spot. That marker on your map is super far away, but there actually are a couple more lots even farther south on Indian Point Road. If you're looking on Google Maps, find Deer Run Motel. There's a road that comes off of Indian Point right across from there and runs parallel to it for a long way. That's SDC overflow parking all along there. Put that jackass at the end of that road/parking lot. Guaranteed they will never find their car.