PKI extends season...again

I was just thinking - this could be one positive side to global warming!

How does Silver Dollar City have more to offer inside than Dollywood does and why would the difference of a couple showplaces maybe be deciding for only one of the two parks to go year-round if so? SDC has The Flooded Mine and Fire in the Hole as totally enclosed indoor rides and Dollywood has Blazing Fury and the Smokey Mountain Wilderness Tours. They both have plenty of shops, food places, crafts, walkthroughs, etc.

I don't know why they'd treat the two differently, especially when Dollywood gets the higher attendance numbers unless they were testing at one or the other to see if it would work. I couldn't predict which one that would be either by attractions nor attendance, because it's way too close.

+Danny

To kinda support what I think the "Lord" is getting at look at it this way the Buffalo Zoo is opened year round (or at least it was- with all the budget cuts not sure anymore!) as is their carousel and little train ride and people still go and walk around out in the cold! I could definately see a park doing the same thing- add a dark ride or two or maybe an indoor coaster and you've got stuff to do when the weather is bad.

Only problem seems to be that parks that have say a carousel and a few indoor rides have them spread around the park so opening one area may prove difficult and designing an area for winter operation leaves the issue of what to do with the area in the summer.

Ahh, that's a great example. Many zoos in less favorable climates are open year round.

And if people are willing to stare at goats in their long underwear, then I imagine you could lure them to an amusement park as well.

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DragonRider said:
I was just thinking - this could be one positive side to global warming!

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No, because in a few years, the parks will be open during the winters only because the summers will be too hot. :(

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+Danny said:
How does Silver Dollar City have more to offer inside than Dollywood does...

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Silver Dollar City indoor attractions...

• 5 indoor show venues (7 outdoor ;))
• Marvel Cave
• Fire in the Hole
• Great Shoot Out
• Grand Father's Manshion
• Tom's Tree House
• 60 shops (all but 10 indoors)
• 16 different craft demonstration buildings
• 11 indoor restaurants

Dollywood indoor attractions...

• 3 indoor show venues
• Smoky Mountain River Adventures
• Blazing Fury
• 40 shops (both indoor/outdoor combined)
• 12 different craft demonstration buildings
• 8 indoor restaurants (might be more, but that's what I counted)

Is that proof enough for you +Danny? Also you mentioned yourself that they have terrible ice storms there - they don't in Branson.

*** Edited 8/25/2005 7:30:06 PM UTC by Swoosh***

I didn't mention the ice storms myself and you're being sketchy and leaving out things and numbers at Dollywood including outdoor show venues, walkthrough attractions, etc. So no, that's not enough. Come back when you have *all* the numbers and attractions. K bye. =p

Edit: At Dollywood, I'm finding 4 indoor (plus 4 outdoor) showplaces, 30 total places to get food at, 40 shops, the Schoolhouse, the Chapel, the Cave, the Treehouse, Dollywood's Tennessee Mountain Home, and Chasing Rainbows. Both parks have plenty of festivals too and they're overall on the same level. You know, Dollywood mastering the quality and Silver Dollar City bringing them in with the quantity (just playing there). If anyone's *counting* shops and eateries in making a decision to go to the park, then buy a gym membership and get out more. ;)

+Danny *** Edited 8/25/2005 10:18:54 PM UTC by +Danny***

Swooshy, there you go again with this whole Silver Dollar City is better than Dollywood thing. If there is some sort of battle going on between the two parks, I'm certainly not aware of it. Must be some sort of personal issue...

As for the comment about Dollywood not having enough indoor capacity, it doesn't seem to be a problem on the cold December nights. The park can easily seat over 7,000 people in six enclosed theatres, and the restaurants, shops, and walk-through attractions take care of everyone else.

Anyway, like I said above, Smoky Mountain weather is less than desirable during mid-winter, so I doubt Dollywood would attempt to operate during Jan/Feb.

Fine with me, I'd much rather the park bring back the 10pm closing time in the summer rather than extend the operating season even more.

*** Edited 8/25/2005 10:26:35 PM UTC by Dukeis#1***

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Lord Gonchar said:
Ahh, that's a great example. Many zoos in less favorable climates are open year round.

And if people are willing to stare at goats in their long underwear, then I imagine you could lure them to an amusement park as well.

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Not really Gonch. Zoos have to continue to feed and care for the animals and make what money they can so it's not really a stretch to have it open year round in the cold climates. The 2 zoos here in Chicago during the winter have minimal staffing and most of the animals are in their indoor exhibits (except the one that like the cold of course).

You basically walk from one indoor exhibit to the other and can only eat at the few indoor restaurants that are provided. Everything else is pretty much closed.

Dukeis he picked the fight I just showed him why I felt that way. It has nothing to do with SDC vs DW it has to do with more indoor stuff for the cold months. There are 4 indoor theatres (Showstreet, Celebrity, Pines and Heartsong) at Dollywood.

Danny+, I counted the restaurants and you are correct on total number, but still there are not that many indoor sit-down restaurants (8). Also I will admit that I forgot Chasing Rainbows. That definitely counts. I am curious about this cave you mentioned though. Finally I purposely left off the Church and Home as both parks have these.

I'm not going to go into a "versus" battle all I did was show you what you wanted. It was YOU TWO that are making it into a "versus" battle. Both parks are just fine and are DIFFERENT whether you want to admit it or not.

Oh, I'm the one that has a problem with the parks being different? Oh well, it seems to me that your the one who keeps complaining about Dollywood not being Silver Dollar City.

As for the theaters, the park completely encloses the Valley Theatre and Wings of America during SMC. The other four indoor theaters- Showstreet Palace, Celebrity Theatre, Pines Theatre, and Heartsong Theatre, each have a capacity of 1,000+ guests, or with the Celebrity Theatre, 2,000.

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Now, back to Kings Island...

Dukeis, you didn't even say anything on this thread until you noticed I had posted something that mentioned Dollywood in it. Please grow up.

As far as King's Island extending their season, I hope it goes well for them.

Shaggy, I'm sure John knows that. He was making a funny ;).