Silver Dollar City Theme Park Aka Hershend Corp. Advertise attractions as available which turn out to be unavailable to guests.Don't divulge this when selling tickets& won't give refund when it is discovered Branson Missouri

I have lived off and on in southwest Missouri for the past 30 years and have attended SDC over and over and over during those years. In fact, I am a current season pass holder. I have continued returning to the park over and over again for the past 30 years because there are always great and fun rides, superb shows and tons of super friendly employees. I have never had a bad experience or unfortunate situation as stated in the original post, so in my opinion, chances are you will have a fantastic time and want to return time and time again. When comparing to other theme parks, SDC seems to have all rides functioning much more often than other theme parks I've attended and the employees seem genuinely happy and much more friendly (even on the 100 degree + days).

One thing I would really like to commend SDC on is the treatment of those with disabilities. We have a 9 yr old mentally and physically handicapped son who is confined to a wheelchair. SDC does not require we purchase a ticket for him, and he is treated so special by everyone there. When we first arrive into the welcome center to get his comp ticket, everyone pays him tons of attention, addresses him by name and takes special care to let us know what rides he can ride and how the rides work for him. As we enter the park, the employees take the time to notice him and speak to him (which is a very uncommon thing). When we come up to the rides he is able to ride, we are brought up to the front (at our designated time if there is a wait) and our whole group is placed on the ride together with him. The employees are always smiling and very helpful with our entering and exiting the rides. We have been to other theme parks with him where we have to pay full price for his admission and there are very few to no rides he is able to ride and people rarely if ever explain a procedure or have special entry into a ride for him. This is exactly why we will continue to return over and over again to SDC.  Great job, SDC! We love you!!

I am the customer who filed the report after the day from hell at Silver Dollar City last May.I took the time to make the post to try to prevent what happened to me from happening to anyone else,especially thinking of people who might travel a long distance to visit Silver Dollar City.

I too have been at the park on days when things seemed to be going pretty smoothly but that doesn't change the fact that customers who pay to enter Silver Dollar City are playing roulette because there are also days when customers do not get what they paid for and by the time they are inside and realize this their money is already gone.

Hey, I told you to try to help you. If you disregard it and go to the park and have a good experience I'm happy for you.If you blow off what I tried to warn you about and get inside the park only to have Hershends also rip you off, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

I'm afraid I find it hard to believe that these responses to my post aren't actually posted by Silver Dollar City,instead of mostly by other non-employee customers as is stated.

You went too early in the season to a (Northern) amusement park. Most amusement parks operate on a limited schedule after the winter months and many of the rides are still in need of servicing before they are opened to the public. The only benefit of going early in the season is if you have small children that would be two small for the bigger rides that would normally be the ones that are still being serviced. This is because there are hardly any people in the parks this early in the season and practically zero wait times for the rides. However, you run the risk of having the more complex rides still being closed when you get there so it is sort of like a choice you need to make. 1. A calm day with the 4-year-old in an uncrowded park with only a handful of bigger rides not open, or a busy day the park with a 13-year-old in the middle of July with all of the rides available. This usually holds true unless there is a problem with a particular ride. Hope this helps. Regardless, please call the park in question in advance as to what rides are available. Especially if your going before mid June.

the Waterboggan had actually not opened for the season at that time. so it was not a lack of employees, or anything else. it was just still too cold to allow the guests to become soaking wet and then walk around all day.

I can assure you that the reason those particular rides were not functioning was NOT because the company is short staffed.

yes, they realize that you spent your hard earned money to visit the park. They realize you want to ride the attractions, and they realize it frustrates you when they are temporarily shut down.

And they work their hardest to keep the rides clean and running. really, that is their first priority, is to make sure that guests are having a good time.

but sometimes, other circumstances get in the way and certain rides have to shut down for a few hours. but the employees- even if you can't SEE them- are doing their best to solve any problems.

Also, the Waterboggan had actually not opened for the season at that time. so it was not a lack of employees, or anything else. it was just still too cold to allow the guests to become soaking wet and then walk around all day.

My family and I have been visiting Silver Dollar City for at least 6 years. In all those years I have never had an experience like the one mentioned. We are season ticket holders and have visited the park year round without ever experiencing letdowns like Jane Doe from Nixa mentioned. All I can say is she might try the park again. I am sure she will have a better experience. I have never known anyone there to have any attitude other than helpful and friendly. The best times to go are usually in the spring and fall just after school starts. The lines are next to nothing and you can ride almost nonstop all day long if you wish.
I really think that the ripoff warning in this case is not deserved. If you are concerned about prices...go to any Six Flags and compare them to Silver Dollar City and you will appreciate SDC even more! (SDC's food is like eating at a five star restaurant compaired to any Six Flags!)

My biggest complaint about Silver Dollar City is the high prices, but I understand it is necessary to turn a profit while also providing consumers with such entertaining shows, high talent, fun and safe rides, and places to relax and for the kids to enjoy. I go to Silver Dollar City multiple times a year. Indeed, in 2009 alone I've taken my three children about six to eight times already. I've never seen anything like what this complaint is referring to. The Waterboggan hasn't been opened yet that I've seen, but I have seen it being worked on so I assume there's a problem and that the park is trying to fix it. The Fire in the Hole has gone down several times, but that's always been because someone has lost a shoe or something, and the staff is looking for it for the person and for safety reasons. Nobody wants an accident because someone's shoe fell on a rail.

Compared to other amusement parks and attractions I've been to, Silver Dollar City is quite above average as far as rides working and running. Also, the staff is very friendly. I've never once had a complaint about any of the wonderful people who work there. In fact, I strongly recommend you say hi to the wonderful Saloon people, Miss Whoopsie Daisy, the train staff, and the tall man who works at the Lost River, telling you about the ride before you walk the rest of the way up to it. These are among my very favorites of the employees. I don't know how the company treats their employees as of recently, but I do know these people are great people to talk to, are very helpful and friendly, and are just all around worth getting to know.

I would like to note that I drive about two hours one way to visit Silver Dollar City. My kids and I consider the pretty yet long drive well worth it. We will be visiting tomorrow to see Kids Fest! I am sorry the person who wrote this complaint had such a bad day, but I hope that my response will help other consumers see that this is likely just an unfortunate fluke and not an example of a typical day at Silver Dollar City.

My suggestion is that before you drive to the park, you call and talk to the wonderful phone operators and simply ask them to try and check for you to see what rides are down for repairs or because employees called in sick or whatever. It wouldn't help in the situation of a lost shoe on Fire in the Hole, but it could give you a better idea of what you can expect that day at the park. Luckily Silver Dollar City is wonderfully large and has lots of things to do even if a few rides or attractions are down for a time or even the entire day. I can pretty much guarantee that if you go with a smiling face, you are going to greatly enjoy the park.

Enjoy Silver Dollar City! My family and I sure does. :)

I will just say, I go to silver dollar city at least 5-6 times a year and I have never seen the problems this lady is describing.

yes the occational ride is down for maintenance, but I've never seen the park like that unless there was a danger of lightning. i have always gotten good food and had fun every time I've gone.

I will just say, I go to silver dollar city at least 5-6 times a year and I have never seen the problems this lady is describing.

yes the occational ride is down for maintenance, but I've never seen the park like that unless there was a danger of lightning. i have always gotten good food and had fun every time I've gone.

I will just say, I go to silver dollar city at least 5-6 times a year and I have never seen the problems this lady is describing.

yes the occational ride is down for maintenance, but I've never seen the park like that unless there was a danger of lightning. i have always gotten good food and had fun every time I've gone.

I will just say, I go to silver dollar city at least 5-6 times a year and I have never seen the problems this lady is describing.

yes the occational ride is down for maintenance, but I've never seen the park like that unless there was a danger of lightning. i have always gotten good food and had fun every time I've gone.