Coaster Community

Christmas is an annual ACE event held at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.  This was our first ACE event and I can guarantee that it will not be out last.  If you’re a casual coaster junky like we were prior to becoming ACE members then you need to just go ahead and sign up.  The benefits of being in ACE are countless and far outweigh the annual membership fees.  If the events that are held across the country every year are only half as fun as Coaster Christmas then you need to sign up and start attending.  Our usually travel buddies have also become ACE members and they were nice enough to keep us company during the drive down and then split a condo with us in town.

I’ll cover the benefits that we received during the trip and you can investigate the similar benefits that you might receive in other parts of the country.  First we got access to the park before it opened to the general public, which lead to ERT (exclusive ride time) on both Fire in the Hole and Powder Keg.  The ERT’s are the real reason for the trip since the only people allowed in line are the ACE members and ACE guests in attendance.  This makes for a 23 second wait time between rides.  We rode Powder Keg so many times we actually started to get dizzy, which never happens on roller coaters.  Other benefits include meeting other ACE members from all over the country and comparing coaster counts.  The couple that we met from Wisconsin pretty much had everyone beat with a coaster count that exceeded 300.  We were also fed a lunch buffet in Molly’s Mill Restaurant and this is some of the best park food that we’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.  In fact most of the food in Silver Dollar City is among the best we’ve had in a theme park.  During the lunch we were presented with information from the Silver Dollar City’s General Manager and PR team about the 2006 park expansion.  SDC expansion is called the Grand Exposition and includes several rides and a new theme.  We also heard from World of Fun’s PR Manager Nick Guevel about Patriot, which is Worlds of Fun’s 2006 addition.  Patriot is an inverted B&M and it will bring huge smiles to the Coaster Community faces.

The 2005 event was during the first weekend in December and we were worried that cool weather would ruin this trip.  We got extremely lucky and weather was not a factor, it was cool but definitely bearable.  Once it got dark it started to feel a lot like Christmas but the huge crowds seemed to warm things up a bit.  Early in the day crowds were not an issue at all.  Once the park was opened to the general public we made our way over to Wildfire and were able to ride it several times without even getting off the train.  By 11am we had been Fire in the Hole twice, Powder Keg 8 times and Wildfire 5 times.  It was time for a quick break and Sprite to calm my stomach.  As the day went on the crowds grew exponentially and we’ve heard that this time of year brings in huge gangs of Christmas sightseers, which makes sense because SDC puts together a great Christmas scene with shows lights and decoration.  It really is a sight to behold.

Here’s a quick review of the Coasters.

Powder Keg:  8 out of 10
This is a launch coaster that is not the tallest or fastest but it is definitely one of the most enjoyable launch rides out there.  The layout and elements are unique and the ride seems to maintain it’s speed throughout most of the course.  There is a lift hill ¾ of the way through the ride that drops you into the final portion of the ride.  The seats are comfortable and the track is smooth as can be.  If you like air time then I recommend the back row on this one, you’ll spend more time in direct contact with you lap bar than you will with your seat.

Wildfire:  7 out of 10
Wildfire is similar to a floorless coaster because your feet don’t touch anything but there is a floor below you.  This ride is perched on the side of a wooded hill that over looks Table Rock Lake.  It’s one of the best coaster locations in the country.  The ride itself puts together a nice string of elements that offer the prefect amount of intensity.  This is another backseat ride at it’s best.

Thunderation:  5 out of 10
This is an interesting coaster because it doesn’t start with a lift hill.  Due to it’s hillside placement it coasts out of the loading station and down into a series of helixes.  Thunderation hugs the ground throughout the ride, which makes riders feel like they’re traveling faster than they actual are.  Once you clear the long tunnel it’s up the lift hill and then on to an exciting drop into the woods.

Fire in the Hole:  3 out of 10
We never pass up the opportunity to ride this one but don’t count on it being a “thrill” ride.  It’s indoor so it’s a nice break from the elements and the theming is cute but that’s about it for Fire in the Hole.

Other Attractions at Silver Dollar City

Marvel Cave:  5 out of 10
The cave is a nice break from the elements but not a break from walking, in fact it’s lot of walking.  I still recommend this attraction for everyone.  You’ll travel about 500 feet below the surface and experience some interesting scenery along the way.  The walking and stair climbing eventually ends with an awkward train ride back to the surface.

Tom Sawyer's Landing:  4 out of 10
This is a tree house attraction that is designed for kids and it features a lot of climbing nets and towers.  Since I’m basically an overgrown kid (that has never played laser tag) I take every opportunity I can to climb this monster and teach all the young one’s how it’s done.  I usually wind up in a race with one of the kids and I usually win.  Their tiny arms are no match for my Yeti like abilities.

The Flooded Mine:  4 out of 10
Another indoor break from the outdoor action.  This is a boat ride that takes a relaxing trip through a flooded mine, did I mention that they give you a gun?  That’s right boys and girls you get to shot stuff, well kind of.  It’s more like laser tag (not that I would know what that’s like) and it keeps track of how many targets you’ve hit.  This ride is more fun when you’re in a big group and we were lucky enough to ride this one with the 3 other couples.  The two from Wisconsin had the highest scores, which leads me to wonder if they have to hunt for their food up there?

Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train:  3 out of 10
I’m not a huge train fan but they do offer a nice break from all of the walking and some different views of the park.  This train also offers a small show half way through the ride.  The trees surrounding the track make this one of the better train rides out there.

Grandfather's Mansion:  2 out of 10
This is a wacky house with goofy mirrors and slanted floors.