Silver Dollar City...any tips or suggestions?

[jrsharp21]

We were planning on going to WDW/Universal this coming Spring Break. After pricing it out, we decided to change plans. Our friends went to Branson, MO over Thanksgiving break and went to Silver Dollar City and loved it. So we are now headed to Silver Dollar City for Spring Break. We are also looking to do other things nearby in Branson.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay? Ultimately it would be nice to stay on or near the lake.

Besides the theme park, water park, and the lake boat dinner cruise, any other suggestions on entertainment?

 

[bjscheel]

When we went to Branson, we loved the Dixie Stampede. We also had a great time at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park with a bike ride and the tram ride. Very beautiful there. You can also just walk the trails instead of renting bikes. Ride the Ducks was fun. In addition, a little bit north of Branson is the National Tiger Sanctuary which was very interesting, plus DD14 loves tigers. Our niece now works there.

We got SDC tickets on ReserveBranson.com to get 2 days for the price of 1. It is not associated with a timeshare pitch. I think we also got Dixie Stampede tickets there.

We stayed here:
http://www.tallpinesbranson.com/#!refuge/c124v

Found it on VRBO. It is pretty close to the lake, though when we were there in 2012, the nearest lake access was closed so we weren't able to check it out. The only time we were on the lake was on the Duck. Those owners also have a couple of other properties to rent on the same 40 acres. It is on the south side of the lake, so you do have to go around it to get to most attractions. Very nice to be out in the woods though.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

I second the Dixie Stampede as well as the Tiger Sactuary. My Inlaws live there so we've been several times. My girls also enjoyed the Butterfly Palace. We always stay in the Cabins at Green Mountain. They are very spacious and we always get one with a hot tub on the back deck.
http://www.reservationcounter.com/h...s at +green +mountain +branson&hotelid=229518

Silver Dollar city is beautiful and always a great time. We have yet to do a zip line but that's on our list for next time.

 

[jrsharp21]

I noticed that right now they have annual passes to SDC that are cheaper than the price of a two day ticket. And with each annual pass, you get 5 guest passes. My wife and I were thinking that we could both get the annual pass and then the two kids could use the guess passes for their tickets. I will have to price it out to see if that option is cheaper than the 2 for 1 deal.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We were planning on going to WDW/Universal this coming Spring Break. After pricing it out, we decided to change plans. Our friends went to Branson, MO over Thanksgiving break and went to Silver Dollar City and loved it. So we are now headed to Silver Dollar City for Spring Break. We are also looking to do other things nearby in Branson.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay? Ultimately it would be nice to stay on or near the lake.

Besides the theme park, water park, and the lake boat dinner cruise, any other suggestions on entertainment?

If you want to be on the lake stay on Indian Point. It is right next to SDC.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I noticed that right now they have annual passes to SDC that are cheaper than the price of a two day ticket. And with each annual pass, you get 5 guest passes. My wife and I were thinking that we could both get the annual pass and then the two kids could use the guess passes for their tickets. I will have to price it out to see if that option is cheaper than the 2 for 1 deal.

Friend just posted this on FB last night & I was going to suggest it.

Whitewater (the water park) won't be open during Spring Break. It's Missouri - it could snow LOL

 

[Mizzoufan]

check out Chateau on the lake.http://www.chateauonthelake.com/

If you go after 3pm you get in the next day free at Silver Dollar City

 

[camreesmom]

How old are your kids? Ours really enjoyed the Dixie Stampede, Ride the Ducks and the Titanic museum. We also went to Tracks Family Fun where they have different go kart tracks, an arcade and bumper boats. Our kids were ages 10, 14 and 17 and the shows they liked the best were Clay Cooper and SIX.

We stayed at the Westgate resort and really enjoyed all the space. Just don't attend one of their timeshare pitches. I think it took us 4 hours to get out of there!

 

[dennis99ss]

Big Cedar Lodge is to outdoors what WDW onsite resorts is to Disneyworld. That is to say, everything at the resort is outdoor/ozark themed, from the furniture, to the carpets, to the amenities to the wall coverings, art, etc.

It is maybe 45 minutes from SDC.

One word of caution, SDC is no Disney. It felt more like Six Flags to me, but opinions do vary. So, have your expectations on the right track before you go to avoid any disappointment.

Hit the cave at SDC.

Moonshsine tour was interesting. http://www.copperrundistillery.com/

Titanic is good to walk through.

Fishing on the lake will be good at spring break. Probably trout season, I think. Big Cedar and others have guides to assist.

wax museum was ok.

branson landing was just a mall it felt like.

Bass Pro Shops premier store is in springfield, about 1-1.25 hours away.

dogwoods canyon.

have fun.

unless there is snow on the ground, for golf, murder rock is an interesting track. there is a payne stewart (i think)track, and top of the rock is a par 3, which hosts the senior tour during the year.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Big Cedar Lodge is to outdoors what WDW onsite resorts is to Disneyworld. That is to say, everything at the resort is outdoor/ozark themed, from the furniture, to the carpets, to the amenities to the wall coverings, art, etc.

It is maybe 45 minutes from SDC.

One word of caution, SDC is no Disney. It felt more like Six Flags to me, but opinions do vary. So, have your expectations on the right track before you go to avoid any disappointment.

Hit the cave at SDC.

Moonshsine tour was interesting. http://www.copperrundistillery.com/

Titanic is good to walk through.

Fishing on the lake will be good at spring break. Probably trout season, I think. Big Cedar and others have guides to assist.

wax museum was ok.

branson landing was just a mall it felt like.

Bass Pro Shops premier store is in springfield, about 1-1.25 hours away.

dogwoods canyon.

have fun.

unless there is snow on the ground, for golf, murder rock is an interesting track. there is a payne stewart (i think)track, and top of the rock is a par 3, which hosts the senior tour during the year.

Just for reference, trout fishing is on Lake Tanycomo. The main lake in Branson is Table Rock Lake.

Tanycomo starts directly below the Table Rock spillway (there's a trout hatchery there as well, free to visit), and runs past Branson Landing. SDC sits above Table Rock.

 

[ANforever1030]

You might also check out College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. It is only six miles south of downtown Branson and has a small museum, hotel and restaurant. I went to school there (as did my parents) and it is unique in that every student has their tuition paid for by working on campus.

If you want shopping there are multiple outlet malls, and there are numerous small theatres that house various shows, but Dixie Stampede is definitely one of the best entertainment values.

 

[jrsharp21]

Thanks guys. Really sounds like a cool place to visit. But I did mention to my wife that since we are going in March, it is possible there may be snow there. We are driving up from Texas, so driving in snow would be a concern of ours. So now we are contemplating if we should really do this or not for Spring break because of the possible weather.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Just so you know, odds are 10-1 there'll be no snow. But, it "can" happen. It snowed on my wedding day & my anniversary is April 1st.

 

[Skippy918]

SDC was lots of fun. We were there in June so we were able to go to the waterpark. We also did zip lines. If your kids are young, there's one place there that lets the kids do tandem zip lining with a parent. Mine loved it.
We didn't do any shows.

 

[dennis99ss]

You are right gumbo4x4. taneycomo. Great trout fishing. Arms get tired from pulling them in, release, and pull another in. It's been two years maybe, but I think its artificial bait at spring break.

I have driven it from TX at spring break. Not bad drive. One time it did snow, but that is certainly not something that should keep you from going. If it snows it will be gone soon at that time of year.

I think we found the quickest route was to take 45/75 north to Oklahoma, hit 40 over to ft smith(????? Maybe. Or where a school is) and then head up. It's faster than going through Texarkana to little rock and up, or through Texarkana and up through hot springs. (the hot springs and little rock routes are scenic though)