Dallas Moms Blog received free admission to Silver Dollar City in order to provide this review.
Growing up in Dallas amusement parks sort of reached their peek for me in high school. After away, the grandeur of the park lost its appeal. The shows no longer seemed as glamorous as they once were. The buildings and backdrops that gave the illusion of being in another place revealed themselves as just storage buildings with a fake facades. The amusement park just became a hot (and slightly dirty) field trip destination and by the time I reached adult hood, I was over it.
Pulling up to the gates of Silver Dollar City, I only expected more of the same just in a different city. . . And I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Silver Dollar City IS what other amusement parks claim to be. A clean, entertaining, family-friendly park with roots from the days of miners, and Silver Dollar City doesn’t skimp on any of the details. Every employee dresses in character based on their role in the park. We were greeted by the Sheriff who “deputized” my boys. While browsing the Christmas shoppe, the cashiers greeted us in fun Christmas attire.
Even on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train, don’t be surprised if train robbers make an appearance for a “Stick-Up” attempt!
Throughout the park, you’ll find over 100 actual artisans selling their products from blacksmiths, glass blowers, and potters to bakers and master candy makers. There are more boutique shops and bakeries than we could possibly visit in one day–although I would have liked to have tried!
The rides and attractions are spread out around the center of the park like a wagon wheel, but there’s two things I’d do before starting your day and to help you manage your time.
1) Silver Dollar City has an amazing App for Android and iPhones that you can download straight to your phone that provides a GPS enabled map, estimated ride wait times, and daily entertainment schedules. (My advice: Download the app, and use it to buy your tickets!)
2) Visit the Official Measuring Station prior to going on any rides. Park employees measure your child’s height and provide a list of height-appropriate rides and a color coded wrist band to allow for easy ride entry. Don’t waste time trying to figure out if it’s a ride your child can go on. The wrist band makes it so easy!
There’s so much to do in Silver Dollar City including rides, shows, and attractions, make sure to plan out your day(s) before going!
If you visit before July 20th, make sure see the Flying Aces All Stars show in the Heritage Hall. “Created by three-time Olympian and freestyle skiing legend, Kris “Fuzz” Feddersen, this high-energy family show features Olympic athletes and hopefuls performing jaw-dropping ski and snowboard routines! The Flying Ace All-Stars are able to defy climate, geography and gravity by performing their breathtaking acrobatics on trampolines, an important training tool for competitive skiers and snowboarders.” You also might check out the Character Meet & Greet schedule for some of your kids favorite cartoon characters like Team Umizoomi, Backyardigans, and Scooby Doo.
No matter what time of year you visit Silver Dollar City, you’ll be in for a treat. Seven times a year they completely transform the park in a new theme. While we were visiting, the whole park was decorated in the Americana theme for Star-Spangled Summer. Other festivals include National Harvest & Cowboy Festival, An Old Time Christmas, World Fest, and Bluegrass & BBQ!
At the end of the day, when you’re needing a break from all the excitement (and are ready for a little break from the older kids), head over to the Geyser Gulch School. This is the “world’s largest treehouse” with a single entry/exit point for parents. The three-story structure has towers, bridges, water blasters, foam ball canons, and crawl spaces. While I wouldn’t allow my 3 year old go unsupervised, it was a great spot to let my husband rest in a shaded area with our napping 18 month old while the 3 year old got out some energy.
I could go on and on about how amazing our day was at this theme park, but I’ll stop at 700 words . . . and I didn’t even get into ways to explore Silver Dollar City from below in the Marvel Cave.
To get more information on Silver Dollar City and their annual schedule, visit: http://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park.aspx
**Dallas Moms Blog received free admission to Silver Dollar City in order to provide this review. All opinions are 100% our own and were not influenced by the sponsor.
I visited Silver Dollar City last year – searched google for discount tickets and tried finding a great deal. I think the site was http://www.BransonShowTickets.com – They were able to help me save some money on my trip. Worth a consideration for others.