Reading Time: 15 minutes The Best Silver Dollar City Review And Discounts 2024 From A Family Of Five!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure.
Silver Dollar City is an internationally award-winning 1880s-style theme park headquartered in Branson, Missouri. There are 40 thrilling rides, many attractions, unique shops, and live performances at Silver Dollar City Theme Park.
We visited and want to share our review and ideas for Silver Dollar City Discounts.
World class festivals and activities take place between Spring – December. Silver Dollar City has a street fest, harvest festival, amusement park rides, live shows, a Southern Gospel Picnic, Moonlight Madness, and so much more.
Is Silver Dollar City worth it? Yes! It was fun for our entire family.
We will share our review and observations of Silver Dollar City. We’ll also share ideas on how you can save money while at Silver Dollar City. It was actually a rather inexpensive trip, and we are family of 5.
Our close friends from Kansas have season passes to Silver Dollar City. They bring their whole family several times a year. This year they invited us to go with them to Branson.
They offered us guest passes. Kids 5 and under get in free, so all three of our kids were free. Despite being from Missouri, this was the first visit for our entire family.
We are a family on a budget so we are constantly looking for the best prices. We don’t have much income other than this blog, so we really need to watch our money.
Branson, MO was actually a refreshing trip. We could spend as little or as much money as we wanted. Lucky for our whole family, our tickets were free.
Branson is less than 4 hours from Kansas City, MO and St. Louis, Missouri. Branson is less than an hour from Springfield Missouri.
You can get 50% off of a Pogo Pass by using promo code CHACHING at checkout, making it just $49.99 ($39.99 for Kansas City). This discounted entertainment pass is a great way to enjoy entertainment for FREE all year long!
Table of Contents
Silver Dollar City Is Crowded
The park was packed. There were so many people there and it was a Thursday and Friday. Our friends with the season passes said they avoid coming in the summer because it gets so much more crowded.
There also seemed to be an endless number of parking lots. We parked in the free lots each day. A Free tram or bus shuttles you from the free lot to the park entrance and back again.
The best seating is actually in the back, since the back unloads first. There wasn’t much waiting around despite the crowd. The drivers were fun too.
Saying the park wasn’t a diverse crowd would be an understatement. The only accents were dialects.
Silver Dollar City Hours
Silver Dollar City’s operating hours are: Opens at 10a and the park closes at 6pm. We were somewhat surprised that this seemed early, but in all reality our kids were spent and exhausted by 6p.
Entering The Park
You will have to pass through metal detectors at the front gate. They were quick, even with the long lines and endless strollers. Any bags you bring in with you are also inspected and checked.
After you enter you’ll be asked if you want customer photos. The photographers were very friendly and not pushy (when we turned them down).
Are Video Cameras Allowed?
Yes, video recordings are allowed at the park. Many of the rides asked us to put our phones away, but otherwise they are allowed. In fact, the pictures in this blog post were taken by us on our trip.
Fun Rides And Activities For Little Kids
Our kids loved the giant swing, carousals etc. There are areas like The Grand Exposition and Fireman’s Landing that are little mini themed play areas with many rides for young kids like Lucky’s Dizzy Dogs. We had fun too.
The Flooded Mine was our kids’ favorite ride. You get in a boat that goes through a cave. You have a toy pistol and shoot at different targets throughout the cave. It’s like a fun game of laser tag, but in a boat and in a cave. We did in several times.
They also enjoyed a few of the live shows. We really wanted to see the Black Smith but he wasn’t available at the times we walked by. The taffy demonstration would have been fun too, but we just missed it.
Kids had to be 36 inches tall to do most of the kids rides. For the rides for older people, kids had to be 42 inches on some and 48 inches tall on others. It varied whether or not they needed to be with an adult.
There is also a large steam engine train that goes throughout the park. You’ll hear it frequently. Its loud.
Thrill Rides For Big Kids And Adults
It is an amusement park, so there are plenty of fun rides. There are several roller coasters. Time Traveler was a lot of fun, and somewhat frightening. On Time Traveler your seat spins so when you are upside down you are facing the people that were behind you.
The Giant Barn Swing is a huge pendulum that swings back and forth. Outlaw Run was a giant wooden roller coaster.
There are many great rides. Too many for our family to do in a weekend. There were also a lot of water rides like American Plunge. We heard about the Lost River ride, but that has since been replaced with Mystic River.
The people doing Mystic River were soaked. For $5 there are family drying stations. You basically stood in this room with warm fans blowing you dry, like at the end of a car wash.
We’ll have to save those for our next trip to Branson MO (weather permitting) since it was a little cold.
Live Shows & Entertainment!
In addition to amusement park rides, there is no shortage of Silver Dollar City attractions. Every day over 40 shows are presented in a number of theaters and amphitheaters that are completely free to visitors and rotate in different seasons.
Resident Craftsmen & Artisans Demonstrations
Watch skilled craftspeople demonstrate the creation of America’s heritage crafts with a small exhibition. Visitors get the chance to view carvers, quilters, and blacksmiths making incredible things like they were made in the 19th century! Our season ticket holder friends said the knife making demonstration was awesome.
We just missed out on the taffy making (because our kids were crashing for going on day 2 with no naps)
Missouri’s Deepest Caves
Missouri is known for its caves. Meremac Caverns is a popular destination and fun family attraction is mid Missouri. That said, Branson MO is home of Missouri’s deepest caves. Marvel Cave is one of the largest caves in Missouri.
Our friend said Silver Dollar City’s first attraction was Marvel Cave, and then they started building a theme park on top. The Marvel Cave tour is included with your admission. Expect the cave tour to last about an hour. It starts at the entrance to the park.
How Much Does It Cost For One Person To Go To Silver Dollar City?
The single-day ticket is $85.
Silver Dollar City tickets also offer two day passes for $105.
A 3 day pass to Silver Dollar City is $115. The multi-day pass is the best deal on a cost-per-day basis.
Seniors aged 65 and up and children aged 4-12 receive a discount of $10 off the adults ticket prices.
Children aged three and under are free of charge to the park.
There are also many Silver Dollar City deals, many of which we will cover shortly
How Much Are Season Passes To Silver Dollar City?
There are three tiers to Silver Dollar City season passes. Each of the packages are for ages 12-64. If you are older or younger than that there is a $10 discount. Kids aged 5 and under are free.
- Silver: $139 + tax
- Gold: $199 + tax
- Diamond: $249 + tax
So what do you get for the higher tiers? More guest passes, larger discounts, and more swag and souvenirs. If you go to the park often and don’t bring your own food then the higher tiers become a good deal.
You can also upgrade your single day ticket to a season ticket.
Vacation Packages – Silver Dollar City Value Packages
This Branson Tourism Center provides Branson’s largest ticketing source with the highest price available. The actual store was right in Branson MO and offered better discounts than online ticketing companies. . It is easy to combine different packages together.
Silver Dollar City’s summer, late summer, autumn, and Christmas Silver Dollar City discounts are available. Guests may combine SDC with local attractions and hotels.
Military Discounts
U.S. active or retired military, veterans, and military reservists, their spouses, and dependent children (ages 4-17) living in their household are eligible for a military discount on a single day ticket to the park. You must verify your eligibility online.
3 Day 2 Park Admission
Enjoy Silver Dollar City and Whitewater! The 3-Day 2 Park Tickets are flexible for 3 days and are valid for 5 days after the initial use at Silver Dollar City or White Water.
Get Free Tickets: Go To A Timeshare Presentation
For some, it may be difficult to think of even considering a timeshare. For people who like putting up with sales pitches you can sit through a sales pitch and the timeshare resorts will give you free Silver Dollar City tickets or admission to other attractions in Branson.
This varies depending on your vacation time. Typically, the agreement is made with different Branson show dates. Choose a date that you and your family want to go to Branson Missouri and look at SDC for tickets and pricing information.
Note: We are personally against timeshares. It is often a horrible deal, but for the sake of sharing ideas on discounts for tickets, this is an option.
Does A 3 year Old Need A Ticket For Silver Dollar City?
One- 2- or three day trips in Silver Dollar City tickets are free for kids under age 4.
How Much Does Silver Dollar City Cost For Seniors?
Note: Senior Citizens older than 65 are able to purchase tickets with a $10 discount off regular prices.
Note: Branson Missouri is very hilly. Plan accordingly. There were people in wheelchairs, but they seemed mostly motorized.
Do Locals Get A Discount On Tickets At Silver Dollar City?
Some businesses within the vicinity offer discounted tickets to the park and nearby attractions as a benefit. Contact your management or HR supervisor for details on your employer’s Silver Dollar City brochure or if reciprocal agreements exist.
We also tried to find Silver Dollar City deals at local grocery stores. The internet says there are Silver Dollar City $30 tickets at Price Cutter stores including Country Mart, Ramey, King Cash Saver, Food Pyramid, Bistro Market, and Summer Fresh.
But like many things on the internet, it seems too good to be true. The $30 tickets seem to have been from years ago. Your mileage may vary with this option.
sam’s club silver dollar city Coupons
If you are a member of Sam’s Club, Silver Dollar City tickets are up to 15% off.
What Is The Best Month For Silver Dollar City?
April is the best month to Visit. It is hardly an April Fool’s joke. This is the last day to buy Season pass to the park before ticket sales go away and price increases. The temperature in April is mild and the traffic is bearable.
Summer is usually preferred by families visiting children but also ideal when they love water rides. This means that summer is incredibly busy for the theme park.
Are The Rides At Silver Dollar City Free?
Yes, the rides are included with your Silver Dollar City ticket. The lines for most of the rides were pretty short. I asked how long the wait was during their busy seasons and was told the lines still move fast.
You can download the Silver Dollar City App and actually see the wait time for rides. Be careful though, if it shows a wait time of 0 that means there is no wait time or that ride’s wait time is wrong.
Does Silver Dollar City Still Do After 3 Next Day Is Free?
You can buy Silver Dollar City tickets for one-day admission after 3p and come back the following day for free. Just remember that the park closes at 6p.
Vacation Packages – Silver Dollar City Value Packages
The Branson Tourism Center provides Branson’s largest ticketing source with the better prices available. The actual store was right in Branson and offered better discounts than online ticketing companies.
It is easy to combine different packages together.
Silver Dollar City’s summer, late summer, autumn, and Christmas discounts are available. Guests may combine SDC with local attractions and hotels. The cost of the whole bundle is lower.
This is cheap and easy enough. You have the flexibility to choose the vacation activities that you want at one location.
Missouri State Employee Discount And Coupon Code
Missouri state employees can purchase discounted tickets to Silver Dollar City, White Water Waterpark and Showboat Branson Belle.
If you work for the state of Missouri, you can save up to 15% on tickets to Silver Dollar City, White Water Waterpark, and Showboat Branson Belle with a promo code.
Discount Tickets Silver Dollar City: It’s Who You Know
For us, our Silver Dollar City tickets were free because our friends are Silver Dollar City season ticket pass holders.
If you’ve got a good friend working on Silver Dollar City properties, ask them for free Silver Dollar City tickets.
Silver Dollar City property in Branson includes White Water, Branson Belle Show Boat, Stone Mountain, and Dixie Stampede (a joint venture with Dolly Parton).
Employees of these properties receive 2 complimentary tickets per pay check. You might be able to find these in Facebook groups too.
A Few More Silver Dollar City Discounts
Silver Dollar City offers a variety of ticketing options and special offers for visitors.
Although there are no direct $30 tickets available on their official website, they do have several promotional deals that may help reduce the overall cost of admission.
For instance, they offer an option where theme park visitors can get 3 days of access for just an additional $30 per ticket.
This is a great deal for visitors planning to spend multiple days at the park. Additionally, they provide discounts for different age groups and military personnel.
It’s interesting to note that the cheapest Silver Dollar City tickets are reportedly available on Thursdays only at a local Branson grocery store.
Silver Dollar City Dress Code
We didn’t see anything you wouldn’t expect to see, but Silver Dollar City’s dress policy is:
We request that swimwear be limited to children 8 and under (shirt and shorts/pants required before boarding any ride); all others wearing swimwear are required to wear an appropriate cover-up at all times. Guests wearing clothing that may be offensive or inappropriate (including profanity or suggestive material) will be asked to change. Shirts & shoes must be worn at all times. The use of shoes with built-in skates or wheels is prohibited.
It may be much worse in the summer when it is hot and people are wearing less. But since we went in April, people were dressed normally.
As far as offensive and suggestive comments on shirts, our friend theorized that it probably helps that Branson is so far away because it means most teenagers are there with their parents (unlike Six Flags).
Six Flags Compared To Silver Dollar City
My friend asked me to compare Silver Dollar City to Six Flags Amusement Parks. Silver Dollar City was much more family friendly and considerably cleaner. The staff all had smiles and treated you like they were the first person they saw.
Six Flag doesn’t have that degree of customer care. It was also much less diverse. Another difference is Silver Dollar City is a theme park that feels like you know the thrill rides are free and you expect to pay money at the “shacks”.
This is contrasted with Six Flags (and as my season pass holder friend said about Sea World), which makes you feel like you are paying for the thrill rides but paying extra for vendors. It’s a subtle but very meaningful tilt in spending expectations.
Food Options At Silver Dollar City
You can bring your own food and drinks into Silver Dollar City. This is obviously the best way for you and your family to save money at the park.
There are also food kiosks everywhere for your family. There are many food options. Our friends said the pizza place was surprisingly good. Otherwise, there is no shortage of food. Given the number of people there expect to stand in line.
There are also some fun food options. There are “homemade” fudge and taffy stores. Some of the vendors offer taffy demonstrations.
The taffy was fun because it gave us a chance to teach our 4-year-old about value. We gave him $3 to spend on whatever he wanted.
He walked out spending $2.44 and wanted to save the $0.56 instead of buying more taffy. We were so proud.
Our friends purchased the “Tasting Passport”. It lets you try 5 different things at the park for $32.50. It doesn’t even need to be from the same place.
The tasting Passport seemed like a pretty good food deal since we spent $12 for a single food item (some kind of loaded tater tot and mac and cheese mash-up). The Tasting Passport is only available at select times.
Plus their family had an additional 10% off for having season passes.
Silver Dollar City During Christmas
If you like Christmas lights, there at Christmas time there is an estimated 6.5 million lights on display. They actually have a very popular old time Christmas Festival.
We went to Branson in early Spring. Our friends told us how amazing Silver Dollar City is at Christmas. It was easy to picture Silver Dollar City at Christmas. Silver Dollar City has so many “shacks” that could be lit with beautiful Christmas lights.
It also seems like Branson Missouri would be incredibly crowded during Christmas.
A Silver Dollar City Christmas visit to the park and city might be a one time thing. If you can time Christmas travel to Branson, it may be worth it.
A Few Other Observations And Tips
- Silver Dollar City was a very family-friendly environment
- We didn’t see anyone drinking any alcoholic beverages. We don’t mind drinking, but it was nice to see Silver Dollar City was trading this huge revenue source for maintaining its brand values. Instead, they focus on family fun.
- It was nice that there were designated smoking areas. We don’t smoke, but it was nice to see the areas instead of smelling smoke. It was also nice to see not too many people in the areas.
- There are many live shows and concerts. We didn’t see any other than pop-up entertainment like a one-man band and a few random bands.
- We did not spend much time in Branson, Missouri. Almost all of our time was in Silver Dollar City. Why? Our friends with season Silver Dollar City tickets warned us about traffic in Branson, MO. Branson is a tourist trap, and the main strip in the city feels like Vegas (without the diversity).
- Due to our aversion to traffic, we stayed in Branson West, instead of going into the city of Branson. We grabbed lunch and Pickin Porch for dinner, which was actually a nice experience. The portions were large, and the food (for being in the back of a flea market).
- We didn’t do any shows or world-class festivals, but for the best seating, our friends recommended that you get advance reservations.
- Silver Dollar City claims to address Special Requests. We didn’t have any so we don’t know what flexibility they have. We presume it’s like modern-day flight attendants, where they say they can do anything for you, and cant. So your mileage may vary.
Silver Dollar City is worth the trip
Experience Branson’s most famous attractions, and one of the nation’s most popular theme parks. Silver Dollar City has over 3 million visitors each year, and we can see why.
It was an amazing time for our entire family. There is just so much entertainment in this great place for family fun in Silver Dollar City. We recommend, if you have kids, that you visit SDC.
There is also so much to do if you visit Branson Missouri. We just didn’t want to deal with the overly tourist and expensive activities in the city of Branson.