We get it. Family outings with kids always sound fun…in theory. Then you get to the circus with your toddler and wonder if the handler will notice you’ve traded your cranky tot for a more mild-mannered chimpanzee.
Still, as parents, we want to give our kids cherished childhood memories. Preferably where mom still has all of her hair, and nobody is yelling or crying. But that kind of magic takes pre-planning and some secrets from the ghosts of mom’s pasts (at least for me, it does).
Photo Courtesy of Silver Dollar City Facebook
Heads up: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click and buy—we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read more about it here.
If you’ve wanted to visit Silver Dollar City with young children but need to know how to make that a smooth experience, we’ve got you covered! Here are our collective tips, tricks, and sanity-saving hacks to make Silver Dollar City with kids a more enjoyable experience.
Pre-Planning Silver Dollar City with Kids
While you can take your children to SDC solo, the question is, “Do you really want to?” Having an extra adult in the group is not only good planning, but it becomes a matter of survival when the littles start outnumbering the grownups. Having extra hands on deck will help you:
Enjoy thrill rides.
Use the bathroom in peace.
Soothe a cranky kid who needs a break.
Distract during long lines.
Certain season pass holders can get guests in at a heavily discounted rate if you need to sweeten the pot on an accomplice.
Deciding when to go is another critical aspect of pre-planning. If you’re looking for smaller crowds, I’d definitely steer clear of the opening week (mid-March), Black Friday, and the week before Christmas. I’ve waited 45 minutes just to get a drink during these seasons, and the park is so crowded it’s hard to walk through, let alone navigate a stroller. In my opinion Tu-Th late Spring, early Summer, or Fall is prime time to take on Silver Dollar City with my children.
>>If you're looking for more ways to spend time together with the kids, check out this 👉 list of 50 ideas <<
Download the Silver Dollar City app before you go. You’ll be able to purchase your tickets on it beforehand, and once you’re there, you can:
Get GPS-enabled directions to attractions.
See ride wait times for better planning.
Create a custom itinerary of desired activities.
The general consensus is to get to SDC an hour before the park opens (8:30 am). You can beat a swarm of crowds and eat breakfast buffet style at Molly’s Mill Restaurant on Main Street. Honestly, I’ve arrived at all hours of the morning, and even at its busiest, the wait has never been intolerable.
Silver Dollar City Packing Checklist for Kids
Knowing what to take will help you create a successful day at Silver Dollar City with kids. The theme park allows you to bring in outside food (except for alcohol or glass containers). We use a backpack cooler that is leak-proof, with multiple pockets eliminating the need for a purse and providing extra storage for diapers/wipes. Its versatility makes it ideal for hiking or camping trips too.
If you want to save a few bucks, I recommend packing a cooler with the following:
Drink pouches and water
Uncrustables or sandwiches
Apple sauce or fruit slices
String cheese
Fruit snacks
Should you bring a stroller or a wagon? SDC allows both. Should you get there and find that you need a stroller and didn’t bring one, you can rent single or double strollers for the day. Let’s break the choice down into pros and cons.
Strollers Pros
Compact & easy to maneuver
Sleeping kids keep on cruising
Many have a built-in sunshade
Buckle-in protection
Stroller Cons
Strollers have limited capacity
It can be clunky depending on size
One child, one seat
Wagon Pros
More seating options for bigger kids
Doubles as a storage tote
Usefulness beyond a theme park
Kids can nap lying down
Wagon Cons
Generally bulkier
It can get heavy with load
Lack of sunshade
My family has used both. We enjoy the versatility of the wagon. I have this red collapsible
wagon with built-in cup holders. When it’s folded, it's as easy to manage as a compact stroller making it simple to get on the park’s free trams.
Alright, on to water rides and wet days. Springtime in the Ozarks often means April showers and chances you’ll get rained on. Pro tips: if you experience more than 90 minutes of consecutive rain during your visit, the park will give you an extra free pass. However, there are also water rides and splash areas where you and your family might get wet. Prepare for water by packing these items:
Ponchos
Change of socks & shoes
Waterproof phone pouch
Plastic shoes for water rides
How to Survive Silver Dollar City with Children
Remember when we suggested an extra adult? Line swapping. Perhaps you’re a thrill seeker and want to enjoy a few rides, but the kids aren’t quite ready for that. SDC allows rider swaps where one adult stays with the children while the other rides. When the ride comes back, the other adult gets to take a turn. This way, everyone gets what they want out of the day. You can refer to your SDC app to check the wait times before deciding which rides to tackle. Other noteworthy features include:
Lockers are assigned by PIN. You can take your items with you to 7 different locations throughout the park and keep the same PIN.
Kid meals are available at Wagon Works Grill, Lumber Camp Restaurant, Rivertown Smokehouse, Buckshot’s Skillet, and Lady Liberty Dining Pavilion.
Refillable mugs offer an incomparable discounted price and are valid for an entire season.
Getting wristbands for younger children at the Official Measuring Station located in Fireman’s Landing saves time measuring for each ride.
Opt to pick up any purchased merchandise at the Ozark Marketplace instead of lugging it around all day.
Theme parks are exhausting for adults. They’re downright tuckering for kids! SDC has done a fantastic job accommodating families with young children. They have four nursing stations that provide air conditioning in quiet locations throughout the park. They’ve also included calming family spaces for guests with sensory processing disorders. These peaceful havens offer overloaded kids a comforting environment to disconnect from the chaos and refresh their batteries in a clean, cooled environment.
If you don’t need a whole space to get away, I like to use the train ride as a mid-day break. SDC’s train ride offers shade, a breeze, and a mid-ride show. For our family, it’s the perfect place just to take a pause and then keep on moving.
Want More Time at Silver Dollar City with Your Family?
If you’re looking to extend your adventure and spend more time at Silver Dollar City, there are some fantastic options. Before we go on, I want to throw out that you get free next-day tickets if you come to the park after 3 pm. That’s important information before we go on.
SCD offers its own campground. You could cruise into Branson, Missouri, set up camp, and check out other attractions like Branson’s Landing, then enter the park at 3 pm with free admission the next day. For other dining suggestions, check out the 10 best places to eat in Branson.
However, if camping isn’t your preferred choice, there are still plenty of hotels and vacation rentals in the famous Ozark town of Branson; let us help you snag a deal. Many hotels offer shuttle service to the park, while vacation rentals provide a home away from home feel. Check out this brightly colored cottage that sleeps four and includes pool access.
That was a lot of information. We hope it helps you feel adequately prepared to take on Branson’s Silver Dollar City with kids and achieve a major victory and cherished memories.