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We refrained from visiting this year. There were a few weekends where we talked about going to Fright fest, but figured the experience would ultimately be a crappy one so we'd wait it out. Sounds like the right decision was made. I really don't have much to add here that hasn't been said as of late, but I'll pile on. My family of 5 (late 30's, 3 kids) won't be spending our money at SFSL until things change. We took road trips this year to other parks and plan to do that next year as well. Despite being a bit pricier, WAY more value for the dollar. The kiddie coaster was a VERY smart addition. I think the disc ride is as well. But I feel fairly confident that despite those things being added, it will not be a good time at the park due to the standard stuff that we always talk about here. Understaffed, dirty, attractions down, etc. All of those things I just mentioned are indications of crappy companies, albeit non-amusement companies have different but similar comparisons. As we've all discussed here plenty, SFSL has a great set of bones. I used to think it was a headlining coaster away from being a really good park. I've changed my opinion on that some- the park needs a good headlining coaster AND the general park experience to be better- and that means various things mentioned earlier being fixed. I think a new big time coaster would get a ton of new people in the door but if the experience they have is similar to how it's gone for many the last few years in regards to the rest of the park, it would be a simple one and done. I hope the park can get it together. It would be nice to eventually look forward to visiting it again, and on the reg.

The problem with our park is that it treats general maintenance as a substitution for new or additions. Sometimes this comes along with a budget addition. You shouldn't have to hit the brakes and take a breather every couple years to do the shit you should have been doing all along. If there isn't enough maintenance staff for this during the off season then contract it out. Landscapers, painters, carpenters, etc. Hire them yesterday. Rookie Racer wasn't a hand-me-down like Boomerang. It was a reallocation of resources, and a damned good one. There shouldn't be any grievance there. Joker will be a great addition. We're one RMC and a lot of TLC away from being a good park again. I'm not even going to mention the other thing.

Wondering why it looks like I was consoling Daniel before we rode Juvelen. Crap, we're still talking about Daniel.

I did, it was great to incorporate the old Hotel haunt near the picnic groves, with those props as well as both corridors and jungle apocalypse, I think it was a good change.

In fairness the Six Flags CEO did reverse course last year and decided to increase capital investment. It's the reason all of the 2023 rides are late - all of the contracts were signed later than usual because it wasn't the plan all along. As for employment you see some cases where they're investing in systems to reduce the need for employees. Automating the toll plaza can add a handful more people to the to the workforce inside the park. Implementing the soda dispensers they're using in Six Flags Over Georgia can decouple the need for that service to be done at a manned food location. They should consider employee housing the way some Cedar Fair parks do it as well - it's easier to bring in migrant workers when you make the process easier for them. SFStL in particular is actually at a pretty big disadvantage just based on its location for employees overall though - the commute to the park is longer than many other parks in their respective cities and there's no way that isn't having some impact (this is the hardest thing to fix).

I see your point, and I 100% agree with you. However, they're going about it the wrong way. Can Saleem come in and jack prices up immediately and expect no objection? NO. But if they were to scale raising prices appropriately by improving the product, I think you'd see an incredible support in revenue and attendance. RMC the boss. For god's sake. You know how many regional pass members you'd get JUST from that? As a 38 year old dad with 3 kids (1 of which is 5 1/2 and asks to go all the time), there isn't anything enticing me to get a pass - other than caving for my son. However, if they properly added thrills and invested capital, that'd be a different story! Think of the draw this place would get from RMC Boss ALONE!!!!!! Then, go get an Intamin or Mack Powersplash for the old Tidal Wave plot and raise the annual passes a tad more, incrementally. You can't continue to roll out the same sh***y park year in and out, and believe that people will support it. Need more example of this?....see the STL Cardinals. The ownership is under amazing scrutiny because the fans are bought in because of success. They had their worse year since 1990 and have seen attendance crumble, season ticket sales plummet, and have seen revenue decline in the BPV and hospitality areas. Their response is that they need to spend aggressively this offseason and put a better PRODUCT ON THE FIELD. SFSTL could learn a valuable lesson from that.