ilrider

If it makes you feel any better, I am as old as the park, have been going to it since I was born, go a lot, since we live only 15 minutes away, and I have never witnessed or been party to any violence. Same with Chicago. Don’t buy into the media portrayal of Chicago. The bad stories, like I said earlier, are all from parts of the city you would not visit as a tourist. Name me a major city in the U.S. that does not have those areas. The Chicago area has some of the wealthiest communities in the entire U.S. Generally, we are friendly people with good midwestern values. We are not all bad! I am very concerned about these recent events at our park though, because I never used to hear about these in the past. We take our kids there too, and I would hate for them to be caught in the middle of anything like this as innocent bystanders.

^Like any major city in the U.S., Chicago has its bad parts of town (that you would have no reason to be in). It is a world class city with a ton of culture, sports, and entertainment. Most of the city is actually very civilized and upscale. Ever been there? If not, you should go! These hoodlums, if not from Chicago, were more than likely from Waukegan or North Chicago, which are the suburbs just east and southeast of Gurnee.

Regarding traffic, you should not be too bad if you are getting into Chicago late at night, especially since you will be heading northbound. The ferry is not necessary. I would recommend taking 294 around Chicago, though, rather than taking 94 through the city. It is not that much slower a trip, and can be faster. They let you keep smaller items in pockets. I sometimes have keys, cell phone, etc., and have never been bothered. I just hold my hat in my hand if I cannot put in in a pocket and they have always allowed that too. The only items they are big on people putting in the bins are bags/purses and drink bottles.

Most of the high schools in the area are already on summer vacation, but a lot of the elementary schools are still in school this week in the surrounding suburbs. Chicago Public Schools are still in session. The crowds are usually not bad in May during the week, and mid-week is a good time to go. There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday this week, the much higher chance being on Wednesday. Regarding the flash pass, I never buy them at any park, so someone else might be able to address that better, but I would guess they would not be needed this week due to so many schools still being in session and the fact it is only May, and a short operating day. Some guests will also be at the waterpark. I know you would like to buy them ahead of time, but I would advise they just wait to see what crowds are like and buy them if needed at the park. I would also advise arriving before the park opens, because they could walk onto a lot of rides early in the day without a flash pass. If money is no object though, and it would ease your mind to buy them, then buy them. Yeah, who would have thought that they would have to worry about a tropical storm, in Chicago, in May. Go figure. They may just have to make a last minute decision about which day to go. We usually get fp if we are at a park out of town and only have a day, but no reason to throw money away either. They may just have to see what the crowds are like and make the decision at the park. We do sometimes get remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms way up here, but like you said, in May is rare. Usually happens in August or September. If you typically get the FP for one day trips to ensure they get on everything, then go for it. With the shorter operating schedule, hitting all the coasters in one day may be a bit tough, it that is the goal. I just don’t want you to waste money. It’s always a total guess.

Most of the high schools in the area are already on summer vacation, but a lot of the elementary schools are still in school this week in the surrounding suburbs. Chicago Public Schools are still in session. The crowds are usually not bad in May during the week, and mid-week is a good time to go. There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday this week, the much higher chance being on Wednesday. Regarding the flash pass, I never buy them at any park, so someone else might be able to address that better, but I would guess they would not be needed this week due to so many schools still being in session and the fact it is only May, and a short operating day. Some guests will also be at the waterpark. I know you would like to buy them ahead of time, but I would advise they just wait to see what crowds are like and buy them if needed at the park. I would also advise arriving before the park opens, because they could walk onto a lot of rides early in the day without a flash pass. If money is no object though, and it would ease your mind to buy them, then buy them.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/waterslide-designer-detained-decapitation-caleb-schwab-schltterbahn-waterpark-waterslide-verruckt/ Schooley is in police custody now.

I mean, it almost sounded like he fled arrest, but the actual article says he's coming back after learning about it while overseas... at least, I hope that's really the case and his lawyer isn't just trying to protect him from jailtime. Nobody has said he actually fled, but the timing of his being out of the country is sure interesting. The video accompanying the article said the feds seem to know where he might be, and it appears he is going to come back to face arrest, so I hope they will have him soon.

U.S. marshals are trying to find John Schooley, the other designer of Verrukt, who apparently is no longer in North America. http://abcnews.go.com/US/designer-waterside-killed-10-year-boy-wanted-us/story?id=54120743

Viper is one of my favorite coasters there going forwards, but I agree, it is not great backwards. Sorry you missed riding it forwards.

The ride is supposedly to be named Hurricane Force. They withheld the name for now for obvious reasons.

I have yet to go to Great America and witness low crowds no matter the day of the week. I've had friends that have lucked out a few days this summer, but unfortunately I haven't. Early June during the week is about the only you might find fairly low crowds at the park.

The Twisted Looper doesn't go upside down With the twist at the top, I guess that's true. Okay, I refine my statement: going in a loop over and over, no matter what direction I face, is not my thing.

^I see this as more likely. Marginally better than a Larson loop. I probably would not ride it much though. Going upside down over and over is not my thing. Still not certain whatever is coming will even be in King Chaos's spot. They could leave that empty and put something new in the water park, as some have rumored and the clues so far might point to. Hope we get more clues about ride type before the 31st.

The Skywarp looks pretty boring. I don't see its purpose at all at our park with the legitimate coasters we already have. Interesting design, but it seems best suited for a small park without the budget for a full circuit coaster. Sure hope it is something else (and I do not want the Larson loop either). Hope a pleasant surprise is coming, even if it will likely be a flat ride.

^Sure does! It replaced the Discover Card member entrance, which we also used. The Goodwill one is really nice, as it is all the way to the right of the lines, near where we park, whereas the Discover line was all the way to the left, so a longer walk from parking, and people who had just bought tickets at the windows would get in it all the time, as they usually did not check for the credit card. They actually checked for our Goodwill membership card last week. I do not feel bad we have a thrift store membership when we get in that line! They actually have really good deals at Goodwill stores, especially on clothes. We also donate several thousand dolllars worth of household goods there every year, since we have one about a mile away. It is an odd partnership, but that VIP entrance is a savior for us. It is always a short line at park open.

^I agree. I always told my wife it was different every time we went to the park. They have not been using the chain at the railroad bridge this season at all (at least not when we have gone). No rope at Superman either, since they allow people to queue for Joker. Lines can form at all rides as soon as the gates open. Guess they have been consistent this year, at least! Now they have switchbacks this season everyone gets funneled into before security. We use the Goodwill VIP Member entrance, new this year, to avoid that mess, thankfully. The key is to get to the park really early, and getting in is not quite as bad.

We always arrive at least 45 minutes early on a normal day. Security usually opens at 10, the park gates at 10:15, ahead of the 10:30 ride time. Memorial Day is the second busiest day there after July 4, so I'm sure the lines to get in were crazy.

Lightning is a bigger threat than rain itself, since it will close all the outdoor rides until it is out of the area. Whizzer I know closes for any rain, but most of the coasters should still run in rain. Days with a threat of rain can be good ones, as the forecast keeps some people away.

With 66% of America being obese, this doesn't surprise me. 66% obese? That sounds really high. Overweight, maybe.

The deceased has been identified. RIP. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-state-fair-accident-victim-tyler-jarrell-just-joined-marines/

You do not need to sprint to Goliath first anymore, really, as the additions of Justice League and Joker the last two years, in addition to Goliath being 3 years old now, have made the Goliath line a lot shorter. I would still try to hit it fairly early on, but you could hit at least one other ride first since it is at the very back of the park and most people ride Raging Bull, Superman, or Joker first. Since the park is mostly an easy to follow oval, just pick a direction and work your away around the park, is the usual suggestion. Superman gets long lines fast, so you might want to hit that first since it is at the front of the park. I will let someone else handle the FP question, since I never buy them.

We took a northern detour after camping at Devil's Lake two weeks ago just to get my 8-year-old son on this before heading home to IL, and he loved it. It was a bit rougher in spots then it was when I first rode it in 2011, but it just hauls start to finish and is so much fun. Got to love another great Alan Schilke design!

I believe early August is the end of the Read to Succeed days (free tickets for students who completed a reading program the previous school year), so the park will be very busy, including getting into the park. I would get to the park plenty early before it opens if you want to avoid an hour wait to get in. We usually arrive at about 9:45 for the 10:30 opening. They typically open the security lines a little before 10, then start letting people into the park about 10:15, so it is not such a bad wait. We also get through the parking line with little to no wait by arriving that early.

Viper can be great or very meh depending on the day and seat. We try to ride in the back, as the airtime is usually really good there. The middle is usually not very good, though every once in awhile we get a good ride there too. I have heard the front is good but have never sat there, as I am a back seat guy.

Anyone have any more idea as to who did manufacture this ride (I saw the earlier post about who may have made the ride vehicles, but was wondering about the conveyor system, etc)? Intamin is denying it is their ride, but every web site and database I have found lists Intamin as the manufacturer, I guess erroneously. The Courier Mail shown above says Intamin manufactured it in their article too. Weird. The Courier Mail article has a diagram showing what happened, reflecting what was shown by an earlier poster: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/dreamworld-deaths-ride-previously-shut-down/news-story/fc26918b83c58b095c795bcd34f1e815