teacherkim

I'm sure you can Bert. I've worn just a regular pair of sunglasses without a strap of any kind, just to keep the worst of the water out of my eyes, many times and no one has ever said a word to me. You can wear water shoes too. They really are great rides.. .... I'll get the suburban mom pool bag and a couple beach towells ready to go for your trip.

I too think you will beat the 4th of July crowds, most of those people are liable to come in on Friday and stay into the next week when the holiday occurs. Also, CoasterCon will be there the week before you 6/19 - 6/22, so that is 600+ thoosies that won't be back the next week. Should help put a little dent in the crowds

Oh that isn't even close to seeing it all, you should talk to the guidance counselors and school resource officers that have to make home visits to students in rough neighborhoods.

Oh geez, I hope this doesn't become all we talk about for the rest of the season. People I implore you........try to move forward and not dwell on the past and accept it for the massive improvement it will be over what we have had for, oh I don't know, 20 years or so now. Let's not sacrifice the good in vain attempts at getting the perfect.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with meeting people at that Subway. Just listing that it was one of just a couple of very limited options of things to do in the town, lol

I think people are going to be VERY happy with the re do of the area around Eagle's entrance and the new flat! And no I'm not saying more than that so don't ask.

That's because Harry Potter stuff brings in tons of people that would NOT have travelled to Universal for DD. Sorry, but it is what it is. Just like retiring a ride that starts to cost more to maintain than it brings in. In the end it's usually bottom line and roi.

Everyone gave you good advice! I would add that for HW it looks like you will drive there after your plane lands on Wed and spend the night before doing the park on Thursday. Be aware, if you aren't already, that there is only one extremely mediocre roadside motel near the park and NOTHING to eat nearby but a Subway and an even more mediocre restaurant in the motel. So depending on your flight time you should eat in Louisville (I'm sure the locals can give you a thousand recommendations) or there is one really good restaurant just outside of Louisville in Indiana called the Overlook http://www.theoverlook.com/, it's only about 3 miles off the highway but not open very late so keep that in mind. We're gonna make Bert eat there in May so you can look for his review Also, be aware that HW is in central time while all the other locations are eastern time and you won't hit that time change until almost at the park. There is no reason to get there early, there is nothing to do outside of the park unless you want to peruse the Santa Claus hardware store or pick up chicks at the Subway HW is in the middle of a corn field and when you are in line for Thunderbird you will see that I am not kidding. The big water coasters at HW in their waterpark have single rider lines. Totally worth it unless getting a little too close to strangers in swimsuits freaks you out. KK is that rare front to back park. T3 is only for people that are complete credit whores or enjoy concussions/feeling like a truck ran over you. The water park there is not as good as HW but the extreme wave times in the pool are VERY entertaining especially with one of the Bourbon flights in you and the noodle heavy lazy river is unique fun. They have a water coaster but it has never been open when I have been there. Not. Once. IF you do get to CP early, since you are staying at the Breakers you can easily relax for a few hours at the pool/beach/bar. And I absolutely echo getting FL+ at KI specially with just one day there! Have fun, I have done that exact HW/KK/KI/CP run more than once and it's a nicely space out little road trip.

No idea how crusty it is but if you really want to save money there is an Econo Lodge that is both significantly cheaper and significantly close than the Holiday Inn. You'd be looking at a half mile walk instead of 2 miles.

Good to hear! We were there in December on a larger family FL Christmas trip and this was my son's feelings on Gwazi not being open yet. When we had booked the trip a year ago we were still hoping it would be. But we will be back down for the ACE spring conference in May and catch a ride then.

Better food would be a VERY nice start. Sigh.

This. Plus, it's ok to appreciate what the park has and be disappointed at the lack of new rides and the dismal (I do agree with this description) 50th anniversary at the same time. You always expect the most of the ones you love, and suffer the most disappointment when they don't live up to your expectations. None of our friends/family are all good or all bad but we love them anyway.

Now who insisted you ride Mine Train even though you were ready to be done for the day after Ninja? You're welcome!

Some of that is just frustration from living in a city that was once one of the largest cities in the USA and now is often treated as a flyover spot and is overshadowed tourism wise by the much bigger neighbor to the north, Chicago. Not condoning or condemning, just is what it is.

Ahh yes the days of total excess! I remember that too so I'm right there with ya on that date thing.

We will be there on 3/31 & 4/1, a Thursday and Friday, will post a report on what's open for you

Ride ops started their seasonal training today.........finally spring!

I'm sure the park is just tired of dealing with the running of the Steel Vengeance bulls first thing EVERY morning; thoosies be damned. They'll get over it and it still gives Breakers guests quite a head start to get in line and get a lap or two in before the gp pack makes it back there. Although I'm sure there will be at least one FB entry from someone stating they've cancelled their reservation over it if the hubbub about TTD is any indication

Yes it is necessary. We were there last April for a full day and then a few hours the next day. Had fastpass, had ert time because it was for an event, and still didn't get on everything. Got on almost everything.

Yeah using single rider on VC isn't really that useful, truly that line moves pretty good, even at the start of the crowded Christmas time (we were last there Dec 18-20) I never saw more than a 30-40 min wait and they have a dedicated front row line if you want it as well as they will let you go to back if you ask. No requests on single rider of course. But on Hagrids where they do not honor any sort of row requests because of the omni mover station and how long the line always is it's really good to use when open. Unless you really really want the motorbike side, then you just have to duke it out with whichever friend or family member you are riding with.

As far as VC and Hagrid's they have never been on express pass. You would think they would put Hagrid's on since it has been almost 3 years since it opened but it doesn't seem to be hurting it's popularity (I agree it is super fun) and if they are selling plenty of express passes guess they are in no hurry. I'm not sure about single rider, we were there right before Christmas when that rush had already started and it was open on both rides all 3 days we were there. In fact since you cannot do row requests anyway we exclusively did single rider for Hagrid's since we had done it before, although you will almost certainly get the sidecar doing that. Edit: I should have probably added that it is to be expected that VC would not be on Express Pass as Universal usually does not include the big new ride until the new ride smell wears off. Forbidden Journey did not have EP until 2-3 years after it's opening.

I get that, remember retired teacher here.......but most Six Flags parks are in major metropolitan areas with thousands of schools within 60 minutes. HW is in the middle of a cornfield and other than Evanstan which is pretty small the closest cities are Evansville and Louisville, both about an hour (which would be a 2 hr round trip for a school field trip) and several dinky little towns within that hour. Indianapolis and St Louis are too far for a school trip. Maybe Bowling Green but that would be a 3 hour round trip, pushing it. Now I get that it is a smaller park than most SF parks and so proportion of crowd to ride is a major factor here. Anyway that is why I was asking specifically for HW as I am trying to gage how big a crowd this will be and if we will be better toward the end of the day as I suspect.

Meh on the walk through, although thanks for the info. I am curious what news they will have to people that attend it however. I do agree with you about Herschend not knowing what to do with this park, or so it appears after the first year. However, willing to cut them slack since it was such an unusual first year and curious to see what direction they decide to go in.

For God's sake. When are they posting 2022 hours for the park?! Anybody heard anything? I've got some plans to work on.

Question for anyone who has gone to the park on one of the "school days" and/or any employees lurking on the board. We are planning on stopping by on Thursday 5/19 which I believe is the first of the school days. We'll be on our way to CoasterStock and want to take THE one and only Bert425 since he's never been to the park. However, I've never been there on a school days day. I suspect that all the kiddoes will be coming in on their big ole busses first thing at opening and as the afternoon drags on it will slowly dissipate. Anyone with experience know if that is true? And/or how swarmed are they likely to be? And/or any other info you can tell us? Our priority will of course be the 4 coasters, maybe the big 3 water park rides, a few flats if they aren't overrun with kids.