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Posted

Hey there,

 

I'm heading south in October and has a question for you Atlantians...

 

Tuesday, Oct 10, I have a flight from Providence to ATL arriving around noon. First off, I heard SFOG was very close to the airport, but how close is it? Is there public transportation available to the park, or is it close enough to take a taxi and back? My flight leaves to Orlando at 7pm, so I would have to leave the park around 6 if it is that close. That leaves me with about 5 hours at the park and I just want to hit all the coasters (I assume I would need a qbot)

 

I guess what I'm asking is... can this be done? ANd how exactly close is the park in relation to the airport? Thanks!

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Posted

Well, I checked SFOG's operating hours on Tuesday, October 10 and they aren't open then. Sorry, you won't be riding any SFOG's coasters then.

Posted

I live in the ATL. Even if it was open I still think it could not be done. The airport is not very close to sfog at all. Plus there will be rush hour traffic. Plus if you go out of the airport you will have to back through security, which can take up to two hours on a busy day.

Posted

Ok, well I can change the dates to be there on a Saturday when they're open 10-10 and then do Horror Nights the next day at USO.

 

This brings up a new question... is SFOG often mobbed on weekends in OCT because of Frightfest? Either way, how close is the park to the airport and is their public transit availble between?

Posted

Yes, I wouldn't attempt it. The park isn't THAT far, but it isn't close.

 

With how poorly designed the airport is, security alone is annoying and it also depends on the airline flown, but again, the airport is poorly designed inside and outside, so I wouldn't risk it, plus getting rental cars is always a pain in the ass for us when we go there.

Posted

easytoremember said it best. Depending on how tight security measures are at the time of travel, this side trip may be literally impossible. I wish you the best, but I wouldn't put any money on you pulling this one off, unfortunately.

Posted

Its simple on the time line.

If you arrive at ATL at 12. Get rental car and drive to SFOG. It will be between 130 and 200 before you enter the gates at SFOG.

 

Arrive at gate at 12.

Get in rental car by 1230 to 1. You have to shuttle to the car lots.

 

Leave and drive the 15 miles to the park, park and walk to the park entrance. 130 to 200.

Wait in long line ride Goliath.

Leave for airport by 5.

Arrive rental car lot at 530. Get in airport go trough securty again.

Get on plan for 7 pm flight.

That leaves you about 3 hours at the park.

 

There is public transpo but you probably have to take the Marta train close to the park and then catch a bus to the park I would assume it would take a while to get there plus the Marta train aint the most pleasnt of ride experiences.

 

Its worth a few rides if you are really a die hard coaster rider.

I know people how have done worse things including myself.

Posted

I think you should try it, see if you can get a later flight out so you don't have to be rushing since I do agree if you get in at noon you're not likely to be at the park till at least 1:30pm.I went to SFOG for Fright Fest a couple of years ago I think on a friday with temperatures in the high 20's.The park was open like from 6pm to 11pm.I was there when they opened and rode Georgia Scorcher, Batman,Psyclone, Great American Scream Machine,Ninja, the Mine train, Acrophobia and made a 2 hour wait for Deja Vu.Couldn't ride Mindbender and there was no Superman or Goliath at the time.So that's not bad for like 5 hours in the park, so I say go for it!!!Also remember Fright Fest isn't like Halloween Horror Nights, it's simply a couple Halloween decorations with a couple haunted houses you have to pay extra for, I didn't I was there for coasters!!

Posted

Security at ATL hasn't changed much - the stuff at the metal detectors is still the same, all that is significantly different is that they line up about 10 TSA agents at the gate and they hand-inspect everything carried onto the plane. Of course, I think a lot of this will be pushed back to what became "normal" by October.

 

As for a Saturday in October, the park can get INSANELY busy in the last two weekends or so, but a gold q-bot can still get you through in a couple hours.

 

I wouldn't try to rely on MARTA if you go simply because their trains are few and far between on weekends (and I know they announced that they were discontinuing service to the park last winter, but that was probably reversed since many employees use it)

 

Honestly I think the park is worth more than a credit run, but if you've been before - go for it. Otherwise, try to put if off 'till another year.

Posted

I'd say skip trying to do MARTA. The train stops like 3 or 4 miles from Six flags and then you would have to figure out where the bus would pick you up and all that.

 

Whoever planned Marta was crazy. They should have had the trains go all the way to Six Flags. It's only like one exit away!!!

 

If you rent a car, by the time you get there and back you'll probably only get a few rides in. Although Goliath is aweosome and well worth the trouble.

 

But the park has a good selection of coasters and I'd hate to have to leave knowing I would miss about 8 credits.

 

If you do go the must coasters are: Goliath (duh), Mindbender (Schwarkopf goodness) and Deja Vu. The rest are fun, but pretty standard. Scorcher is the best standup I've been on.

 

Their woodies are rough as everything and can be skipped.

 

Another thing to consider is traffic. Atlanta has terrible traffic on it's interstates and I think the airport is on the East side of town.

Posted

I would not skip the woodies. Georgia cyclone is somewhat rough, but if you ride this in the back car, this ride is insane. I am talking about Cyclops last drop insane. I am talking about being in fear for your life insane. If you are a woodie fan, this is not to be missed. Great American Scream machine has seen better times, but I still sugest rideing it, even if it includes missing one of the Beemer clones.

Posted

^^It's actually on the south side of town, and if you do decide to drive, it's really not far and the traffic won't be bad on a Saturday in October. The park won't be very crowded since early October is not very popular for some reason.

 

The problem with renting a car is that you have to ride all the way to the rental place, then get the car, then drive. If you had a car already, you'd be okay, but renting a car will take too much time. I recommend MARTA this time (this may be the only time, lol).

 

You can do it easily. If your flight gets in at noon, just make sure your luggage is checked through to Orlando, then quickly proceed from your gate to the Marta station. Take the train (10 minute ride at most) to the central station, then head west towards SFoG. You'll have to switch to a bus somewhere along the way, so you may want to look up schedules for that. You could get to the park as early aas 12:45 depending on what airline you're flying on, what gate you're at, and how smoothly the trains/busses are.

 

If it takes you an hour and things go smoothly, then you should leave the park by 5. It'll take another hour, then you can go check in for your next flight.

 

 

If you're going to do this, you MUST use the security lines at the T gates, which are shorter than the main line 99% of the time. It usually is about 5-10 minutes to clear security, so plan ahead.

 

For example, when I flew ATL-EWR (Newark) earlier this summer on AirTran, we didn't get to the airport from our hotel (Reniassance) until 10:40, but with priority business/digital check-in and T gates security, I was at the gate on the end of C by 11:10. I was also the 3rd person on the plane.

 

Don't skip the woodies, ride them in these seats:

 

GASM: Front or second row of any car, the best is 1-1 or 4-2.

Cyclone: Back car, front row is amazing if it's running well, which it almost always is.

Posted
....but a gold q-bot can still get you through in a couple hours.

Truer words were never written!

 

Honestly I think the park is worth more than a credit run, but if you've been before - go for it. Otherwise, try to put if off 'till another year.

Exactly. If you've been there before, go for it!! This is what credit whoring is all about!!

 

If not, you should save it for another day. It's worth it.

 

JJ

Posted

Some people are telling you to take MARTA. Don't listen to them. First off, you would have to switch rail lines 5 stations up, and then take the east/west line to the farthest west point. This is useless becasue the station does not even go outside Interstate 285 (the highway that unofficially marks Atlanta) You woud then have to wait for a bus to pick you up, and then you would stop at a million bus stops until you arrive at Six Flags. You would have lost so much time using MARTA that you would have maybe a couple of hours until you have to leave and do the whole process over again. Also, the trains itself are not the most reliable. I have friends just about every other day say how the trains will just stop in the middle of the track for about 5-15 mins. Six Flags isn't as close as you think it is to the airport. You have the option of taking the often congested 285 (which you'll end up driving more if you take this), or you can take one of the most traffic congested segment of highway in America (75/85) onto Interstate 20. Because of our poor highway system, we have traffic everyday now. If you are deciding to go with a car or MARTA, I recommend a car, even with the poor highways and bad traffic, you will still get at the park much faster than you would if you took MARTA. As for the airport, securtiy, unlike most places, is actually pretty good. With the large number of metal detectors, there really is not a long wait. What will take you longer to do,however is to get to your gate. There is a lot of walking involved in the ATL airport, even if you take the train, depending on where your gate is on the concourse.

 

To sum things up, take a rental car, you are more able to move at your own pace than you are with MARTA. As for Six Flags, it can be very crazy, but you'll be able to get most of the major rides done with a Gold Q-Bot.

Posted

Thanks for all the tips, I think I'll make a trip out of this park instead of just a credit run. Someone told me it was very close to the airport and easy to ge tto. Guess they're wrong!

Posted

^ Yeah you need time to do the whole park.

 

Monster Plantation is worth the price of admission. It is a fun old school dark ride.

 

They have some good rides in the park, but Acro is down for the count this year looks like.

Posted
Some people are telling you to take MARTA. Don't listen to them. First off, you would have to switch rail lines 5 stations up, and then take the east/west line to the farthest west point. This is useless becasue the station does not even go outside Interstate 285 (the highway that unofficially marks Atlanta) You woud then have to wait for a bus to pick you up, and then you would stop at a million bus stops until you arrive at Six Flags. You would have lost so much time using MARTA that you would have maybe a couple of hours until you have to leave and do the whole process over again. Also, the trains itself are not the most reliable. I have friends just about every other day say how the trains will just stop in the middle of the track for about 5-15 mins. Six Flags isn't as close as you think it is to the airport. You have the option of taking the often congested 285 (which you'll end up driving more if you take this), or you can take one of the most traffic congested segment of highway in America (75/85) onto Interstate 20. Because of our poor highway system, we have traffic everyday now. If you are deciding to go with a car or MARTA, I recommend a car, even with the poor highways and bad traffic, you will still get at the park much faster than you would if you took MARTA. As for the airport, securtiy, unlike most places, is actually pretty good. With the large number of metal detectors, there really is not a long wait. What will take you longer to do,however is to get to your gate. There is a lot of walking involved in the ATL airport, even if you take the train, depending on where your gate is on the concourse.

 

To sum things up, take a rental car, you are more able to move at your own pace than you are with MARTA. As for Six Flags, it can be very crazy, but you'll be able to get most of the major rides done with a Gold Q-Bot.

 

 

You're overestimating the suckiness of MARTA. It really doesn't take that long to get to SFoG from the airport via MARTA-there's only a few bus stops after the rail ine ends.

 

Also, it's not that far from the airport to SFoG. Airport to I-20 intersection is maybe 10 minutes, I-20 to SFoG is maybe 10 more.

 

Everyone freaks out about how bad the traffic is in Atlanta, when really it's not that bad on weekends and weekdays from 9-4. The only bad times are 6:30-9 and 4:30-7 on weekdays, and even then, the traffic flows pretty smoothly unless there's a wreck.

 

 

 

If you want traffic, go to NYC on a weekday-it's a living hell.

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