Headed to SFGAm 8/7/08 for the first time!

[QueerRudie]

OK: Here goes!

 

Headed to SFGam for the first time- and will be taking a friend and his son with me. I'm a die-hard coaster enthusiast, and his son is 8- so I have to be mindful of him.

 

That having been said: Which rides tend to have the longest lines and when do they get that way- I'd like to ride all of the 'big boy' rides- but don't want to leave my companion and his son abandoned due to the inability to ride-

 

Lemme know what y'all think on this!

[coasterdude5]

It depends on what day you go. Weekends are typically the worse, especially if there is an event going on that weekend. Raging Bull's line can be the longest but keep in mind it is usually fast-moving. The longest line I've wated in at the park was over two hours for Batman. Whizzer can also have long lines. I believe Rajin Cajun would have long lines but I hate spinning so it never concerned me. If you can get there before the park opens, head straight for Superman. That's what I would do.

 

Demon, Whizzer, Dark Knight, Rajin Cajun, Viper, and American Eagle should all be alright for an 8 year old.

 

Hope that helped a bit.

[Tammy S]

If you want to ride the new Dark Knight coaster my best advice is to get to the park by 9:00am so you get in the front of the lines at the gate. And once they open them up around 9:30pm head to your left and be at the rope drop area heading towards TDK/Superman. And once the show at the start of the day is done head for The Dark Knight coaster as it is a short run. If you wait later in thew day the line will be 1-2 hours. After riding this I would head towards Whizzerm then Viper, that should then be close to 11:00am, and then head to American Eagle which should just be opening. That will get you on some rides your kids will like with little waits. Aftewr that, ridee whatever you like where the line isnt too big.

[lame coaster dude]

Superman, Dark Knight, Ragin Cajun, Batman, V2 and Raging Bull typically seem like the coasters that get the longest lines, with that said Raging Bull has a quick moving line usually, the others tend to be slower. My best advice to you if you are trying to credho while accommodating and 8 year old would be get there for the chain drop and try to get first ride on Dark Knight, then ride Ragin Cajun before the line gets long. Then you can try to get the Batman and V2 credits and have your buddy and his son check out Big Easy Balloons, Jester's Wild Ride and Whirlygig. You could then grab your SSC credit and ride Iron Wolf (which doesn't usually get long lines unless it's a ridiculously crowded day) Then hit American Eagle then Demon, Viper, Raging Bull, Whizzer and finish off with last ride of the night on Superman.

 

as stated above; Dark Knight, Ragin Cajun, American Eagle, Demon, Viper and Whizzer should all be fine for an 8 year old

[JamesMC]

Not ride related, but . . .since 8 year olds tend to get hungry and like pizza- your only choice is Papa Johns-However-the one in Hometown Square (near Triple Play ((also good for an 8 yr old)) and Whizzer) has the quickest line/service- don't bother with the one in the Farmer's Market.

 

BE VERY AWARE-of the ride-locker policy . . .bring in nothing with you that you cannot fit in your pocket. Or you'll grow broke feeding singles to the ever-present ride lockers. Win your large stuffed plush toys on the way out of the park at the end of the night.

 

If you go to the waterpark an 8yr old will love Skull Island.

 

If you don't get on Dark Knight early- do not even bother. Even if the little one likes the ride, No One will like the wait. Especially since it's your first visit to the park, there's so much other better stuff to do.

 

Raging Bull and Viper are the two best coasters at the park. Batman is great too, but lots of parks have them. It's fun, but this one is basically the same. Superman is awesome too, but too short. If the line is longer than an hour, check back later for a shorter wait, but DO ride it at some point.

 

If you ride American Eagle- ride the Red Train-it's the better side. (This is coming from a coaster enthusiast)

 

Most kids love The Demon and The Whizzer.

 

Fiddler's Fling (spinning ride) is a Hoot.

 

Log Flume= more of a splash/ Yankee Clipper (boats) is a better drop.

 

Not sure where you are staying while in the area but if you have to travel to the park the day you are going to visit and are driving on I-294- allow extra time . . .LOTS of construction on that road. Some days it flies, and other days it crawls along.

 

If I think of anything else, I'll post it.

[ThemeParkFan08]

As others have said, it is crucial that you get to the park early if you are at all interested in riding The Dark Knight. It can be the difference between walking on to the ride when it opens or waiting two hours at any other time.

 

Also, be prepared for the parking situation: it is now $25.00 to park in the main lot and $15.00 to park in the overflow.

 

It is also the last week before Read to Succeed tickets expire, so the park will probably be mobbed.

 

At the beginning of the day, make sure you are there early to ride Dark Knight. After you are finished, go immediately to Ragin' Cajun and ride. After that, hit V2. This will allow you to hit the three roller coasters with the lowest capacities in a short amount of time and with minimal wait. Once these three are out of the way, the order in which you hit everything else won't matter as much.

 

The lines for Batman and Raging Bull move the quickest. The line for American Eagle shouldn't be too long if they have both sides running (The Red side is much better). Typically the lines for Demon, Iron Wolf, American Eagle, and Whizzer die down considerably at night, but because of the read to succeed tickets, that may not be the case for you.

 

I strongly recommend that you bring lunch in a cooler so that you can avoid paying high prices for crappy food. Try not to bring anything you don't absolutely need into the park with you or else you will be subject to the locker policy.

 

I hope that you enjoy your visit!

 

P.S. It's a silly little thing, but if the 8 Year Old has never been on a wooden coaster, make sure that he rides Viper before he rides American Eagle.

[Airtime&Gravity]

First things first, buy your tickets online as SFGAM finally did what the other parks are doing(maybe I just noticed SFGAM late) where everyone pays kids price.

 

Nearly every flat ride in the park can be ridden by an eight year old. As for the coasters,like has been said before ride Viper, American Eagle, Demon, Whizzer, Dark Knight, and Ragin Cajun. With the exception of Dark Knight, these coasters shouldn't have long lines unless you visit on a Saturday.

 

As for food, bing it in a cooler if you want, but there are several restaurants around the park such as a Burger King, Wendy's, and a Steak n Shake. There is also a Golden Corral buffet just down the road if you like buffets.

[JamesMC]

AND . . .

 

so how did your visit turn out?

 

Just curious

[QueerRudie]

Thanks to all who have posted GREAT info on SFGAm-

 

A photo trip report is pending- with TONS of shots of the 'classics' which I was very happy to get credit on- but due to circumstances beyond my control (As in, Josh was 1/2 inch SHORT of the heights for the Beemers- sadly- and due to -beyond- overcrowded conditions...) I was unable to ride as much as I'd like- but a basic rundown here before the BIG post early next week-

 

1.) First ride was SUPPOSED to have been Spacely's Sprocket Rockets BUT- my Vekoma curse kicked in- Every time I try to ride a (new to me Vekoma) the ride INVARIABLY breaks down before I even get the chance to ride it!

2.) Logger's Run: For the flume enthusiasts: WOW!

 

3.) American Eagle: Overtrimmed, but still a FUN FUN time- but DESPERATLY needs retracking around the first helix. GREAT drop!

 

4.) DEMON: Of all the parks I've attented over the past 25 years, they had the SINGLE FASTEST loading of any of them: Three trains, and a full house done and on in 20 minutes. WAY TO GO! Also was playing the cheesy and very funny 1980 recording made about how ToC turned into THE DEMON. Two hands WAY WAY UP!

 

5.) Whizzer: The last Schwartzkopf coaster I needed to 'complete' my Collection. 1.5 hour wait- Full house, out the door. Front seat ride, have some on-ride shots (I Hope they turned out!) Of all the rides that day, the one which was, at least for me, the best. I'm a purist when it comes to my coasters, and one who appreciates the TLC that a park needs for such a grand Dame of coasters. A well run, very VERY smooth and all-around winner of a coaster, one of the greats. BEYOND fun. Ran like her track was made of glass- and for me a DEFINITE thriller!

 

6. Yankee Clipper: Having done the West-Coast GA, I never had the chance to ride it, was glad I got to at SFGam- Good ride, although ended up BEYOND soaked (Memo to Fat guys like me out there- NEVER ride the YC in the back seat- you'll get DRENCHED.)

 

7. V2: Good. VERY good. Long line, but moved relatively fast. Love the 'vertical' spike which I'd not been able to experience at SFMW in 2003. AMAZING experience. Caution: Eating Candy Floss before riding NOT good. Eating Candy Floss less than 2 minutes before riding: REALLY BAD IDEA. Also: My apologies to SFGAm for destroying the bush just to the left of the exit path.

 

More to come next week...