Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[RollingCoasting]

Couldn't have been nearly as bad as Orbit's last day (I had to leave, the parking lot was 95% full)

 

That's why I no longer go to the park on the BAFF days or the last days of Read to Succeed. (I only went to try and ride Orbit one last time)

 

Is the last operating weekend in the season a busy time? I was also concerned about the weather considering it might be cold.

 

I don't think it'll be crowded since it's November 8th. The weather might even help draw away the crowds, and I'm not even sure if the GP know the park is open adter Halloween. I'm hoping for it to be empty-ish.

 

According to the schedule on their website the last day the park is open is November 6th. At least that's what I saw.

 

Whoops. My bad, I must've got the date wrong the last time I checked. Still, November 6th shouldn't be bad.

[9Armgeddon4]

I plan on going to the park that day. I think it's a little odd that they would keep the park open after Fright Fest just for a weekend in November. This would be the first time I've ever gone to the park the day it closes for the season which is something I've always wanted to do. Then maybe next year I'll try out opening day for the first time too.

[weezer17]

My sister is at SFGA and not sure why, but X-flight is closed again. It has been closed the last 2 times she has been to the park. Weird.

[weezer17]

I plan on going to the park that day. I think it's a little odd that they would keep the park open after Fright Fest just for a weekend in November. This would be the first time I've ever gone to the park the day it closes for the season which is something I've always wanted to do. Then maybe next year I'll try out opening day for the first time too.

 

I did this in the early 2000's. I lived across grand avenue and was able to walk to the park. It was balls cold, and I had a winter jacket on. The park was dead. Was able to ride many rides without getting off. I'm surprised they are doing this again.

[9Armgeddon4]

According to a member of sfgamworld whatever the 2017 ride is it will be going in RC's spot. Also the ride will have a Russian sounding name. However this member got this info from several ride ops he asked so I don't know if I'm going to believe all of it. I mean I believe that it will be in RC's spot but the Russian name I just don't know if I can believe that. But hey I'll take a Russian theme over a DC theme any day.

[RaceBoarder]

Any source, other than the Dippin' Dots guy, is as reliable as Brian Williams. But then again, it's on the internet, so......

[weezer17]

My sister is at SFGA and not sure why, but X-flight is closed again. It has been closed the last 2 times she has been to the park. Weird.

 

Nevermind, it reopened during the day and had over an hour wait. Park must be busy today, even with most of the local kids back in school.

[yay101]

My sister is at SFGA and not sure why, but X-flight is closed again. It has been closed the last 2 times she has been to the park. Weird.

 

Nevermind, it reopened during the day and had over an hour wait. Park must be busy today, even with most of the local kids back in school.

 

When I went on Batman, I saw X-Flight got stuck on a lift hill, so maybe something with that.

 

I did go to SFGAm today with a friend of mine and it was pretty crowded for a late August weekday. Goliath and Raging Bull both had 60 minute waits. We skipped Giant Drop since Raging Bull was also closed in the morning and as a result Giant Drop was mobbed with people. I rode Demon's Rage Of The Gargoyle for the first time today and I did like it but I feel Six Flags should not waste any more energy on it as I would rather prefer Demon instead of a permanent VR on it. It was cool in the sense that it actually felt like you were on a motion simulator instead of a coaster. Operations were a bit slow on Demon but as there was not that many people in line, my friend and I only waited a half hour. It is worth riding once but not often, unless lines for VR are next to empty.

 

One ride that actually surprised me was the River Rocker. My friend loves that ride and convinced me to go on it and at first I was okay about it because I don't remember it being anything special, but we sat at the ends and actually got some floater at the top. I don't think River Rocker was the best ride ever and I don't know how it compares to other swinging ships but it was actually pretty fun, and I do recommend it if you never rode it.

[yay101]

I am well aware I am double posting but here is something interesting:

 

I want the Orbit to stay personally so I contacted Six Flags Great America on their Contact Us page. I basically told them that I love the Orbit, it is one of my favourite rides, and I heard rumours that it could be closing and could you consider keeping it open? So Jason Carrel, the Operations Supervisor, contacted me:

 

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

 

In order to begin preparing for the 2017 season, some of our rides have closed for the remainder of this season. I apologize that The Orbit is one of the rides that has closed for the season. I have forwarded your suggestion to keep The Orbit to our Park Planning Committee.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Jason Carrel

Operations Supervisor

 

I underlined the parts where he specified "the rest of the season." So I am guessing that there is a possibility the Orbit could be staying, although Orbit, Jester's Wild Ride, and East River Crawler could still leave/change locations in the park. I am just wondering since Screamscape said that Orbit and Jester's Wild Ride are closing for good, while Carrel said they were closed for the season... If we want to honestly keep Orbit open, or Jester's Wild Ride, we should contact the park. Since they already have stuff preplanned they may still go on with demolition if they have planned it, but it's better than nothing and since Carrel worded his email as such they might stay after all. I do recall Whizzer was supposed to close back in 2001 or 2002 and with complaints the Whizzer remained open and is here today.

[anewman35]

The park has confirmed to a reliable media member thst Orbit is gone for good. They don't seem to want to go on record telling the general public about it (probably because they don't want to go through a campaign of people wanting to stay), but this seems to be accurate info (more reliable than any of the other rumors for sure). I suspect anybody who's holding out any hope of the Orbit not being done forever is going to end it very disappointed.

[yay101]

^ That makes sense, although I am still very sad the Orbit is going. I'd rather Orbit stay and the East River Crawler goes than vice versa. I know I'm speaking already spoken words but it's really a shame they just closed Orbit like that with no warning regardless. Heck, they remove a good original ride from 1976 but they decide to keep a pirate ship ride that just travels in zigzags with waterguns and empty queue lines. (Buccaneer Battle, I'm looking at you...)

[Coasters & Lamps]

I'm excited over the possibility of SFGAm getting an S&S free spin. Though their specs are nothing compared to the original Arrow 4D coasters like X2, I would very much like to try a coaster with a pivoting seat that flips. Though it could make me nauseous, I'm excited to try one. I know they're popular among other rides. This will also bring SFGAm back up to a count of 14 roller coasters, a number they briefly peaked at few years back. It will also keep them in 5ifth place worldwide for most roller coasters in one park. Otherwise, they would slide to 6th as King's Island will have 15 next year.

 

I never rode Orbiter because I feared it would nauseate me as most flat rides do. But I can certainly see that there are many who hate to see it go. Six Flags Great America is balanced almost perfectly as a family & thrill park.

 

As I mentioned in another thread. If it wasn't for the Villiage height limit and little room for expansion, SFGAm, being close to our country's third largest metro, and without any real nearby competition (not as much competition as what surrounds parks in New York & L.A.), would easily be able to rival Cedar Point or Magic Mountain as a coaster capital.

 

But for what they have to work with, it is still a wonderful park. So many people prefer X-Flight as their favorite winged coaster with it's sharp turns, though it is the slowest and shortest winged rider ever built to my knowledge. And Goliath debuted some track elements previously unseen. You can still come and enjoy Goliath after riding every coaster at Cedar Point.

 

Since they are restricted from being a Cedar Point or Magic Mountain, they do have to maintain the perfect balance. Hopefully getting rid of the Orbiter won't upset that. But than again, the park seems to have top attendance no matter what.

[RollingCoasting]

Saying we have a possibility to get a Free Spin doesn't really mean anything, we have just about the same amount as other Six Flags parks, if not less.

 

I wish we'd just get a teaser all ready.

[Coasters & Lamps]

Saying we have a possibility to get a Free Spin doesn't really mean anything, we have just about the same amount as other Six Flags parks, if not less.

 

I wish we'd just get a teaser all ready.

 

They're seem to be in no hurry to bring out the teasers this year, which is not a good sign.

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain: 19 coasters / 44 total rides

 

Six Flags Great America: 13 coasters / 52 total rides

 

Six Flags Great Adventure: 13 coasters / 50 total rides

 

Six Flags over Texas: 12 coasters / 44 total rides

 

Six Flags New England: 11 coasters / 60+ total rides (ride champ)

 

Six Flags over Georgia: 11 coasters / 40+ total rides

 

La Ronde: 10 coasters / 40 total rides

 

Six Flags America / 9 coasters / 54 total rides

 

Six Flags St. Louis: 9 coasters / 40 total rides

 

Six Flags Fiesta Texas: 9 coasters / total rides unknown

 

Six Flags Mexico: 8 coasters / 48 total rides

 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: 8 coasters / 38 total rides

 

Six Flags Great Escape: 6 coasters / 35 total rides

 

Wikipedia is correct with coaster counts, but don't think they're up to date with total ride counts. But according to these stats, right or wrong, Great America ranks second or third among the Six Flags chain. For coaster count, they tie for second place. But when comparing Six Flags parks to Cedar Fair parks, it seems Cedar Fair is the bigger spender. They have 3 parks, Cedar Point, Canada's Wonderland & King's Island, with more coasters than SFGAm. And they have another couple of parks, King's Dominion & Carowinds, who tie with SFGam for coaster count. Wikipedia also has their total ride count a little higher than comparable six flags parks. Cedar Fair parks average a little bigger too, which would explain why they have space to pack a ton of rides and thoroughly theme things out. King's Island has a huge royal fountain and a 1/3 sized replica of the Eiffel tower at their entrance in addition to plenty of rides and room to expand. SFGAm seems like it is all just packed in and cluttered. I had always wished Gurnee would drop the building height limit and that SFGAm could buy an additional 65-100 acres of land for expansion, but I stand a better chance of getting struck by lightening. I also think it would have been awesome if they had originally built on a plot along the shore of Lake Michigan. But I'm sure that much lakefront property would have came at an astronomical price.

[anewman35]

- I don't know if lack of teasers is a bad sign, it could just as easily be a new philosophy by the new CEO. At the very least we know the chain has a few rides they were more than happy to tease previously (and we also know that SFGAm in particular has teased the last few years even for very small things), so I think it's much more likely that and not the indication of a chainwide down year.

 

- You may know this, but Six Flags actually was in discusions in the early 2000s I believe (before Hurricane Harbor for sure) to buy some land across the Tollway and build a water park there, which then would have left the Hurricane Harbor land open. But I think Six Flags was going through some things at the time and it never happened...

 

- I don't know how much I blame Gurnee for the park not having many tall coasters, because they can go over 300 feet with village approval (which I believe they've never not gotten), they just never try. Even the max limit is just a law that they've never really challenged, so maybe they could try to do something with that if they had any desire to.

[B&MGuy35]

Six Flags owned the land on the other side of the tollway. They had purchased it in the early 90's I believe. There intention was to have our park be a destination park kind of like Universal Studios in Florida. Unfortunately in the end they couldn't get approval from the state to build a bridge over the tollway to connect the parks and in the end they gave up fighting it. Here's an Tribune article that announces the plans in November of 1997.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-11-08/news/9711080010_1_six-flags-great-america-theme-park-water-park

 

When the company went through bankruptcy in 2009, after the economy tanked, they sold off all their extra property they had, so we lost any chance of an expansion then. As for the height limit, it has nothing to do with them not challenging it but rather the close proximity to Waukegan Airport. That's why the height limit is in place and not because they just have never challenged it. I'm pretty sure that can't be changed because of the airport.

 

 

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[anewman35]

My point about the height was that they can go up to 310 with village approval, it's just that since Sky Trek Tower they never have. So since they can go over 300 and never do, I don't blame the restrictions for not going to 400 or whatever. But I stand by what I said - I know the restrictions are because of the airport, but given time and money the park could at least try to change them (if they cared). Not saying they'd win, but you never know. But since they don't try, nobody has any reason to ever consider them.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Six Flags owned the land on the other side of the tollway. They had purchased it in the early 90's I believe. There intention was to have our park be a destination park kind of like Universal Studios in Florida. Unfortunately in the end they couldn't get approval from the state to build a bridge over the tollway to connect the parks and in the end they gave up fighting it. Here's an Tribune article that announces the plans in November of 1997.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-11-08/news/9711080010_1_six-flags-great-america-theme-park-water-park

 

When the company went through bankruptcy in 2009, after the economy tanked, they sold off all their extra property they had, so we lost any chance of an expansion then. As for the height limit, it has nothing to do with them not challenging it but rather the close proximity to Waukegan Airport. That's why the height limit is in place and not because they just have never challenged it. I'm pretty sure that can't be changed because of the airport.

 

 

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Actually they sold the land in 2003 or 2004

[B&MGuy35]

My bad

You're right. They were trying to get ahead of their debt and started selling off land

 

 

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[anonymouscactus]

Going for my first time labor day Saturday. Will buy platinum flash passes. When it says single ride on the flash pass page it just means you don't get to stay in your seat and ride a second time, but I can still reserve as many times as I'd like... is that correct? I know SFMM has pulled some one time reservations before didn't know if the same applies here. Also what are some must-rides that are NOT part of platinum flash pass? Thanks!

[9Armgeddon4]

According to Jiggidy NDG there are S&S free spins trains somewhere in the park. Now he doesn't have a photo to prove he saw the trains so I'm not going to believe it. If he gets a photo of them then I'll believe it. I read about the rumor on sfgamworld.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Going for my first time labor day Saturday. Will buy platinum flash passes. When it says single ride on the flash pass page it just means you don't get to stay in your seat and ride a second time, but I can still reserve as many times as I'd like... is that correct? I know SFMM has pulled some one time reservations before didn't know if the same applies here. Also what are some must-rides that are NOT part of platinum flash pass? Thanks!

 

 

Little Dipper. It has bad capacity but it's adorable.

Brace yourself on American Eagle

And If it's warm, Check out Buccaneer Battle. At most a 10m wait.

[yay101]

According to Jiggidy NDG there are S&S free spins trains somewhere in the park. Now he doesn't have a photo to prove he saw the trains so I'm not going to believe it. If he gets a photo of them then I'll believe it. I read about the rumor on sfgamworld.

 

Why would there even be S&S 4D freespin trains in the park? Even if SFGAm was adding one they would come during the offseason when the ride would be constructed. They're probably lying.

[RaceBoarder]

According to Jiggidy NDG there are S&S free spins trains somewhere in the park. Now he doesn't have a photo to prove he saw the trains so I'm not going to believe it. If he gets a photo of them then I'll believe it. I read about the rumor on sfgamworld.

 

Why would there even be S&S 4D freespin trains in the park? Even if SFGAm was adding one they would come during the offseason when the ride would be constructed. They're probably lying.

That's what happens when you post stuff from another message board where 80% of the posts are from high school kids...

[9Armgeddon4]

According to Jiggidy NDG there are S&S free spins trains somewhere in the park. Now he doesn't have a photo to prove he saw the trains so I'm not going to believe it. If he gets a photo of them then I'll believe it. I read about the rumor on sfgamworld.

 

Why would there even be S&S 4D freespin trains in the park? Even if SFGAm was adding one they would come during the offseason when the ride would be constructed. They're probably lying.

 

Like I said I'm not buying a word of it unless I see a photo to prove it. I was thinking that asking. Why send trains before track and support or for heavens bid before Six Flags announces their 2017 attractions. But I guess we're find out on Thursday what we're getting next year.