Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[JRice92]

Word is that Goliath is back up and running

 

Thank you! I'm visiting on Thursday and I'm so happy to see this.

 

On the flash pass talk, this Thursday if any of the big rides are more than a walk on wait I'm springing for a platinum flash pass. I've never visited this park before and I'm sure I won't be back anytime soon. So I'm splurging to enjoy the day.

[anewman35]

On the flash pass talk, this Thursday if any of the big rides are more than a walk on wait I'm springing for a platinum flash pass. I've never visited this park before and I'm sure I won't be back anytime soon. So I'm splurging to enjoy the day.

 

I guess it just all depends on the kind of person you are. For myself, I know the guilt of spending that much money would ruin my day more than any lines ever could...

[JRice92]

On the flash pass talk, this Thursday if any of the big rides are more than a walk on wait I'm springing for a platinum flash pass. I've never visited this park before and I'm sure I won't be back anytime soon. So I'm splurging to enjoy the day.

 

I guess it just all depends on the kind of person you are. For myself, I know the guilt of spending that much money would ruin my day more than any lines ever could...

 

Haha I'm one of those guys that will go ride each ride 15 times (or more) in a day if I can. Save for days I've lucked out visiting parks on off days I'll always spring for skip the line passes.

[Woodie Warrior]

Flash pass is always worth it.

 

Very much a matter of opinion. Personally, I can't imagine it ever being worth it.

You're kidding, right? I get that the cost might be a bit much, but I visited on a Wednesday (granted it was in July), and every major ride had at least an hour wait, many had more than that. We only stopped to hit up Goliath and RB, but if we would've stayed the whole day we would've felt the need to get a FP.

 

SFGAm has some of the longest lines of any park I've been to. Chicago could use another amusement park.

[Foltzy]

You're kidding, right? I get that the cost might be a bit much, but I visited on a Wednesday (granted it was in July), and every major ride had at least an hour wait, many had more than that. We only stopped to hit up Goliath and RB, but if we would've stayed the whole day we would've felt the need to get a FP.

 

SFGAm has some of the longest lines of any park I've been to. Chicago could use another amusement park.

Well it's not like leaving 5+ seats on every train helps speed things up

[ACES]

Has Goliath been closed? I read on screamscape said one of the trains got stuck on the lift hill only has one train operation till they fix it? Said it maybe open back up this weekend? I could imagine what the lines be like on Goliath with one train running? I hope they have both trains back in operation at the end of July when I go out to Six Flags Great America Saturday. I'm going to buy the Six Flags Gold Season pass I've decided to do that because it will save me tone of money and do the flash pass Saturday expecting the lines to be the longest on Saturdays then Sunday's? I'm also going to Six Flags St Louis.

Edited June 24, 2015 by ACES

[PKI Jizzman]

I'm going on Friday in the morning for a ride on Goliath (hopefully) since I've only had one ride on it last year. I bailed in the line opening weekend at 10am since it was all the way back to Am Eagle with one training. Nooooope.

[ribsinbacon]

Goliath is up and running (according to a reply I got from the social media team on their Twitter account)

[DirkFunk]

Flash pass is always worth it.

 

Very much a matter of opinion. Personally, I can't imagine it ever being worth it.

You're kidding, right? I get that the cost might be a bit much, but I visited on a Wednesday (granted it was in July), and every major ride had at least an hour wait, many had more than that. We only stopped to hit up Goliath and RB, but if we would've stayed the whole day we would've felt the need to get a FP.

 

SFGAm has some of the longest lines of any park I've been to. Chicago could use another amusement park.

 

Great America once had solid operations up until a short few years ago. I think they've gotten to the point where you "need to get a FP" because they've cut their operating budget and reduced their efficiency to near nonexistence. You know, to match how most of the chain runs.

 

Chicago also had other amusement parks that the people there travelled to, the issue is that they have gone to the dogs (Mount O and Indiana Beach).

[batmanfan80]

If I didn't say so, Goliath was down all day Sunday. Flash Pass at Great America only gets you so far. A lot of the waiting takes place after the Flash Pass employee and Eagle doesn't even have a FP lane. Once you get to the FP person, you can still have 50 people and a lot of stairs in front of you. Operations seemed better to me this past week than most times I'd been there since 2011. The Ragin Cajun spot is now occupied by a Fright Fest display advertising for this fall.

[anewman35]

Flash pass is always worth it.

 

Very much a matter of opinion. Personally, I can't imagine it ever being worth it.

You're kidding, right? I get that the cost might be a bit much, but I visited on a Wednesday (granted it was in July), and every major ride had at least an hour wait, many had more than that. We only stopped to hit up Goliath and RB, but if we would've stayed the whole day we would've felt the need to get a FP.

 

No. Maybe this is an unpopular opinion on a site such as this, but there are more important things than how many rides you can get on in a day (things like food and shelter and bills). If you can afford it and choose to spend your money in such ways, go for it, but for me the cost of a theme park ticket itself is a big investment (especially if my entire family is attending), and the idea of paying a few times more than that is just horrifying to me.

 

In my formative years going to theme parks, Flash Pass didn't exist (and even if it did, my family was frugal, I can't imagine we would have gotten it). If I wanted to go on a good ride I knew I'd be waiting an hour or two, and if I didn't think that was worth it, then I just wouldn't go on the ride. I get that people have more options now, but it seems strange to me that waiting in line seems so inconceivable to people these days.

[Password121]

You're looking at it from different perspectives. From my time visiting parks (which has been limited), I usually wait out the lines as most of the parks I visit are relatively nearby. My family is well enough off that we could afford a Flash Pass once in a while, but we are frugal and realize there are more I portent things--especially when I can visit another day.

The only time I have used a skip the line pass was on my first ever visit to Cedar Point. I had about eight hours in the park total, and had been anxiously anticipating the trip for months on end. I would never pay to skip lines at a park I visit more than once every few years, however, and Cedar Point was an exception. In that case, I felt it was worth it.

[JRice92]

I don't have a problem with waiting in lines. It's that I'm only visiting this park 1 time in the foreseeable future right now. Like someone else said the parks I frequent the most, (CP & KI) I don't by Fast Lane, because over the course of the season I'll get plenty of rides. But for 1 visit I want o get in as much as possible. Also all I do at parks is ride coasters, I don't watch shows or play any games. I just ride the coasters as many times as possible. While for some it's just fun riding rides but I LOVE riding coasters. So if all I gotta do is drop $115 for a flash pass. I'm in. And I'm heading to the park solo tomorrow, at the young age of 22 I don't have to worry about buying a whole family tickets.

 

Question for locals. I'll be there before opening and I'll be sprinting to Goliath First. I realize the park layout splits at the front. Is it correct that I go to the right to get to Goliath faster?

[Jodon]

^ it may be quicker, but usually the right side is roped off before Hometown Square. I haven't made the opening run this season, but last season you could run straight to Goliath by going left at the Carousel and they would have a rope right after Goliath's entrance.

[JRice92]

Thanks, I've been in Chicago for a few days now and can see Grear America from my room. The excitement is getting to that I'm gonna get to go and ride my first RMC!

[Snowyowl1028]

Thanks, I've been in Chicago for a few days now and can see Grear America from my room. The excitement is getting to that I'm gonna get to go and ride my first RMC!

I'm going there too in a few weeks for my first time. I will ride my first RMC, and my first B&M. Yes first B&M as I have only gone to four parks.

[JRice92]

^I haven't ridden superman yet, but I have ridden Manta at SWO and after that pretzel loops became my favorite type of inversion! So get stoked! I'll have a full trip report coming of this park. Even though I'm at something like 18 parks. I haven't been to a Six Flags park before (discount those 4 years Geauga Lake was a six flags park, plus that was over 10 years ago). So I'm excited to compare them to the rest.

[buck funny]

Flash pass is always worth it.

 

Very much a matter of opinion. Personally, I can't imagine it ever being worth it.

You're kidding, right? I get that the cost might be a bit much, but I visited on a Wednesday (granted it was in July), and every major ride had at least an hour wait, many had more than that. We only stopped to hit up Goliath and RB, but if we would've stayed the whole day we would've felt the need to get a FP.

 

SFGAm has some of the longest lines of any park I've been to. Chicago could use another amusement park.

 

Great America once had solid operations up until a short few years ago. I think they've gotten to the point where you "need to get a FP" because they've cut their operating budget and reduced their efficiency to near nonexistence. You know, to match how most of the chain runs.

 

It bugs me when parks aren't that busy but have slow inefficient operations and let tons of people by with flashpasses. It seems like they are saying "pay double or suffer and wait all day". If they had half decent operations nobody would need a flashpass.

[JRice92]

^Thats one of the big reasons I'm gunning for a flash pass at this park. I've heard you can't really enjoy your day here with hot one. There's a light rain right now and rain in the forecast for nearly the whole day. So maybe I'll luck out with light crowds. And hopefully rides still are still running.

[RandallDuell]

A humble request for a Photo Trip Report from this park...it's been awhile, and I'm curious to see how everything is looking.

[HARLEYGUYJB]

It's crazy how many people buy the flash pass at this park. I was there a few weeks ago and there was a mad rush to get to the flash pass center right when the gates open. Withing 5 min of the gates opening there was a huge line at the flash pass center.

[GCI Wooden]

A humble request for a Photo Trip Report from this park...it's been awhile, and I'm curious to see how everything is looking.

I'm working on my Indiana Beach trip report, and when I'm done with that, I'll work on a SFGAm one!

[RandallDuell]

Fantastic. I appreciate it. This is obviously a well-visited park...I'm surprised at how little discussion and picture-taking there is!

 

Also, if someone who enjoys this park wins the lottery can they please donate the monies needed to donate a new, state of the art, Sky Whirl (triple wheel) to the park? Thanks in advance!

[JRice92]

A humble request for a Photo Trip Report from this park...it's been awhile, and I'm curious to see how everything is looking.

 

I've also been taking photos my entire day here today. It's been a blast so far! The crowds are so light that I've gotten 25 total rides in and the park is still open for 6 more hours!

[PKI Jizzman]

Rode Goliath for the second time..this time in the back seat. Amazing! What a strange ride. But wow some phenomenal airtime moments.