ilrider Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 This expansion, I'm cool with, because even if I never hit HH, it means more capacity and shorter lines in the rest of the park! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrykoala2112 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 This is going to be awesome! I've never been on a surf simulator, so that is something I need to try for next year. Is "activity pool" just a fancy name for "kid's play area"? I'm wondering if they will create a separate entrance to the water park with this expansion? I know they didn't announce it, but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen. The "activity pool" at Timber-age Lodge is just a regular pool (big pool) that has basketball hoops with smaller slides leading into it. Also with waterfalls fountains etc... Even if SFGAm created a second entrance, the picture says it will still remain included with park admission, so it won't be a separate ticket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajc47 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 I'm just so happy there is an activity pool now. There wasn't a normal swimming pool you could just hang out in (Sorry, the wave pool is such a bummer and is evacuated too much.) Surf Simulators though, very thrilling! Evacuated in case of Baby Ruths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildStangAlex Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 ^That, and they evacuate for a full 15 minutes each hour, to give the guards a break from the real stressful job watching a wavepool, and to make sure the water is "clear" and safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajc47 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Every pool I've been to has those. At our city pool they are just called rest periods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Peck Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Zoombezi Bay Waterpark (At the Columbus Zoo) eliminated the break with a "changing of the guards", so now there are no more rest periods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jojo19799 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 The "activity pool" at Timber-age Lodge is just a regular pool (big pool) that has basketball hoops with smaller slides leading into it. Also with waterfalls fountains etc... Even if SFGAm created a second entrance, the picture says it will still remain included with park admission, so it won't be a separate ticket Thanks for clearing that up. I remember a couple of the indoor pools at Wilderness (which goes outside as well) have a few basketball hoops set up. I think one might even have volleyball. I'm glad that water park admission is included with park admission. I really don't go to HH that often (maybe once a year if that) but it's a nice added bonus to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 While I'm not a huge water park fan, I'm glad to see this long rumored project finally getting built. While not terribly huge, it is still probably enough attractions to significantly increase the water park's capacity. A speed slide was needed at the park, and the activity pool and surf simulators will also make great attractions. I can't wait to see how it turns out, and hopefully the expansion matches what is already there in terms of theming as Hurricane Harbor is one of the nicest places in the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Starr Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 The official website also refers to the activity pool as "Caribbean-inspired", and I imagine that the entire new [three acre!] expansion area will be heavily themed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 good for them, glad to see six flags is keeping on the reinvestment track after the bankruptcy, hopefully they will keep it up. Now, about their ad, I'm sure Schlitterbahn and Noah's Arc see the "best water park in the nation", and sure they beg to differ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbydinn Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 A bit more info.. The Best Water Park in the Nation...Just Got BiggerComing in 2011 — Riptide Bay at Hurricane Harbor! Catch a wave at the only place to surf on Lake Michigan. The newly expanded water park will boast more slides and attractions than any other in the state. Splash into three more acres of fun featuring: Double-sided surf simulator Caribbean-inspired activity pool Thrilling waterslides Luxury cabanas and more! The Riptide Bay expansion will complement Hurricane Harbor's tropical-inspired paradise boasting hundreds of wet and wild water activities for all ages. Best of all, you can enjoy the water park for FREE with your Six Flags Great America daily admission or Season Pass. Get two parks for the price of one! Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Explore 100,000 square feet of slides, pools and water fun Get drenched on the award-winning Tornado Jump into a simulated ocean at Hurricane Bay http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/rideswaterpark/WaterParkOverview.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saginawhxc Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I've never done one of these surf simulators but I've always wanted to try one out. Does anyone know anything about their capacity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traincrossin Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 ^Usually you go until you fall or there's a time limit. If everyone has a minute and there are two sides, 120 people/hour. If everyone has 45 seconds, 160 people/hour. Those are just random guesses though. I'm definitely excited for this addition! I think it's just what Hurricane Harbor needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saginawhxc Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I've only been in their water park one time but it seemed really busy when I was there. Maybe I'm crazy but doesn't that seem like an awfully low capacity for a park this size? Even having two sides? I'm not knocking it. I think it sounds awesome. I wish we could get one of these at Michigan's Adventure. I just want to try one of these out without standing in line half a day. Maybe we could get another TPR day with some awesome water park ERT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traincrossin Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 ^In comparison, White Water West says that the capacity of their aqualoop is also 120 people/hour. There really are just not any "people eater" waterslides, so adding an entire new section is the best way to increase the entire capacity of Hurricane Harbor as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamico2 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 ^Well put. Back to the "hourly wave break" topic...I lifeguard at Seabreeze, and we don't bother with clearing the wave pool unless we absolutely have to do so. We do however do a complete bottom scan of the pool every forty minutes. The job may be stressful, but honestly 30 min. per 8 hour shift really is enough of a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traincrossin Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The wave pool at Great America is packed on busy days. I'm not positive about it, but does Six Flags have to clear the wavepool often just for insurance reasons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildStangAlex Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 ^In comparison, White Water West says that the capacity of their aqualoop is also 120 people/hour. There really are just not any "people eater" waterslides, so adding an entire new section is the best way to increase the entire capacity of Hurricane Harbor as a whole. But there are...look at Proslide mammoths or rockets. Also some flow riders have 2 people on each one, so thats 4 people simultaneously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saginawhxc Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I recently visited Noah's Ark and while I didn't get to ride their new "looping" water slide I found myself questioning the capacity on that too. Chalk it up to another thing I would love to try but not quite sure I'm ready to wait an hour in line to do so. All of this being said I will be the first to admit that I spend very little time in water parks so I'm not sure what is normal capacity on one type of slide to the next. I was just curious. Either way I think I am gonna have to try one of these surf simulators before too long. It looks like a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay20016 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The wave pool at Great America is packed on busy days. I'm not positive about it, but does Six Flags have to clear the wavepool often just for insurance reasons? Having been in aquatics for years now, I just find it as a bit funny people need to clear a pool to make sure it is truly clear... If you aren't proactively scanning, finding a person at the 40 min mark is... not really going to help them... Do they not trust their guards? The wonderful AFR is always a joy to have, telling people we're just doing some spot cleaning and/or selective water quality checks is fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndCamSS Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I wish there was some way to get the whole water park as ERT for 2-3 hours. I like the water park but it seems to always be packed. I went for the 1st time in a couple years 2 weekends ago and only went in the wave pool and walked through the kids area because of the massive lines for everything. A dead water park (when its not like 60 degrees outside!) would be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildStangAlex Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 The wave pool at Great America is packed on busy days. I'm not positive about it, but does Six Flags have to clear the wavepool often just for insurance reasons? Having been in aquatics for years now, I just find it as a bit funny people need to clear a pool to make sure it is truly clear... If you aren't proactively scanning, finding a person at the 40 min mark is... not really going to help them... Do they not trust their guards? The wonderful AFR is always a joy to have, telling people we're just doing some spot cleaning and/or selective water quality checks is fun... Oh, they trust their guards. They are Ellis guards, and won the Ellis International Lifeguard Competition. No question there of how prepared they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamico2 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 They actually held the competition back in 2007, I believe. Seabreeze took 3rd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I think this expansion is needed. While it was a nice waterpark, I found it to be a little lacking in stuff to do. Hopefully they work out some of the kinks in traffic flow as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbydinn Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 One more small bit of info about Riptide Bay from the SF blog.. We’ll start with Great America cause they’re coming off a really fun Facebook application that’s been teasing their new attraction for the past week. Hurricane Harbor will be going under the knife and getting some major reconstructive surgery. We’re talking like Heidi Montag-level enhancement surgery. Brand new attractions including a Caribbean-inspired activity lagoon pool and a thrill slide or two will be highlighting the over 3-acre expansion known as RIPTIDE BAY. It’ll even be getting a flowrider making it the only surfing area in Chicago. The opening is currently scheduled for Spring 2011, which sadly only gives me about 40 weeks to get into “bathing suit shape.” (In the interest of full disclosure, I’m typing this with one hand and eating a funnel cake with the other.) http://www.sixflags.com/national/footernav/sixflagsblog.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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