Six Flags Great Adventure October 16

[jjb297]

I will be going to SFGA for my first time on Friday, October 16. As with all parks, I assume we should get there at opening (5:00 PM). I do not plan to by a Flashpass as I do not have a full day at the park, and I have heard that Friday Fright Fest nights are not so bad. I really do not know what is considered not so bad though as I have read SFGA trip reports with wait times for the major coasters approaching two hours.

 

What should I be expecting in terms of crowds, and line waits for El Toro, KK and Nitro? I assume it would be a good idea to start with KK and hit El Toro, Bizzaro and S:UF before walking to the other side of the park, but advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and expect a TR when I get back.

[Jerrykoala2112]

http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52652

 

That is also a SFGADV but for 2 weeks after you go. I would think there would be a little more people in mid October, so I would recommend the Gold flash pass. If SFGADV is crowded on Tuesdays and Wenesdays in May, then I would highly know that Fright Fest will be jam packed...unless all of the New Jersey area suddenly stops going to Great Adventure...

 

And the last post on that thread also tells some good info.

[jjb297]

^ Yes lol I saw this, Thanks though. I just wanted to know specifically about Friday nights. I cannot see 5 PM on a Friday being packed, but since SFGA is in one of the most densely populated areas of the United States, I assume it will be at least somewhat crowded. I think you would have to have been to one or two Friday Night Fright Fests to give a good answer, as the differences between Fri night and Sat night crowds can be huge. I still am leaning against the Gold Flash Pass, as only 4 coasters there are that important to me (KK, El Toro, Nitro, S:UF) and the rest (Bizzaro, Batman, GASM, Dark Knight) would all great to get rides on, but I don't know if I would get a Gold Flash Pass just to rack up the credits (and there would not be much reason to get the regular flash pass I would think).

[Jerrykoala2112]

I can tell you that SFGAM is pretty light on Friday's. But I wouldn't count on that since like you said, that area is super populated.

 

You could always just buy a flash pass if you see the crowd is too much when you get there. And pray that they haven't sold out on them.

 

MOD EDIT: It would be appreciated if you didn't give advice on a park that you have never been to during Firght Fest. Your comments about SFGAm are not pertinent. So please refrain from attempting to give advice in this thread.

[larrygator]

SFGAdv always draws huge crowds for Fright Fest. If your desire is to reride the coasters repeatedly the Gold Flash Pass is a necessity, no matter which day you choose.

 

Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays at the park. Even on a Friday night you might not got on all the major coasters without a Flash Pass.

[jjb297]

^That pretty much answers my question-Thanks. I think we will play it by year, and as long as we are at the gate by 5, see how many coasters we can ride before the crowds fill. If we can get KK and El Toro in before 6, we probably won't get the flash pass.

[larrygator]

It's possible to get on ET or KK within the first train or train if you hustle, but by the time you get to the second ride the line might already be over an hour. Then after the second ride you might be looking at over 1 hour waits for Nitro, B:TR, Medusa and S:UF. Even for only 5 hours the Gold Flash Pass is worth it during Fright Fest at SFGAdv.

[jjb297]

I would do it but I don't think my dad would pay $130 for the flash pass when we probably will be at the park four-five hours. It did not say anything on the sight for discounted flash passes for late openings, so unfortunately I don't think we will get it.

[SharkTums]

^That's a shame. Your situation is DESIGNED for the Gold Flashpass. You don't have a lot of time, the park is going to be crowded so you use the Flashpass to make the most of your time and money. Heck if you had all day I would understand the argument against it, but having only 5 hours SCREAMS BUY THE GOLD FLASHPASS.

[Mr. Starr]

I get a Gold FlashPass every time I go to SFGAm, which is usually for about 10 hours. IT'S WORTH IT. In that 4-5 hours, you could be scrambling to try to get every ride in, or you could use the FlashPass to get multiple rides on every roller coaster, as well as have time to enjoy the overall park. And with it being Fright Fest, there's a lot more to do at Six Flags than just ride roller coasters.

[jjb297]

^^ True, true. Time to start babysitting NOW

 

^ And at SFSTL, there is not much to do with Fright Fest (Haunted House and Hayride were pay-extra attractions last year), and I am not sure if there were even considered scare-zones anywhere.

 

After considering your points, I may be able to convince my dad to get the Flash Pass. How does it work at SFGA, do you scan at the rides or anywhere (I have never gotten a FP before)? Thanks

[SharkTums]

You can reserve any ride on the system from any place in the park. It's all done right on the device itself. Plus, I haven't been to SFGAd's Fright Fest in a bunch of years but they used to offer an AWESOME Hay Ride during Fright Fest, and it was on the Flashpass. That alone would get like a two hour line.

[MMcCollum1980]

No hayride this year But hey, there's El Toro! Have fun!

[YoshiFan]

Get there at opening and go right to Kingda Ka, other than that lines shouldn't be much of an issue on a Friday nights.

 

Here are 2 of my TR's from Friday night's last year to give an idea of how light the crowds are (I didn't post them on TPR since they weren't Photo TR's).

http://www.gadv.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15133 (27 rides in 5 1/2 hours no Flashpass)

http://www.gadv.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15188

(31 rides in a little over 6 hours, no Flashpass)

 

Of course things could change this year but I still think it won't be that crowded.

[jjb297]

YoshiFan, I got your great advice on Coasterbuzz, I just could not believe that Friday nights would be so empty. If you went to two Friday Fright Fest nights, you would definitely be the most knowledgable person here (unless there is a staff member) who has commented.

[YoshiFan]

I just got back from the park tonight, it was an exhausting but awesome night. Just like last year it was dead. I got 32 rides in 5 1/4 hours without flash pass. The only waits were Kingda Ka at 15 minutes and Bizarro at 10 minutes. Everything else was just a 1 train wait unless you wanted the front (and a lot of times you could walk right onto the front).

 

It was warm out too, in the low 70's all night so it wasn't the weather that kept crowds away. Hopefully next Friday will be the same crowd wise.

 

I can't see a flash pass as neccessary if it is like that again next week. It didn't help people save any wait time. Even for Kingda Ka, the line was in the station so someone with a flash pass would have had to wait the same 15 minutes as everyone else.

[CoasterCard]

What do you think about this coming Saturday? I'm going to be at the park and was wondering what to expect in the way of crowds.

 

Also, is there a plan of attack on a saturday other than get there early? I've read some places saying to start with Kingda Ka and other places saying to start to the right with Nitro and Batman. Thanks for any help you can give.

[YoshiFan]

Yesterday by mid day lines were 45+ minutes for the major rides based on other reports. Kingda Ka should be done first. Nitro's line moves very fast with 3 trains. I would get there at opening, go to Ka, El Toro, Bizarro take the sky ride to Nitro ( if the line is short for the sky ride) ride that and Batman. Superman is easier to get to before Kingda Ka and it can get a horrible line if the park is crowded but to get to it after Bizarro could work too however it is out of the way to do that. If you want to ride Rolling Thunder and Runaway Mine Train you could consider those as you walk past them as well if you go to KK, ET and then Bizarro (stopping at Rolling Thunder after Toro and Mine Train before sky ride)

[jjb297]

Wow, well this was definetly an interesting experience. We call the park from the highway at 7 15 as the rain is starting to pick up again, to check to see if/which RIDES were open. Well it turned out the PARK was closing a 8 00. I was very upset. We get to the park at 7 30, and we did not really know where to go, since it was our first time at the park. I was told that the park closed if they had less than 2,000 people (could be someone of TPR that told me), and that this was why they closed. This also made sense as the weather cleared by 8 00. We rode El Toro, Bizzaro and Nitro. Full TR when I get home later this week.