larrygator Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) Is there a generally accepted route to maximizing the day on a Saturday? Yes, and its called Flash Pass lol Not all of us are millionaires Unfortunately, Flash Pass is the only reasonable way to fully navigate SFGAdv on a Saturday in July or August. If you have flexibility in your schedule, Sunday is generally a less crowded day. Edited July 10, 2015 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 It's simple budgeting, dude. Not rocket science. I'll bet dollars to donuts that none of us are millionaires. If you really would prefer waiting an hour for everything on probably your only visit to the park this season, be my guest. THIS. @jamesinclair - First off, you asked a question and I gave you an honest (albeit humorous) answer. Second, I'm far from a millionaire. I'm getting tired of the insinuations around here that if you have a flash pass = you are rich. It's called budgeting your money. I work my ass off and set money aside to enjoy myself at parks. And you better believe I am going to budget in a extra $$$ for a skip-the-line pass at any major park I go to on a weekend in the middle of summer, even my home park. Why? Because riding rides is fun and standing in endless lines in the heat is not. I'll save some dough and pay extra to guarantee I have fun. But if you want to spend a hot Saturday waiting in 2+ hour lines and only riding a handful of rides, have at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genx24 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Hello, y'all! I'm planning on going to SF: MM for the September meet. I know it's not on topic; but anyhow. I'll be going to this park on July 16th. The last time I went to this park was during early 90's (90-92). I know a lot has changed. I was planning on going with my cousins for one day. We plan to be there before opening, and I was planning on purchasing a Flash Pass for all of us. I was wondering what's the best way to hit the park? If someone could give me some guidance, that would be wonderful. Pic unrelated. The park is has been dead during the week this season. Definitely budget for one, but a flash pass might not be necessary. As for hitting the park, I would do Ka/Zum right at opening, then down to the Boardwalk for S:UF and GL. Then head over to the left side for El Toro, Bizarro, RMT, then take the skyride over. From there, do Skull Mtn., Nitro, Namtab, and TDK. Wash, rinse, repeat. Unless you want to do the Safari. If you do, go to Safari upon opening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridewatchers Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 THIS. @jamesinclair - First off, you asked a question and I gave you an honest (albeit humorous) answer. Second, I'm far from a millionaire. I'm getting tired of the insinuations around here that if you have a flash pass = you are rich. It's called budgeting your money. I work my A$$ off and set money aside to enjoy myself at parks. And you better believe I am going to budget in a extra $$$ for a skip-the-line pass at any major park I go to on a weekend in the middle of summer, even my home park. Why? Because riding rides is fun and standing in endless lines in the heat is not. I'll save some dough and pay extra to guarantee I have fun. But if you want to spend a hot Saturday waiting in 2+ hour lines and only riding a handful of rides, have at it. Concur regarding FP on summer Saturday at one of Six Flags' better parks. There is a maxim in the travel industry: "Make people in a hurry pay." If you have flexibility, try to go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If unable, avoid weekends. If unable, avoid Saturday. If unable, get a flash pass. This issue has been discussed again and again over in the SFMM thread, but the rule is the same: don't rot in line and bake. If you're curious, click the link in my siggy for advice we give to the SFMM community, where temperatures are 10-20 degrees hotter and the heat is much drier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesinclair Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Folks, I get what youre saying. Problem is, Im not going alone. Thats why Im going on a Saturday (ugh) and during summer (uuuugh). So changing date is out. Buying Flash pass is out. With those limitations in mind, is there a generally accepted faster route? I go to Magic Mountain all the time, and I know damn well when certain rides are dead empty, even on summer weekends. Surely someone here has made the same observations at this park? Genx24 seems to have provided the best routing for me, thanks. On a side note, WTF does SF hate trees. I am not excited to roast in the endless concrete hellhole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro1118 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Bizarro is usually pretty dead even on busy days. Batman is usually manageable, but Namtab probably has killed that. Besides those rides, the park will be slammed. I'd hit up the rides with slower moving lines first (S:UF, GL, KK and Zumanjaro) first, and brave the lines of the better capacity rides where at least you should be moving (Nitro, B:TR and Toro on a good day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideofSteel Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 ^^I think I would go for Superman first, the Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro, and Green Lantern. El Toro and Nitro both have really fast moving lines and Bizarro usually doesn't have a long line. Batman's line is unpredictable, but it moves fast (not sure if it still does with the backwards trains). You probably won't get on all of the coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaellynn4 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Bizarro is usually pretty dead even on busy days. Batman is usually manageable, but Namtab probably has killed that. Besides those rides, the park will be slammed. I'd hit up the rides with slower moving lines first (S:UF, GL, KK and Zumanjaro) first, and brave the lines of the better capacity rides where at least you should be moving (Nitro, B:TR and Toro on a good day). Bizarro early in the day is pretty empty, but on the last two times I went to the park on a weekend this year it had a nearly-full queue midway through the day. I wouldn't bank on this coaster being under a 20-minute wait on a Saturday in July. But yes. Working clockwise is usually the best strategy for this park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Folks, I get what youre saying. Problem is, Im not going alone. Thats why Im going on a Saturday (ugh) and during summer (uuuugh). So changing date is out. Buying Flash pass is out. With those limitations in mind, is there a generally accepted faster route? I go to Magic Mountain all the time, and I know damn well when certain rides are dead empty, even on summer weekends. Surely someone here has made the same observations at this park? Genx24 seems to have provided the best routing for me, thanks. On a side note, WTF does SF hate trees. I am not excited to roast in the endless concrete hellhole. First off, Great Adventure has tons of shade. And from what I understand it is one of the most shaded parks in the chain (Ive only been to SFA which is the polar opposite of GAdv in terms of shade). As far as a plan of attack, most people will tell you to go to Kingda Ka and Zumanjaro first as those usually have the longest lines all day. That's probably a good idea if you really want to ride both of those. I would do Ka first due to its reliability, then Zum. Don't use the single rider line on Zum, the standby line always moves faster. Always. However, personally I always go right to El Toro first thing. There is no natural path right to the ride (crowds can go either into the Boardwalk area towards Ka, Superman, etc or Adventure Alley towards Sky Screamer, Nitro, etc) so the GP crowds usually doesn't show up back at El Toro for the first 30 minutes to an hour. I'm sure most folks here will agree Toro is the best ride in the park by a mile so if you want to enjoy the best of what this park has to offer and get a bunch of re-rides, do this first. If you want a short cut to Toro to get there even faster - make a right at the Main Street fountain, walk through Fantasy Forest and cut through the arcade next to the Tea Cups and it will take you right into Plaza Del Carnival so you can avoid going into the Boardwalk, most people don't know this so a lot of times its like early morning ERT on Toro. Superman and Green Lantern both have crappy capacity so both will tend to have long lines all day starting right away since they are the first rides people see when pulling into the lot and the restraints on both are tricky, but personally I wouldn't suggest hitting either of them first since GL is just terrible and Superman is fun but short so waiting a while is not worth it IMO. Batman certainly will have a nice line due to it being the "it" ride of the park right now. And Nitro is sort of the same as Toro - if you get back there early in the morning you can get some re-rides but after that it will have a decent line all day. Keep in mind w/ Nitro its a people eater. As long as they have all 3 trains running the line usually moves. Bizarro usually has one of the shortest lines in the park, but be advised it tends to NOT open with the park, usually at 11am, sometimes noon so don't head there first. Other than these suggestions I don't know what to tell you other than to perform sexual favors for some Flash Pass loot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strz Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 If you want a short cut to Toro to get there even faster - make a right at the Main Street fountain, walk through Fantasy Forest and cut through the arcade next to the Tea Cups and it will take you right into Plaza Del Carnival so you can avoid going into the Boardwalk, most people don't know this so a lot of times its like early morning ERT on Toro. How dare you share this secret info!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 LOL its been discussed here before, thats how I found out about it last year when I started going to the park all the time. Thanks TPR! lol edit: I meant to say make a LEFT at the fountain, not a right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaellynn4 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 If you want a short cut to Toro to get there even faster - make a right at the Main Street fountain, walk through Fantasy Forest and cut through the arcade next to the Tea Cups and it will take you right into Plaza Del Carnival so you can avoid going into the Boardwalk, most people don't know this so a lot of times its like early morning ERT on Toro. This shortcut is the reason why I spent so much money in the Boardwalk Arcade growing up, haha, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesinclair Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Thanks guys this was all really helpful. Green lantern is the standy right? Same as Riddlers in magic mountain? If so, I have no reason to ride that, always bores me to tears. Is my distant memory correct, or are all the water rides garbage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I haven't been on the Congo Rapids in 2 decades but the Log Flume is legendary, and well worth a ride, especially if its hot. But then again, if its hot, its going to be a loooooooong wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaellynn4 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Thanks guys this was all really helpful. Green lantern is the standy right? Same as Riddlers in magic mountain? If so, I have no reason to ride that, always bores me to tears. Is my distant memory correct, or are all the water rides garbage? You're correct about GL. Don't waste your time if you don't care about credits. Congo Rapids is okay, but it shows its age with a tame ride and lack of effects (though some of the old signage is funny - I rode it for the first time in over ten years a few weeks ago and noticed a sign saying "No food, drinks, or smokes allowed on ride."). Log Flume is one of the classic rides of the park, and one of the longest log flumes out there. If you love water rides and log flumes, definitely give it a go. However, be prepared to wait FOREVER for it. It always has a long line on summer weekends. Yet another reason to get Flash Pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesinclair Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Hmm, I do miss the Magic Mountain logs (stupid HQ idiots taking out the logs...) so I might have to make room...but yeah Id expect a 2 hour ride for them Are there any secret single line rides, where you walk up the flash pass line and they seat you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaellynn4 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Hmm, I do miss the Magic Mountain logs (stupid HQ idiots taking out the logs...) so I might have to make room...but yeah Id expect a 2 hour ride for them Are there any secret single line rides, where you walk up the flash pass line and they seat you? The only single-rider line in the park is for GL, and it splits off the main line about 3/4ths of the way in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strz Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) Folks, I get what youre saying. Problem is, Im not going alone. Thats why Im going on a Saturday (ugh) and during summer (uuuugh). So changing date is out. Buying Flash pass is out. With those limitations in mind, is there a generally accepted faster route? Bottom line: - maximize the park opening time and get on the following by 1pm, in this order: Kingda Ka, Zumajaro, El Toro, Bizarro, Batman, Nitro (yup, I get it that after Bizarro I'm telling you to hustle all the way to the other side of the park, but do it!) - many will tell you "go on Superman and Green Lantern first thing, because the wait times get crazy later in the day!"......don't do it- as wait or no wait, they are both underwhelming coasters! - past the "Super Six" mentioned above, the balance of the park/rides to go on/what you should do.....should be your personal preference....as you'll be in the peak of the day with big crowds/big lines Enjoy! Edited July 10, 2015 by strz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 The only single-rider line in the park is for GL, and it splits off the main line about 3/4ths of the way in. And Zumanjaro, but as stated don't bother. TRUST ME. Standby line ALWAYS moves faster, its like the SRL doesn't exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strz Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I haven't been on the Congo Rapids in 2 decades but the Log Flume is legendary, and well worth a ride, especially if its hot. But then again, if its hot, its going to be a loooooooong wait. "Old man says"......when I went on Congo Rapids when it first opened- there was no track, you bounced off the rocks, and the waterfall actually worked! And we called it Roaring Rapids! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaellynn4 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I haven't been on the Congo Rapids in 2 decades but the Log Flume is legendary, and well worth a ride, especially if its hot. But then again, if its hot, its going to be a loooooooong wait. "Old man says"......when I went on Congo Rapids when it first opened- there was no track, you bounced off the rocks, and the waterfall actually worked! And we called it Roaring Rapids! For the "old man" : Construction of Roaring Rapids Roaring Rapids Spotlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Password121 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Is there any way to use or process an SFA regular season pass at Great Adventure? I know they are supposed to be processed at the home park, but can they/do they ever make exceptions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I haven't been on the Congo Rapids in 2 decades but the Log Flume is legendary, and well worth a ride, especially if its hot. But then again, if its hot, its going to be a loooooooong wait. "Old man says"......when I went on Congo Rapids when it first opened- there was no track, you bounced off the rocks, and the waterfall actually worked! And we called it Roaring Rapids! For the "old man" : Construction of Roaring Rapids Roaring Rapids Spotlight Having your raft get stuck under the waterfall was the equivalent of a rollback in the 1980's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Is there any way to use or process an SFA regular season pass at Great Adventure? I know they are supposed to be processed at the home park, but can they/do they ever make exceptions? I think they will only do this is you pay the difference between the current season pass price at SFGAdv and the price you paid at the other park. This keeps people from buying the cheapest park's pass online without ever planning to visit that park. You also can not buy a pass at one park, and sign-up for the food plan at another park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gp1086 Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Agreed on how useless the single rider line is on Zumanjaro. The rule I made for myself last year was that it needed to be at least 1/5 of the normal queue to be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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