Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) Discussion Thread

[TBpony414]

Boldikus - you are forgiven for taking the pic from the brake run... it's phenomenal! Thanks for confessing haha. I clicked on the picture and saved it but if there's a better quality one can you email it to me?

 

gp1086 - As long as the park is open and operating rides next month you will 100% for certain need to get a Gold flash pass, but for not much more you can get the Platinum and have an even better experience. I've found Halloween time to be without a doubt some of the biggest crowds the park draws and you will definitely need it. I'm in NJ quite a bit and go to the park all the time but my SO only gets up there once or twice a year so we spring for the Gold when he's along. However, the last 2 years we ended up getting the Platinum FP at Halloween and it was absolutely worth it. Rerides on Toro alone made it worth it! We did feel bad being all "Sorry everyone next in line, but we have these wristbands so we can get another lap..." however the ride ops would call out nicely over the intercom to let people know and we didn't receive many nasty looks at all. In fact, I had multiple people ask me where to get the wristbands and I know for a fact one person went and got the Platinum FP as well because I saw him getting resides later that night.

 

Note: THEY WILL SELL OUT OF ALL FLASH PASSES during Halloween events so get them early in the evening. Be even smarter and get FP during the day before everyone figures out that it'll be crowded and they decide to get a FP too. With Platinum we were able to pop in one night for 5 hours and have a super relaxed time yet get on every single ride we wanted, multiple times. Our ride count was 22 at the end of that night which averages out to 1 ride every 4.4 minutes. GAdv isn't as massive as CP but it's still a huge park with a heck of a lot to do. If you are visiting infrequently and/or/especially on a holiday weekend and want to get on everything the Gold or Platinum is mandatory. Have a great time and come back to tell us all about it!

[jamesinclair]

So I went to Hurricane Harbor for the first time this past Saturday, taking advantage of my new season pass bonus thing.

 

They had a sign before the parking booths advising that as a "bonus weekend" all rides might not be open.

 

Arrived around 10:45. Getting in the park and processing the season pass was quick. I was surprised how light the crowds were.

 

The Caribbean Cove area and big wave racer were closed. I was surprised at this. Based on my experience at other water parks, rides like that have a very high throughput rate so are worth keeping open.

 

Started at the snake ride. Line was only one "row" deep. Very enjoyable ride. However, one thing I dont get is why they have a pile of 57 tubes but only 6 are in use at any time. This was true of all slides.

 

Continued on to The Falls and we rode the two side ones. I wouldnt call them fun. Intense experience. Only 8 people in line ahead of us.

 

Went back up to ride the middle one. Now about 12 people ahead of me. 15 minutes later I went back down. They couldnt get water pressure and the guy didnt know how long it would take to fix it.

 

Went to another tube ride. (Four wings maybe?) Lines getting longer now.

 

Getting real hot. Tried the lazy river. Disaster. Water was very dirty. No tubes. Not fun.

 

Tried the wave pool. Felt like I was in a TSA line at the airport. Enjoyed some waves and once everyone got kicked out went to another tube line.

 

At this point it was sweltering. Lines were long and the floor was lava hot. After 10 minutes in a line that wasnt moving we decided to leave. It was around 2pm at this point.

 

As we left the park we were amazed at the onslaught of crowds still entering. 2pm and the metal detectors were backed up 10 people deep.

 

I cannot imagine this park on a prime summer weekend (4th of July). The park is way too small for the crowds. I cannot see myself going back unless they add a second wave pool and 5 more rides. Ride ops are way too slow, and this isnt really a staffing issue, its more of the way they handle safety. Waits are too long between people getting to start their slide.

 

Also, not enough shade or misting systems.

 

Anyway, we went to Seaside Heights and returned at 6:15pm. I was surprised that contrary to what I was told here, the parking lot toll booths were still fully manned. The preferred parking area was also being controlled. Lots of people still entering the park. More so than those leaving.

 

Rode Madussa (15 minute wait) and then the mine cart thing (15 minute wait). Toro was backed up to the food stand in the line, so we bailed and hit some of the ground rides with no lines, like Diablo (10 minute wait), tea cups (instant), and one of those ship rides (instant). The rocking ship ride was funny. There were 3 kids who apparently had already ridden 5+ times in a row and were ready to keep going.

 

This was my first time on Diablo and I thought it was excellent. They keep you upside down for a long time which was a new experience for me. The fact that we only had to wait 1.5 cycles helped.

 

At the end I screwed up. I could have sworn the park closed at 10:30pm, so when I strolled up to the Joker at 10:05pm and the line was closed I was confused. Whoops, they closed at 10pm.

[coasterbill]

^ We told you that if you got to the park right before close, preferred parking wasn't staffed. If you get to the park almost 4 hours before closing then of course it's going to be staffed.

 

Madussa

 

That's a pretty Bizarro way to spell Medusa.

[boldikus]

Rode Madussa

In all my visits to the park I've never even heard of this ride. Where is it?

 

Toro was backed up to the food stand in the line, so we bailed and hit some of the ground rides with no lines, like Diablo (10 minute wait), tea cups (instant), and one of those ship rides (instant).

If the switchbacks are only filled to the nacho stand and both trains are running thats only a 20 minute wait (or less if they are hustling). FYI.

[jamesinclair]

^ We told you that if you got to the park right before close, preferred parking wasn't staffed. If you get to the park almost 4 hours before closing then of course it's going to be staffed.

 

Why would I arrive right before close? Preferred parking looked 50% empty anyway. We parked immediately adjacent to it in the first row.

 

If the switchbacks are only filled to the nacho stand and both trains are running thats only a 20 minute wait (or less if they are hustling). FYI.

 

Ill keep that in mind for next time. I did not pay attention on if they were running 1 or 2 trains. Medusa was running 3.

Edited September 13, 2016 by jamesinclair

[boldikus]

Toro almost always runs both trains unless something is wrong with one of them or the park is a ghosttown.

 

Bizarro always needlessly runs 3 trains NO. MATTER. WHAT.

 

Preferred is usually half empty, even if the park is packed. Most people just paid $25 for parking, would you be bothered to pay $10 more just to not have to walk an extra hundred yards?

[jamesinclair]

Toro almost always runs both trains unless something is wrong with one of them or the park is a ghosttown.

 

Bizarro always needlessly runs 3 trains NO. MATTER. WHAT.

 

Preferred is usually half empty, even if the park is packed. Most people just paid $25 for parking, would you be bothered to pay $10 more just to not have to walk an extra hundred yards?

 

Eh I wouldnt say needless. I enjoyed the quick line.

 

No I think paying extra is dumb. I also think paying someone to stand there are 6:30pm to enforce that is also dumb.

[boldikus]

I also think paying someone to stand there are 6:30pm to enforce that is also dumb.

Not dumb if you are the park and are making $35 off each lazy idiot willing to pay that much.

 

Eh I wouldnt say needless. I enjoyed the quick line.

When two trains are consistently stacked on the brake run the third train is definitely needless. Does it matter if you board quickly if you wind up sitting on the brake run for 5+ minutes? Still wasting your time either way. And Bizarro is ALWAYS running three trains. I've been one of 5 people in the station on dead days. Still running three (empty) trains and stacking only like the Bizarro crew can. The short wait has nothing to do with the 3rd train, its because no one ever rides Bizarro.

[coasterbill]

When two trains are consistently stacked on the brake run the third train is definitely needless.

 

This. It's annoying when Bizarro runs 3 trains because the crew sucks so much that they always double stack so it doesn't speed up operations at all and once you're ride is over you'll probably spend another 5 minutes sitting on the brakes. You pull in in the transfer area, theres already a train on the brakes under the roof and one in the station. So once they finally dispatch one (and it can still take awhile) you have to pull up and listen to a bunch of people clicking the seatbelts because they're bored for the next 4 minutes while they try to send the next train.

[boldikus]

^ LOL I love when the operator gets all pissed at people clicking the seatbelts.

[coasterbill]

^ LOL I love when the operator gets all pissed at people clicking the seatbelts.

 

Oh me too. People wouldn't be clicking seatbelts if you'd send the f*cking train.

[jamesinclair]

When two trains are consistently stacked on the brake run the third train is definitely needless.

 

This. It's annoying when Bizarro runs 3 trains because the crew sucks so much that they always double stack so it doesn't speed up operations at all and once you're ride is over you'll probably spend another 5 minutes sitting on the brakes. You pull in in the transfer area, theres already a train on the brakes under the roof and one in the station. So once they finally dispatch one (and it can still take awhile) you have to pull up and listen to a bunch of people clicking the seatbelts because they're bored for the next 4 minutes while they try to send the next train.

 

That wasnt my experience. As we pulled into the waiting area, the train in front was loading and the other way going up the hill. Seemed quite efficient to me.

 

We waited only a minute or so to fully pull into the station.

 

I rather that than a coaster designed for 3 cars running only 1. Or designed for 6 and running 2 (cough old Colossus at Magic Mountain cough)

 

 

I take it from the lack of replies on my Hurricane Harbor commentary that none of you folks frequent that park?

[coasterbill]

Seriously? That's amazing for the Bizarro crew.

 

Also yeah, nobody cares about Hurricane Harbor.

[boldikus]

 

That wasnt my experience. As we pulled into the waiting area, the train in front was loading and the other way going up the hill. Seemed quite efficient to me.

 

We waited only a minute or so to fully pull into the station.

I really find that hard to believe but if thats true then consider yourself lucky. What Bill described is exactly how it always goes for me.

 

I take it from the lack of replies on my Hurricane Harbor commentary that none of you folks frequent that park?

I'll answer your question with your very own quote.

 

As we left the park we were amazed at the onslaught of crowds still entering. 2pm and the metal detectors were backed up 10 people deep.

 

I cannot imagine this park on a prime summer weekend (4th of July). The park is way too small for the crowds. I cannot see myself going back unless they add a second wave pool and 5 more rides. Ride ops are way too slow, and this isnt really a staffing issue, its more of the way they handle safety. Waits are too long between people getting to start their slide.

 

Also, not enough shade or misting systems.

 

Also, there is no El Toro @ HH.

[jamesinclair]

Seriously? That's amazing for the Bizarro crew.

 

Also yeah, nobody cares about Hurricane Harbor.

 

Is it because of the problems I pointed out, or just because everybody here is more of a coaster junkie?

[coasterbill]

A little bit of both, but generally because it's a terrible water park with much better options nearby. Like, for example... the f**king ocean.

[jamesinclair]

A little bit of both, but generally because it's a terrible water park with much better options nearby. Like, for example... the f**king ocean.

 

I like the ocean. But there are no slides into the ocean.

 

Has Six Flags shown any interest in improving HH? I know the main park generally gets 1 new thing a year. Apparently thats not quite true of HH?

[michaellynn4]

Bleh. I hate the ocean. I'll take a poorly run, heavily-chlorinated water park any day.

 

That said, I've had great experiences at Hurricane Harbor the last couple of times I've visited this year and last. Never had any issues with operations, and all of the complaints I have seen about HH on Facebook have been phenomenally stupid. Are you guys seeing things that I'm not?

Edited September 13, 2016 by michaellynn4

[coasterbill]

A little bit of both, but generally because it's a terrible water park with much better options nearby. Like, for example... the f**king ocean.

 

I like the ocean. But there are no slides into the ocean.

 

Has Six Flags shown any interest in improving HH? I know the main park generally gets 1 new thing a year. Apparently thats not quite true of HH?

 

No. They hit capacity constantly so they don't really care.

[jamesinclair]

A little bit of both, but generally because it's a terrible water park with much better options nearby. Like, for example... the f**king ocean.

 

I like the ocean. But there are no slides into the ocean.

 

Has Six Flags shown any interest in improving HH? I know the main park generally gets 1 new thing a year. Apparently thats not quite true of HH?

 

No. They hit capacity constantly so they don't really care.

 

But they have so much space to expand.

 

Why does Six Flags hate people

 

Bleh. I hate the ocean. I'll take a poorly run, heavily-chlorinated water park any day.

 

That said, I've had great experiences at Hurricane Harbor the last couple of times I've visited this year and last. Never had any issues with operations, and all of the complaints I have seen about HH on Facebook have been phenomenally stupid. Are you guys seeing things that I'm not?

 

Weekday?

[coasterbill]

Bleh. I hate the ocean. I'll take a poorly run, heavily-chlorinated water park any day.

 

I hate the Jersey shore except for Wildwood because it'll be a cold day in hell before I ever pay to sit on the beach but when I'm that close to the ocean I'd never waste time at a waterpark. I might make an exception at Morey's because it looks so damn cool but if I were there dressed for the water park I'd probably end up in the ocean at some point anyway.

 

To each his own though.

[namurt28]

Action Park/Mountain Creek Waterpark is about 9014234x better than Hurricane Harbor and it's only like 2 hours north.

[boldikus]

Its funny because I absolutely skeeve the ocean and don't like waterparks except Morey's early in the morning (though its been a few years). I love private pools though!

 

I have no personal experience @ HH because all I've ever heard is how much it sucks and if I'm at Great Adv Id rather just go to the dry park since IMO thats where the fun is. OLE!

[jamesinclair]

Action Park/Mountain Creek Waterpark is about 9014234x better than Hurricane Harbor and it's only like 2 hours north.

 

Hm maybe Ill check that out next year.

[michaellynn4]

Weekday?

 

This year, yes, on a relatively slow day. However, last year I went the last operating day of the season, on Labor Day. Park was packed, but it never felt overwhelming.