Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG) Discussion Thread

[grsupercity]

This park does look very good. Thanks for taking the time to write the report!

[Lotologist492]

23 hours ago, crash1984 said:

I do think SFoG will be doing year round operations at some point. It seems that theme parks in general are realizing that there is a lot of people who would come to parks no matter what the weather was especially if you give them some reason to come. Case in point look at BGW.

As far as Mindbender goes anyone have any idea what trains they will be using? It seems like new trains will be part of the refurbishment. I know that New Revolution's trains were spotted so in-house seems possible however I have also heard that Premier might be doing the work.

Actually, the primary reason for considering year-round ops in a park like SFoG (or the already-year-round Texas SF parks for that matter) is that it is much easier to sell and retain memberships without any kind of 'off season'.  The parks lose money on operating days in the winter with lower attendance but make up for it with an expanded membership (and season pass) base.  It is no secret that SF considers members and pass holders to be their most valuable guests - they say it all the time.  To be quite honest, I was a bit surprised this park did not take the leap to year-round this year.  With attendance chain-wide in the tank and the membership base having shrunk by over a third (according to SF Q3 report), this could have been a way to make up for some of that.  But I suspect the pandemic may have put the brakes on any such idea for now.

[thrillseeker4552]

Nice report! Thanks for sharing.

I visited SFOG for the first time in July 2019. My feelings about the park are mixed. On one hand, I don't think the park has a single "bad" coaster. Perhaps GASM, but I tend to like some old wooden coasters that have character nowadays where everything is being RMC'd. Blue Hawk is excellent, the B&Ms are all great, DDD is glossy smooth and fun, and Mind Bender rocks. On the flip side, I found the park's operations (for everything - food, rides, etc.) to be utterly terrible. It was also an incredibly hot and muggy day when I went, which probably made me grumpier about everything. But I would definitely visit the park again.

I echo your sentiments about Twisted Cyclone. That ride is a prime example of "less is more." It does exactly what it needs to do, it does it well, and it never lets up from beginning to end.

[coasternut]

^ I totally agree! The rides are great, but the staff really sucks... I haven't been there in a few years, but every visit has been the same - terrible.

[boldikus]

I dunno, having spent some time in the area outside the park (my sister lives in Athens), I feel like slow is a way of life in GA. I love SFOG its my fave SF park, but I'll agree the operations definitely are not the greatest. But knowing how slow service is just about everywhere in that part of the country, it makes it a little bit easier to deal with slow ride ops, etc at the park.

[coasternut]

19 minutes ago, boldikus said:

I dunno, having spent some time in the area outside the park (my sister lives in Athens), I feel like slow is a way of life in GA. I love SFOG its my fave SF park, but I'll agree the operations definitely are not the greatest. But knowing how slow service is just about everywhere in that part of the country, it makes it a little bit easier to deal with slow ride ops, etc at the park.

 I lived in Florida for 25 years, and that was my home park so I went there a lot.  I understand the slow pace of the south, but it just appears to me they just don't care..

[VF15]

I’m thinking about taking a trip to SFOG sometime in March or April, likely on a Saturday. This would be my first visit the park. I see they’re open 11am to 8pm those days, is that enough time to ride all of the coasters at least once or would I probably need to get a Flash Pass? Any other tips for visiting the park?

[jconsolmagno]

1 hour ago, VF15 said:

I’m thinking about taking a trip to SFOG sometime in March or April, likely on a Saturday. This would be my first visit the park. I see they’re open 11am to 8pm those days, is that enough time to ride all of the coasters at least once or would I probably need to get a Flash Pass? Any other tips for visiting the park?

Yes and go to Superman and Blue Hawk first, both those lines can get long.

[bert425]

Several Coasters have Single Rider queue (most importantly Twisted Cyclone & Goliath).

*but*. . they might not be operating them curing Covid (using single riders to fill every seat).

 

if they ARE using them?  keep an eye out for them when you get to the station - you have to wait in the main queue along with everyone else, but when you get to the station, check to see if single rider line is open.  If it is, hop in it, you'll get on much quicker, tho you won't get to chose what row they put you in to fill an open seat.

[dankeykang]

I think that Dare Devil Dive would be another one that should be knocked out early, since the cars only hold 6 riders which strongly limits capacity.  

[tndank]

Get there before opening and you probably knock them all out in 2-3 hours. TC usually opens a half hour early. DDD should prob be done right at rope drop. 

DDD, Superman, and TC have the longest lines during the day, typically. 

[jconsolmagno]

8 hours ago, bert425 said:

Several Coasters have Single Rider queue (most importantly Twisted Cyclone & Goliath).

*but*. . they might not be operating them curing Covid (using single riders to fill every seat).

 

if they ARE using them?  keep an eye out for them when you get to the station - you have to wait in the main queue along with everyone else, but when you get to the station, check to see if single rider line is open.  If it is, hop in it, you'll get on much quicker, tho you won't get to chose what row they put you in to fill an open seat.

Single queue was not in place when I was there in Oct. for Fright Fest

[TEDodd]

Several Coasters have Single Rider queue (most importantly Twisted Cyclone & Goliath).

Completely useless. Even after waiting I'm the main cue forever then you wait in the single rider line as they dispatch trains with half full rows. Occasionally they look over at the single queue and take one or two.

Totally unlike the single rider experience I had in Texas several years ago (2014?). Bypassed the main queue (using fast lane) and they filled every empty seat from the single rider queue if people there.


So SFOG almost never has anyone in the single rider lines because of that. Once or twice I got the fast lane person to let me up to the single rider line on Cyclone, like in Texas. Then I watched 3 trains leave with 4-5 empty seats.

[bert425]

^ absolutely not my experience using the single rider.

I've always gotten placed very quickly from that station queue. 

guess it just depends on the crew working that day.

[CoasterGuy06]

Agreed on saying you should hit up DDD and Superman first. Twisted Cyclone's line is usually much shorted in the afternoon though. Normally crowds would be bigger those Saturdays because you have a lot of band/choir groups there, but that won't likely be the case now. I'm sure they will still "cap" their attendance, but even so you will have enough time to ride the coasters most likely.

[The username]

Do we know if Mind Bender is going to open on opening day?  Thinking about continuing my new tradition of attending opening day for the 3rd year in a row, but if there's no MB idk if I can really justify it.

[bert425]

1 hour ago, The username said:

Do we know if Mind Bender is going to open on opening day?  Thinking about continuing my new tradition of attending opening day for the 3rd year in a row, but if there's no MB idk if I can really justify it.

I would say the answer is "no"

I saw a press release last week, referring to "Spring Opening" and mentioning brand new trains.

and a quick check just now at SFOG website, doesn't even show Mindbender (or Riddler Mindbender) listed on the Rides list.

so. . yeah. . it won't be open till later in the year.


ETA:  it absolutely could just be shitty Six Flags Website. . as I notice Pandemonium isn't on the rides list either. . that certainly hasn't been removed or closed.

[The username]

After looking at season passes, might just go anyways. 50$ with free parking is a smoking good deal.

[bert425]

^ free parking, does that mean the are upgrading to Gold for free?  if yes, GRAB it. . that gives you free parking at all SF parks.
 

[tndank]

6 hours ago, bert425 said:

^ free parking, does that mean the are upgrading to Gold for free?  if yes, GRAB it. . that gives you free parking at all SF parks.
 

They did away with that Gold upgrade stuff. Season passes have parking now.

Mindbender will 99% be closed.  On their FB page, their response to it being running opening day was simply, "Spring 2021."  Pretty sure that's a nice way of saying no.

Also, if you bought passes last year, they are still good this year.  'The username' mentioned having a streak going and then buying new passes.  Letting him know just in case.

 

[The username]

^Good thing to know! I did not have a pass for last season mainly because of MB and GASM not being open when I went on opening day. Def rubbed me the wrong way, might just be spoiled from how good 2019's opening was.

[wiyoh1984]

Is anyone going to SFOG this Saturday for opening day? 

[The username]

1 minute ago, wiyoh1984 said:

Is anyone going to SFOG this Saturday for opening day?

My brother and I will be there!

[wiyoh1984]

^ I'll be there too! I'm more than ready to get my coaster season started!

[tndank]

 

3 hours ago, wiyoh1984 said:

Is anyone going to SFOG this Saturday for opening day? 

Thinking about it.  Prob 50/50 at this point.