Bilby in the USA

[Bilby_AUS]

Hello Hello.... From down under (there I said it)

 

My name is Bilby and as a coaster enthusiast I feel like a rare breed here in Australia, just as rare as a decent amusement park is here! Anyway, I am a noob here, among other things, and need a little help planning a trip I will be doing this October.

 

I will be doing things other than going to parks, but the whole trip for me will be centered around going to a couple of US parks that I have wanted to go to ever since I started drooling over Millie back in 2000.

 

The plan so far (parks wise) is this:

 

Cedar Point Halloweekend 4-6th October

 

Six Flags Great Adventure 12 or13th October (maybe both but I have already been to this park)

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain 19th or 20th October (maybe both)

 

So the plan for Cedar point is this:

Arrive in Sandusky friday morning 5:35 I will be coming from Chicago on the red eye (train). Give myself time to get settled and so on and to meet my sister that evening somewhere as she will be coming from Boston for a work thing. Not sure where to stay yet. A few issues we will have; we will not have our own transport and will be relying on public services and we are wanting to stay Sunday night also. So we are wanting to stay at Breakers so we get early entry and don't have to drive through traffic to get to the park, but they are not offering rooms on the Sunday night. Just Friday and Saturday. So maybe we sacrifice closeness for a hotel that we can stay at on the Sunday too, but then how do we get to the park?

 

So my questions are:

What do you all think would be the best option? Stay at Breakers fri and sat night and then somehow find a place in Sandusky after Sunday in the park? How would we get from the park to Sandusky; shuttle, Taxi?

OR

Find a place off the penninsula where we can stay 3 nights? but transport again. Are there hire car places in Sandusky (Avis etc)? or are there shuttle services?

 

Also I will be in the park by myself on the Friday night. I'm a 6'1" 170lb 28 year old Aussie guy. Will there be a security issue with me walking around alone... OR will there be anyone on here that will be there that weekend who would be willing to show me around?? Or will it be easy to pick up a couple of cool randoms to show me around?

 

The other option would be to ditch the friday at the park and meet my sister in Cleveland (easier for her) stay there friday night hire a car and drive to sandusky sat morning.... Looking at how packed the place gets on Halloweekends i would like to go friday too. Thoughts?

 

Six Flags Great Adventure:

 

Not too many hassles here. We will be staying in NYC and catching NJTrasit bus to and from the park. I will be with my sister. Will catching the last bus at 10pm back to NYC be a bit of a security issue or is it usually ok? Also, should we allow for both days? or will one day be enough? And if so will the Sunday be a better day to go? Or will they both be busy because of the Columbus day long weekend? The park is open Monday... Should we go Monday? Quieter?

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain:

 

I may or may not be going alone. It just depends on where and what my sister will be doing and on what weekend I choose to go: 28th or29th September (6pm close), or 19th or20th October. Either way we/I will be again using public transport to/from LA Unless it is way better to just hire a car.

 

If I were alone, security wise what are the issues at night coming home? Also one or two day in the park? And would there be anyone interested in Showing me/us around (rollercoasters no1 priority, naturally). Is there much benefit staying closer to the park? what is traffic like between LA and the park if we were to drive?

 

So there it is.... well the weekends anyway I would LOVE your feedback and advice, and If anyone will be at any of these parks on those dates and would like a couple of Aussies in your entourage that would be AWESOME!!!

 

Thanks Everyone!!!

[biker7766]

I would possibly be a little bit cautious on the NJTransit bus back to NY. There are a lot of people that board the bus at closing. I always see a long line to get on, so maybe think of an earlier bus or just leaving the park a little early to make sure you have a good spot in line.

[Bilby_AUS]

Cheers Biker!

 

I was thinking that. Maybe get the 8pm one or something.

[Bilby_AUS]

Oh the other question that I cannot seem to be able to figure out the answer to online...

 

Would a season Pass be worth getting? are they valid for Fright fest? And can I use it for both SFMM and SFGAdv?

[biker7766]

Yes they are valid for both parks, but I would consider waiting till the end of August to get one, as you could then get a 2014 Six Flags season pass and get Fright Fest included free! Great deal!

[Bilby_AUS]

Wow that is a great deal, although I don't think I would ever have the opportunity to use it again after this trip.... The thought of spending only 78 bucks for 4 days of rides and 2 parks is absolutely to good to pass up!

[DirkFunk]

Arrive in Sandusky friday morning 5:35 I will be coming from Chicago on the red eye (train). Give myself time to get settled and so on and to meet my sister that evening somewhere as she will be coming from Boston for a work thing. Not sure where to stay yet. A few issues we will have; we will not have our own transport and will be relying on public services and we are wanting to stay Sunday night also. So we are wanting to stay at Breakers so we get early entry and don't have to drive through traffic to get to the park, but they are not offering rooms on the Sunday night. Just Friday and Saturday. So maybe we sacrifice closeness for a hotel that we can stay at on the Sunday too, but then how do we get to the park?

 

Woah. Uhh. You have a few problems here. First, if you're planning on staying at Breakers, you're going to have trouble trying to get to the Peninsula at 5:35AM on Friday morning. They probably won't even allow vehicles in until check in time at the resorts (3 or 4PM). You could stay off property then, but you have the issue of getting around. There isn't usable public transport that meets your needs in Sandusky. You'll need to rent a car, but neighborhood car rental locations like Enterprise aren't likely to open until later in the morning that Friday. You'd probably need to take a taxi to a hotel offside, you may not have a room, meaning you'll end up spending quality time in the lobby, at which point then you might be able to take public transport (which is very limited), another taxi, or walk some distance to a rental car facility. None of these options are particularly great options, but if renting a car one way is out of the question, then you're going to be inconvenienced no matter what.

 

As far as Sunday night stays go; if you're renting a car, you'll probably need to return it Monday morning anyhow, so staying off the peninsula doesn't seem to me like a big deal. The downside you'll have not staying there is not being able to get in early. You could get a room at Breakers anyways and then stay off property the final night just to get early entry. In my mind for those crowds, it is probably worth it.

 

As far as the other locations go, the truth is that car rental is almost certainly your best option. Jackson, NJ and Valencia, CA are really suburban locations far from city centers and lack solid public transport. Hell, in LA, public transport sucks out loud to begin with. I would not suggest it under any circumstances to do these parks utilizing only public transport, if for no other reason than that it is mind-blowingly inconvenient. There are really incredible things to go see (and even amusement parks to visit) much more conveniently located to public transit. If you're not willing to rent a car, I would seriously rethink some of these themers.

[caffeine_demon]

I did the "arrive on train and get a taxi to the hotel" thing - it was lovely spending a few hours in the lobby, with a tv blaring out charlie brown clips..... honest!

[Bilby_AUS]

Thanks for the tips guys!!

 

I think you are right about the public transport thing especially for CP. Also for arrival by train at 535 in the morning is ridiculous, and I have done my fair share of waiting around in hotel lobbies all through Europe! no thanks! Thanks for reminding me, the excitement of the trip has clouded my judgement!

 

As I will be meeting my sister at some point on the friday, who will be flying in from Boston, I think it will be best to meet her in Cleveland instead, stay the night there, rent a car and drive to CP sat morning. It is only a 1-1.5 ish hour drive... or meet her at the airport then drive to sandusky that night staying there for 3 instead of two.

 

When I went to SFGAdv the first time back in 2003 me and a couple of friends used the public buses, and yes the trip was tedious, but wasn't so bad that I would not do it again. The only difference there was that we left the park at about 7pm so got back to NYC around 9pm. This time I am wanting to stay to get some night rides. My main concern here is trying to keep costs down and not having to use hire cars too much because being a native left side road user, I don't want to be leaving too much destruction behind me on your crazy roads!

[GayCoasterGuy]

Seems like you are picking out the big corporate parks (which are fun in their own right) and missing the "cream of the crop" parks. Hersheypark, Knoebels, Waldameer...

 

Some folks don't care for the smaller "charm" parks, but just giving you heads-up. If you like mom&pop type stuff, don't miss these smaller parks. Especially Knoebels.

[Bilby_AUS]

Hi Gay Coaster Guy! You know, you make a really good point there, Waldemeer will be right on our way to Niagra Falls coming from Sandusky and I would love to check it out and especially ride Ravine Flyer (looks amazing) BUT they will be closed for the season even before I get to the US . Hersheypark would be awesome!!! But they are not open for the dates that I will be on the east coast and Knoebles like Hershey are just a little bit too far out of the way . I would love to go to some of these other places but I don't think it will work out this time. I think if I had the opportunity to travel earlier I would definitely be going to these kinds of places!!

[downunder]

Hello fellow Aussie, I would recommend staying at a hotel close to SFMM (I did one walking distance from the park) rather than use public transport (non-existent) and use a shuttle from the airport to get there. Also if you like Halloween events and have time, I would strongly recommend Knott's Scary Farm and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Hollywood.

[Bilby_AUS]

Hi there Downunder! Cheers for the advice! I am definitely considering going to Knotts on the friday I arrive. I have seen a few pics and videos of past years and it looks like a riot!

 

I hear your point with the local hotel, however if my focus whilst being in LA was solely on going to SFMM, it would be a no brainer, but as an architect I want to be going to some notable LA buildings too and other areas to take photos, and other touristy stuff. Perhaps all I need to do is spend a night before and after my visit to SFMM at a local hotel and shuttle back into town to stay somewhere more convenient... It may be likely that I will be getting a hire car but only if it doesn't blow out the budget!

 

Good call!