Six Flags parks help/question!

[thejanuarylove]

Hey guys, I'm new here, and sorta new to roller coasters. I'm from Minneapolis, MN and we have a smaller park by Cedar Fair called Valley Fair here. My husband and I always knew we liked roller coasters, so we decided to make a road trip to Cedar Point on September 15, 2013. It was awesome, but we didn't know what we were doing at the time. We bought fast lane passes online, but we ended up just walking onto every ride without needing to use them, so that was disappointing.

 

On the way home, we drove past Six Flags Great America near Chicago and started planning that road trip. We got gold season passes + parking (split with 2 other people so they were the cheapest) and we went on October 12, 13, 14, 2013. And that was super awesome! Now, we're addicted. We're planning on road tripping to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Magic Mountain in May (we think). And then going east in August to Six Flags Great Adventure, New England, America, and Great Escape. We've heard Great Adventure is one of the best, so if we go there, why not go to the ones nearby as well? Six Flags tour 2014! (and perhaps a Cedar Fair tour 2015?)

 

After looking at all the rides at all the Six Flags parks, and upon some further research, we have come across the Batman The Ride and Superman Ultimate Flight clones. If I remember correctly, B:TR is also called "Great White" at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. So, we're curious. Are there any other rides that have the exact same track that are at more than one Six Flags location?

 

Also, does anyone have any info about what specific days to go to each of these parks? I know the typical weekdays in the summer. But when we went to Cedar Point on a Sunday in mid-September (first weekend of Halloweekends), it was dead. When we went to Six Flags Great America on Saturday and Sunday in mid-October, it was packed, 2-3 hour wait times. Monday (columbus day - no school) was less busy, but still had 60 minute wait times.

 

Discovery Kingdom is only open on weekends, so we were thinking to go there on Friday (closes at 6pm, but school is still in session), and then Magic Mountain on Sunday (closes at 8pm). I googled it and people said the best window to go is after easter and before memorial day. Since we're making a trip out of it and doing it specifically for these parks, we may just have to get the Gold or Platinum pass if Magic Mountain is usually always busy.

 

TL;DR

Are there any other clones besides SUF and B:TR that are at more than one park? Any good info on best times to go to Magic Mountain or Great Adventure?

 

Thanks!!

[Tanks4me05]

Yes, clones happens a lot all around the world, not just Six Flags (particularly because engineering and producing an existing layout and slightly customizing it to fit the terrain of the park is significantly cheaper and quicker than to make a new ride from scratch.

 

Also, traveling that far between parks just to stick with parks from a single chain simply is not worth it from a driving perspective. Not only (as you know) is the country massive, but you are missing a *huge* amount of other parks that are not owned by major chains and are just as amazing. I would like to suggest to stick to one region of the US and go from there. Go to rcdb.com to look up all coasters in the US (the whole world, actually; almost every single roller coaster that ever existed is on there, and the database is updated ever couple of days) to get a better idea of what's out there.

 

That being said, to expedite those searching efforts, I (and the rest of the site) can help you out with what parks to go to and in what order. Just tell me what region of the US you would want to stick to and either how long you want your trip to last or how much you want to spend (a good rule of thumb, I would say, is $200 a day per person accounting for every expense.) Realize that the distance between parks may mean that a few days of the trip will be purely for driving.

[11slataus]

There are several clones.

 

Batman the Ride

Superman Ultimate Flight

Many 6F parks have either/both Boomerangs and wild mouse coasters.

Many also have SLC clones instead of Batmans (or both, in La Ronde's case).

Two have clones of the Coney Island Cyclone (SFGAm and SFOG), and two have nearly identical "Roar" GCIs (SFDK, SFA).

SFGADv and SFMM's floorless coasters are mirrors of each other.

Four parks have identical Pandemonium spinning coasters, and SFM has a nearly identical one called The Joker.

[thejanuarylove]

Wow! Lots of good tips, thanks for the quick replies. We were going to stick with Six Flags this year since we have a season pass with parking. We read Magic Mountain is always number 2 next to Cedar Point, so we figured we would drive there, spend a couple days in Portland (husband has family there, sister's birthday) and then head down and hit DK on the way. We love road trips. Then we heard about Great Adventure being good, etc.

 

I wanted to know more about the clones because if every coaster at say, La Ronde, was somewhere else, we wouldn't need to hit that one.

 

I know it may be silly just to go to Six Flags, but we really want to milk that season pass! Thanks for that website with the list of every coaster, should be interesting!

[gisco]

Not sure why you would want to come all the way to California for just the two Six Flag parks. There are a number of good parks here that are closer together. How do you plan to get from Northern California to Southern California? That is going to kill a day that you could be enjoying a park.

[thejanuarylove]

As I said, I'm still new to it! I just figured Six Flags trip since we have the season passes. I've read about some of the others. DK to MM is about 5 hours according to google maps. Now I'm questioning it. We just want cool coasters! Any advice or suggestions are much appreciated!

[EricGarbo]

As I said, I'm still new to it! I just figured Six Flags trip since we have the season passes. I've read about some of the others. DK to MM is about 5 hours according to google maps. Now I'm questioning it. We just want cool coasters!

 

On your way from the Discovery Kingdom to Magic Mountain you will have to pass by California's Great America, which is the sister park to Six Flags Great America. They just built an excellent wooden roller coaster called Gold Striker which is well worth a stop. Stick around in this thread and you'll get about a thousand other suggestions all the way down the Golden Coast but Gold Striker is not to be missed.

[Tanks4me05]

Note: Though the US has more coasters than any other country, there are still many countries that have amazing parks as well. That being said, if you go to a country whose native language(s) you don't speak, I highly recommend doing one of the trips with TPR first.

 

I know you want to go to as many Six Flags parks as possible, but if you just go to two or three, the season pass will pay for itself (most regions in the US listed below have that amount.)

 

 

Here is a general description of the "coaster regions" of the US, and a little bit of Canada because some of their parks are close. I'll only list four or five of what would be considered the primary parks in the region, and whichever region sounds most interesting to you, I'll go into more detail of the other and smaller parks as well as a basic schedule to follow. Several of the parks may have cloned rides, but almost every park still has some unique rides that make them worth the visit.

 

Please tell me if you want to drive or fly to these regions. If you want to drive, I will be able to graft other parks from other regions that are on the route.

 

Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Montreal, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Toronto. Loads of parks in this area. Might not be able to do all in one trip. High park density; most are within two hours of each other.

 

Primary parks

 

Darien Lake. Main website = http://www.darienlake.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4581.htm

 

Canada's Wonderland. Main website = https://www.canadaswonderland.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4539.htm

 

Six Flags New England. Main website = https://www2.sixflags.com/newengland Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4565.htm

 

Lake Compounce. Main website = http://www.lakecompounce.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4683.htm

 

 

 

 

Mid Atlantic: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia. Loads of parks in this area. Might not be able to do all of them in one trip. High park density; most are within two hours of each other.

 

 

Primary parks:

 

Knoebels. Main website = http://knoebels.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4557.htm

 

Hersheypark. Main website = http://www.hersheypark.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4545.htm

 

Six Flags Great Adventure. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4534.htm

 

Kings Dominion. Main website = https://www.kingsdominion.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4544.htm

 

Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Main website = http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg?from=bgportal&__utma=1.2070259287.1382044708.1382044708.1382044708.1&__utmb=1.3.10.1382044708&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1382044708.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=991537

 

Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4548.htm

 

 

 

 

Deep South: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee. Not as many parks here. If you want a longer trip, you can combine with Texas/Oklahoma.

 

 

Primary parks:

 

Dollywood. Main website = http://www.dollywood.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4593.htm

 

Six Flags Over Georgia. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4535.htm

 

Carowinds. Main website = https://www.carowinds.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4542.htm

 

Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. Main website = http://www.magicsprings.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4682.htm

 

 

 

 

Florida: All but two of the state's parks are all within Orlando. The other two are only about an hour away each.

 

 

Primary parks:

 

Disney World (4 parks, two water parks.) Main website = https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/qs.htm?t=walt+disney+world

 

Universal Studios (2 parks.) Main website = https://www.universalorlando.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/r.htm?nm=na&ar=3168000&na=universal&ol=3600&ot=3

 

Sea World Orlando. Main website = http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4746.htm

 

Busch Gardens Tampa.

 

Main website = http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa?from=bgportal&__utma=1.2070259287.1382044708.1382044708.1382044708.1&__utmb=1.5.10.1382044708&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1382044708.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=240066947

 

Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4543.htm

 

 

 

 

Midwest: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio.

 

Primary parks:

 

Cedar Point. Main website = https://www.cedarpoint.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4529.htm

 

Six Flags Great America. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4530.htm

 

Kings Island. Main website = https://www.visitkingsisland.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4540.htm

 

Holiday World. Main website = http://www.holidayworld.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4554.htm

 

Silver Dollar City. Main website = http://www.silverdollarcity.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4579.htm

 

 

 

 

Texas/Oklahoma: This is a smaller region. Can be done with the Deep South if you want a longer trip.

 

 

Primary parks:

 

Frontier City (the only park in Oklahoma.) Main website = https://www.frontiercity.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4559.htm

 

Six Flags Over Texas. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4531.htm

 

Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4538.htm

 

Sea World San Antonio. Main website = http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sanantonio Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4538.htm

 

 

 

Mountain Timezone/Pacific Northwest: Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton. Since the population is so sparse here, the driving between parks is incredibly long; drive time between most parks is between 6 and 12 hours.

 

 

Primary parks:

 

Adventuredome. Main website = http://www.adventuredome.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4550.htm

 

Elitch Gardens. Main website = http://www.elitchgardens.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4574.htm

 

Lagoon Amusement Park. Main website = http://www.lagoonpark.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4570.htm

 

Silverwood. Main website = http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4564.htm

 

Playland (Vancouver.) Main website = http://www.pne.ca/playland/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4609.htm

 

Galaxyland (West Edmonton Mall.) Main website = http://www.wem.ca/play/attractions-at-wem/galaxyland Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4568.htm

 

 

 

 

California: The parks are basically in two clusters, one around San Francisco and one around LA, separated by about 4.5 hours of driving.

 

 

Primary Parks:

 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4711.htm

 

California's Great America. Main website = https://www.cagreatamerica.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4541.htm

 

Knott's Berry Farm. Main website = https://www.knotts.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4546.htm

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain. Main website = http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4532.htm

 

Disney Land and Disney's California Adventure. Main website = https://disneyland.disney.go.com/ Details of the coasters = http://rcdb.com/4783.htm

[larrygator]

Also, does anyone have any info about what specific days to go to each of these parks? I know the typical weekdays in the summer. But when we went to Cedar Point on a Sunday in mid-September (first weekend of Halloweekends), it was dead. When we went to Six Flags Great America on Saturday and Sunday in mid-October, it was packed, 2-3 hour wait times. Monday (columbus day - no school) was less busy, but still had 60 minute wait times.

 

Discovery Kingdom is only open on weekends, so we were thinking to go there on Friday (closes at 6pm, but school is still in session), and then Magic Mountain on Sunday (closes at 8pm). I googled it and people said the best window to go is after easter and before memorial day. Since we're making a trip out of it and doing it specifically for these parks, we may just have to get the Gold or Platinum pass if Magic Mountain is usually always busy.

 

TL;DR

Are there any other clones besides SUF and B:TR that are at more than one park? Any good info on best times to go to Magic Mountain or Great Adventure?

 

Thanks!!

 

Sundays are generally less crowded than Saturdays. The further away you are from Halloween are the less crowded days at parks with Halloween events. Regarding Great Adventure, weekends in April are not very crowded. It might be a little chilly, but the colder it is the smaller the crowds.

[netdvn]

Since you live close to Valleyfair, why not get a Cedar Fair plat pass and do those parks instead of sticking with SF? Plus with Great America getting a new coaster, you could definitely milk your pass there instead of driving all over the place.

 

Even then, I love road trips and traveling so, like everyone said, I'd stick with a certain part of the country with a high concentration of parks, that way you're not constantly driving hundreds of miles to get from park to park. Since you have a SF pass, I'd recommend sticking with the East Coast where the parks are a lot closer together.

 

I'd suggest

Northeast

Canada's Wonderland (Cedar Fair), Darien Lake, Great Escape (Six Flags), SF New England (Six Flags), La Ronde will be a bit out of your way if you're doing the route I suggest, but that's a SF park too. Plus Toronto and Montreal are both fantastic cities. If you take the seaboard route, you can hit Lake Compounce and Quassy on the way down plus check out Boston.

 

Pennsylvania

Pretty high concentration of major/minor parks here. Especially on the southern end of the state. Dorney Park (Cedar Fair), Hersheypark, Kennywood, Waldameer. If you travel toward New York, you can hit Great Adventure (SF). Travel west to do Cedar Point (CF). Travel south for Busch, Kings Dominion (CF), and Six Flags America. Both KD and SFA are getting nice stuff next year. Never been to Pittsburgh, but Philly is nice and DC would be cool to check out if you're a first timer. NYC is especially fantastic. Travel north to Knoebels, which has a brand new coaster.

 

Mid-Atlantic for Busch, KD, and SFA is nice, plus the area has tons of history/beaches/etc to do.

 

SoCal

Extremely high population of parks, plus tons of culture stuff to do here. You can use your SF and CF passes here with Magic Mountain and Knotts, plus you have Disneyland/California Adventure, and Universal. Travel a bit further south for Legoland and Sea World. There are plenty of smaller parks if you're into that kind of stuff, plus TONS of culture credits you can take in. If you choose to make the drive north to Discovery Kingdom, you can use a CF pass at CA's Great America too. I'm sure San Francisco has some great stuff to check out too.

 

Orlando

A really awesome city, you won't be able to use your SF/CF passes here much. There's the WDW resort, which is four theme parks in one, plus Universal's resort, which makes up two. Sea World is fantastic if you love animals/shows. Busch is about an hour west, but if you're willing to make the drive out of your way, it's totally worth it with the new ride. Most of the Orlando stuff should be getting new rides/attractions next year. Just be willing to buy admission over multiple days or you'll be shelling a lot of cash out for admission. I'm sure some of the SoCal parks will be a bit on the expensive side too.

 

If you wanna avoid crowds, try to either avoid weekends or visit during the hot season. Vouch for the extra line skipping option if the park looks crowded (or if you really wanna maximize your visit). For Halloween, most parks are weekend-only operations so you won't be able to get many parks in outside of SoCal/Orlando.