Best Run 6 Flags?

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Relax and enjoy the rides. Forget about rating everything at a park, and just enjoy the experience. I think you will have a better time.

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Don't confuse the ratings/ranking of parks with having a bad time. As you said, just because a park is poorly run in one or more areas doesn't mean you can't have a good time.

My list is 7 parks long and the only park I had a bad time at was SFWOA (7th out of 7) - I've even had good days at SFGadv (6th out of 7)

Were not ranking fun or saying the parks in the bottom parks of our list are unenjoyable (for the most part).

I'd like to return the inverse of your suggestion and say:

"Don't accept mediocrity just because you're having fun"

Did I have fun at Six Flags (fill in the blank)? Sure, but I would've had a more enjoyable day if employees didn't act like I was bothering their social time, they had ice for drinks, there weren't trash cans overflowing garbage onto midways, more than one train would run with a 45 minute line, some of my favorite flats were open instead of being glorified statues, etc.

Having fun and ranking the parks based on how they operate are two totally different things.

Different things rank differently to different people. Did I use the word different enough?

On the one hand, SFKK's landscaping was so bad I had to snap photos of Chang's '04 new theming as Ragweed: The Ride. And Quake just irks me. It taunts me with its flawless SBNO record.

On the other, lines have always been short and most rides better than average IMHO. Besides, no amount of trimmed hedges and flowers is gonna help when some pale, shirtless BMI scale-warping guy with pierced, drooping manboobs saunters by. I can't explain why SFKK's waterpark has the lowest percentage of 'folks wearing what they shouldn't' of any park I've visited, but I appreciate the hell out of it.

-'Playa

*** Edited 1/31/2005 4:42:17 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

Yea, I still had a blast at all of the parks, though they may not be the best run. I even enjoyed my visit to Astroworld, which (in response to Coaster Cynic), I last visited three years ago, so it very well may have improved, and I will probably visit the park again within the next two years because I have family in the area.

SFAW and SFFT. I don't know what it is about SFAW that I love so much, but I got the impression that the park was trying to make the best of a less-than-ideal coaster collection. SFFT was great, coasters and everything.

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CoastaPlaya said:
And Quake just irks me. It taunts me with its flawless SBNO record.

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You're not missing anything. Back when SFKK was my home park it worked all the time and it was a complete bore, even if you sat on one of the ends. The only reason it retains any mystique whatsoever is because so few have ridden it.

I'd have to give major props to SFStL, I loved the park and loved the service. I have to get back to that park sometime in the near future.

Thankfully the park that I'd least likely visit again no longer exists in my backyard, which would be SFWoA. I'm still waiting to go to Geauga Lake when things settle down.

I find it funny that as much as people dislike the customer service at SFMM, I probably had one of the best times at any Six Flags park. I even went to the park on TWO days and still had a pretty good time and hit 13 of the 16 coasters (Scream was under construction, Colosus was closed due to Scream's construction, and no adult can ride that kiddie coaster.) I have to say I made out like a bandit at that park with 4 rides on X and actually making it on DeJa Vu.

~Rob Willi

Top three Six Flags parks. SFGADV, SFNE, SFGAm

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Lord Gonchar said:

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I'd like to return the inverse of your suggestion and say:

"Don't accept mediocrity just because you're having fun"

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VERY well said! :)

Besides, I'm a coaster junkie, I'll have fun whenever and wherever I can get a *fix*...but SFI, Paramount, Disney, Busch, these are theme park OPERATORS....It's their JOB to make sure that their guests (99.9% of whom are NOT like us, er, me...whoever) have SUCH a great time that they come back, again and again....

Trust me, I'll never have a bad time at a poorly-run park, or a dirty park, etc...but when we're HERE, at our computers, then we SHOULD give an honest assessment, both good AND bad, so that those BUSINESSES know what they can/should do to improve THEIR bottom line...;)

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rollergator said:

.It's their JOB to make sure that their guests (99.9% of whom are NOT like us, er, me...whoever) have SUCH a great time that they come back, again and again....

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That I do not know. I have not read any amusement corporate goals, strategies, or mission statements. It's very possible the goal might just be to make money.

Their are players in the business right now that I don't think realized their would be more to the picture than just building rides. The player I am thinking about I betcha had "0" mention of any customer service goals during their first few years of ownership.

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sirloindude said:
I don't know what it is about SFAW that I love so much, but I got the impression that the park was trying to make the best of a less-than-ideal coaster collection.

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Very well put. I never thought of it that way!

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Markieb said:
The player I am thinking about I betcha had "0" mention of any customer service goals during their first few years of ownership.

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Yeah, and they don't own that park anymore. ;) (Still kicking the dead horse :) )

Those parks need to remember that they're just as much a part of the hospitality industry as the entertainment/leisure industry. You can just build some rides and not make people feel welcome. However, there are plenty of parks that don't have nearly as much to offer, but make you feel welcome that do VERY well.

Ironic that I thought of SFAW as a park with TWO fan-freakin-tastic Antons and a REALLY really solid Cy-clone. IMO, the main problems there had NOTHING to do with the rides and everything to do with the operations and staff...I cannot think of a worse FLAGGED park (although FC would give them a run for the money if they were to be *flagged*)...

gator, GOT his (one) ride on Quake, before it broke down for the day...:)

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Lord Gonchar said:Yeah, and they don't own that park anymore. (Still kicking the dead horse )

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I was trying to be nice. I don't know if we are on the same race track. I meant SF (Premere). I really don't think they had a clue up until last year, when something finally hit them and made them realize there is more to the business other than the rides.

I think all of the SF parks are looking up. It seems corporate gave them something they took away during the first years of ownership.

Money and empowerment to decide what needs to be done.

While we have had a good time bashing SF's inc, for the terrific job they did running each park into the ground, we needs to make sure we also recognize they are improving and seem to still be dedicated to improving more. *** Edited 1/31/2005 8:38:47 PM UTC by Markieb***

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rollergator said:
Ironic that I thought of SFAW as a park with TWO fan-freakin-tastic Antons and a REALLY really solid Cy-clone. IMO, the main problems there had NOTHING to do with the rides and everything to do with the operations and staff....

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Yes, a decent lineup, but this has to do with the best run Six Flags, which is why I put Astroworld so low.

Well, nevermind I guess, I thought you were defending SFAW. *** Edited 1/31/2005 8:45:42 PM UTC by RamblinWreck***

See RGW, when I went to AW, I thought the staff was fine. They were friendly, kind, and energetic. They did a fine job of giving medical attention when one of my compatriots was inujured.

As far as GAdv goes, the only rides that I really noticed that werent being run the times I went were the Jump, Evolution, Looping Starship, and Parachute Tower. Now, I give them a break with Jump and Evolution as I hear they are not to most reliable machines to start with. The Tower had worked some days I was there and was down others. I dont know if it was staffing or maintainence so I cant really comment on that. The looping starship, maybe a legit complaint, but I just dont care about looping starships. The rides and food stands I visited were efficient and competent. I didnt see overflowing trash or obvious safety violations. The lines moved quickly. For the most part, the ops blended into the background. IMO, that's a good thing.

jeremy

I've been to almost every SF park in the US and there all run poorly IMO. SFNE is one of the worst since it is my home park and I'm there twice a week. I don't think SROS has ever opened on time since they put it in. It was run much better when it was Riverside. Everytime they get a park manager that starts to turn it around their gone the following season. The first thing they have to do is get rid of that stupid character show that starts at 9:55am when the park is supposed to open at 10. Also they don't start testing the until 9:45 when they should be testing them earlier so there ready on time.

And Quake just irks me. It taunts me with its flawless SBNO record.

How odd...I've ridden Quake on each of my 8 visits to SFKK since 2000.

I'll bite the bait..

1-Great Adventure

2-Marine World

3-SF America

4-Worlds of Adventure

5-Magic Mountain.

I've never been to Great America, but from word of mouth and from what I see, it could possible oust my current #1. I've never had a *horrible* day at any Six Flag park, with the exception of Magic Mountain when a rep rolled her eyes at me in Guest Services. Ooooh I cussed her good....but even that didnt ruin my day :P

No you didn't, moosh.

;)

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Markieb said:

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rollergator said:

.It's their JOB to make sure that their guests...have SUCH a great time that they come back, again and again....

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That I do not know. I have not read any amusement corporate goals, strategies, or mission statements. It's very possible the goal might just be to make money.

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Parks want loyal customers to come back again and again. It takes a lot of money gain new customers (advertising), and it should be a priority for any business to keep them loyal and repeat their patronage by giving them an experience above their expectations

So I agree that it is a parks job to make sure that guests have such a great time that they will want to come back, because that's how they will make money in the long run.

My turn...

1)SFA

2)SFGAdv

3)SFWoA

Astroworld doesn't count because it was 24 years ago, SF didn't own it then, and I do not really remember much about it. I had a good time there though, because of the Capt. Crunch Dolphin Show:)

I've just realized that I haven't been to many SF parks. This is mostly on purpose, because of crappy service. I tend to spend my money where my business is appreciated. I have had good times at all Three parks, but not as good as, say, a CF park or Hershey.

My last trip to SFA was decent; Problems included not being allowed to ride the train, even though it was opperating, kids at one of the resteraunts wanting to socialize instead of making my french fries, and an angry snow cone lady who was mad because I wanted more than Three flavors. That was the best time I have ever had at SFA.

GAdv is crowded and understaffed all the times I have been there. To be fair, it has been 5 years sense my last visit. Imho, those food workers are hateful. It would have been a little more fun if more than half of the rides were open. What was open was fun though, and I had an okay time there each visit.

We all know how crappy SFWoA was. Why was that guest service booth even open? I wonder if rolling her eyes was in the window lady's training? "Training manual-SFWoA Guest Service Window. Step 1) Frown and angrily say, "NEXT! What do YOU want?" Step 2) Roll eyes while guest is calmly stating his/her concern and interrupt with, "Okay, bie now. NEXT!" Step 3) Repeat.

SFWoA had some really great rides though, when they were open.

I am planning to visit SFGAdv this year for Kinda Ka. It will be interesting to see these improvments in guest service everyone is talking about.

Edit-spelling *** Edited 2/1/2005 2:14:24 AM UTC by dexter***

SFWoA built the rides so CF could fix them. ;)

Seroiusolsy (I can't spell the freakin word) though, I hope CF can save GL, but they sure do have a tough job on their hands. It would be a shame to see another park in Northeast Ohio/ Western PA go under. (ex. Euclid Beach, Conneaut)