Do Six Flags parks do anything better than other p
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I always hear a lot of people talk about what people don't ilke about Six Flags parks in general. Especially when they buy a small park. People then start saying that they don't like that certain park that they bought because Six Flags is starting to kill the parks atmosphere and another big complaint is the cloning of rides and coaster names. So I was wondering do you guys think that Six Flags does anything better than the other parks, either it be Cedar Fairs chain of parks, the independent big parks parks(i.e. Kennywood), or the mom and pop parks?
(Kennywood actually owns three parks. I always thought they owned Lake Compounce as well, but I've heard they only manage it.)
I suppose an argument could be made that Six Flags raises parks attendance better than any other chain. I mean, didn't Six Flags Ohio see a 42% increase in attendance in its first (and technically, only) year of operation?
And oh yeah. They sell Looney Tunes paraphernalia a whole lot better than anyone else in this industry.
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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com
I suppose an argument could be made that Six Flags raises parks attendance better than any other chain. I mean, didn't Six Flags Ohio see a 42% increase in attendance in its first (and technically, only) year of operation?
And oh yeah. They sell Looney Tunes paraphernalia a whole lot better than anyone else in this industry.
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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com
Umm, yes they do clone, but who cares about the names of the ride. i don't think Six Flags changes the atmosphere, it makes it better.
I do believe the Six Flags chain is the most accessable park chain. Probably 60% or more of the U.S. population lives within a 4 hour drive to the nearest Six Flags park. This works well for families that don't have time or money to make long trips to WDW, Disneyland, or IOA, but still want to go to an amusement park for a vacation.
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Sure. They're the best at providing a convenient product at a price people want to pay-- in a sense they're the McDonald's of amusement parks. They may not provide the best product, but it's consistent, it's affordable, and people like it.
Six Flags is a business. When they buy parks, and "change the atmosphere", it is done because if it is not done, the park will no longer prosper. In many cases, if Six Flags didn't buy the park, it would have gone under anyway. I think Six Flags does OK. Yeah, they clone rides. But the average family is not going to go to every Six Flags park and realize that one of the coasters there is the same as another they've been to. Also, I guess the coaster names could be a little more creative, but by branding them with Superman, or Batman or similar names to other coasters, people recognize that name as a good coaster, and decide "hey, there's a superman ride near us now, let's go to the park to ride it". Six Flags GAdv. did something that shocked me this year, our new coaster was going to be called Superman: Krypton Coaster but the name decided to go to Nitro, something that hasn't been used yet. My only complaint with the Six Flags parks is that they are often extremely dirty, ugly, and incapable of handling big crowds. But Six Flags is #1 on my list for one reason. I live within 4 hours of SFA and SFNE, and within 45 minutes of SFGAdv., and they provide me with the best coasters that I can find, and for that I am grateful.
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--Chewman
http://greatadventure.8m.com *** This post was edited by Chewman on 8/1/2001. ***
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--Chewman
http://greatadventure.8m.com *** This post was edited by Chewman on 8/1/2001. ***
I believe that Six Flags killed Kentucky Kingdom. The first two years i went there (Before it was six flags) it was a beautiful well maintained park. Since then i have never had a good experience at SFKK with the dirty atmosphere, poor line management, terible landscaping, and Rude employees.
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Top 5 coasters:
1. The Beast 2. Millenium Force 3. The Incredible Hulk 4. Superman: ROS (SFNE) 5. Alpengeist
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Top 5 coasters:
1. The Beast 2. Millenium Force 3. The Incredible Hulk 4. Superman: ROS (SFNE) 5. Alpengeist
slithernoggin said:
" They may not provide the best product, but it's consistent, it's affordable, and people like it."
Afforadable??? By who's standards?? $9 for parking, $50 for a family of 4 to eat, $39+ to get in the park. If thats affordable, boy am I on the poorer spectrum.
That would be by the standards of the people who pay $9 for parking, $50 for a family of four to eat, and $39+ each to get into the park. If the people who go to a park find any or all of the prices to be too high, they won't go, no matter how much the kids may want to. (Years of pleading for a trip to Walt Disney World got me nowhere with my folks:) ) The Six Flags execs aren't stupid, and they don't try to price their product out of the range of their demographics.
*** This post was edited by slithernoggin on 8/1/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by slithernoggin on 8/1/2001. ***
They are certainly the most accessible and cheap, for the enthusiast. Between my Season Pass, Parking Pass, and little amount of food I've bought at SF parks, I've spent about $100 this year. That includes a trip to SFWOA, 3 to SFGAdv., and about a dozen to SFNE. I know I've got another SFGAdv. and SFA trip in me too. They've made SFNE a major park now, with SROS and what looks like a B&M standup for 2002. Before they took over, Riverside only had 2 woodies and a Vekoma SLC. How could I not love what they've done?
same here,I agree with Z-man,without six flag's involvement SFA would never have become the park it is today,we never would have gotten such a great variety of new and inovative coasters under the old Adventure World way of doing things, sure progress is slow but in time the parks under thier management will grow.just look at all the new rides that have been installed at 6 flags parks nation wideand as ride technology improves then maybe some of the less than large 6 flags parks will too.
Personally I think 6 flags was the best thing to happen to our old geuaga lake park. 5 coasters in 2 yrs....Doubled its size...Fixed up the park..
a lot of people may Complain about SFWOA . ( I have too ) but I truly Like this park. A good Selection of coasters, new flat rides, a little better themeing, new water park. I can hardly wait to see what we get next year. if 6 flags had not bought it, it most likely would still be the old run down park with little or no upgrades .
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi
a lot of people may Complain about SFWOA . ( I have too ) but I truly Like this park. A good Selection of coasters, new flat rides, a little better themeing, new water park. I can hardly wait to see what we get next year. if 6 flags had not bought it, it most likely would still be the old run down park with little or no upgrades .
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi
Umm, Dennis,
They already had a water park, they had some good coasters, cheesy theming, Flatrides??? Where? I can count about ten. Remember, Premier Parks always owned Geauga Lake, Geauga Lake has been owned by the same people throughout the SF deal. They just didn't want to spend the money. When they bough SF they decided to make it seem like a whole new park to brking in curious and paying guests.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest :)
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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!
http://www.woodencoaster.com
They already had a water park, they had some good coasters, cheesy theming, Flatrides??? Where? I can count about ten. Remember, Premier Parks always owned Geauga Lake, Geauga Lake has been owned by the same people throughout the SF deal. They just didn't want to spend the money. When they bough SF they decided to make it seem like a whole new park to brking in curious and paying guests.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest :)
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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!
http://www.woodencoaster.com
Six flags underachieves better than any other park. If they can get away with less they will. They never seem to go the extra mile to improve the experience for the whole family. They are also very experienced at raising a lot of debt.
They DO offer a wide variety of parks, at a reasonable price (one season pass is good for all), if you are willing to travel.
They also seem to be good about installing quality coasters, not just quantity. Even at their smaller parks. Look at Paramount. Their parks are filled with small, mediocre coasters (except KI). As bad as the reviews are on Geauga Lake, they have improved that park massivly. By adding world class coasters (not just quantity, but quality--Knight Flight, Villian and Superman ll in one year). Geauga lake was a dump before Six Flags made the massive investment in it.
Many of their smaller parks (Darien Lake, America) feature hypercoasters (wouldn't everyone love to see a steel hypercoaster at any Paramount park rather than the mediocre crap?). They also seem to try to theme sections. Although its not perfect, its still there. Cedar Fair is the poorest at theming, Paramount has let almost of their once great, detailed theming go to waste.
Six Flags has their problems, but they do a lot of things correct.
They also seem to be good about installing quality coasters, not just quantity. Even at their smaller parks. Look at Paramount. Their parks are filled with small, mediocre coasters (except KI). As bad as the reviews are on Geauga Lake, they have improved that park massivly. By adding world class coasters (not just quantity, but quality--Knight Flight, Villian and Superman ll in one year). Geauga lake was a dump before Six Flags made the massive investment in it.
Many of their smaller parks (Darien Lake, America) feature hypercoasters (wouldn't everyone love to see a steel hypercoaster at any Paramount park rather than the mediocre crap?). They also seem to try to theme sections. Although its not perfect, its still there. Cedar Fair is the poorest at theming, Paramount has let almost of their once great, detailed theming go to waste.
Six Flags has their problems, but they do a lot of things correct.
Son't get me started with SFA, It is ten times worse it could do so many things to get it up to decent because now it is just complete junk.
Be fair, Cedar Fair doesn't really try to theme, so you're being a little harsh to call them the poorest at theming. Most of their theme sections were 'inherited' when they bought the parks.
I also think its harsh to call Cedar Fair then the harshest at theming. After all they never said that they were a "theme park", they are am amusement park. I think Six Flags is the best a introducing new technology when it comes to coasters. They are the worst at hiring friendly employee's and having ice in the park. Everytime I go to SFMM most food places run out of ice in the evening. The employee's are horrible at six flags parks. When I was in line to get my sovenir cup refilled the guy who was working the counter stood there while I waited for him to fill up my cup for 5 minutes while he gossiped about another employee. I was like can you hurry up and fill up my cup he was like wait a minute in a snappy way. So I cussed him out and took my cup and left. He said something to me but I couldn't hear him I just walked away and gave him the middle finger.
Xtreme Fan said:
"Six flags underachieves better than any other park. If they can get away with less they will. They never seem to go the extra mile to improve the experience for the whole family. They are also very experienced at raising a lot of debt.
Hmm,how many SF parks have you been to?? No track record from you so,i can't tell.I am going to make a small argument here and state that not all SF parks are alike.Gadv has it's good and bad days when it comes to customer service just like any other park.If you had a SF park as your homepark you would get the oppertunity to experience good and bad days at SF.I make numerous trips to my homepark during the season and experience more good then bad days.
I just took a trip to SFA this past Saturday and,despite all the bad things i have seen said about it,i had a great time but,maybe it's because i am used to the way SF operates or,better yet,i didn't go there thinking i was doomed to have a bad time.I am not going to go to another park that isn't SF and instantly look for things to complain about just because it isn't run by SF.With the exception of family run parks,i bet if i looked hard enough at Paramounts,Cedar Fair or,Busch,i bet i can find things to complain about to but,i won't.I am not there for that.
As for improving the experience for the whole family,there is something for everyone at every park including,SF.1) Flat rides,simulators and,water rides for those who don't care for coasters.Sfagdv is heaven to my 3 year old because,there are two kiddie parks full of rides for him.The numerous shows are geared towards all differant age ranges.The waterpark also pleases people of all ages.
The food,let's see,at Sfgadv alone there is a chinese resturant,Mexican,pizza places,subs,chicken,hamburgers,the list goes on so,there is something for everyone as far as food goes to.
I have been going to Sfgadv since it opened and i will say that although it has been slow to come,they have made major improvements since SF took over.I just can't grasp the fact that people will complain about SF but,they continue to go to them.I have a family,i have two kids and,im married.We have a great time as a family at SF.
I also sit back and wonder,what park chain would we be complaining about rite now if there were no such thing as SF.I am so sure there would be some replacement because,it seems everyone has to compare and put down any competition.An open mind is a terrible thing to waste!I am so tired of seeing these comments when the site is supposed to be about enjoying Roller coasters.How can we complain about the places that feed our roller coaster desires.Can't tell me that all SF coasters are bad either.
~*Rickyswmn*~
"Six flags underachieves better than any other park. If they can get away with less they will. They never seem to go the extra mile to improve the experience for the whole family. They are also very experienced at raising a lot of debt.
Hmm,how many SF parks have you been to?? No track record from you so,i can't tell.I am going to make a small argument here and state that not all SF parks are alike.Gadv has it's good and bad days when it comes to customer service just like any other park.If you had a SF park as your homepark you would get the oppertunity to experience good and bad days at SF.I make numerous trips to my homepark during the season and experience more good then bad days.
I just took a trip to SFA this past Saturday and,despite all the bad things i have seen said about it,i had a great time but,maybe it's because i am used to the way SF operates or,better yet,i didn't go there thinking i was doomed to have a bad time.I am not going to go to another park that isn't SF and instantly look for things to complain about just because it isn't run by SF.With the exception of family run parks,i bet if i looked hard enough at Paramounts,Cedar Fair or,Busch,i bet i can find things to complain about to but,i won't.I am not there for that.
As for improving the experience for the whole family,there is something for everyone at every park including,SF.1) Flat rides,simulators and,water rides for those who don't care for coasters.Sfagdv is heaven to my 3 year old because,there are two kiddie parks full of rides for him.The numerous shows are geared towards all differant age ranges.The waterpark also pleases people of all ages.
The food,let's see,at Sfgadv alone there is a chinese resturant,Mexican,pizza places,subs,chicken,hamburgers,the list goes on so,there is something for everyone as far as food goes to.
I have been going to Sfgadv since it opened and i will say that although it has been slow to come,they have made major improvements since SF took over.I just can't grasp the fact that people will complain about SF but,they continue to go to them.I have a family,i have two kids and,im married.We have a great time as a family at SF.
I also sit back and wonder,what park chain would we be complaining about rite now if there were no such thing as SF.I am so sure there would be some replacement because,it seems everyone has to compare and put down any competition.An open mind is a terrible thing to waste!I am so tired of seeing these comments when the site is supposed to be about enjoying Roller coasters.How can we complain about the places that feed our roller coaster desires.Can't tell me that all SF coasters are bad either.
~*Rickyswmn*~
Rickyswmn said:
maybe it's because i am used to the way SF operates
That reminds me of people who encourage me to try a new food by telling me it's delicious once you get used to the taste. If it doesn't taste good from the get-go, I'm not interested. What does it say about Six Flags operations if you have to "get used" to how they operate?
I've never gone to a Six Flags park "looking" for bad things. When I've found them they've been hard to miss: for example, on our visit Mother's Day visit last year, the workers at the gate were not checking tickets or season passes, they were just letting people walk in. Fine with me, but makes it harder for the management to track information (and when you've got employees at the beginning of the season ignoring policies, it doesn't bode well for the summer...).
Nevertheless, Six Flags is very good at what they do: provide a product people want when and where they want it, at a price they're willing to pay. SF knows it's audience.
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