Labor Day Weekend Park Trips, Who's Going where?

My sister & her family just hit the road headed for PKD,I'm headed to SFA tomorrow.

Didn't hit me til now however that the park is probably gonna be packed this weekend what with this being the final weekend that HH is open & TSC better be open this time!last month it was hotter than hell & they never made an attempt to even open the ride at all.

Ive been to parks a lot on labor day, and they usually are not packed, however you might be in trouble with SFA since its the closest park to Baltimore and DC and people may have changed destinations from parks further away (PKD, Hershey, Dorney, BGW) due to the gas prices.

Anyone planning to visit Kennywood on Labor Day should stop by the Kennyville Stage at 2 pm. That is when we will announce the name and winner of the "Name the New Ride" contest.

Hey razore, were you working at all last Thursday? I was wondering if you were at Thunderbolt at all while I was there.

With gas prices as high as they are, I'm lucky to have enough cash to make it home for the extended weekend.

Last Thursday was my day off for that week - but I was there later that night riding and waiting for some people to get off of work so we could go to TGI Fridays. I was using myself as a single rider if one was needed. Must of rode 10+ times that night.

Don't even get me started on how packed it was on my trip in august....kinda reminded me of opening day 1999 for those of us who went that day.

It must've taken at least a half hour just to get into the parking lot because it seemed as if everyone in the mother was there that day.

I'm going to Hell this weekend and staying at Treasure Island with the included admission to Family Land/Mount Olympus. Definately gonna go down the road and hit up Avalanche, too. I miss that coaster.

I think those enthusiasts going to parks this weekend will have a great time because I think a lot of people are simply too freaked out to travel right now, with what is transpiring in the wake of the Hurricane. I, for one, have rehearsal and am stuck in the city for the weekend but I just cannot imagine leaving on a trip on Friday with gas already at $3.39 a gallon here and finding myself paying $6.01 somewhere else and trying to get home.

My prediction is that parks will be at half to less-than-half capacity.

Holiday World, BTW, was always a GREAT PARK to visit on Labor or Memorial Day. Small crowds, great "holiday" feeling to the whole place. I think a lot of times we enthusiasts don't realize that most Americans actually do OTHER things on holidays besides going to amusement parks!!!

Barry J.

Idlewild on Labor Day.

razore, designated rider. LOL, love it. So you were an escort.

I got lucky and found two odd numbered parties without too much trouble. I did ask one of the girls checking seats if she knew the name of the guy who was on the microphone. She told me she was new and had no idea.

I was going to yell up and ask the guy if he was razore. How are you supposed to pronounce that anyway? Is the "e" silent? ray-ZOAR? RAY-zor-ee? ray-ZOAR-ay? (I like that one, you can sing it to the tune of Volare).

Ain't going to Astroworld, that's for sure:

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SIX FLAGS ASTROWORLD TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS OVER THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND TO EASE
EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS AT ASTRODOME

HOUSTON, TX: Six Flags AstroWorld announced today that the park will not be open over the Labor Day holiday weekend. The park will be closed to ensure that the traffic usually generated by a busy holiday weekend does not interfere with relief efforts taking place at the Astrodome.

Six Flags AstroWorld and the Astrodome share a parking lot and the increased traffic that theme park operation generates could impede the
ingress and egress of humanitarian efforts for those displaced by hurricane Katrina. We hope this will allow our community to make the
necessary adjustments to accommodate and care for the evacuees.

The park will reopen next weekend on Saturday, September 10 at 10 a.m.

I'm going to Magic Springs for the first time this weekend. I rode Big Bad John when it was River King Mine Train twenty years ago Labor Day Weekend at SFStL. It was called Six Flags over Mid-Ameica back then. I only rode it once that day so this will be my second time to ride it, just twenty years later. :o)

Brian

Re: Astroworld, does this mean that Six Flags has rescinded the earlier offer they made to give free admission to those people displaced by the hurricane? It totally makes sense, those people coming to the Astrodome and Reliant Center are more concerned with getting food, water, and a somewhat more comfortable place to sleep. Going to a park probably isn't a priority for many of them right now. Same with those who may have left the area as part of the earlier evacuation.

However, I do hope that since the offer has been made, SF decides to honor it at a later time and not just sweep it aside and hope people forget about it.

Actualy, we are waiting till wend till we start our vacation.

First, we are going to disneyworld for a week, then we are doing sea world, universal and busch gardens. After the flordia parks, we are going to do dollywood. We may also do wild adventures in valdosa(sp).

We were going to do six flags in atlanta, but for some reason they are already closed during the week....they are not even open on fridays.

^RGB, I agree that going to a park isn't a priority, but I too hope they open up the park to displaced residents. The kids need a release from all the stress they're going through, and I think a trip to Astroworld might ease that stress temporarily.

As for myself, I think I'm going to skip out on any Labor Day trips. With gas prices the way they are, I need to conserve what's in my tank right now. A trip down to SFA and back just doesn't seem worth while. But, I'll probably go anyway.

That was my question, Intamin. Are they closed to the general public, but open to the displaced persons? Or do they expect that with the influx of people probably continuing through the weekend, it would be better not to have the park open at all and just worry about getting those people situated?

According to local word, AW has been asked not to open. The parking is in the same area a lot of the reliefs efforts are taking place at. Right now it is crazy over there. People in droves are coming to help, people affected are wondering around aimlessly, people trying to donate are just dropping stuff in parking lots.

It's really best right now they do not open at all. I support that decision. I feel for the park, it's a big $$ weekend, but this is more important.

The kids are doing fine. They are out playing in the parking lot and grassy areas. I saw them playing foootball this morning, and some are just running around being kids.

The idea of being at the theme park sounds nice, but I think they just need some time to get their lifes in order and let some normalcy start to form, before they begin to explore. The parents need to work on getting a place to stay, jobs, etc, and right now would probably not be a good time to have the kids alone and off on there own.

So to answer, no the park is closed period! It's hard to understand but I think it is a good decision right now. There is enough controlled kaos over there right now without throwing in another wrench! They are just concerntrating on getting the rest of the people situtated and control at the site. *** Edited 9/3/2005 4:16:46 PM UTC by Markieb***