Need help with trip planning, I will be in Washington D.C.

Well my father is taking a business trip to D.C. on July 18th, and I can go with him if I please. What I am wondering is if SF America is the only park decently close to D.C. And if so, is it worth going to? I have heard some really bad things about it. Is it worse than SFMM? The trip would be free for me and I have a SF pass...should I make the trip? Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Worse than SFMM? I've done SFMM, SFGAm, SFKK, and SFA. SFA is my personal Fave of the bunch, but I didn't have the best day at SFGAm.

I think it is a great park, with a nice lineup. Intamin Hyper? Check. Random Flyer? Check. Two Good Woodies? Check. Premier Mad Cobra coaster? Check. Invertigo? Double Check.

Even an SLC for good measure! I'd say go. As for other parks 'in the area', I think the other 'close' themers are a good few hours, with probably PKD being about 2 hours. I'd say go, esp. if you have an SFI pass. I'd rather ride S:RoS than anything at PKD, even if I like PKD better.

I've just heard a lot about one-train operation and littering/fights. Is this all true? I probably will go, just curious now.

If you have the time, I highly recommend both PKI (about 2 hours south of DC) and BG (about 3 hours south of DC). Also in the area is SFGAm (about 3 hours northeast), and Hersheypark about 2 hours north.

SFA is a great park. This used to be my home park when I lived 5 miles away and it was called Waterworld or something like that. As for comparing it to SFMM, I'm one of the few that just take SFMM bashing in stride as the coasters are still awesome, but the differences are night and day. SFMM is more of a megacoaster park, where you won't get anything like that at SFA, but you'll still have some top notch solid rides at SFA.

SFA is a much smaller park, with half of the park devoted to the water park. The coasters are all outstanding and the park is kept pretty clean for the most part and for convenience it sure saves the drive down south, though it simply cannot compare to PKI or BG, especially BG which may just be one of the best themed parks ever.

Wow. Double check the abbreviations.

Try PKD, BGW and SFGAdv.

Otherwise planning trips to Kings Island, Busch Gardens Tampa and Six Flags Great America could get a little ugly from D.C. :)

On topic, I thought SFA was one of the better parks in the SF chain.

I'm in the minority, but I really like SFA. Fun lineup, and good times. Perhaps I've only hit it on slow days (when any park can be competent), but I remember one hot steamy one, and even in suburban Maryland, that's summer.

It's not SFGAm (much bigger) or SFFT (much more charm), but it's plenty o' fun.

---

Raging_Bull said:
I've just heard a lot about one-train operation and littering/fights. Is this all true? I probably will go, just curious now.

---

I don't know about one train op, but there have been plenty enough littering/fighting on PKD's property as well, IIRC. If you're just going for a day, I'd say it wouldn't be worth it to travel and just stay there and go to SFA.

Oh, and Gonch, I thought 'BG' was Bonfonte. Now that would really be a long day trip.

I've never waited more than 30 minutes to ride Superman at SFA, even on one train operation and they will run two trains when they can.

Batwing is the most improved ride at the park this season. It's running two trains far more than I've seen the past several seasons. However, expect one train to be running.

The rest of the coastes run two trains on regular basis. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen Wild One run one train and Roar on a rare occasion I've seen them run only one train. Mind Eraser is typically two train operation and Two Face always runs all of it's trains. ;)

Park employees can be hit or miss you will encounter enthusiastic and lackadaisical employees. As far as cleanliness is concerned, you will find more areas of clean than litter and overflowing trash cans. I'm not going to say it doesn't happen, but from time to time you will see an area that hasn't seen a cleaning crew in a few minutes.

Coasterimage.com has some good photographs of Six Flags America. Take a look and judge for yourself.

Its worth it to go.

Try and go to the Museums in DC as well.

Yeah, and totally forget about the 1 train operation in the summer, I went this Wednesday, and all coasters had full train operation except Batwing (Batwing was running two, but can run 3. But Batwing running two, is a good thing as it usually just runs one). The park was clean, the ride ops were nice, and the water park was taking in a lot, I meen, A LOT of the crowd. We waited longer for Tornado then we did for Two Face. Also there flat ride has a pretty good line up. Iron Eagle, has a great program running this year. They have a classic round up. They have a Chaos (But it wasn't running when I went). They have many classics. Oh, and Typhoon Sea Coaster, is a flume ride that should not be missed if its up and running. lol Hope that helped some bit. And not as nearly as many fights as SFMM.

-Colin-

*** Edited 7/1/2005 1:49:22 PM UTC by Colin Fisher***

Batwing could theoretically run three, but the third train has been cannibalized for parts for the other two (afaik).

You can get to PKI in only two hours from D.C.? Holy crap, I must have been driving like a grandma:)I suggest you go to SFA and bring your swimsuit to enjoy the new Hurricane Harbor, which is a blast. You'll be saving your dad a lot of money in admissions and gas if you do, as opposed to if you went to PKD or BGW. It may not be the best run park, but if you're there on a calm day I think you'll be okay. I hope you get to do some of the D.C. tourist stuff too, like the Smithsonian Musuems on the mall.

SFA is a good little park to get away to for the day. With the new water park I think its totally worth going too. If you have even more time head down to PKD and ride Volcano!!! Its worth it. Whatever you do have a good time.

Oh man.. gotta proof my abbreviations better than that. For sure... it would be amazing to get to PKI or BG within 2-3 hours from DC. Time travel more like.

But yeah, you can't go wrong with SFA even with all those great parks a short distance away. Bring your suit and walk around soaked and that will take the edge off the humidity.

Cool, sounds like I will go. One other question - does S:ROS run three trains often, and usually how are the wait times for that ride, as well as Batwing and Joker's Jinx? Thanks everyone.

I had a very bad experiance there last summer. Saw 2 fights, and was told to be very carefull because we did not belong there by one of the guys minutes before he got in a fight (he had been drinking).Trash everywhere and overflowing trash cans,and very lazy unmotivated employees.I will never go there again!!!

Good Luck with your trip though! *** Edited 7/2/2005 12:14:59 AM UTC by Coasterfreakfromeriepa***

/\ that's the kind of stuff I have read a lot about....

DC it self is worth the trip, I had a good time there.It is a very beutiful city with alot of history.I am glad I went there. I just can't say anything good about SF .

---

Raging_Bull said:
Well my father is taking a business trip to D.C. on July 18th, and I can go with him if I please. What I am wondering is if SF America is the only park decently close to D.C. And if so, is it worth going to? I have heard some really bad things about it. Is it worse than SFMM? The trip would be free for me and I have a SF pass...should I make the trip?

---

To answer this question, well yes it really the ONLY park decently close, about 15 min. from D.C. It is also worth going to if you want to go to a theme park right? Ok. I really don't have to explain about operations or employees at the park; some people already did it for me. If you want to go to PKD, BGW, or HP they're all about 2-3 hr. drive.

Fights....

They happen everyday around the world. It's a regular occurance. To answer your question, yes there has been previous fights at SFA. As long as you don't go to FF on the last day of the season. You might see few gangs up there (very rare). It's no where near SFMM, so you should be ok. Last time I checked, gangs are EVERYWHERE now.

---

Raging_Bull said:

The trip would be free for me and I have a SF pass...should I make the trip?

---

Might as well. Like I said the park is not very far from D.C. Its a good SF park and is striving to get better. Hope this helps, what ever park your going to. Have Fun!!!!