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

S:ROS only has two trains. Wait times, I've never waited more than 30 minutes at most with one train operation. Often, two trains are running with between 5 and 15 minute wait. The same for Joker's Jinx.

I recommend you ride Batwing first thing in the morning and revisit the ride later in the day in the hope of getting additional rides. The wait will depend a lot on how many trains the coaster is running. The coaster is easily visible from Superman and will be able to tell if it is running or not.

Coasterfreakfromeriepa is right, you will experience some unmotivated employees, I'm not going to deny that. The park has worked hard at improving in that area this season and has had some success. Every amusement park has problems with fights and I don't think there isn't an amusement park out there that has never had an overflowing trash can or CANS as he claims to have seen at SFA. I can say his experience doesn't seem to be the norm for SFA and I would take his experience with a grain of salt since he has visited the park only once and isn't willing to give the park another chance. He's posted six messages on Coasterbuzz and four of them have bashed SFA.

If you want to ride some great coasters and decent flat and rare rides (examples Iron Eagle and Typhoon Sea Coaster) Six Flags America is a respectable park to spend a day. If the park is extremely busy, which I highly doubt since it appears your going on a week day then there is always the Fast Lane option. Five tickets for $10.

*** Edited 7/2/2005 2:04:29 AM UTC by coasterguts***

If you can take a trip north to Hershey Park. It is one of the best parks I have ever visted. You won't regret it.

Coasterfreakfromeriepa, you say you will never visit again? I highly suggest that you do visit again. The park has changed a lot since you last went. Even my little brother, said that exact same thing (He would never go back). I dragged him there after HH opened with 7 day operation, and he loved it. Its clean, fun, and enjoyable park now, most of the time. I've been 5 times this season (tomorrow to be the 6th) and havn't seen line cutting, or fights. Raging_Bull, don't let his decision change your mind. Its close, resonably priced, and has a good coaster line up. It may not be the SFGAm your used to (It is my secondary home park), but its worth the time if your in the area.

-Colin-

I made my fourth trip to Hurricane Harbor today, so that should tell you that at least one part of the park is worth visiting. It was very busy, but wait times for the slides weren't too bad, and the water temperature was delightful! We also spent somewhere around three hours at H.H., the longest I've ever spent in a waterpark. True, it was 92 degrees and quite humid, so take that comment for what it's worth. It's when I crossed back over to the themepark side that my visit didn't seem as fun.

I think part of the problem is that we've gone from rude employees to employees who goof around way too much. What kind of surprised me is that I've noticed it's the young women who tend to goof around much more than the men, who tend to be indifferent sometimes. I chalk it all up to immaturity. In my opinion, this could be one bad side effect of having a successful waterpark. Because the employees don't feel the pressure of long lines at their rides, they are probably not as motivated to get them loaded and out of the station in a timely fashion.

So, I've come up with the new motto for the employee shirts–instead of "It's Playtime", how about "Slow down–You're at Six Flags America!" Ok, I agree it's not as catchy.

By the way, does anyone have a crain or two to take down Iron Eagle Bam Margera style? This Zamperla monstrosity has suffered enough, and it's time to take it out of its misery. Yes, it brokedown right as we were about to board.

Colin Fisher, I hope the park is changing. IT has some nice coasters if maintaineced regualy. You are not the first person to tell me it is changing. When I was there last year (June 04) I did not like the cleanliness of the park, or the lack of motivation of its workers.I did not feel safe in the park or on its rides.On Superman I will never forget the one worker, He kept sitting on the front of the train every time it came in complaining about how he needed a break. He was supposed to be checking the seat belts instead he just sat there while the girl on the other side was checking them all. I was never checked they both assumed the other checked me. Many of the rides had seats taped off because of broken restraints. I had a very bad day there. As far as going back we will see, I have only been in DC twice in my entire life.I have a trip planned in August that will take me to Hershey,Dorney,Knoebels, and SF Great Adv.I would like to add another park or two on my trip so we will see. *** Edited 7/2/2005 5:39:48 AM UTC by Coasterfreakfromeriepa***

If I were you, I'd go to SFA over anything.

I went to PKD last week, and the good/bad was like this.

Good-

-Volcano, Hypersonic have very good launches.
-Most rides tend to have shortish waits.
-Larger coaster Line-up.
-Very worthy water park.
-MUCH MUCH better atmosphere than SFA. Trees, nice employees, etc.

Bad-

-Woodies are terribly underwhelming, rough, and lacking air or "acceptable" laterals.
-Coaster line-up is generally weak, nothing too wowing besides Hypersonic and Volcano, and those two are REDICULOUSLY low capacity(I.E. All coasters and flats including Firefall were walk-ons except these, which had hour long+ waits).
-Admission is more. Six Flags loooves giving away the gate.
-They upgraded a DDR 3rd mix to Extreme. :)
-Well, it's much further away.

So, go to SFA unless you love atmosphere much more than rides.

And while in Washington, definately hit the War memorials. My favorite part of the trip, well, besides going inside the Pentagon. :)

. *** Edited 7/2/2005 5:51:50 AM UTC by thepinkdoomofmonkeys***

I would 100% go. I was just there from June 29-July 1, and we had an awesome time. My uncle, brother, cousin, and I set the Superman record for most consecutive rides (19) in only three hours, and 48 rides in 3 days. The roller coasters are great, and the water park is awesome, especially Tornado. We had no problems, the park was very clean, and the ride ops. were very nice.

The best park overall in the region is BGW. but it's a long way from DC. Fewer coasters, but they're pretty good. Wonderful atmosphere and the best shows on the east coast. No water park included, but separate Busch water park near by.

Hershey is also good, but is probably a bit more time than the 2 hours someone mentioned.

SFA is a good coaster park. Much better than some people here seem to think. SROS deserves it's top ten rating and is a "do not miss" for enthusiasts. I haven't been to the new waterpark yet.

PKI is a good park, but probably my least favorite of the group. Some one above criticizes their wood. For the most part true, but Grizzly on a good day can be great. On other days it's a slug. I haven't been able to figure out why.

Jim,

PKI or PKD?

Living 2 hrs from SFA, I've only been there 3 times, and was underwhelmed at best, completely turned off at worst.

I didn't see any fights or anything... but then again, I was there near opening and did not stay until evening.

What I did see...

- Closed flats

- A closed Typhoon Sea Coaster (flume) on each of my visits.

- BAD trash problem on my first visit (2001), better but still kind of bad in 2002 and just recently in May 2005... over flowing trash cans, litter on the midways and in queues

- Two train operations on most coasters... but terrible stacking because of the slow moving at best ...incompetent at worst... ride ops who are more worried about socializing with their friends, what time they go on break or go off duty, or just plain down have no work ethic.

- Rides that break down often.