Questions about SFGAm

Hey everybody I'm going to Six Flags Great America this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and I've been researching up on the place. They have a lot of world-class rides, but I would really like to hear some comments about how the park is and info for a first time guest there, and anything else about SFGAm that anybody wants to tell.

Thanks to whoever takes the time to reply to this I appriciate it a lot.

Delete one... go to edit and check the box that says delete.

Thanks JoNo for the tip.

*** This post was edited by Mike E. 6/25/2003 10:05:03 PM ***

Can you people who view this please reply to my post.

Thanks

Mike

If you are going over the weekend, be prepared for some serious crowds(especially on Saturday).

If you like B&M coasters, you have come to the right park(B&M Flyer, Hyper, Standup, and Inverted).

This is one of the best SF parks in terms of customer service, ride capacity, and overall appearance. I believe you will enjoy your visit.

Dont get your hopes up for Deja-Vu because it will still be closed. All the other coasters should be in operation.

Have a good time and post a TR when you get back home.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

Oh, most importantly, get to the park before it opens. When it does, make the dash to S:UF first. Just veer to the left of Columbia Carousel after you enter the park. Its the first coaster you will encounter. This coaster is new so lines are consistently long and they dont honor Fastlane for it this year.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

I visited GAm for the first time last month. And I can say that it is by far the best SF i havce ever been too. The atmosphere is great, the service is great, the lines move faster than any other SF, and the ride selection is the best of any SF i have been to. This park put SFMM to shame if you ask me. When I went I worked clockwise around the park skipping S:UF till later in the day when everyone ate lunch and got on every coaster and then some with time to spare.

The most thrilling coaster, Deja Vu, will be closed, though you wouldn't know it from the website, which promotes it despite the fact that it has not opened all year nor, apparently, will it open.

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Buy "Stereotype Be" from Kevin Max at Amazon.com

Ride Raging Bull, Superman, and V2 in the back rows. I cannot stress this enough. There is a huge difference from the front to the back.

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Riding the Bull anywhere but the back is merely going for a walk.

Go on Whizzer, sure it isn't big or fast, but it is really fun, and really unique, and most people skip it because they don't think it is worth their time, which is a bummer. If you like flat rides, then SFGAm has some of the best, Fiddler's Fling, & East River Clawer, are personal favorites of mine.

Like Chitown said, hit Superman first. I would recommend Raging Bull in the back row, and I haven't ridden Superman yet (but I will in a few weeks), so I can't tell you where to ride. Personally I don't like the back of V2, it is good if you like looking straight down up high, but you do not get any twisting action on the front spike, which is cool.

Try not to miss any of the rides.

Also expect crowds, and alot of rude teenagers, they always get on my nerves, but besides that it is a very nice park. The employees tend to be very nice, and speedy, except a few, but besides that you will have a great time.

Kevin "Can't wait for his Great America trip in a few weeks !!" Lundstrom
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Welcome one and all, y'all come have a ball!
Things a bear-y fine, ridin' on the old Knott's bear-y line!

Back seat rides: Viper, Raging Bull, Superman, V2, American Eagle(backwards). Deja Vu isn't that great of a ride, but it is fun. You can always ride it if you get to Georgia or California.

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156 coasters and counting...last parks:BGW,PKD,SFA,Hershey,Disneys Ca Adventure, KBF, + SFMM :)

Visit Yankee Harbor towards the evening hours, around 7. I found that once the heat starts dying down, Batman and V2 are at their best, and they are walk-ons. This might have changed since I visited the park last, because most schools are done for the summer, and crowds have undoubtedly grown... Ride Iron Wolf with an open mind, and wait the extra minute or two for the front. You won't be dissapointed...

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Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

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RagingBullet said:
Ride Raging Bull, Superman, and V2 in the back rows. I cannot stress this enough. There is a huge difference from the front to the back.

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I'll have to disagree with the two people who said that about Superman.... I've been in second row, and last row - and the back doesn't really have any air. It's got awesome Gs, but the awesomeness of an airtime-filled headfirst dive is more prominant the farther up you go.

Raging Bull: Back Right. That's where I go whenever I get the chance.

V2: I rode Wicked Twister in the middle, and thought that twisting vertically was overrated.... but V2 in the back, with the straight drop, is a force to be reckoned with. You'd do best with this, and Batman, later at night - when I was there on the 16th, both had approximately 5 minute waits. Good times.

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« adix@nedesigns.com »

First Rider in Best Spot on the Best Train of the Best Ride in the Best SF Park in the Midwest - First Rider, Back Right, Teal Train, Raging Bull, SF Great America [6/16/03]
*** This post was edited by Adix 6/26/2003 1:22:54 AM ***

be prepared to break open your wallet! SFGAm is one of the most expensive parks in the chain. If you want to save a few bucks walk to burger king for meals. Also make sure you spend a loy of time on the Raging Bul great ride. Vertical Velocity is fun but not worth any wait above 30 minutes. YOU MUST RIDE IRON WOLF!!!! First B&M what else do i need to say. Be sure to bring sun glasses due to the lack of good sun blockers in all of the lines. Get at least three rides on S:UF. Front Back Row 4 or 5. Batman get in the front if you have never expirenced this ride any where else. Also keep your eyes open for Jim Wintrode. I have spotted him around the park three times this season.

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Your signature is too long. Please keep it at three lines or less.

Oh also I would have to say that riding the Iron Wolf in any row further back than row 4 will hurt. It has been ruff from when they put the new restraints on 3 or 4 seasons ago. American Eagle is a must do ride and there is useually no wait for red. Giant Drop is a fun ride but not worth a 10 minute wait. As far as what milleniumforce6279 said about flat rides i'm going to have to agree. SFGAm is a paradise when it comes to good flat rides. The east river crawler is awesome since they renovated it last season and the fiddler's fling is good to. But most of SFGAm flat rides are almost always closed. The triple play has only been open 2 out of the 9 times i have been this year. And the Hometown Fun machine is weekends only. Last thursday The Trail Blazer was closed and it was on a wierd angle. But I wish that SFGAm would invest in a nice top spin or a roulette type ride. Oh i forgot about Orbit the best flat ride at SFGAm and it provides a cool view of the multi-million dollar paper weight (deja Vu). The condor is a good place to spy on S:UF and The whirligig looks good back at it's original spot ( moved in 1991 for batman and returned to it's original spot when V2 was built). The Richochet is a odd ride that offers a different expierence every time. It seems that when i ride it i alternate between one ride of awesome air time and then one of nothing at all. If you have children SFGAm is a horrible place to bring them. SFGAm is not a very kid friendly park. Mostly because of trash-talking GP and the lack of more kiddie rides. I hope that SFGAm will offer more kiddie flat rides in Yukon Terriotory and mabey even a new kiddie coaster (NOT A VEKOMA!!!!). Some fun things to do at SFGAm include the Dare Devil Dive find 2 other random people to do it with to save cash. You can always get a good vantage point for photography from Sky Trek Tower. Space shuttle america is a fun expierence especially cause they are playing the original movie again. ( for 5 years they were playing assorted movies that had nothing to do with space) You should grab a ride on the upper deck of the columbia carousel. Rue le dodge bumper cars are not that good. Ride loggers Run if you have enough time and Ice mountain natural spring water splash ( yankee clipper) will not be operating but will be playing it's ride loading procedure speil.(does this perpetually for some reason). If you want to take in a show see the Espana Extreme show in the shouthwest terriotory theater. New just started showing on Sat, june 21. Viper is a fun woody (watch for the lizards on the suppot structure on the left side of the air time hill right after the first turn. Demon is a good ride that is useually a walk-on. Another un thing to expierence is the new show Cold Fusion I have only heard good-things. The park staff and the ride ops are useually pretty good unless you get the ride ops from hell that were operating the Iron Wolf (15 minutes to dispatch one train. NO BREAK DOWN JUST FLIRTING!!!!) But the S:UF crews are good especially jacks! Have fun enjoy and remeber to ride the bull a ton of times.
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Your signature is too long. Please keep it at three lines or less.

Dr. S,
please write yourself a prescription for "Using-Paragraphs-ium" and take liberally.;)

I'll add to the recommendations for the back seat on Bull and Superman. Also, be sure not to miss Whizzer, the only coaster that I've ever ridden with my legs crossed La-Z-Boy style. Love those old Schwartzkopf trains!

For time investment, I could honestly spend the whole day just going back and forth between, Bull, Viper, and Whizzer.

Later,
EV
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"Here's the thing about living in the past. If it was so good, then how come it didn't last? If it helps you, I'll put it in a phrase. Those were the times, but these are the days." - The Human League

Actually, since Superman is in the front of the park AND new, would it not make more sense to go to Raging Bull at opening? Like you said, lines for Supe will be long all day. Why not grab some quick Bull/Viper/Demon/Eagle rides and save the Supe line for after eating (using the time to let food settle).

At least that's what I would do. Except in the 20+ years of me going to Great America, I have never been there at park opening :)

lata, jeremy

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My current favorite home video game!

If this is your first time visiting the park and you might not be doing it again for awhile. You might want to buy some fastlane passes on sat and sun. Yes $15 is alot of money but saving hours of waiting is worth it in my opinion. Now rides, S:UF might be better hitting later in the day for I've noticed the lines get quite long early on unless you dash for it. Backrow on this ride has to be one of the greatest experiences because you will get postive g's like no other on the pretzel loop. V2 if you heard lately and I've noticed also that the lines keep getting shorter and shorter. I recommend sitting in the back. But if you want the best of both worlds (spike and twist) then the middle should be the best option. Batman, this line can get huge depending on how crowded it is but a fastlane pass can always do the trick. Back row is a rush but front is amazing for the bird eye view is awesome. Iron Wolf is a good ride, and introduced B&M to what they are today. Just for some people this ride can get people alittle light headed sometimes. American Eagle is one of the best wooden coasters around. Airtime of the first drop is awesome espically backwards. Raging Bull is a great ride. You have to ride back row here because there isn't nething greater than the airtime. Wait's won't be that bad for they've been running 3 trains lately and the line moves quite fast. Viper is a great recreation of the Cyclone and may look small but packs in a lot of airtime. Watch out though when you get in the que house for its a mad house. Demon is a walk-on sit in the back for it's little drop packs in a punch espically the fact you have harnesses on. Deja Vu accourse is still closed and will be closed for awhile. Whizzer is a alright ride but isn't worth a 45 min wait which it can come to sometimes. Like everyone else has said we have a pretty good selection of flat rides. 2 kid parks ( Cartoon Network and Bug's Bunny Land). Also Friday and Saturday KidsFest will still be going on. Your going to be very satisfied with this park for it's one of Six Flags top 3 parks. Theming is beautiful from the old Mariott era and the operators are superior. Enjoy your trip but bring a little extra cash when you hit the food stands.

Dr. Strangelove, I don't think I really agreed with one thing you said! Where do I start?

1) SFGAm is most definitely *not* the most expensive SF park. Not even close. I don't know what people are doing that they're spending so much money, but I rarely spend more than $10 there. If you like Mexican food there is a stand near Raging Bull (Fajitas and Fiesta Fries or something) and a taco stand in Farmer's Market, both of which serve the cheapest food in the park, I believe. But none of it is too bad, in my opinion. If you want expensive, go to SFNE.

2) Most of SFGAm's queue areas are, for the most part, shaded. Most of them do have areas of no shade (such as the walk to the station from the switchbacks on S:UF) but none of those shadless areas should take more than 10-15 minutes. The obvious exception is V2 (no shade at all). S:UF, Viper, and Bull may also get hot (waiting from switchbacks to station) but that's really it.

3) Ride B:TR in the back *left* seat. You won't regret it. This is hands down the best seat on SFGAm's ride, as it comes *very* close to several trees, the building, and the pond. Watch your feet. ;)

4) SFGAm is a *fine* park for kids. There are plenty of things for them to do in both of the huge kiddie areas. Guests at SFGAm are usually not a problem, save for a few exceptions who curse and such (but that's to be found at basically any park). I don't know what your problem is with Spacely, but Vekoma most definitely offers the superior product when it comes to kiddie/family coasters. What else would you rather see???

5) Finally, I've never seen a bad crew on Iron Wolf in the several years I've been visiting the park. Usually they run two trains and do so without stacking. That's *amazing* for a stand-up of that size. If it really took 15 minutes to dispatch another train, then clearly there was a problem not related to the crew. That's a long time.

-Nate

I went last Saturday and Superman was packed right when the park opened. The line eventually died down (started at the entrance to the ride). From there it's about an hour wait. Line moves fairly quick and S:UF is not on the FastLane pass. Get the FastLane pass. It makes the day more enjoyable. Get lots of rides on Raging Bull. It's quite possibly one of the best steel coasters ever. As for flat rides, I am not impressed with SFGam. I think parks like PKI and even Cedar Point have a better flat ride selection. Ride V2 in the front because it's the view as your launced is great. Have fun.