SF Great America - 5/2/04 - GOOD times

Kevin Max:

The bring a friend for free days are every Sunday in June.

And the 1/2 price days are weekends in May, most of August, Labor Day weekend in Sept. & Fright Fest (if my memory serves me correctly).

Also, dont forget about those "coasters after dark" nights. To me, those are more important than a bring a friend for free day.

I tell ya, it'd be cool if they ever did (as I know was talked about a few years ago) extend the park out towards the employee parking - that would almost make a "rebirth" of Eagles Flight/Delta Flyer worth it - only this time from that new area over by the Camp Cartoon Network/Iron Wolf area over to SW Territory. Man I would love to a sky ride back at the park - that and/or Sky Whirl .

That coupon book is REALLY good this year - both in format and content. Lots of good stuff. I also thought the "ride in the parade coupon" was a neat bonus for season pass holders.

Mike, I did notice that Giant Drop was running all cars - that was pretty cool. I wonder if anyone who frequents these boards might know why it was down for so long?

Also, did anyone who rode V2 notice that holding brake (on the back spike) seemed to be "pulsing" a LOT this past weekend? Almost reminded me of anti-lock brakes on a car - it wasn't even close to a "clean" hold at all.

When are the "ride after dark" nights?

From the coupon book:

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Coasters After Dark is a special event just for Season Passholders. Enjoy exclusive ride time for two hours on Six Flags Great America's major rides along with fellow Season Passholders. Coasters After Dark features other fun surprises, including special retail discounts throughout the park each event.

Wednesday, June 16: 9PM-11PM

Wednesday, July 21: 10PM-midnight

Wednesday, August 11: 10PM-midnight

Passholders must be inside the park 30 minutes before closing time in order to experience Coasters After Dark. Sorry, you can't be admitted to the event if you arrive any later than 30 minutes before the published closing time.

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I don't recall the park EVER doing something like this before (though I might be wrong) - I think it's a GREAT idea and a really good way of retaining/building season pass membership. We're all suckers for extra lil perks or (especially) FREE stuff aren't we?

They have before, just not free to regular season passes. They had "Mtv - Rock The Park Passes" the year or the year after Batman opened. And then they had "Gold Passes" a couple years after the Mtv. Both of which cost $20 or so more than the regular season pass.

what sucks is that it's on a Wednesday night...some of us work full time, ya know! Throw us in one weekend date at least! ;)

Just curious about this Coasters After Dark. Is it for just SF Great America season pass holders or Six Flags pass holders in general? I ask because we are going to happen to be there that night (6/16) and next day as part of a huge midwest trip but our passes are from SFOG. *** Edited 5/4/2004 4:07:21 PM UTC by Pale Rider***

PR -- That's probably question you need to ask the park directly...

Well to follow up, I called the park and they said that you have to have the coupon that came with the coupon book to attend the event. So it looks like it's a no go if you aren't a Great America pass holder. I'm not sure how it would work if were able to get the coupon from someone else but still have a pass from another park. I'd beg for someone's extra, unused coupons but we'd need four of them ;) We may try and go to guest relations that evening and try and see if we can maybe weasel our way in. It's worth a shot anyway.

I think we'll have to "suck it up" for at least one or two of the Coasters After Dark Wednesday nights - that's just too good to pass up! It'll be worth the "rough" morning afterwards I'm sure ;)

Interesting that the park told you that you'll need the coupon from the book - there is no actual coupon for that event in there. All there is in reference to the event is a one page description (exactly what I posted above). There is no actual coupon in there - and if there were, I'd imagine they would have needed to include THREE of them in there (just in case you were going to try to make it to all three nights). There is no mention anywhere that you'll need anything other than your season pass (and that you be there at least half an hour before the normal closing time for each night).

And as far as those MTV nights...I do, now that you mention it onceler, sort of recall those way back when - though, obviously, I didn't make it to them!

Well heck then, maybe we'll just have to stay in the park and see what happens. I don't know what the customer service lady was talking about if there is no coupon, as she kept making it sound like that you needed to have received the coupon book to attend the events. We'll try it though and if they don't let us, then oh well, we'll be back the next day anyway.

They must have been confused. You won't need the coupon book, just your season pass (possibly just a SFGAm pass). *** Edited 5/4/2004 10:46:51 PM UTC by Chitown***

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Pale Rider said:
Well to follow up, I called the park and they said that you have to have the coupon that came with the coupon book to attend the event.

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That doesn't really make much sense...There isn't actually a coupon for the Coasters After Dark events. It's just an informational page in the Coupon Book that gives the details someone else spelled out earlier. I'm guessing it's intended for SFGAm pass holders but it doesn't say that so......

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Brad G said: That doesn't really make much sense.......

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Well to reiterate what I had said above, I called the customer service and asked the lady what these Coasters After Dark Events were all about. She of course told me everything that you guys allready have and that you needed to be a season pass holder and have the coupon booklet that you received with your pass. So I asked her point blank if you needed to have the coupon from the book to attend the events (At the time I thought that there was some kind of coupon) and she said yes. I then told her that I had a season pass from another Six Flags park and she once again told me that I needed the coupon and/or coupon book. I then said thanks and hung up. I'm not sure what the deal is but if the booklet says that all you need is your pass and to show up, then I guess that's all you need to do.

I'll email John Curty from SFGAm and ask him. AS Operations Manager he deals with ticketing and Season Passes and should have an answer for us.

When I get a response I'll get it posted.

Brad *** Edited 5/5/2004 4:58:12 PM UTC by Brad G***

John Curty from SFGAm responded back very quickly to my email. Here's his response in part:

"Any Season Passholder can participate in the CAD event. Just need to be in the park by closing time. The Season Pass will gain you access to the ride lines and I intend to run all coasters and Giant Drop. Probably the revolution as well. No coupon required.

Come on down!

John"

Cool, his response seems like the only thing that would make sense. Sounds like they're going to be dedicated to making that a fun extra two hours!

What I don't quite understand (and it probably doesn't really matter) is how they will manage the non-season passholders. Since you're already in the park, when (if at all) will you have to show your pass to prove you're "authorized" to stay in the park past the posted closing time?

In any case, thanks for the followup on that coupon confusion Brad.

That quick response to your e-mail, THAT kind of thing is why SFGAm is regarded as one of the very best parks, SFI or otherwise...

Still waiting to hear back from Knott's GR on my inquiry re: Solace...;)

It's NOT about the chain, it's ALL about the parks themselves...and SFGAm just seems to be a park that's VERY well-run....congrats to you Second-City-ites...:)

MrSkyWhirl

It sounds like from Mr. Curty's response, that you may have to just show your pass before entering the ride's line to ride. Now how they would then make sure that non-season pass holders would not remain in the park during the event is not clear.