Six Flags Great America

Hello, my family just told me that we are going to Chicago this summer! How far is Great America from Chicago, b/c my parents say they will take me and a couple friends there for the day? Also, will Superman be open this summer, particaularily in May? And on last question, when would be the best day and/or time of May to go to the park so it wouldn't be so crowded?

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could answer these questions for me!

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Procrastinators UNITE!!!....tomorrow.

North Side of Chicago

Superman will be open

Parks are generally pretty empty in May as long as you avoid going on a weekend.

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Da Poodle

Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!

Well, it really isn't in the north side of Chicago. It's up near the coast of Lake Michigan, but about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. It is VERY easy to get to, and will probably take about 30-45 minutes depending on which way you go. No big sweat.

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"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

SFGAm is about 20 min north of downtown (without traffic). Since you are going in May the schedule varries check out http://origin.sixflags.com/parks/greatamerica/ParkInfo/index.asp?day=1&month=5&year=2003 for hours, if you go in early may you have two choices for days: Sat or Sun. Go Sunday, less crowds, if it is open mid-week go then and if you have the chance go Memorial Day weekend (monday in that case) because against all logic that seems to be the least crowded of the weekends. Do not, I repeat do not go the first week it opens it will be packed with season passers and will be completely unbearable (worse then a Sat in mid July). As of right now all signs point to the man of steel being ready for opening day, so hopefully he will be open. Also be sure to bring everything from fleece to shorts and a t-shirt on your trip because weather in the midwest is unpredictable at best in May (one memorial day I went it was in the 70s and sunny and another year it was 40s and rain). Have fun and be sure to hit the bull and viper as much as possible.

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.
*** This post was edited by Touchdown 3/3/2003 7:11:20 PM ***

Memorial Day weekend last year at SFNE was horrible. If you call that not crowded, I'd hate to see the place packed. S:ROS 2 hours- but that was only with 1 train and horribly slow ops.

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Track Record: 164
Favorite Wood: Phoenix at Knoebels
Favorite Steel: Millennium Force at Cedar Point

Thanks, Touchdown! I know about the weather as I live in Nebraska, which is about as Midwest as you can get! Thanks again, i'm really excited!!

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Procrastinators UNITE!!!....tomorrow.

Another question, is American Eagle any good? It looks massive! I always love a big woodie! Okay, wait, that sounded really GROSS!!! lol

Also, is Deja Vu ever open, I've heard that it is always closed?

Also, what are some rides that I should definently hit, and some rides that I should pass up?

Thanks in advance! :)

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Procrastinators UNITE!!!....tomorrow.

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Touchdown said:
SFGAm is about 20 min north of downtown (without traffic).

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20 minutes? I dont think so. Even without traffic it takes at least a half hour and thats if you are doing a constant 80 plus mph on the expressway.

If you are going in May you shouldnt have a problem with crowds.

SFGAm is located in Gurnee Ill which is a suburb north of Chicago and only about 5-10 minutes from the Wisconsin border.

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

It depends on your taste in wooden coasters. If you like a great first drop and speed on the out portion, you will like the Eagle. They are running it again backwards on one side which is a must do.

Deja-Vu was for the most part was reliable this last season. Your chances of getting on it are good.

What rides should you hit? Well, I would say try to hit all of the coasters. Just hanging out in Southwest Territory to hit Raging Bull, Viper, and the flats makes for a good time.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"
*** This post was edited by Chitown 3/3/2003 7:40:02 PM ***

american eagle is quite good yes. ride it backwards once and forwards once at least... deja vu should be open, they were getting better with it towards the end of the season last year... definetly hit that at least once if you can (expect a pretty significant wait though), raging bull (should be able to get many rides as the line is quite reasonable with all the newer rides... but the bull still rocks), superman (obviously), v2 is worth a ride, viper (surprisingly long wait on this sometimes though), eagle, batman if youve never been on one. if you hit all that and want more, try whizzer, iron wolf, and demon (probably in that order as whizzer is a good ride you will be quite surprised i think)

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"It's like something out of that twilighty show about that zone"

I'd ride Batman even if you have been on one! Who cares if its siblings are at other parks, its still a dang good ride! Although if the line is more than 45 minutes, I'd probably pass.

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Track Record: 164
Favorite Wood: Phoenix at Knoebels
Favorite Steel: Millennium Force at Cedar Point

I've never even been on an inverted coaster, so I think that I definently ride Batman, V2, and Deja Vu. Also, it might be a little hard to comprehend, but I have never been on a launched coaster, Beemer, or a stand up coaster. So, now you can see why I'm soooooo excited!

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Procrastinators UNITE!!!....tomorrow.

And I've never been on a flying coaster either! Wow, i need to get to more parks don't I?

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Procrastinators UNITE!!!....tomorrow.

Nah, you dont have to go to *more* parks, you just need to get to parks that give the most "bang for the buck". SFGAm has got to be in the top five of stateside parks as far as that is concerned.

And just for the record, I lived in Chi for the majority of 23 years and I can only remember *one* year when it did not rain Memorial Monday.
lata, jeremy
--who notes that it tends to rain on Good Friday as well

I agree MambaGuy Batman rocks, no other invert packs as much punch into such a small footprint/ride time and don't forget even if you have been on a batman they are all clones of this one, the one and only original!

Rollerfreak, dont worry about your lack of experience in the course of a little more then 8 years I have gone from a GP to an ACEr with about 150 roller coasters this is just one more step down the road to insanity ;).

Also one other piece of advise if you for some reason hit that park on a crowded day do not go directly to S:UF sacrifice one 2 hr wait and proceed right by its enterance to go ride Batman and then do a loop around the park. I did this the year that Raging Bull opened and managed to hit Batman (2X), Iron Wolf, American Eagle, Demon, and Giant Drop in less then 45 min. Factor in Raging Bull Viper V2 Deja Vu and Wizzer and Im sure you could have all but one roller coaster done in less then 2 1/2 hrs. And have no fear I have ridden Superman in Georgia and it is worth a two hour wait.

For those of you doubting that I have done the downtown to SFGAm in 20 minutes I can promise you I have on a couple of occasions. While I dont live in the Chicago area I do live in Wisconsin and go to school at Notre Dame, on my trips to and from South Bend I go right through the city. It is possible, you just have to have the express lanes open and you and traffic going at about 80 which can in perfect conditions happen.
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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

Just to clarify something, it is approximatly (sp?) 40 miles from downtown Chicago to Great America, give or take one or two miles. Now.... unless you were driving 120 miles an hour, somehow I doubt that you made it there in 20 minutes. I've driven from the NW side of chicago to Great America hundreds of times, and it has never taken less than 35 minutes. Just thought I'd clarify.

Touchdown said:
Do not, I repeat do not go the first eek it opens it will be packed with season passers and will be completely unbearable (worse then a Sat in mid July).

Huh?? Last year opening weekend was dead. I've never heard anyone else complain that opening weekend is crowded either.

-Nate (who *does* plan on being at SFGAm opening weekend)

I had the Best Plan last season it was Hit Bull just as it opens 1or 2 times. Then Hit Iron Wolf 1or 2 times. then Head for V2 or Batman which ever has a shorter wait but usally they dont have much wait in the 1 and 2 hour they are open. Then just play it by ear.That will proably change this season though cause of SM:UF. I would say try to hit every coaster if you can but if not you can just decide what you want to do all the rides at SFGAm are great and worth riding 1or 2 times in 1 park visit. I hope this helps.

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we must choose our fate: freeze or burn

Fly with the Man of Steel in 2003
SFGAm

Its maRImbaguy87, but I guess I'll let it slide... ;) Yeah, theres also the feeling of riding the first ever inverted roller coaster that makes it exciting too.

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Track Record: 164
Favorite Wood: Phoenix at Knoebels
Favorite Steel: Millennium Force at Cedar Point
*** This post was edited by MarimbaGuy87 3/3/2003 11:04:07 PM ***

Great america is my home park. Like everyone says, If u go in may u will be jus fine. If for some reason the bull is packed, if they have all three trains on and the q-house is full, it'll still only be like a 45-50 min wait. It's worth waiting that time for the bull. Batman isnt worth a 45 min wait. (only becasue I've been on it over 300 times) Iron wolf is the only B&M I dislike. Of course I'm not a real big fan of stand ups anyway. U have to hit the eagle backwards. Awesome ride. Viper is very good too. Last year though there was a long wait for it every time I was there so I did'nt ride it much. If u ride deja vue, u will wait a while. Only because of the one train lol. V2 isnt bad either but not worth a 45 min wait. U might be surprized by whizzer. It's a great warm up and cool down ride. Some of the flats are surprizingly good. I'll be there second week in may. I hope.