). I told my best friend to get April 30th and May 1st off work, so we could go both days. We were all set. Except on Friday at 3:00 p.m. she calls me to say she can't go! It pissed me off that she waited til the last minute to tell me. After some frantic phone calls I figured out a way to get from downtown Chicago to Gurnee by way of bus, train, and taxi.
I woke up at 6 a.m. to my cell phone alarm. I got dressed, and got on the bus to union station. I got there at 6:30 a.m. to find out that the first train to Libertyville didn't leave til 8:35, so I had to wait for two hours. It dragged out soooo long. I got to Libertyville at 9:45, and got picked up by the nicest taxi driver I've ever met, Heidi. Her company was called Jammin' Shuttle, I think. She got me to the park at exactly 10:00 a.m., and took me in through the employee's entrance (no waiting for parking!) It was only 16 dollars and I gave her a four dollar tip for taking me straight to the front door of Great America. I didn't have to wait in line or empty my pockets at the metal detector. I got coerced into taking a photo by the Carousel. Argh.
The line at the Pass Processing Center was too long, and I only needed to pick up my coupon book anyway, so I headed straight to Deja Vu. I was excited, because it was my first time riding it after three years of waiting. I rode row 8A. I was totally disconcerted by the feeling of being shoved against my restraint; it was scary! I've never felt like that on V2. The ride was amazing, though. After all I've heard about it, I thought it was gonna be rough, but it was amazingly smooth. Very thrilling coaster.
I heard these people behind me saying "This is the last time you're ever gonna get on this ride without waiting 3 hours" and then another person said, "Don't touch the green restraint!" Was that any of you guys?
Next up I headed toward Bull, my favorite coaster. It was about a 5 minute wait, because I was alone and some people let me go ahead of them so they could ride together. I rode one of the middle rows on the red train. It was my first time on the red train, I've always gotten teal before. Awesome air time, although coming back into the station I was horribly nauseated, which never happens to me on Bull. I decided to go get a Sno Cone and wait it out. After about 10 minutes, I headed over to Viper.
The station was the emptiest I've ever seen it. It was only a 4-cycle wait for front seat. Although they did seem to take a long time to load the trains. Insane air time on this as well, and smooth as ever. This was only my third time riding Viper, believe it or not.
Next up was American Eagle: Red. My first time on Red. The ride was rough, and seemed quicker than usual. It was a walk-on for me.
I got over to B:TR and got up the stairs, only for an announcement that it was broken down. I decided to just leave it and go onto something else. After taking a little walk, I saw that S:UF was running again after a break-down and went over to it. It was a fifteen minute wait by the time I got there. Got third to the last row. I sat next to this guy who was freaking out. As we were going down the first drop, he looked at me and said, "My name is Chris, so you know my name if I die." I felt bad for him, he was in pain. He screamed through the pretzel loop.
Went and ate at Angelo's Pasta. I had a Meal Deal Coupon good for a free pasta meal. The pasta was...mediocre. I didn't like it. As I was eating, I saw V2 break down, and maintainence working on it. It was down for the whole time I was eating, which was about 20-25 minutes. It might have been down before I ate, I don't know. After, I decided to stand with the crowd waiting for it, and I got a walk-on ride when it opened. Was it just me, or was it more fast and intense? It also seemed to go higher up on the spiral.
After this I felt sick again and decided to calm down with some flats.
I rode Sky Trek Tower twice because I loved the view of the water park. The first thing I wanna try out is that wave pool. Saw Condor's cars. I like the new color.
I rode the Scenic Railway 2 and a half times. It's a good way to relax if you're feeling a bit under the weather. I also love passing the ride graveyard. It fascinates me. I miss Sky Whirl, it was my first ride at SFGAm when I was five years old. I have an old picture of B:TR from Sky Whirl, back when it was all black.
Rode Trailblazer 2 times; this was a surprisingly fun ride. Got a re-ride, because everyone on it said, "Again, again!".
River Rocker: 1 time. The ride op kept saying, "let's go a little bit higher!".
I love Great American Raceway for some reason. I can't really explain it. I just love the cars, I wish the track was longer. I rode this 3 times. On the 2nd time I got rammed quite a few times by a little girl.
Whirligig: 1 time. I have fond memories of this from when I was 4 or 5.
SG3000: 1 time, and first time riding it. A bit dull, I just went on it to get out of the cold. I was cold because I had ridden water rides.
Roaring Rapids: 3 re-rides.
Splashwater Falls : 1 ride.
It was now about 6:30 and I was hungry again, so I had a burger and fries at Wascal's. Used yet another Meal Deal Coupon. I got these coupons in the mail because I had to pay 13 dollars shipping and handling for my season pass when the very next day they sent a seperate one in the mail, and I complained. I also got a Fast Lane for my trouble. Six Flags has great customer service.
After that, I called a taxi and went home. I got back to Chicago at 11:08 p.m.
P.S.: This was also my first opening day. It was pretty much a day of firsts for me. It sucked that I was alone, but the short lines helped matters.
