SFGAM 5/6/07 Opening Weekend(Long)

[sixflagsdude]

First of all some new perks of the season that I was happy about for season pass holders(skip if you already know this):
-Instant access to the Hurricane Harbor water park
-10-15% off merchandise(all season)
-VIP show seating
-Permanent Preferred Parking for parking pass holders, holla!
-Coasters after dark(not a big fan of this the one year I did that but happy for those that enjoy it)

So here is my day and again this will be long

I was out till 6:30am Sat nite/Sun am so I was obviously insanely tired but slept a few hours and got up around 10am and putzed around and was finally ready @ noon. ALL of my buddies cancelled out on me because they could care less so I went there alone, grr. First of all, here we are a year later and STILL no decent on ramps to I43 South/94 East from the Marquette Interchange. So I finally got back on the same onramp that I used last year and other than one big freeway drama in Racine(still no clue what that was all about) I was at the park at 12:30. LOVE the new open toll thing they got going on for IPass users at the Il border. Made it so much easier since the last time I was at Six Flags there was still construction going on. Got a spot far back in Lot 24 and checked in. Even with my keys, cell and other stuff the security sensor didn't beep(which helped with all my multiple trips to the car and back).

Went to the Processing center to get my coupon book and parking pass. Got the coupon book but realized I forgot the receipt to get the parking pass discount. So I went back to my car to get the receipt since I forgot to ask when the booth would close, plus I wanted to get it over with. Came back in again and started the day...

First ride was Tripple Play, which was a walk on. I really missed this last year since it's pretty much always the first thing I ride. It was a blast and what was funny is that the cars were actually hitting tree branches.

Next, went on the Orbit. NO LINE! I was the first one to board and got the lucky #7 car. This was cool but when the ride is vertical I kept sliding forward when my car descended. Apparently I've shrunk in the last year.

Then it was on to my first coaster, the Demon. I got the back car in the yellow train. That first drop is still the most brutal in the stomach(as was Shockwave) and it sucks that Arrow coasters seem to be a thing of the past since these are always the ones with the most thrill.

Ok, I am breaking out the yay still huge colored maps you get(at the parking entrance) to figure out what I did after that.

Headed to Ricochet since they were just boarding and there were some extra seats open. Fun and actually intense.

Went to Giant Drop next, this was another walk on, I actually rode it twice and it was nice to not have to wait 90 mins for once. By the way, I am the only one in my "Six Flags group" that will ride this, the rest of my buddies get sick on it.

Then I went on Raging Bull. NO LINE. Just a slight wait in the station. I forgot what color train I was on but I rode the back seat. Good ride but I pushed my lapbar down too hard and it sorta hurt. Was glad when it was over.

Next, headed to Viper. The first line of the day but it was cool since it meant they weren't allowing the stupid station line chaos to build up which is the reason I hate going on this. Got the second row and it was great. Totally a different ride then the back seats.

Got a call from some friends that were heading up north to meet up @ Chili's for lunch. So I went back to my car and went to meet them there. The food sucked but the service was cool. We debated spending the rest of the day at Gurnee Mills but then decided against it.

Went back to the park and haha, got my EXACT same spot, I forgot about the preferred parking thing.

So showed my hand stamp and went back in and took the counterclockwise route. Rode Condor first(no line). Loved it as always and saw that Superman had a fairly long wait in the line queue. Headed to King Chaos, but it was closed. Booo!

Walked by Ragin Cajun because I am just not a huge fan of that one.

Then I went on East River Crawler(a walk on, w00t!). So much fun! Took forever to get the ride started for some reason(well actually they were swapping out Ops) but it was cool. I spun more than I usually do. Still don't know the trick to that one.

Next.......my FAVE FAVE coaster still...Batman. No line. Well actually 5 mins for the front row which I got. I was glad that there wasn't that Prince music playing, instead they had the Seal song from Batman:Forever. Banged my head a couple of times on this, not sure how since I've ridden it a million times but still enjoyed it.

After that went on the "swing ride". This was the first time every seat was filled to capacity! But I didn't have to wait in line at all, just got there at a decent moment. Was great and the ride op was hillarious and had a great sense of humor.

Headed to V2 next. Only a 5 min wait. Rode seat #2 and I forgot about the train freeze on the second run on the back tower, totally caught me by surprise. BTW, why is the water aqua one one side of the line queue and brown on the other? Still can't figure that out(that probably didn't make any sense)

Went on Iron Wolf next. This was a total walk on(and a re-ride if you wanted). I got the back seat but even though I have learned to love this ride, it seems to be painful again with the headbanging, who knows, I may just need to get used to it again.

Then it was off to Fiddler Fling. Waited only one ride cycle. For some reason, this is so LOUD with the track scraping, you could actually feel it below you this year. But I don't care I still had so much fun on it. I think this ride rocks and will always love it.

Next was Revolution. I don't think this ever opened last year(don't really remember). I only had to wait one ride cycle. This year I noticed they are spinnin it up faster the first part than they usually do. I don't remember it going that fast until the second half.

The Eagle was next and it's hillarious how this has all changed(you regulars will appreciate this). I saw this in the forums but still doesn't make sense till you are actually there. There is this new kids area where the AE tent used to be and all I saw were water fountains and kiddy rides. I went all the way to the back and still nothing but a stage, haha. So where the old pizza restaurant and the arcade was is the new AE entrance. You can barely see it now. And the line queue is where you would enter the Daredevil Dive(from what I remember). Classic. The line thing is so 180deg turned around and this will suck when it gets really hot outside since it's all out in the open and not under the tent but it's all good. Don't get me wrong, I'm not freaking out about this but this is the first change for this area since 1980. Anyway rode the AE twice, once on the Red train backseat and then the Blue train somewhere in the middle. Awesome ride both times. And they raced the trains perfectly!

There was tons of shopping at this point, didn't find anything yet.

Fell back in County Fair and rode the Demon again. Yellow train again and no wait.

Then headed back to SW Territory and rode the River Rocker(?). Fun.

Giant Drop again next, rode it twice no wait.

Then went on Raging Bull, first big line of the day but was only about 20 mins because they were running 2 trains now, makes a huge difference and caused the line to back up to the final switchback. Rode the yellow train(I think) in the back.

Headed off to the Whizzer next. 10 min wait and rode the back seat. I saw sparks under the train, whee.

Next I went on the Scrambler ride. That was cool and they allowed re-rides.

Did more shopping.

Went to Superman next and only waited one ride cycle for the backseat. Some little kids kept running around and jumped into the empty seats and it was allowed, um ok. I got the back row and it was fun.

King Chaos was still closed, boooo!

Went on Batman again, Front seat! Even more amazing.

Then went on Revolution 2 more times since there was no line.

Then AE(Red) 2 more times, didn't have to leave the seat.

Finished off on the Demon. Black car back seat. Fun awesome final ride of the night.

There was still an hour and a half left but had to meet some friends back in Milwaukee so I left.

BTW, it was wierd driving back home in complete daylight after this new daylight savings time thing.

[CoasterTycoon77]

Awesome trip report!! =)

[Trailblazer Tony]

Great Trip Report, too bad I didn't see ya

[revolutiongurl]

I completely agree with you on Demon's drop. I think it's more gut-wrenching then Viper, Eagle and even Raging Bull.

[themanoftheland8]

Sounds like you had a good day! I was also there, so I will just add a couple of things that I noticed.

1) The characters were VERY friendly. I saw many characters actually run up and slap hands with people instead of just waiting for the guests to come up to them. I hope this keeps up!!!

2) The park emptied almost completely sometime around 6:00, which allowed me to get a nice 30 rides on Batman .

3) Wiggles World looked very nice, definitely a good place for kids.

4) Not sure if this was posted somewhere else, but Vu's train was off the track and behind the ride (easily seen from Batman.)

Overall, a nice day!

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Yeah, the characters were in great amounts on Saturday and were very friendly. Best i've ever seen at our park!

And I third that motion about Demon's first drop! Something about it, I don't know why i feel that drop so much.

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

^i agree. I gave wags the dog a hug....they were out and happy.