Its official. One day parking is now $20.

[Necropolis]

Six Flags has quietly raised their prices on parking. The park raised their parking to $20 since the middle of last season, but it is now official. From now on it is always going to be $20 to park in the lot forever.
If you're planning on going more than 3 times this season, a season parking pass is a must. Season parking passes are $70 for the whole season.

http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/tickets/index.aspx

[monsterfan99]

If I am not mistaken, this is the highest basic theme park park in the US.

[FParker185]

I don't think it will be $20 forever. In fact I bet it doesn't last long at all. By next year I foresee it will be up to $25.

[Aaron084]

Last year was the first year I didn't make it go Great America in over 10 years, half of those being a passholder. While the cost for a day ticket is now relatively cheap, everything else adds up to the point where it's just not worth it anymore. (In my opinion, I know everyone's different!) The cost of gas (3 hr drive), parking, tickets, food really adds up. I think I'd rather take a day trip 30 minutes north to Green Bay to ride the Zippin Pippin!

[wishman35]

Whats worse about it for us who have the season parking is that we no longer get the benefit of parking in the front lot where there were normally plenty more spots. Now we have to fight it out with EVERYONE which means that some season parking pass holders will end up parking in the back lot.

Would be nice if they opened up a season parking express line again...

[Necropolis]

Whats worse about it for us who have the season parking is that we no longer get the benefit of parking in the front lot where there were normally plenty more spots. Now we have to fight it out with EVERYONE which means that some season parking pass holders will end up parking in the back lot.

Would be nice if they opened up a season parking express line again...

I am really annoyed we have to fight with everyone now for a spot for those of us who buy/will buy, a season parking pass. So the only benefit of a season parking pass is that you dont have to pay for parking anymore but the chance of a non season parking pass holder now has an equal if not greater chance of getting a spot close to the front, than an actual season parking pass holder...that is depending on what time each car gets there. So if I were to get to the park super duper early, I can beat everyone to an awesome spot up front even if I don't purchase a season parking pass. Joy.

[DejaVu2001]

Really people, we're going to complain about first come first serve parking with the parking pass? If I didn't have a Season Parking pass, I would have spent $800 on parking last year. So I can live with having to burn a few calories if I get there late.

[monsterfan99]

I am really annoyed we have to fight with everyone now for a spot for those of us who buy/will buy, a season parking pass. So the only benefit of a season parking pass is that you dont have to pay for parking anymore but the chance of a non season parking pass holder now has an equal if not greater chance of getting a spot close to the front, than an actual season parking pass holder...that is depending on what time each car gets there. So if I were to get to the park super duper early, I can beat everyone to an awesome spot up front even if I don't purchase a season parking pass. Joy.

Welcome to the wonders of being a Walt Disney World annual passholder. I get to fight with between 20-30k people for a parking spot during the summer and holidays at Magic Kingdom plus the brawl to get from the parking lot to the park itself. You get used to it and move on.

Same goes for every other park I've been a non-platinum passholder including 3 other Six Flags park. It was a nice perk, but a stupid one to give regular passholders. Now those that get there before the park opens (or after 5ish) will get great parking while those that don't pay the price. If you were planning on getting to the park 2 hours after it opened that was a stupid plan to begin with.

[wishman35]

Its just unfortunate that the perk is gone...

[Necropolis]

Really people, we're going to complain about first come first serve parking with the parking pass? If I didn't have a Season Parking pass, I would have spent $800 on parking last year. So I can live with having to burn a few calories if I get there late.

I am complaining because a non season parking pass holder has as much opportunity to get a spot in the first row as a person who actually has a season parking pass. I hate having to walk all the way to the back of the lot after a whole day of waiting in line and riding coasters. A day at the park drains the energy out of you fast. Also, some people only go once or twice during the season while the rest of us who payed for a season parking pass have to get there earlier now to get a good spot, as opposed to a guaranteed spot like in the past for the season parking pass holders. It's annoying really. Purchasing a pass for anything should have it's benefits. At least once we pay for a season pass/season parking pass we dont have to pay to get in anymore, but at least the guaranteed parking up in the front was an excellent advantage. My point here is that us loyal customers who buy passes and go to the park a bunch of times deserve to get something special in return as opposed to a non-loyal customer who will probably go the park once or twice.

[monsterfan99]

^Not paying $20 each visit is your benefit. It wasn't/is not even a benefit at other Six Flags parks.

[wishman35]

Could be argued that we are really getting our money's worth on the 4th visit, and 4 visits is about 4 times the amount most people go, if any. 4 visits in the season is pretty high for most people. Sure those of us who go 6-10 times or more get a good benefit, but they should still have a season parking express line like they used to.

NO reason for those with season parking to wait in the line for 30 minutes

[monsterfan99]

but they should still have a season parking express line like they used to.

NO reason for those with season parking to wait in the line for 30 minutes

This is something every park with a large entry plaza needs. Then again, I'd also argue each park with a large amount of turnstiles needs a season pass entrance or 2.

[Necropolis]

but they should still have a season parking express line like they used to.

NO reason for those with season parking to wait in the line for 30 minutes

This is something every park with a large entry plaza needs. Then again, I'd also argue each park with a large amount of turnstiles needs a season pass entrance or 2.

EXACTLY!! Yes...some sensible points. I like the way some of you think.

[wishman35]

I mean lets think about it, at the very least we are paying $70 extra on top of our season pass. Why in the hell should we wait with hundreds of cars on a busy day with all of the people coming for their one visit of the year?

No reason for people just flashing a pass to wait a half hour to not give any money for parking

[FParker185]

Because then the park has to pay a person to staff a lane that generates no revenue. They already got your non-refundable $70, they have remarkably little interest in you anymore

[Bob O]

And since the park shows little interest in guests once they take the money the best thing to do to pay back the lack of interest is to spend little to no other money in the park. Buy food elsewhere outside the park and take the free ice water rather than wasting money on soda's. They do care about the in park purchase's you do make as that effects there bottom line.

[Necropolis]

Because then the park has to pay a person to staff a lane that generates no revenue. They already got your non-refundable $70, they have remarkably little interest in you anymore

You took the words right out of my mouth. I couldn't agree more with the last statement.