2024 season recap

[HCF]

With fright fest concluding on Sunday and no sign of any winter events planned, the offseason has officially begun. What did you guys think of this season, and how does it compare to years past?

Me personally, I think we ended the season on a pretty optimistic note, I have made it known before that I thought that 2023 was a pretty abysmal year for Great America and honestly, the beginning of this year didn't calm my nerves with how much they were pushing back sky striker and how late they started on our new front entrance. but it seems that as soon as Rakshasa teasing started, the park started to change a bit. It could be just me looking forward to a new coaster next year but I think stuff like the new batman effects and our front entrance finally making progress really solidified that Great America will not be treated badly in this new mega chain (Which I can't say for parks like Great Adventure). I am cautiously optimistic and think 2024 was a pretty decent year, probably the best season of the decade so far. What do y'all think?

[Goku1910]

I'm still pessimistic on a lot of things. Six Flags even under the new management is still taking the cheap/tacky approach.

I have high hopes that Rakshasa has even a little bit of a theme with an appealing station, entrance, queue, etc but knowing them, everything will be as cheap and basic as possible. I will forever laugh at the fact that our new entrance is two shipping containers that have painted plywood slapped on them.

I dunno, guess I'm a little tired of looking at buildings made of painted plywood.

[BCarroll]

Earlier this season, I commented how upset I was with the park's appearance, ranting on and on about all of the negative. Like others, I do not take back my stance; however, I was able to see some light this season. It took me until mid-July to return, after stating I would not be back at the park this year. My perspective changed as slight improvements were made.

Raging bull, for one, was running the best it has ever has this season. I've been riding it since 1999 and I can proudly say that Bull had its best season to date. That was a big reason I wanted to come back to my home park again. Batman's new effects are an awesome upgrade, along with the condition it's running in as well. I rode SFOG's Batman in September and I have to say, ours is the best in the chain. I'm also very excited for Wrath of Rakshasa next year.

For the most park, summer season operations were great. Dispatches were fairly quick on many of the high-profile attractions. I really did enjoy all my rides this season. Nonetheless, my experience otherwise has not changed. Our park still looks trashy and tacky. The contrast is stark when compared to Kings Island or even Kings Dominion, both of which I visited this year. I'm not keen on the new entrance yet and I have seen some struggles during entry for Fright Fest. I guess it will just come with time figuring out how to handle it. I also noticed that there is no consistency as to when security lets guests into the park. Somedays, guests are in 30 mins prior to park opening. Other days, guests are piled into the parking lot because the gates are opening within five minutes of park open. Maybe it's a staffing issue? I don't know, but I wish that would be something more consistent.

I look forward to visiting in 2025 and checking out Wrath and the surrounding area. If the beautification and aesthetics don't change within the next five years, then we're doomed for good.

[CoasterDave316]

The park seemed to make a unbelievable turn around this year. It started off looking, and operating the worst I have ever seen. Yet, it somehow completely turned around and by the end of the year was running and looking better then it has in years. I'm not sure if it had to do with the Cedar Fair merger, but it seemed to turn around not long after the merger completed. Hopefully next season they can pick up where they left off at the end of the season and continue the rapid improvement they showed this season.

[Tidal_Waver]

If the beautification and aesthetics don't change within the next five years, then we're doomed for good.

Yeah I agree 100%. While things may be looking up, in recent years buildings are showing their age. There have been a few fires the past few years which makes you go hmmm:

2022:
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/new ... -building/

2023:
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023 ... in-gurnee/

Is neglect to blame? And then come to find out the reason 13th Order didn’t open this year and the park went from 6 to 5 Haunted Houses? Supposedly the building is condemned and falling apart.

I’m guessing some of these buildings are original. So yeah beautification, proper maintenance and routing of utilities are big concerns for the park as it continues to age.

[BCarroll]

Is neglect to blame? And then come to find out the reason 13th Order didn’t open this year and the park went from 6 to 5 Haunted Houses? Supposedly the building is condemned and falling apart.

Right. The deck structure that 13th Order sits on was deemed structurally unsound for guests to walk on. I wish they would remove the house and fix up the structures. Guests are not allowed back there anymore, so it should be a pretty simple fix, so I'd assume. Then, once it's fixed, don't put 13th Order back up and let it return to a relaxing dining space over the water. But yes, I feel that the park definitely neglects many of its original structures an buildings. If you think what you see around the park is bad, I hope you never have to see the backstage areas.

[GreatAmericanfox]

I still do not like the Greenery to the left of the carousel being removed, sure it probably eases crowd control, but it ruins the separation between Carousel Plaza and Orleans Place.

Otherwise, as my first year as a season pass holder, i really enjoyed the stuff that was done like Great Summer Nights for example. Raging Bull running 3 trains was amazing towards the end of July, and from what i've tried the food seems good.

I'm very optimistic for the merger, it can really turn around the way Great America looks, i'm a big theming/detail person coming from Disney, and a big Marriott era fan, and while i don't think the park will ever be like Disney, i do hope some level of thought will go into the placement of additions again.

Anyways' DC Universe sucks and hoping for the return of themed music, onto the 50th season next year

[Goku1910]

The park will never be a Disney. The best comparison I can make is King's Island. If anyone here has been to that park before, lemme just say.....it looks and feels amazing. It's clean, the buildings are (mostly) well kept, and it has one of the best kids areas I've ever seen.

If the new merged company needs any inspiration of how to clean up Great America, King's Island is the place they should be looking at.

As for DC Universe, it could be good. The reason it isn't is because of it's implementation. There's no themed music, there's no backdrops or character meet and greets that make sense for DC, etc. I'll again go back to King's Island. In the Snoopy kids area there's an entire store themed to the peanuts. Why couldn't they use the old arcade for DC Dedicated Merch? Stuff that's exclusive to that store? Remember when each store had items tailored to their location?

[CoasterRiderSC]

The park will never be a Disney. The best comparison I can make is King's Island. If anyone here has been to that park before, lemme just say.....it looks and feels amazing. It's clean, the buildings are (mostly) well kept, and it has one of the best kids areas I've ever seen.

If the new merged company needs any inspiration of how to clean up Great America, King's Island is the place they should be looking at.

As for DC Universe, it could be good. The reason it isn't is because of it's implementation. There's no themed music, there's no backdrops or character meet and greets that make sense for DC, etc. I'll again go back to King's Island. In the Snoopy kids area there's an entire store themed to the peanuts. Why couldn't they use the old arcade for DC Dedicated Merch? Stuff that's exclusive to that store? Remember when each store had items tailored to their location?

Agree with you 100% ! I've been to Kings Island on 2 trips. It's my 2nd favorite park after ours! And I've been to many other parks. There's just something I really love about Kings Island in terms of the atmosphere.

[Dan The Coaster Man]

I was pretty pleased with how this season went. In my opinion, virtually everything was a step above where they were immediately post pandemic. Is the park in a perfect spot right now? No. But drastic changes don't happen overnight. Food improved. Ops improved. Surcharge removed and parking price decreased. Less weeds. No high profile guest incidents (that I recall). First ride addition post pandemic. X-Flight audio and Batman overhaul. Hopefully we see this trend continue as we navigate the merger.