Is SFGAM going down hill??

[viperchick85]

I've not been very impressed with all the changes this year...the "Anniversary" or whatever theme they had going on...Great America hasn't even been around 45 years...and sorry to say but I liked it a lot better when it was just Great America. The smoking thing is going to be a losing battle, all I know is if they want to keep a big majority of their guests, they should put in more smoking sections. Certain rides not opening ontime, which has happend on more than a few occasions, was not pleasant either. Haven't noticed a very big difference in crew's attitudes either, was I supposed to?

Eh, you win some, you lose some. If anything, maybe they'll take the complaints seriously and improve on it next year since we pretty much pay their way.

[RBull4life]

Great America hasn't been around 45 years, but Six Flags has.

I've been going to the park for 30 years, and nothing will be able to compare to the Marriot days, but as far as things getting worse, not even close. As far as rides being closed, that always happens towards the end of the season. Always have, and always will.

It gets really old when you read comments saying that the park should add coasters, coasters, and more coasters. Screw the family aspect. I don't have kids, so why cater to the families. Me, me, me. How many times has it been stated on these forums by me, and several others, that when the company is in severe financial problems, you have to do what you have to do in order for the company to survive. The is no waving the magic wand and make you debt go away (how I wish that was true).

How long do you think Cedar Fair is going to be throwing up multi-million dollar coasters at Cedar Point now that they have more parks to worry about. Ask Cedar Fair how things are going over at Geaunga Lake since they bought it from Six Flags. Is Cedar Point a great park? Yes it is, and we go every year, but I don't want to hear about Great America rides being down because 3 years ago when I went TTD was down. This year, MF was down, along with Mean Streak for a day. MaxAir didn't open when the park did. It opened around 2 hrs later. Gemini had several rows blocked off the trains. Entertainment. Don't make me laugh. The kids section has a great selection of rides, but where is this Cedar Point fun attitude? Nowhere to be seen. For pure family entertainment, I would take Great America over Cedar Point anyday. If I was 18 again, Cedar Point would overtake Great America.

Sorry about the rant.

[Ilovthevu']

I'm for flats as much as coasters. I do enjoy both. I do agree that there can be more kids rides, but there should also be more thrilling flats that the teenagers would go on instead of just the one NOW because the other two are broke. You don't always have to spend a whole lot of money to bring people into your park. The flats don't have to be supersized just so everyone can seem them from the road like the Sky Trek Tower, Condor, and the Giant Drop. Besides having a big skyline, it doesn't prove much.

Our park is full of family rides, thrills for the teens, and it does have nice kids areas compared to other parks. You might say that the Tornado was a waste of money, and it sorta is, but it really isn't. Every new addition adds to the whole park. If people enjoy that, and that, then they will more want to come back to the park next year. More people are doing something in the waterpark then they were a year ago.

Right now, our park just needs to be fixed. We don't need anything for next year!! Of course, corporate is probably trying to give us something, and not to a smaller park that probably gets less than a million people in a year (I don't know if there is a park like this that SF owns because they don't release them. It's a guess.).

The park was declining for sometime until we got Hurricane Harbor. The reasons I found out was the fact that the whole Orleans Place was deteriorating. Cajun Cliffhanger had an accident, and it was just left there along with Power Dive's supports. After people had seen Mardi Gras, they started to come back the next year. It just so happens that a waterpark was introduced that year. In other words, if a ride (more than one or two) is going to just be busted, and abused, spend money to put another one in right away. Don't just leave it. These are rides that have NO chance of opening ever again. Also, during the period was September 11, and people were afraid to go out, and spend money at an amusement park.

People think it's a rundown park then.

Back to what you said, I say that good coasters are important for every park. When you have enough good coasters, then instead of coasters, add thrilling flats for the teenage crowd. We are a lucky Six Flags park even though the park made Iron Wolf even worse.

I know that there are a lot of great flats out there that are better than King Chaos, and Revolution The Ride. Six Flags just hasn't found them yet. This doesn't mean that the park isn't going to add anymore coasters because it should. It just means that it might be 5 years until the park gets one. Coasters still bring people in.

I guess you can say that Six Flags puts too many rides in there parks. On low staffing days, they can't fulfill all the positions for rides, and rides close. So, if you can't fill all the rides, don't put all of them in, or give more money to staff. Why should Triple Play ever open again if there aren't enough workers to run it?

As for Cedar Point person, you can't tell me that rides don't close because of low staffing over there. It just has to happen. Cedar Point still did lose attendance this year. They released it even though it probably wasn't as bad as SFGAm, and the other parks. The marketing plan stunk this year for our park because some higher people found out that they were losing attendance due to higher prices. Next year, they should lower it. I'm not talking just keeping it the same price, but lower the price back to what it was especially the smaller parks.

[Sedir]

If Cedar Point was doing as good as some would leave us to believe they would not have been forced to reduce admission prices and some junk food in a attempt to prop up attendance, which hasnt worked.

I read somewhere that CF reduced admission this year because that one company went bankrupt and a ton of people lost their jobs (anybody remember its name?). CF wanted to make the admission more affordable for them because apparently alot of them visit CP.

[Bob O]

No part of the Cedar Fair which owns Cedar Point went bankrupt.
Cedar Point reduced the price of admission and cotton candy in a bid to increase attendance due to a attendance drop lpast year, but apparently it hasnt worked for them this year.

[rb1]

You people sounds like disgruntled customers. Sure Great America has problem but so as every other park in the country theyre probably facing the same problems as they do but they always try to solve it and make adjustments every time as much as possible and everytime a new season begins or hearing from customers complaints like you people have said. Why not call the park or the company and give them comments on improving the park maybe they will listen. If you dont like going to Great America then dont go making it less crowded on FF. SF is not forcing you to go if you dont want to but some people do enjoy their day at the park without complaining hopefully some of you people have too.

[viperchick85]

Well last time I checked, there was nothing wrong with constructive criticism, as it is crucial in every buisness to know what they can improve apon. That being said, just so you know, I made my concerns known and am hoping for a better trip next time.

[Bob O]

Ditto's to viperchicks comments!!