My wife and I have been season pass holders since 2007, and spend time at the park almost every weekend. Love the atmosphere, the rides, and just getting out in the sun and walking around before the nearly endless northern Illinois winter comes around again.
This year the crowds have seemed noticeably lighter than in previous years. That's good in some ways -- we can get on more of the big rides in a short amount of time, for example. But it's a worrisome sign for the local economy and Great America in particular.
Or are we mistaken? What have been your observations?
It could be the BOGO during the weekdays that's driving crowds down on the weekend, of course, but we haven't been there during the week yet this year.
NO Ive noticed it too. Ive been to the park 4 times already. I just got home today actually from the park and the corwds were medium not too crowded but not slow either. I went on a monday last time and the park was real slow. I got 2 rides on most rides and coasters. I didnt ride superman or wolf or batman but other than that I went on just about everything even jesters wild ride! IDK why the crowds are lighter this year. Recession? Gas? NO new rides? It always interests me.
I seriously, in fact I will say it frankly. No its not the fact that there are not any new rides, except if you forget about the multi-million dollar waterpark expansion that the park just got this season.
The real reason is the economy. That is having a serious effect on what people use discretionary money on.
viperchick85 wrote:They sure didn't seem light when I went on Thursday. The park was packed.
Agreed. When V2 Superman and Batman have full queues (not counting the switchbacks to the side) and RB is filling the 2nd Switchbacks before noon you know its crowded. Otherwise though it has been a light season
The last time I went it was packed. Demon had a straight line almost all the way to the entrance. I assume they had to open up the switchbacks after I left there.
The other time more recently I went, the park was packed because it was too cold for the waterpark, and everyone was in the regular park. For a day like today, it's probably a great day to go if you want to stay in the regular park all day!! The reason is because with such high temperatures, a lot people are going to the waterpark. Tomorrow's even better with temperature of 89 degrees.
Gas and other reasons why I sometimes don't go to the park. I think holy cow $12 to the park, is it worth $12 especially with sometimes not getting there at opening time? The $12 though deals somewhat with bad gas mileage car. If I could get 30 mpg, that's only $8 now.
Also, what I can say about this year is that the weather for the waterpark, there were a lot of times when it was too cold for the waterpark, and that's what they are advertising constantly because it's the new thing, but people don't want to go to the waterpark if it's too cold out. If Great America was in Chicago, a lot of the times in which it was too cold at Gurnee, the waterpark would have had more people in it.
I don't think that the new additions are that wonderful. When I went to the waterpark, the old side was more packed than the new side. There was hardly any lines for those new body slides. It seemed to me that people liked the pool better than the other stuff for the new side.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
viperchick85 wrote:They sure didn't seem light when I went on Thursday. The park was packed.
Maybe it is the buy one get one offer, then. Which still points to a down economy (they wouldn't be offering that if they didn't think they had to). I'm just surprised that it's less crowded this year than last, since last year's economy was pretty lousy as well. Maybe as the recession drags on, people are getting better at telling themselves "no."
Either way, it's depressing. I remember last year there were a few weekends when the place was absolutely jam packed. Yeah, it was hot and miserable in those crowds, but also exciting at the same time. It's great to be around people who are having fun. Quite the antidote to being at work!
Yes, I think there are lighter crowds this year. Went on a Thursday, and the backlot barely has cars on it in JULY! I think it's the reasons I said already. They are better off putting less emphasis on the new waterpark additions, and putting a little more emphasis on the regular park due to weather, and to me again the new addition is nothing spectacular. More people in the new pool than lines for the other stuff.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Even though Im not a fan of public pools I think the addition is great. Yeah the regular park didnt get anything major but considering how much money is scarce these days, why not bring the tropics and surfing to the midwest? Looking at the big picture I am pleased with the addition of the park. Plus...maybe less people in the regular park.
I went the 8th of july and it was crowded. The thing of it was that a lot of people were bringing their pool stuff and me and my group went on sky trek tower and the re was no one at the pool but everyone was riding coasters and flat rides i waited 30 min for the DEMON AND 45 for Viper. The shows were not really filled up at least Screams and dreams wasn't but pop fusion was (which sadly was not very good they really need to get people who can actually sing and they need to turn down the background tracking) But Superman Raging Bull and Batman were all filled up I didn't get it at all it was the last day of BOGO so that might have had something to do with it. Does anyone know how bad crowds are on Sundays? I am thinking that because of my groups schedule that the next time we will be able to go is on a Sunday and I am trying to plan ahead of time what I will hit and what I can afford to miss.
IDK why the crowds are lighter this year. Recession? Gas? NO new rides? It always interests me.
