Not sure if there was a glitch in their system or not.....
I processed and got my pass and card (with all my add-ons) last year at FF (last day) once it was confirmed they were moving to this biometric system. I figured "new system" just spells trouble for opening day to get the kinks worked out so I didn't want to spend a whole bunch of time waiting....to which at first I'm glad I made the good choice.
Anyways, when I got up to the scanner....the scan failed. The guy tried it twice and then just said "Well, what's your name and how do you spell it"? I told him I'd pull out my ID and show him but he just joked and said "stupid system....just go through and have a good day."
Most people were being scanned for the first time today but I'm wondering if anyone else who had already processed last year had any issue with this?
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Opening Day
For those asking pass processing was a real pain yesterday. I got to the park at noon expecting the initial surge to be gone. They were just starting to use the overflow lot at that point.
It took about 40 minutes to get through the metal detectors and up to the turnstile. Scanned voucher, finger, and new card and then headed for hometown square to pass activation. That was another 45 minute wait. They couldn't get parking to add to my card. (I bought gold membership online) which took about 15 extra minutes to straighten out. They really need to run a couple entrance lanes to the park for those already processed or with prepaid tickets. They're stuck in the same long line. We'll see what today is like.
If I hadn't sprained my ankle, I'd be the one on that train yelling "ROLLBACK, ROLLBACK!!!!" 
The biometric system was a bit of a pain and took longer than the old photo ID method if you include the added time everyone has to wait at the main gates because of the finger scanners and getting their cards and if you're a gold pass holder, you still have to go to HTS to add on your parking. Plus, they had numerous bugs with the system for people at the activation center, including the lady's scanner who was trying to add on my parking. I'm just glad to get the activation out of the way so I can enjoy the rest of the season! I have a feeling the entrance will be backed up more than usual all year long between the separate detector gates they added last season and the new biometric system.
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com
Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
Fyi -
Just so you know that if you are getting parking on you pass, you need to have the parking vouchers with you when you go to the honetown square processing for each memeber with parking. I assumed the parking voucher was to get in the first day and did not being it for processing since i had 4 Gold passes. At first they said that i needed to go back and wait in line an hour again, bu then i told them to look it up ( that my passes were gold) and they were able to add it. It took just under 1 hour for the Hometown Square processing. It does not say if the pass has parking or not on the pass, it is just on the account when it is scanned. I left the park and returned later and had them scan my pass and he said i did not have parking on any of my passes. So I had to go back to Hometown ( they said it on there when they looked up my account). So I will see next time what happens when i try to get in.
Luckily I had a gold membership from last year... Six flags kept their promise and I was able to walk through with my last year pass no issues and no need to get a new one. I will probably switch to the new one as I hate that my picture is on it... However that might be a saving grace at some point as I hardly bring anything into the park except my pass
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My photos from opening day.
https://m.flickr.com/photos/25178847@N0 ... 490839632/
Awesome Photos! Did anyone get a photo of the new Demon restraints? Favorite Coasters I've Ridden:
Steel: 1. Maverick 2. Steel Vengeance 3. X2 4. Storm Chaser 5. Twisted Colossus Wood: 1. The Voyage 2. Renegade 3. Mystic Timbers 4. The Legend 5. The Beast Great America: 1. Maxx Force 2. Goliath 3. Raging Bull 4. Batman: The Ride 5. X-Flight Coaster Count: 118 Go Hawks!
Idk about the restraints, but the survey markings from the 1st trip report around Demon, are not there!  I guess Six Flags wanted no witnesses...  Join the SFGAm Fan Discord! https://discord.gg/bNrTj9P The Voyage | Goliath SFGAm | Skyrush | Maverick | Viper SFGAm | Outlaw Run | Thunderhead | TTD | Lightning Run | Thunderbird
I DID take some vids of Opening Day, but mostly it was off-ride footage of Raging Bull. I'll upload them later.
Join the SFGAm Fan Discord! https://discord.gg/bNrTj9P The Voyage | Goliath SFGAm | Skyrush | Maverick | Viper SFGAm | Outlaw Run | Thunderhead | TTD | Lightning Run | Thunderbird
IF that gazebo in County Fair is the old one from Home Town Square... and if they do not plan on restoring Home Town Square to how it used to be..... I'm almost willing to bet that's where a Sky Screamer will be installed, either in 2015 or 2016. That's the money shot since it's directly behind the carousel, I can only imagine the photo opurtunities they would have with that.
Ok new restraints on DEMON make me nervous did they keep them like the originals or did they add a seat belt? please let me know and take a pic if at all possible. Thanks. And I don't think that was the gazebo from HTS it looks like it might have been from an amazing Alfredo booth as last year the one in HTS was vacant and actually I dont remember seeing the one in Mardi Gras operating either.
Pass Processing was an absolute nightmare yesterday. One register for anyone who wanted to add parking, dining or wanted to upgrade their passes. Since that line obviously got enormous very quickly, it meant that the 12 computers they had purely for pass activation were seldomly full, creating a longer than needed line.
It was just really poorly organized.
I thought the entire point of the biometrics was that you would only need to go to the activation center if you were adding Gold, Parking, or Dining
I hate to ask the same questions over and over, but just to be sure:
In 2013, I fully processed my 2014 pass with Gold. So I have a card with my face on it, and parking is already applied. Based on this, what is the exact process I must go through during my first 2014 visit?
^ You will be asked to scan your right index finger at the gate. Then you are done.
This is a bit off subject, but Sky Trek Tower has been operating all day. I rode it once at noon and it had no audio track. I got back in line at 2pm, the operator said it indeed has an audio track. The audio track was playing the second time, however there was only problem with the track: it was from 2013...
Go onto YouTube and search Six Flags Great America Opening Day 2013. On CoasterNick's it says that 2013 was the years 38th year of operation, but this year is it's 38th year. To save money, they just reused the audio track. Though I may be wrong... Does anybody have pics of Demons restraints? I'd like to see them. I think you can see them on Demon's subpage on six flags' site on the headline picture, but I'm pretty sure that was from last year even though they look new. This just in... 2015 is going to bring us...
A. The Great American SkyScreamer B. Increased Admission Prices C. Increased Parking Prices D. More Gaping Holes ***Trip Reports May Vary***
Yes, can someone please post a pic of the restraints! (On Demon)
Favorite Coasters I've Ridden:
Steel: 1. Maverick 2. Steel Vengeance 3. X2 4. Storm Chaser 5. Twisted Colossus Wood: 1. The Voyage 2. Renegade 3. Mystic Timbers 4. The Legend 5. The Beast Great America: 1. Maxx Force 2. Goliath 3. Raging Bull 4. Batman: The Ride 5. X-Flight Coaster Count: 118 Go Hawks!
When the said 38th year last year, they meant operating season. So for example, this is the 38th year, 39th operating season. As for the track itself: -still mentions igNight as new -Hurricane Harbor free taken out -mentions Screams and Dreams 3 as new, not the whole series being ran in Pictorium -still says Dancin in the Streets and Reflections are both playing in GMH There were a few more, but those were the most noticeable ones
Ok, here are the new restraints for those of you asking. Its not great but here...
As for the season pass issue, my one I had processed during Fright Fest last year was a horizontal photo ID card that said "Gold Gold Membership" on it. But When I went to scan my finger as I did last year, It said "Please see attendant" My card wouldnt work  I had to go to the processing center at 1030am to get a vertical non-photo ID card that apparently is now my new gold card. I dont understand what was wrong with my card that clearly worked for closing weekend 2013 but It was a major issue with everyone around me at opening. They were handin out these basic cards at the gate & tellin people to ensure they get them fully processed in Hometown Square. I mean its just a card, but I hate my new one, I want my old one back lol.
Wow! Those restraints look almost the same as I remember last year, but nicer...  This just in... 2015 is going to bring us...
A. The Great American SkyScreamer B. Increased Admission Prices C. Increased Parking Prices D. More Gaping Holes ***Trip Reports May Vary***
Haha I was thinking the same thing. I'll have too ride Demon next weekend and see if it helps with the head banging. It looks as if there is some sort of different texture/padding on the restraint inside but we will have to wait and see. They also look like they are maybe lower down on the seat? I'm not really sure. Favorite Coasters I've Ridden:
Steel: 1. Maverick 2. Steel Vengeance 3. X2 4. Storm Chaser 5. Twisted Colossus Wood: 1. The Voyage 2. Renegade 3. Mystic Timbers 4. The Legend 5. The Beast Great America: 1. Maxx Force 2. Goliath 3. Raging Bull 4. Batman: The Ride 5. X-Flight Coaster Count: 118 Go Hawks!
Ok, I was wondering either I grew or they were a tad lower than I remember haha. But to be honest, the handles were a really weird texture like non-"glazed" porcelain or something. I cant explain it but I didnt like holding them, it felt weird. haha
Those are the same restraints as always, they were just refinished and they left the padding off the lightning loops.
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder
Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
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