Minor Updates, Rumors, and Happenings

[CoasterRiderSC]

UPDATE: I just called Great America and the customer service rep said if the Bring a Friend for 29.99 doesn't show up in the portal for me, I can buy the ticket at Guest Relations (booth on the right as you're facing the park) . I just need to show my pass and an ID.

[ilrider]

Shooting at the park tonight, sounds like multiple possible victims. At least 5 ambulances requested. Unreal.

[coasterfanatic]

3 were injured. All non life threatening and only 2 went to hospital. It happened in the parking lot and Lake County Sheriff said it was not an active shooter incident.

Final details aren’t yet know but sounds like the shooter wasn’t even at the park, just drove into parking lot. Shot at 3 people and left.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wablada]

Things I have noticed on my last visit, that I am pretty sure I didn't see before.
1. There is now a Batman light on the Dark Knight Coaster building at night.
2. Demon has multiple "eyes" and 1 big demon eyes inside the tunnel that lights up now, there is also smoke inside the tunnel.
3. Giant Drop queue has sound effects as well as on top of the tower. Mining sounds, birds flying over and etc.
4. Batman queue also got fixed up a bit I think, the drain pathway has new metal platform, and I think the police car got effects fixed.
5. The dark knight coaster seems like it had more things turned on.

Still need to be fixed:
1. Battle for Metropolis, bring back glasses, and the main huge screen if off/broken.
2. Turn back on X flight effects. Water mist, and jumping waters along the pond.
3. I would also bring bac the preshow for Dark Knight, it was managing the wait times better, and it was nice to see a pre show in my opnion.

[momlovescoasters]

Did anyone go to Fright Fest last weekend? If so how was your visit?

[Fil37zRt]

I was able to go for opening day Saturday and it turned out to be an excellent day! Because it's Fright Fest I expected the park to be packed but the back parking was barely used. Got to the park at opening and got on all coasters by 5:30pm. No wait was longer than 30 mins except for Maxx Force which was about1.5 hours around 12:30pm. Made it to 4 of 6 of the mazes all of which provided some decent scares, people just need to move a little quicker as my groups would always end up bumping into others in front.

[Coaster Justin]

Things I have noticed on my last visit, that I am pretty sure I didn't see before.
1. There is now a Batman light on the Dark Knight Coaster building at night.
2. Demon has multiple "eyes" and 1 big demon eyes inside the tunnel that lights up now, there is also smoke inside the tunnel.
3. Giant Drop queue has sound effects as well as on top of the tower. Mining sounds, birds flying over and etc.
4. Batman queue also got fixed up a bit I think, the drain pathway has new metal platform, and I think the police car got effects fixed.
5. The dark knight coaster seems like it had more things turned on.

Still need to be fixed:
1. Battle for Metropolis, bring back glasses, and the main huge screen if off/broken.
2. Turn back on X flight effects. Water mist, and jumping waters along the pond.
3. I would also bring bac the preshow for Dark Knight, it was managing the wait times better, and it was nice to see a pre show in my opnion.

I'd rather they just upgrade Justice League to 4K

[DejaVu2001]

Six Flags Great America (along with all other SF Parks) has implemented a new bag policy

For the duration of Fright Fest, Six Flags has implemented enhanced public safety measures, including x-ray screening of all bags and limiting bag size. Bags, including backpacks and purses, must be no larger than 12″x 12″ x 6″ to enter the park. Exceptions will be made for bags carried for medical reasons and diaper bags that accompany infants and young children.

https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/p ... k-policies

[CoasterRiderSC]

Six Flags Great America (along with all other SF Parks) has implemented a new bag policy

For the duration of Fright Fest, Six Flags has implemented enhanced public safety measures, including x-ray screening of all bags and limiting bag size. Bags, including backpacks and purses, must be no larger than 12″x 12″ x 6″ to enter the park. Exceptions will be made for bags carried for medical reasons and diaper bags that accompany infants and young children.

https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/p ... k-policies

DejaVu - Thanks for that information!

[batmanfan80]

Now that I finally got back to our state, I want to get a pass and head over there.

So, doesn't sound like the hordes have shown up yet. The new CEO is definitely a lot more sensible. He's implemented pricing ideas I have been wanting for the last decade. I'm a little hesitant to buy for FF, but the posts here about it are a bit encouraging. Haven't been able to go since 2013 due to the hordes that showed up
after Goliath and increased use of smart phones in 2014.

[sfgamnthemoon]

Now that I finally got back to our state, I want to get a pass and head over there.

So, doesn't sound like the hordes have shown up yet. The new CEO is definitely a lot more sensible. He's implemented pricing ideas I have been wanting for the last decade. I'm a little hesitant to buy for FF, but the posts here about it are a bit encouraging. Haven't been able to go since 2013 due to the hordes that showed up
after Goliath and increased use of smart phones in 2014.

Just so you know, the parks keeps switching its pass system rapidly:

• March-August: Annual Pass
• August-September: Annual Membership/Seasonal Pass
• September-present: Season Pass Membership?

[CoasterRiderSC]

^^ And with the passes you can make monthly passes OR pay it all up front. I do believe the passes aren't infinite but do have a definite end date and don't auto-renew

[CoasterRiderSC]

I purchased 3 of the Platinum passes for $295 total. I did NOT get any of them the food pass. It wasn't really that bad bringing my own food this year and it saved me the aggravation of waiting in those long food lines!

Plus it's $110 for lunch and $150 for 2 meals. I didn't want to spend that for the mediocre food.

[batmanfan80]

Right now it looks like the same Gold Pass at the same price I got it before. It says unlimited visits from now until September 4, 2023, so no Fright Fest for next year. Suppose I could always upgrade. I'm sure these gas prices are going to go a decent amount higher than we have now. The benefits offered last year seemed better with the higher prices. The new CEO had the right idea about not letting the parks become babysitters for Walmart teenagers, but maybe demand has dropped enough on its own that they didn't need to raise the prices in an attempt to attract the Target crowd as he wished. With any luck maybe I'll get to go a few times this year and it won't be terrible.

[Muck Finnesota]

Anyone know if we have a full coaster lineup for the upcoming November weekends, or are there limited operations?

[Tardis1972]

^ According to the App the following rides are closed for the season.
Condor
Demon
Giant Drop
Hometown Fun Machine
Little Dipper
Mardi Gras Hangover
Maxx Force
Rue Le Dodge

[Coaster Justin]

A Frog could sneeze 5 states away and Maxx Force would break down

[batmanfan80]

Everything was a walk up last week. Eagle was closed too.

X-Flight and especially Goliath really took a lot out of me. Whoever said X-Flight is not intense is way off. In the cooler weather it gets moreso. But it's also been maybe 3 and a half years since I've been on these. After those two, Batman and Goliath felt almost forceless. I don't think I'm driving to Gurnee by myself today with so much stuff closed and how badly I remember handling the last cold Fright Fest I went to in probably 2013. I could get there and find out Viper is cold. The cooler temps gave me some slight nausea and vertigo when I've had hundreds of rides on some of these over the last ten years.

[Tardis1972]

Well I had a great final day for sure today. No waits at all so that meant front rode riders for every coaster minus Bull of course. Just a shame that Demon, Maxx Force and Viper weren’t open and we had to deal with one train operation for every coaster but Eagle. At the very least Bull should of been running two trains but oh well. In the end with the wait times so short it didn’t really matter I guess. It was nice to ride Revolution for the first time in like 3 years.
Looking forward for next season already.
Does anyone know if the park is planning to do the drive thur event still even though there’s no HITP?

[CoasterRiderSC]

^ I'm kind of shocked that Revolution was running on the very last day! Why even bother at that point since it's been down all year? Unless they were "showcasing" it in order to sell it to another park?? (one can only hope)

[CoasterDave316]

Revolution was open for the last few weekends, I saw it open when I was there on October 21st.

[sfgamnthemoon]

SFGAm is presenting at No Coaster Con '23 today at 2:10pm.

[CoasterRiderSC]

SFGAm is presenting at No Coaster Con '23 today at 2:10pm.

What did our park say at No Coaster Con?? Did Six Flags in general say anything about the future?

[sfgamnthemoon]

SFGAm is presenting at No Coaster Con '23 today at 2:10pm.

What did our park say at No Coaster Con?? Did Six Flags in general say anything about the future?

To recap 2022, the park recapped:
[*] DC Universe opening
[*] New Six Flags hill sign
[*] Carousel pond upgrade
[*] New slogan for cleanliness: "Work as a Team to Keep Great America Clean"
[*] 20 new umbrellas
[*] 68 new benches
[*] 1,200 new deck chairs
[*] Camp Cartoon shaded seating area (replacing the two rides at Bedrock)

This year, we are receiving:
[*] A Coca-Cola VIP lounge at Firehouse (Hometown Square, near GMH)
[*] Over 90 new benches
[*] New shade area in Southwest Territory.

Events:
[*] New events, including Mardi Gras Parade in June and ¡Viva la Fiesta! in August.
[*] Veterans Day Weekend will not be returning. Conversely, Taste of Six Flags: Party After Dark, Kids Boo Fest & Oktoberfest will return.
[*] Some events announced in September 2022 were removed a few weeks prior to NCC, including Six Flags Pride Month (assuming that Out in the Park is returning), National Roller Coaster Day and National Funnel Cake Day.
[*] To my understanding, Summer Vibes was not mentioned, though it is still listed on website.
[*] Apparently, Holiday in the Park was given the axe due to low attendance and cold weather.

Ride operations:
[*] Park was unsure about Sky Trek Tower's operation or American Eagle running both sides.
[*] Both Aquaman (Yankee) and Logger's will run together this year.

Renovations:
[*] Big Lou's will re-operate
[*] A new bar will open in Orleans Place
[*] Food Truck returns
[*] Mooseburger received a remodel, including a smoker.
[*] Dole soft serve is returning with new flavors monthly

...and that's all. Our sister park SFOG is receiving their single rail kiddie coaster (similar to the one at Fiesta Texas). Oh yeah, Park President John Krajnak is now park president of SFSTL. I was not at NCC, I am basing this off what I saw on Twitter and Facebook.

[RobSFGAm]

The 2023 calendar is starting to get populated on their site through June:
https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/plan-your-visit/park-hours


Opening day is April 22, 2023
10:30 am to 8 PM