Hurricane Harbor is a waist of money

[whiteSoxfan82]

I understand the need for Six Flags to tap into the Chicago water park market. For years people from Chicago have been going to Wisconsin Dells Ceder Point, or some of the small water parks in the area for their water ride fix, however there are a lot of problems at Great America that should be fixed with the money that is going to be used to build Hurricane Harbor.

1. The 1970's called and they want their theme park back. -
I've been going to six flags great America for more than 12 years now and the park hasn't remodeled the restaurant, shop, or game buildings that where built 15, 20, or even 30 years ago. This makes the park look like it was left in the 70's. To add to this Six Flags built rides that have different themes then the area they are in. This kills the atmosphere. Examples: Deja'Vu in Hometown square, superman in Orleans Place, Batman and v2 in Yankee Harbor. I want to feel like I am in a county fair, or hometown square, not a place where they could squeeze the newest ride in.

My solution: Modernize
Stop rushing to squeeze in new rides and remodel the restaurants, shops, and game stands to give the park a more modern feel. (Like you are walking into a park that was just built.) It seems like sfga is trying to modernize a little this this season. Example: There is a snack shop across from the Iron Wolf that looks brand new, and the new structures in the Mardi Gras section of the park look great. If Modernization and planned growth where to be part of Six Flags business plan I believe it would give the park a much needed revitalized atmosphere and better theming leading to a higher attendance record.

2. Management Is terrible
Six flags must be a family owned operation and got passed down to the George W. in the family. (*note: I like the president he's just a good example.) This is what gets me instead of having a few of the customers sign up for the "pay-to-cut program" and receive a small revenue, why don't you install a ride reservation system like they have at Islands of Adventure that prints up tickets with a time to return to the ride so you can hop right on. The key is movement. If these where installed people would walk in stores, eat at restaurants, and play games while they waited, instead of standing in line where they can't spend any money and get tired of standing in line all day. The thing that gets to me the most is the people who "can't walk" but get a pass for them and their entire posy to ride the roller coaster without waiting in line. Six Flags must be asking for a lawsuit. Don't you think if you have sustained an injury that has prevented you from walking that a roller coaster is only going to make things worse. I hate that.

3. Stop ripping people off
Is $3.00 appropriate for a 20oz bottle of Coke. I could buy 6 liters at Walgreen's for the same price. The food is terrible but I think that goes with the territory, it seems like all theme parks have to serve terrible food.(*note: don't eat at the all you can put on your plate place in Yankee Harbor I saw bugs in the salads.) They need to put a reasonable price on the food and let people bring their own food into the park.

I love SFGA and go every chance I get but I think these changes are necessary for better attendance and for the parks bottom line. I'm afraid that if things don't change, some day Six Flags will go bankrupt and we won't have a sfga to goto.

[zjohn1988]

[DejaVuGurl1203]

Deja Vu is in County Fair, not Hometown Square.

[Virtua Tennis]

3. Stop ripping people off
Is $3.00 appropriate for a 20oz bottle of Coke. I could buy 6 liters at Walgreen's for the same price. The food is terrible but I think that goes with the territory, it seems like all theme parks have to serve terrible food.(*note: don't eat at the all you can put on your plate place in Yankee Harbor I saw bugs in the salads.) They need to put a reasonable price on the food and let people bring their own food into the park.

It's business, you make someone wait in line in the hot sun then put a vending machine there with expensive beverages, bad ethics, good business. Theres not much we can do about that at a corporate park.

[Galvan]

What exactly does your points have to do about SFGaM getting a Hurricane Harbor?


Second, i find your points worthless at best.

Great America has the best management of all the Six Flags parks, go on any site and youll see that.

My solution: Modernize
Stop rushing to squeeze in new rides and remodel the restaurants, shops, and game stands to give the park a more modern feel. (Like you are walking into a park that was just built.) It seems like sfga is trying to modernize a little this this season. Example: There is a snack shop across from the Iron Wolf that looks brand new, and the new structures in the Mardi Gras section of the park look great. If Modernization and planned growth where to be part of Six Flags business plan I believe it would give the park a much needed revitalized atmosphere and better theming leading to a higher attendance record.

Modernize what? maybe a new paint job here and there but the park opened in the 1970s what more do you expect?

As i have told people in the past, If you think your points are so important, then perhaps you should find yourself getting a degree in business management because apperently you have more business experence then the people heading the company.

[CoasterDave316]

About your Modernize idea, thinking the park is stuck in the 70's.

Here are some descriptions of some of the themed area's our park has:

HOMETOWN SQUARE takes Guests into rural 1920s America.

COUNTY FAIR recreates all the excitement and thrills of a real county fair as it was celebrated at the turn of the 20th century.

SOUTHWEST TERRITORY transports Guests back to a frontier Western town, complete with a Spanish-style mission and cobble-stone walkways.

YANKEE HARBOR brings Guests to an old New England fishing village.

Notice most of the themed area's bring you back in time, to the 20's and western era's? What would be the point of modernizing it other then to destroy the parks theme?

If you want moderization go to Paramount's Great America where they have destroyed the park's theme and atmosphere by "moderizing" the park.

The park's not stuck in the 70's it's stuck in the time it was themed after.

[Aero737]

There are some good points. I wouldnt mind seeing some remodled parts of the park, but there really only is so much that Six Flags can do.

I also am a big fan of preserving the theming in the park, but this is Six Flags. Then 'needed' to have a superman titled ride in the New Orleans section of the park.

I do disagree with the waterpark being a waste of money. We're the only major SF park without a waterpark and it will bring a lot of revenue and increased attendence.

Sorry, I will type more later, but I'm late for class. If your replying to this topic, please put valid points in your reply.

Oh, WhiteSoxfan82, cubs are better! (Not to argue the point in this topic)

[SFGAm Rules]

Six flags must be a family owned operation and got passed down to the George W. in the family. (*note: I like the president he's just a good example.)

Ha Ha, Good joke about W, untill you said you liked him.

Anyways, the park is supposed to take you back in time. That is why the theming is how it is. I do agree that S:UF, B:TR, and V2 are in the wrong areas, but there is no other space to fit them in. And for the $3 Cokes, don't buy them. As you said just go to another store and buy 6 liters.

There is no problem in our park. It's one of the best out there.

[Dmrbug]

and let people bring their own food into the park.

What are you talking about? You can bring food in the park. I see people bring coolers in all the time. I always bring my starbucks in with me and never has anyone said anything. Also you can always picnic in the car. I have even seen people BBQ on the grass spot between Superman and drop off spot.

[SFGAm Rules]

^ I always buy a few bags of the discount hamburgers at the McDonalds in the Gurnee Mills parking lot (Next to Taco Bell) on Friday nights. I then take some and have them for lunch the next day at SFGAm. I never have been questioned.

[Jamesb58]

I tell ya, I think that Hurricane Harbor is a great investment that the
park is making.

I'm not 100% sure, but It's not totally Tim Black's decision where the
money goes towards our park. The Six Flags Corporation Heads, decide
where they like to see the money go, and towards what.

All Tim Black can do is submit his ideas and tell them where he would
like to see it. The heads said that the $37 Million goes towards the
waterpark. If they thought that GAm needed more improvement and
modernization, they would have said that $37 Million goes towards the
development of a new waterpark and for futher improvements of their
curent Theme Park. So that's my thought there.

As for the comment of the Management. I do like our current managment.
I think our park has improved dramatically since Tim Black took over.
He has cleaned up our park, and it's starting to improve greatly.
So, saying that we have bad Managment doesn't sit right with me.

Well, that's enough from me!

[planea380]

Why the hell does everyone say our mangment sucks, they don't. I am having an OCD attack again**starts hyperventalting** No other park has mangement like we do.

[w00dland]

So after reading your giant post about how to make Six Flags better I think your main point was we need to fix the stuff we have before we move on to a waterpark. The way I said it makes it seem like your right when I couldn't disagree more.

How are you going to say that remodeling our buildings and lowering prices is going to up our attendance and revenue more than a waterpark!?! A waterpark is going to bring in more people that want a waterpark, and then when they see our theme park they decide to come back the next day (or later in the summer) to hit the theme park. That's 70 bucks in tickets alone for ONE person. Think about a family of four!?! With food, attendance, and other things thats almost doubling the revenue that SFGAm was making before.

If you were a 10 year old and your parents were planning a trip to SFGAm and you saw the world's biggest play structure in the world next to the park would you beg your parents to go to the park over and over again? I know I would.

I predict that SFGAm will move up to the third most visited Six Flags park passing SFOT next year (if they havn't already this year.) mainly because of the waterpark.

[coasterdude12]

Ya know, I know you're new, but really If you don't like spending money don;t go to our park!

P.S don't use our president as an example for a waterpark

[Kiwigoodkid]

This is the best manger in the whole chain and you are saying he sucks? It wasnt even Tim Black's decision to put the water park by great america. They are Two different parks. Also we want the park in its original form, if they were to modenize it, It would be Great america any more!

[Galvan]

Im actually surprised that this topic was brought back to life, but what do i know im not an MOD, Anyway. you still didnt answer the question of:

What does the modernization have to do with adding a water park, that really doesnt make much sense to me

[Binks Drake]

If you don't like the park don't go. I think it's the graetest park in the U.S.

[greatamerica2003]

Does anybody notice that the originator of this topic hasn't responded?

And modernize? I'll give you modernize. A $35 million waterpark next door.

Enough Said buddy.

[Sedir]

Just accept the waterpark geez! Stop thinking it's a negative thing.
I mean I'm really REALLY pysched for it and I don't know what anybody else thinks. But a lot of people are giving away a negative vibe.

[Danhockey04]

The waterpark is something that the park desperately needed, it is an amazing park. The theme park is already great, can't ruin the theme and not much to modernize. A waterpark will help both attendence and revenue.

[sixflagsguy5]

The waterpark looks like it will be fun and bring more family's which meens more money. But if the waterpark brings in money does the income go to great america or only hurricane harbour?

[LaTiNoObSeSeDSFGAm]

SFGAm is fine how it is. Noone is puttin a gun to your head and say "go to the damn park!" Building the water park is one of the best ideas they made. Why more peoole would come to SFGAm. SFGAm is one of the best parks espically for keeping its style it had in the 70's maybe if you would know the history of the park none of this would happen.

[da rcman2001]

If you don't like the park don't go. I think it's the graetest park in the U.S.

Its cool that you like the park, but i think its absolutly crazy to say its the best thing in the U.S. And I really hate it when people say stuff like "if you dont like it dont go". People say it about mardi gras, gam, fright fest, and a ton of other stuff. This is a DISCUSSION BOARD. Whitesoxfan is just speaking his mind and bringing up what he thinks the park needs to do to improve itself and wants to hear everyones response and opinion. I dont agree that the water park is a waist of money. Its a BRAND NEW PARK with new theming, new paint jobs, new paving, new rides, niver eating areas, food stands, everything. And it will draw in way more people. Besides that i do agree with his points about the park lookin junky an needing to be rehabed. Hometown square is really nice but I think they need to replace the enterence gates because there ugly as sin and redo yankee harbor. In yankee harbor they should reapint the building in front of ice mountain that sells drinks and cotton candy on one side and has a picture place on the other, but they should tear down the virtual reality pllace by the bathrooms as well as angelos pizza and pasta and start from scratch on the architecture. They need to make them 2 storys high or just have windows coming out of the roof to give the illusion that they are taller, and at angelos, they need to make the inside way better themed and make the seating area outside nicer.

[Ron/Wolf]

What park are you going to? Many Restuants have been remodeled, Aunt Martha's FireHouse, ah the list goes on. If you can't see all the money poured into the park in recent years your not going. We have the BEST MANAGEMENT in all Six Flags. So I agree Go somewhere else period.

[linebacker131]

If you hate all those things then you must not like the park so go somewhere else.2 everyway a bisness can make money they will fastpass they make money off of it and no one is forcing anyone to buy it they want to. I know that if i was in a cast with a broken leg and cant go to the park for a month or 2 i would be pissed so i would get a pass im pretty sure you would to. The old building is what makes the park so great thats why we are better then pga because they got rid of all there old stuff.