SFGAM FrightFest: Halloween 2004 (VERY LONG)

[sixflagsdude]

I apologize in advance since this will be a REALLY LONG post. But since it was the last open day of the season I wanted to go full-on with this report:

Six Flags Great America: Frightfest. Sunday, October 31st 2004

I woke up at about 8am since I set my alarm clock. I wanted to try to get to the park before they dropped the chains. That didn't happen since I was lazy and putzed around before I actually left. I figured it was going to be cold so I put on a zippered pair of jeans to secure everything(I lost my keys on Superman once this season and Six Flags was kind enough to mail them back to me with a very nice letter) and a hooded sweatshirt. I also wore tennis shoes. I looked like a total dork.

I left about 10:00am and was immediately upset by all the construction going on so far on the Marquette Interchange. All the exits I normally take are blocked off so I had to go out of my way just to get back to the freeway where I normally get on. I had my sunglasses on since it was really sunny. Everytime I put them on it got cloudy and then when I took them off it got sunny again. So I finally took them off and threw them in the backseat. The traffic wasn't backed up but it was still way too busy and there were too many cop cars out.

I finally got to the park at around 10:30am. Luckilly the parking lot was pretty empty so I was happy about that. I parked in Lot 25 and slammed down a Mountain Dew Livewire. Got into the entrance pretty quickly and began my day.

The first thing I headed to was the Space Shuttle Motion Theater hoping that they were playing Elvira: Superstition like they normally do for Fright Fest. Unfortunately, they were still playing the Stargate one. In some ways I was ok with that since I would've otherwise spent the whole day there watching the Elvira one since I am addicted to it. I noticed that the female villan in Stargate(Sultra?) has the cheesyest lines in there and is so hokey. I got on right away and sat in the first row.

Next, I went on the Hometown Fun Machine since I saw that there was no line for it. This is one of those Scrambler rides that you see at carnivals. I really liked it this time since it felt like they were running it much faster than normal.

After that, I went on The Tripple Play. I am pretty sure that this was my first time going on this one this season. This ride was down most of the year since they were repainting it. Now it is Green, Yellow and Red instead of Orange. I went on one of the green ones. It was fun and there was no line.

Then, I went on The Whizzer. Once again, NO LINE! I sat in the back seat. There were leaves all over the place since this ride is surrounded by trees.

Next, I went on The Orbit. I really felt the centrfugal(sp?) forces on that one today! No line again.

Then I headed to The Demon and OH GAWD, there was a huge wind-sock figure of that stupid old dude from the Six Flags commercials. *stabs it with a big metal stake and deflates it* I went on the Demon, no line, and sat in the back seat, yellow train.

I then decided to head to Southwest Territory since I didn't even go to that section of the park on my last trip.

The first ride I headed to there was The Viper. There was no line but the station was pretty full. I sat in the back seat. When I was going up the lifthill, I got a money shot of the construction for Hurricane Harbor. It looks pretty big! I could already tell where the wave pool is going since it was dug out in the northwest corner.

Then I went on The Terror Twister(Chubasco). I love how they theme this ride for FF. They block out all the windows and add smoke and club lighting. They also played awesome techno/dance music which reminds me of the stuff I listen to on Energy 98 AZ. I had that cup spinning so fast that I had to sit for a minute since I was so dizzy. Very short line!

Next, it was off to Raging Bull. First line of the day but it was only about 5 mins. I sat in the Red Train in the back seat. They were running ALL 3 TRAINS TODAY!! Very proud of Six Flags for doing that on a "not so busy" day since it made the line more tollerable.

After that, I went on The Hellevator(Giant Drop) next, Twice, since there was no line! The DJ station and sound effects (flatline heart-rate monitor, airplane, crashing noises, etc.) were awesome but they didn't have the smoke effects this year. I was still really cool though.

Then I went on River Rocker and Richochet. Both were great as always and I only had to wait one ride cycle for each.

Then.. Dudes, I was starved so I went to Burger King for lunch since I didn't wanna eat the park food. When I got my hand stamped the hand-stamping guy stamped part of my sweatshirt sleeve....NOOOOOO!!! I saw that the parking lot was now PACKED!! Ugh! But I left anyway and gave up my good spot. When I came back, I parked in Lot 14, which was ok since it was really close to the entrance.

The first thing I wanted to do, was go on Deja Vu(weee, that rhymed) but saw the line and went "No way!" So instead I went back to the building where you buy Fast Passes from since they had a sign to take a "Sneak Peek at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor". The only things in there were pictures of water rides from OTHER Six Flags parks. There was a crowd in there because you could renew your Season Pass for the 2005 season. I didn't want to since I HATE HATE HATE my picture on my season pass from this year. When I exited I saw an Elvis show going on at the Hometown Train Station. I can't stand Elvis so I Left The Building, um Area..really quickly.

Then it was off to the County Fair area....

The first thing I went on there was The American Eagle. The line wasn't too bad so I went on both the Forward Red and the Backward Blue side. The trim brakes were turned off in the mid-course helix on both sides, grrrr. The screeching wasn't as bad on the track in the final helix on the Red side. I am actually glad that they removed the On Ride Photo both near the exit since it clogs up the exit on this one.

Next, I went on The Revolution on a "still-full" stomach and didn't get sick. Go me!

Then, I went on The Iron Wolf. This is the stand up coaster that I used to hate but now have mastered the headbanging on this one. The line was sort of long but it wasn't the usual hour and a half wait that it gets mid-summer.

After that, I went on Fiddler's Fling. What is up with the lap bar release problems?? It's been like this for years now. Fun, but painful ride.

Next, I decided to check out Necropolis. I wanted to go to it while it was still light outside since I don't like the monsters popping up at me in the dark. This really tall vampire still jumped out and scarred me when I wasn't watching at the end. The stage where they have the high divers had some manequin that got squished by a lighting display. Cool. I also ran by the port-o-potty when it started shaking because I remembered from previous seasons how it opens up and water shoots out.

I exited into Yankee Harbor and went on some rides there.....

The first one I went on was Vertical Velocity. LONG LINE!! I sat in row 2. The cute bunny I saw on the lawn in the line queue last year grew up and wasn't there this year.

Then I went on my personal favorite coaster: Batman: The Ride. I sat in the back row. They played that cool trance song in the station again. I still have no clue what the name of it is.

After that, I went on The Whirligig. Yay, swings.

Then I headed to Rajin Cajun. The line wasn't that bad this time. Only about 30 mins.

Next, I went on Monster Mash(East River Crawler). They really had it pimped out this year. There was a disco globe and music playing from the Monster Mash soundtrack. When I went on they played the song "Purple People Eater".

Then I went on Big Easy Balloons. While I was waiting in line, some dude ruined the song Burn by Usher in the Karaoke station next to the ride.

And then, I went on King Chaos. I almost got sick on this the first time I went on it (because I was hungover and it was on a full stomach). I went on it 3 TIMES IN A ROW! Um, actually it was 3 1/2 times because the 3rd time the ride malfunctioned on the 5-spin part and the arm came falling down. Then we had to do the whole ride all over again. By the way, the floodlights that are in front of the seats are WAY TOO BLINDING. I realize they are there so that observers can see you, but dang!

I then headed to The Orleans Area and went on Superman: Ultimate Flight. I am so glad that Six Flags didn't rename it Ultimate Fright for FF because then I would've had to leave the park over the generic name change. I was so glad that they were selling hot cocoa in the queue since I was freeezing!! By the way, a huge thank you to those that didn't push past us who were buying hot cocoa in line. Note: You will not get to the ride any quicker if you have to wait 3 extra mins for someone to buy a beverage in line!! Sheesh. I sat in the back seat and it was sooo cold while I was on it!

I walked over to The Condor, and it was closed! BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Next, I doubled back to County Fair to go on the Train Ride since it is awesome for Frightfest! They Scooby-Doo theme it! I got to the train and they said it would be another 20 mins before the train returned. So I went on the American Eagle again. The Eagle is cool at night!!! Then I came back to the train ride again. It was so much fun like it was last year. The one part that got me was when the spiders under the Demon shot at you. I got hit by water and got WET!!

Then I went on Dare Devil Dive. Wow, that was an experience! I have never been on this before but decided to give it a try. I saw other people going by themselves so I went by myself. You get strapped up in all this gear and then go up to the platform. They give you instructions and you get ready. I got really nervous when they say you have to pull the ripcord yourself after a 3..2..1 command! The strange part was where you put your feet in the bar and then you get tipped forward! I yelled out since I though I was going to fall face first, then I just hovered above the cabin. I kept asking the ride ops and people in line if they rode this before and what they thought, they just giggled and said it was fun. There were these 2 girls that just got off the ride who were crackin up at my fear and said they were gonna watch me and said how fun of a ride it was. I asked one of them if she would catch me if the cord broke and I fell. She cracked up and said she would try. So I got hoisted up and it was pretty jerky at first and it was dark outside. I went up WAY TOO HIGH(125 feet) and thought...OMG as I reached the top. I have bunjee jumped (platform and reverse) but this was new so I didn't know what to expect. I wanted to have at least one person with me on this!! I got to the top and heard the command. I pulled the ripcord and man.....I TOTALLY SCREAMED. Like a little girl. I heard people below totally crackin up. I swung back and forth for awhile and then I was told to grab this yellow ring that was supposed to pull me to a stop. Well it almost pulled my arms out since I was still going pretty fast. Yayyy, I finally went on the Dare Devil Dive! I can't wait to do it again next year!!

I had about 30 mins left till the park closed. So I decided to check out a few more rides before I left.

I went on The Hellevator once more. The line was SHORT! w00t! Then I went on the Demon again, front seat!

I ended the night on Deja Vu. I sat in the back seat This was fun but the batwing has too much headbanging for a newer ride that barely runs.

This was a pretty good season. Nothing like last year when I went every weekend except for 2 but I had a great time. I got a chance to go with a bunch of friends instead of going by myself every weekend.

*cheers to Six Flags Great America 2004*

[Binks Drake]

Great Trip report you sounded like you had fun! I can't wait until nect season!

[w00dland]

Whoa, did you just say that it only took you a half hour to get to the park from MILWAUKEE!?!? With the bad traffic situation on the Marquette interchange? Were you going 95 MPH or were you in a helicopter!??

[sixflagsdude]

HAHA, exactly! It should take me at LEAST 45 mins to get there but for some reason I get there in wayy less time! I need to watch it though because the cops have been all over the place lately!

[SFGA 11]

So instead I went back to the building where you buy Fast Passes from since they had a sign to take a "Sneak Peek at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor". The only things in there were pictures of water rides from OTHER Six Flags parks. There was a crowd in there because you could renew your Season Pass for the 2005 season.

I thought that the center was nice. It had more than just pictures of other water parks. It had a video, a map of Hurricane Harbor next to GAm, and a guy answering questions.