6 flags new england or canobie lake?

[mtemm]

we (dh, myself, kids 9/7/7) are thinking about giong to a park, either 6 flags new england or canobie lake.

we took the kids to canobie lake last summer so we know what to expect, but dh and I haven't been to 6 flags in at least a decade or so, kids have never been. I'm wondering if 6 flags is a good choice for us at all...we are not roller coaster people. I love thunder mountain, but that is a big enough thrill for me, and dh is about the same. kids inherited dislike of huge coasters from us, lol. they love wdw, and I wish we could head there but not in the cards right now!

any thoughts? has anybody been to 6 flags recently? is there enough non-roller-coaster non-kiddie ride stuff for us to do? or are we better off heading back to canobie lake?

 

[dakcp2001]

I am not familiar with the kiddie rides at 6 flags, but I just wanted to mention that they do have a water park. Canobie does not as far as I know. If you go to Six Flags, make sure you call ahead for prices for admission and parking (I seem to remember parking being expensive) and it is not in a great neighborhood. If you plan to sleep over somewhere, I'd try to stay somewhere in West Springfield or closer to Amherst/ Hadley. I think SF is bigger than Canobie. I remember the Superman Roller coaster to be awesome, but if you don't like RC you won't want to ride it, it is scary. Park quality at SF is NO where near that of WDW so be prepared. Last time I was there there were a lot of undesirables around. The park Bathrooms were icky.


Have you considered a water park? Water Country was fun, there is also a newer indoor park called Cocoa Keys in Danvers, Ma. I haven't been there.

Where do you live and how much do you want to spend?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

If you are not rollercoaster people, than I would skip Six Flags. It is way more expensive, much, much bigger and more crowded.

Canobie is small, clean and less expensive and offers free parking. Yes they do have a water park. It is not huge, but the kids can get VERY wet.

 

[bombygriz]

We're heading to Canobie this summer because it's cheaper. The admission price this year is $32 per adult, and you can get $2 off per person on weekdays if you pick up the coupons at McDonalds, Market Basket, etc. Six flags is something like $65 per person, no coupons available.

We got lucky last year and were able to upgrade our Six Flags tickets to season passes for $25, before the summer started. The tickets were originally free, because we were going as a band/choir after a competition. This worked for us because we are thrill-ride people. We got bored, though.

Canobie lake has plenty of stuff for non-thrill riders, especially since they only have three rollercoasters. They have a whole section of milder rides that fit adults and kids (think the Caterpillar, Da Vinci's Dream, etc.) IMO, it's basically the same thing as Six Flags, just not in an expensive franchise format. Have fun!

 

[pat fan]

I think you can get discounts for 6 Flags at Big y, but please, I am not recommending 6 Flags by any stretch!

I have no clue what Canobie Park is, but do that instead! We went to 6 Flags a few years ago, and Lord Almighty, it sure is no WDW! I was not expecting it to be, but I was not expecting what it was,either. Dirty, expensive, uninterested/bored/rude CM's, and we are not into coasters either (or water parks), so not a whole lot to do.

As for it being in a bad part of town, there are much worse sections, trust me! But it's in SPRINGFIELD people, what are you expecting???? We only drive through there to get somewhere else, and only that if we can't avoid it. What's on the news every night? Oh, another murder in Springfield. Yeah, no thanks.

 

[bombygriz]

I think you can get discounts for 6 Flags at Big y, but please, I am not recommending 6 Flags by any stretch!

I have no clue what Canobie Park is, but do that instead! We went to 6 Flags a few years ago, and Lord Almighty, it sure is no WDW! I was not expecting it to be, but I was not expecting what it was,either. Dirty, expensive, uninterested/bored/rude CM's, and we are not into coasters either (or water parks), so not a whole lot to do.

As for it being in a bad part of town, there are much worse sections, trust me! But it's in SPRINGFIELD people, what are you expecting???? We only drive through there to get somewhere else, and only that if we can't avoid it. What's on the news every night? Oh, another murder in Springfield. Yeah, no thanks.

Oh, yes. I would say that most of the employees there are local teenagers/young adults who're there to make a buck. The rides are nice, but you basically have NO choice if you don't like thrills. You can go to Wigglesland or whatever, or you could go to the waterpark.

Canobie Lake Park is located in Salem, NH. It's one of those stand-alone parks that's been there for ages, but hasn't been franchised. I love it there-it's no Disney, but it's not gross or unsafe like those travelling fairs. For us, it's closer than Six Flags and it has free parking.

If anyone likes mild thrill rides, do the 'Ultimate Frisbee' ride-if it's not terribly busy, you can usually go over and over again because it seats 40!

 

[PollyannaMom]

My family has been to both.

I think we actually enjoyed Six Flags a little more, but if you're not coaster people, I'd say Canobie is probably your better bet. Six Flags has more really big stuff, and has little kids stuff too, but I think Canobie has more in between sort of stuff, which sounds like what you need.

I didn't think it was any cleaner (in fact, the gum stuck everywhere kind of grossed us out) but we loved the rides, DS loved the climbing wall, and the candy apples were fabulous!

If you do want a change, Six Flags has a bigger water section, and characters. (I think when DS was the age of your younger ones, we did ice cream with Scooby and Shaggy. - You reserve spots in advance at one of the shops.) AAA has a discount day, if you are a member of that.

 

[mtemm]

thanks all! yeah, AAA has a discount day for 6 flags this saturday so tix are $29 I think with free parking if you get there by 8:30. however, my memory of the place was lots of big rides/lots of small kiddie rides, but I didn't remember much in between. I am thinking we will go ahead and stick with canobie lake and go next week during the week some time. costco used to have discount tickets, anyone know if they still do? maybe can check there this weekend.

 

[daisax]

Canobie Lake has a better cleanliness and safety track record. I think they've added a new coaster or two in the past year, according to their ads.

 

[bombygriz]

"Untamed" was added at the beginning of this season. It's a steel coaster like the Corkscrew, but it's a little smoother and more thrill-intensive. I still don't get why both steel coasters are so short, though!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We're heading to Canobie this summer because it's cheaper. The admission price this year is $32 per adult, and you can get $2 off per person on weekdays if you pick up the coupons at McDonalds, Market Basket, etc.

FWIW, the coupon I got at McDonalds just today is for $4 per person during the week at Canobie. Makes the ticket $28.

 

[Kasmooth]

I think you can get discounts for 6 Flags at Big y, but please, I am not recommending 6 Flags by any stretch!

I have no clue what Canobie Park is, but do that instead! We went to 6 Flags a few years ago, and Lord Almighty, it sure is no WDW! I was not expecting it to be, but I was not expecting what it was,either. Dirty, expensive, uninterested/bored/rude CM's, and we are not into coasters either (or water parks), so not a whole lot to do.

As for it being in a bad part of town, there are much worse sections, trust me! But it's in SPRINGFIELD people, what are you expecting???? We only drive through there to get somewhere else, and only that if we can't avoid it. What's on the news every night? Oh, another murder in Springfield. Yeah, no thanks.

Just for the record it is Agawam MA.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I haven't been to Canobie Lake, but I can't stand 6 Flags. Ugh, it's crowded and hot and just ugh.I don't like thrill rides either and that seems to be what they do there.

I'm not sure where you're driving from-have you considered Lake Compounce? That is on the Bristol/Southington CT line. Near ESPN, for frame of reference It has a nice kids area and a waterpark, and it's small enough that it is not overwhelming. It is actually the oldest continuosly operating amusement park in the nation. Free soda all day too!

We're going in 2 weeks, can't wait

 

[pat fan]

Just for the record it is Agawam MA.

True. I just posted what the website said. But really, not to be argumentative, is there a difference??

 

[Pikester]

OT: I remember when Six Flags use to be Riverside and had car racing...Sigh

 

[pat fan]

OT: I remember when Six Flags use to be Riverside and had car racing...Sigh

Me too!
I seem to recall going to Mountain Park as well, or is that just a mixed up kid memory??

 

[HeatherC]

I would also skip Six Flags. Very expensive, crowded and not well run.

I would also suggest Lake Compounce in bristol, Ct. It is very simlar to Canobie...I think the water park is even a little bigger. Very clean well run park. The bonus though is free drinks all day....they have cups at the soda fountains that you can just grab when you want.

You can check it out at LakeCompounce.com.

 

[JESW]

What about Water Whiz? It's right before the Bourne Bridge. My 12 year old dd went there yesterday with a couple of friends and had a blast - small enough that they could get around by themselves while the Mom with them stayed put. There are discount coupons at Honey Dew.

Jill

 

[tylerb123]

we (dh, myself, kids 9/7/7) are thinking about giong to a park, either 6 flags new england or canobie lake.

we took the kids to canobie lake last summer so we know what to expect, but dh and I haven't been to 6 flags in at least a decade or so, kids have never been. I'm wondering if 6 flags is a good choice for us at all...we are not roller coaster people. I love thunder mountain, but that is a big enough thrill for me, and dh is about the same. kids inherited dislike of huge coasters from us, lol. they love wdw, and I wish we could head there but not in the cards right now!

any thoughts? has anybody been to 6 flags recently? is there enough non-roller-coaster non-kiddie ride stuff for us to do? or are we better off heading back to canobie lake?

Canobie Lake park
Is way better and is
A lot more safer

 

[npmommie]

I was reading the first page, where Op says they are headed to canobie next week, and was like is Canobie open already! Its 30 deg out here LOL.
Then i saw the date of the thread!