Need honest review of Six Flags - America in MD

[mom2boys]

It is less than an hour from us but we've never been. They are currently running an offer where a one day admission gets you a season pass. I am still not convinced it would be worth the trip. My boys are 10 & 12 - both about 4'8".
So what do you think of Six Flags America.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I've never been to that Six Flags. But if you go to that or ANY other amusement park, you REALLY need to go with the mindset that isn't NOT a theme park, it's NOT Disney. If you keep comparing the 2, you'll hate it.

It can be fun if you are a thrill rider, or if you like those carnival type games.

Did you happen to see the other thread I started today about Six Flags & Disney? Maybe something there will help you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1085516

 

[penguingirlie]

We went to this Six Flags last year and it was awful. They were running a promotion then so we thought we would check it out. A lot of the rides were broken down and it smelled awful. We left 2 hours after getting there. We were willing to take the financial loss. It was that bad.

 

[caitycaity]

six flags america in largo is horrible. i would not go again even if it were free.

it was dirty, and unkempt, and we encountered many rude unsupervised groups of teenagers.

i am not usually one to complain about regional amusement parks. i don't expect them to be perfect. but this one is truly awful. don't waste your time.

king's dominion in va is much, much, MUCH better.

 

[Christine]

My poor DS (11). His band trip this year is to Six Flags in Maryland. I don't know why they picked this place as they usually ALWAYS go to King's Dominion.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We just got season passes for Kings Dominion and went there Monday. I was talking to someone in line and she told me that they went to 6 Flags a couple years ago and that they didn't think that it was too bad, but they have passes for KD since they live so close.

I think that they have improved 6 Flags a lot, but I went 4 years ago with one of my sons. He had a free ticket and I bought a discounted ticket. After that visit I commented that I wouldn't go back if it were free (and I haven't). I'm hoping that they will improve the park with the new ownership.

There was a recent article in the Washington Post about the park. Maybe you could do a search at Washingtonpost.com and find the article. it was in the business section about a week ago.

There is a poster who has passes who posted about 6 Flags on Sweet Angel's Baltimore thread. Try searching for that thread and PMing him unless he sees this thread.

We are going to visit later this summer to scope out the park and will consider passes for next summer.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

We did it as a Senior Skip day (allowed by faculty and staff) in high school. That's the first, last, and only time. The company was great, beyond that blah. We're about 40 minutes from it and there's no way I'm paying money to be admitted. If you weren't used to or expecting the Disney level, which on this board, you are, you might be able to slide through. Honestly, I think you'll find the same thing I did and was that you compare it to Disney and then wonder why you even bothered. You're better off taking the trip to Williamsburg to Busch Gardens, Wet 'n' Wild, Colonial Wmsburg, and its other offerings. Just MHO.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Ya know, I thought about this more. I was looking into going to Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio a few years ago. That's when I realized that all of us here obviously love WDW....and we tend to give real negative reviews to Six Flags & other parks.

BUT, once I started looking at forums about Six Flags or Cedar Point, I was able to get a bit more reviews that maybe weren't so weighted by "Disney passion", if you know what I mean.

Those forums are true thrill ride junkies.... or local teenagers or young couples. Not families like you see here. Because that's what the cliental is at those parks.

One problem I have with Six Flags New England is because it's so close to Springfield, MA.... it's filled with teens from the city with no chaperones. There must be a bus or something. I don't know if that happens at your park.

Just my thoughts on the 2 parks.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Ya know, I thought about this more. I was looking into going to Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio a few years ago. That's when I realized that all of us here obviously love WDW....and we tend to give real negative reviews to Six Flags & other parks.

DH grew up outside of Cleveland and spent a lot of time mainly at Sea World, but also Cedar Point. He was so excited to take me there and I had an awful time. For one, it was very hot and with my "Are yor alive?" blood pressure, it was miserable for me in the weather. The worst part was that I sat in a seat that someone had upchucked on the last go around. It was on the seatbelt. I was mortified and about to heave myself. Thankfully, the park paid for new shorts and a T-shirt that day. I think I'd go again, but very much aware of how hot Cleveland is in the summer and a clean pair of clothes ready and waiting.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree that the amusement parks should not be compared to WDW and Universal. They are in a league of their own for sure!

When we went to Kings Dominion I did compare it to WDW, which I shouldn't do of course, but more for ways that they should improve staffing, attitudes, and some sort of signs to show wait times. The actual atmosphere was ok. No, not Disney, but not bad.

The last time that I went to 6 Flags (this was the time 4 years ago) it was dirty, not maintained, run down, etc. There were crowds of rowdy people. Just an awful place. I'm disappointed to read that people are still experiencing these things. Too bad. We may still try it later this summer and I won't expect WDW, but I will be comparing it to KD.

 

[DaisyD]

Horrible! The place used to be decent years ago but then they started busing all the innercity kids there. It went quickly downhill from there. You couldn't pay me to go there anymore and I'm only 40 minutes from there.

 

[tmt martins]

Also 40 mins away and have had a Spass for the past 5 years .

It has gotten better each year with the crowd problem but the rides have gone down hill and some don't run at all most of the time.

We go a lot for just a few hours in the morning or a few in the evening .I take DD12 and some friends (Most 5 all girls)during the week in the summer .

YES IT IS NO DISNEY but we got Sp for $45 total this year.

They are disneyfing it this year with Parades, fireworks ,and even Char. Brunch with Bugs.
The new CEO came from ESPN or ABC ( and is under Dan Snyder of the Redskins) So he knows what it takes to be Disney.

When there I have no problem going to Security to get someone removed (not the CM's as most of the times it's their friends) and they will follow and take action if needed.
We wanted to go Sat but it rained so we will be going on Sat or Mon as I'm off and they are open.

 

[mom2boys]

Wow! You guys are quick.
I do know Six Flags has more adventure rides - can't hit Disney this summer - still working on DH for Dec.
I am more interested in entertainment/diversions for summer. I will say my kids enjoyed Kings Dominion last time we were there - 3 years ago. 2 yrs ago we did Hershey Park. Of the two, I definitely perfer Hershey. I was also more comfortable with the Hershey Park crowd - more families.
Is Six Flags America filled with unchaperoned teens and twenty-somethings? We have felt comfortable giving our boys some freedom at Disney. Letting them ride Mission Space together without DH & I - and meeting up with them a while later in the exit area. Not sure I'd be comfortable with that at Six Flags.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have felt comfortable giving our boys some freedom at Disney. Letting them ride Mission Space together without DH & I - and meeting up with them a while later in the exit area. Not sure I'd be comfortable with that at Six Flags.

tmt martins is the expert I mentioned from Sweet Angel's thread. I figured that he would see this and check in.

I don't know your comfort level on letting your boys ride and meeting them at the exit. Personally, I would. At least I would at Kings Dominion, but I turned my boys who are 12 1/2 and 15 1/2 (and their 2 friends who are 13 and 16) loose at Kings Dom and kept in contact with them via cell phone all day. We didn't run into them once. Kind of nice just hanging out with my DH and our 6yo. I don't know about 6 Flags, though.

 

[lindalinda]

We have a six flags here in KY, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Last year it was very drab and dirty and we only went a couple of times. However, we just went this year and management has DEFINITELY changed. The employees were so friendly and polite, it was obvious that new training had occurred. When one of my boys climbed the rock wall and they ran out of the little stuffed animal prizes that they give for getting to the top, a manager walking by took him to a game booth and had him pick out a great big stuffed tiger! Another friend of mine was in the park and a manager asked her if she had any suggestions about the park, she complained that you could get the season pass thru AAA for 45$, but at the door it was 65$ and she thought they should have advertised the price since it was so different. He took a 20$ bill out of his pocket and apologized. I'm certainly not saying it compares to the theme park but as a summertime diversion for the kids (esp at 45$ for a season pass) I think its worth it. (at least this one in KY is)

 

[tmt martins]

tmt martins is the expert I mentioned from Sweet Angel's thread. I figured that he would see this and check in.

Thanks T& B

Maybe we need a quick Dis meet at the park so we can all check out the improvements together

 

[mom2boys]

Great minds think alike!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thanks T& B

Maybe we need a quick Dis meet at the park so we can all check out the improvements together

Make it later in August and I'm in, even though my arm could be twisted earlier in the summer.

My 12yo went from being phobic of coasters to being a coaster junkie. He's planning out all the coasters he wants to go to and wants to go to the 6 Flags in New Jersey sometime. There is nothing the child won't try now (and this is the child who cried trying the Superdooperlooper at Hershey Park when he was almost 11 ).

 

[LadyyRedd]

I went to Six Flags in Largo, MD once with free tickets. Thank God they were free because I'll never go again with free tickets, much less pay for them. They were very dirty, run down in many areas and the staffing was not very friendly/helpful.

I've been to Six Flags in NJ (I think that one is Six Flags Great Adventure) and I really liked that one, so I know it's not just because I'm "Disney-fied" that I don't like the one in MD, LOL. I also go to Kings Dominion, which I really like, and Hershey Park, which I really like.

I wouldn't go back to Six Flags America again if you paid me. Ok, well, I might go if you paid me, but it'd have to be a nice payment!

Kimya

 

[Christine]

For those of you who are out-of-towners, Six Flags America is located right smack dab in the middle of a suburb of Washington D.C. It is not far outside of the city (maybe 20 minutes). It is also right in Prince George's County which has long held the notorious title of being the crime epicenter of the Maryland area.

Whoever it was who said that they are busing in "inner city" kids. I doubt that. The kids come right from the surrounding neighborhoods. I used to live in P.G. County and it would really take an act of Congress to get me back there. Hate the place.

Anyway, I remember when Six Flags America used to be "Lion Country Safari" back in the 70s. It was an animal park that you could drive your car through--much like the Kilamanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom. It then went out of business and went through a couple iterations of privately owned theme parks--I can't even remember the names. About 12 years ago, I think, it was bought by Six Flags. I think that has always been part of it's problem--it never started out as a Six Flags-designed park. That and the crappy neighborhood that it's in.