OT- Great Adventure NJ season pass ??

[samanthacatangel]

Hello, just wondering if someone could give me your opinion as to buying season passes. It would be for myself and DD. She's 4, and obviously cannot go on many rides, but anything she is tall enough for (she's almost 42") she would be up for - she LOVED Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mt Railroad, just to give you an idea.

We live in Staten Island, so about 45 minutes away, and I would plan on taking her at least 4 times this summer, if there is enough for her to do. I know I would save $$, I just don't know how much there is for her, as I haven't been there in 5 years - and had no interest in kiddie rides, so never even noticed them.

Thanks!!!

Samantha

 

[hollyb]

We love Six Flags, I say get the season pass. Have you ever been to the waterpark section with her? Its the perfect place to play on a hot summer day. Not Hurrican Harbor but inside the childrens section. My kids love going we are getting our season pass soon.

People will say it's not Disney, well no kidding what is?

 

[Cindy B]

I've held Great Adventure season passes for four years and did not renew them this year...


I have various reasons:

1) Parking pass is $45 per season. Yes, $45 to park on a patch of parking lot that has not been renovated since 1978. If you opt to not get a season parking pass, the regular rate is either $15 or $20 daily.

2) Lack of consistency in keeping Kingda Ka open. Most of the times it was down either with mechanical repair/full moon or whatever.

3) Rude employees. (Thats all I need to say about that one)


However, you asked about rides for your little one.

I think 42 inches is the height limit for Skull Mountain.. It is a cheap rendition of a dark indoor coaster ride. There are no effects just a canned howl before the ride begins.

There is the Bugs Bunny land near Nitro. There is a few fun rides there if you are so inclined.

I'm not sure about the height limit for the rocking pirate ship, Jolly Roger (long pirate style kid like coaster), Enterprise, Musik Express, Bumper Cars, Stuntmans Freefall, the big dumping waterfall ride (not the old flume), and the Congo Rapids. I don't think that Rolling Thunder is even running anymore, but that had a 40 some inch height requirement-I want to say 48 though. You would even have to check the height requirement for the Spongebob simulator--I think that is a pretty big requirement as well.

I know the height limit for the old original log flume and the Runaway trains is less than 42 so that should be fine. Other things would be the entire Bugs area, the new Wiggles area, the new playground area near Kingda Ka (there are a few flat rides there), the Bugs Bunny National Park area, the Merry Go Round, the teacups and the Harry Houdini thing.

Of course things like Nitro, Kingda Ka, El Toro, etc are out because of the height requirement.

Best bet is to check the height requirements on the website. There are many rides at Great Adventure that have either a 44 or 48 inch requirement.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Am I the only one who wouldnt go to Great adventure even with free tickets lol.

Every time I have gone its been dirty.. rude employees and broken down rides.

I ended up last year getting a family AP to the zoo and make get one to the Land of Make Believe here in NJ.

 

[DiscussDisney]

I live 10 minutes from the park and would NEVER get a season pass. Once per season is enough for my family. BTW, there is a deal where you can get 4 tickets for $99 if you use a Chase Credit Card. Here is the link http://www.sixflags.com/national/Tickets/chase.aspx

 

[samanthacatangel]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't been there since 2000 or so, and I was a chaperone on our 8th grade graduation trips (I was a teacher.)

I have a high skeev factor (don't know if that's even close to English, lol) for water parks, so I was primarily interested in the dry rides.

I think once may be enough for us, in looking at all the comments. We just returned from Storybookland, near AC, which was spotless and fantastic for little ones, so I am afraid GA may fall short for her.

A few NJ parks are on my list. We have done Bowcraft, which she loved, so we'll be back - and it's only about 1/2 hour from us. Thinking about Keansburg (dry rides only), but haven't been there since I was a teen - a LONG time ago.

Also doing Dutch Wonderland, but that's in PA, and possibly Storyland, in NH.


If you have any other suggestions, please let me know! I have an amusement park loving kid! Thanks so much!

Samantha

 

[LisaNJ25]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't been there since 2000 or so, and I was a chaperone on our 8th grade graduation trips (I was a teacher.)

I have a high skeev factor (don't know if that's even close to English, lol) for water parks, so I was primarily interested in the dry rides.

I think once may be enough for us, in looking at all the comments. We just returned from Storybookland, near AC, which was spotless and fantastic for little ones, so I am afraid GA may fall short for her.

A few NJ parks are on my list. We have done Bowcraft, which she loved, so we'll be back - and it's only about 1/2 hour from us. Thinking about Keansburg (dry rides only), but haven't been there since I was a teen - a LONG time ago.

Also doing Dutch Wonderland, but that's in PA, and possibly Storyland, in NH.


If you have any other suggestions, please let me know! I have an amusement park loving kid! Thanks so much!

Samantha

How about Knoebels in Pa?

 

[rflorek]

Am I the only one who wouldnt go to Great adventure even with free tickets lol.

Every time I have gone its been dirty.. rude employees and broken down rides.

I ended up last year getting a family AP to the zoo and make get one to the Land of Make Believe here in NJ.

I agree.

I haven't been there since they put the barbed wire around the entrances and installed the metal detectors because of the in-park stabbings. Before that, I got season passes every year.

 

[goofy370]

Well I live 10 minutes from the park and we get passes every year. There is a new kids section opening this year called Wiggles world. The old bugs bunny land has been totally redone as well. There is a lot of things for kids to do. The employees have NEVER been rude to me, or anyone while I am there. We go often! We have had season passes for years. Also, it is supposed to be more family oriented now. Where is there barbed wire? I have never seen it.

 

[Nienor]

They actually do have quite a bit of kiddie rides. My son is 7 and he thinks he's too old for the most part for kids rides though. lol

They have some in the Loony Tunes Seaport, Loony Tunes National park, Balin's Jungle Land and the Wiggles area. Typical stuff mostly including a small rollercoaster in the Seaport area. The nicest things are a ball play area in the Seaport and the water are in Balin's Jungleland.

I think the minimum height for Skull mountain, Rolling Thunder and Runaway train is 44 not 42 at Great Adventures. No restriction for the Log Flume though if you can take the line in the summer.

We have season passes and actually went on Good Friday. brrrrrr

 

[disneysteve]

Am I the only one who wouldnt go to Great adventure even with free tickets lol.

Count me in. I actually keep wanting to go to ride some of the newer coasters but I can't talk DW into it. I don't mind the employees as much as the clientele. When we've been there, it has seemed to be overrun with rude, obnoxious, aggressive packs of teenagers with no respect for authority or anything else for that matter.

That said, however, Six Flags is under new management and the new CEO is working to make the parks more family friendly, rather than aimed at the teen demographic. If he succeeds, we may give it another shot.

If not, I may just zip up there one weekend by myself just to do the coasters.

 

[Davidsmommy]

We live 5 minutes from The Great Escape (in Lake George) which is a Six Flags Park. We buy season passes every year. We do it for a couple of reasons:

1.) The kids like it - we go several times a summer for a few hours each time. We don't stay all day like we would at Disney. Sometimes we do the water area only.

2.) We like the fall activities they have with smaller crowds. We go several times on the weekends in September and October.

3.) With the six flags passes, you get admission to any other six flags theme park (the seperate entrance water parks are excluded). DH travels for work and we get around 15 -30 hotel nights free per year because of his frequent hotel stays. So, each summer we go somewhere within driving distance with a Six Flags closeby - basically a free trip. Free hotel, free entertainment at Six Flags. We just pay for food and gas. Last year we did the NJ park, this year we are doing the Mass. one. This fall we may do the Montreal one as well.

The one thing I noticed while at the NJ one last year was there was practically nowhere to cool off (it was like 95 degrees the days we went lol). We didn't pay for the seperate entrance water park (with a 1 1/2 year old at the time it would have been a waste). We did do the animal drive through thing once while there - it was cute but only killed a couple hours at most.

 

[soccermom5]

keansburg now has a water park pretty nice in fact and while the boardwalk isnt the best if offers more rides than point pleasent. and i believe mondays is b1g1 30.00 3 hr in wATER PARK and unlimited rides

 

[dizkids]

I have had season passes for the past 4 years, but i will not be getting them this year. Too much money plus add on the parking for $45.

THANK YOU to the poster who offered the link for 4 tickets for $99....that i would consider to do one time.

Seaside Park has a great water park...especially for young kids. Breakwater Beach. They offered tickets 1/2 price during Easter weekend. I just purchased mine online last night...only had to pay an extra $7 for shipping considering the time do drive and get them and pay the meter to park. They sold a booklet of 5 admissions for $65 and that is NOT TIMED it is all day. They do sell tickets at the gate for 3 hour admissions or all day admissions and all day is about $25 each. 5 people all day to a water park for $65 is very good....super kids area, lazy river, etc. Here is the link because you might still be able to get them online since it is still advertised on their site. http://www.casinopiernj.com/

Breakwater Beach offers free admission to a child with at least one A on his report card during the month of june with a paid adult admission.

 

[rflorek]

Where is there barbed wire? I have never seen it.

The last season I went (which was probably about 8-9 years ago when the price was still what I considered reasonable), there was barbed wire along the fences on either side of the entrances surrounding the metal detectors. To the right of the main entrance, the wire ran along the length of the parking area.

Of course, it's been years since I went (last time I went, it was $7 to park and there was no water park, or Kingda Ka, or any of that).

 

[don8life]

We used to only go with free tickets too. Swore we never would pay for it.
But last year we got the season pass and water park season pass and really enjoyed it. there is alot more for kids then there used to be. This year there will be 4 kids sections with the new addition of wiggles world. My 5 yr old loves it. So does our 16, 13 and 10 yr old. There are very strict with the height limits. NJ inspectors are very tough with height and the heights are kind of ridiculous.

The water park is awesome. With a season pass you don't feel bad it you leave after 2 hours. You have the option of going if your in the area for an hour or 2 or making a day out of it.

 

[samanthacatangel]

How about Knoebels in Pa?

I have never heard of this park. What is it like? Is there a website?

TIA!

Samantha

 

[samanthacatangel]

BTW, there is a deal where you can get 4 tickets for $99 if you use a Chase Credit Card. Here is the link http://www.sixflags.com/national/Tickets/chase.aspx

Thanks for the link!

Samantha

 

[hollyb]

If your worried about the "skeev factor" your only kidding yourself if you think that germs are only in the water.

 

[samanthacatangel]

If your worried about the "skeev factor" your only kidding yourself if you think that germs are only in the water.

Of course, I am aware of that (my BS is in Biology), but it is just a personal thing - I think it stems from going to places like Sesame Place, and watching kids in the water with disgusting droopy diapers

So, it's just a personal preference. My best friend goes all the time, and she loves them with her kids - we just happen to prefer dry rides.

Samantha