Six Flags, Great America, Gurnee IL

[OhMari]

Trip Report;

Friday, May 19, 2006-Six Flags Great America
I was able to get tickets from my co-worker for $20 a piece, with a food voucher. She had to buy the tickets for a group of people and she had 4 left over. So we went down on Friday.

Chicago is redoing all of their toll booths, so we had a 20 minute back-up heading from the North to pay our $1.50 welcome to Chicago toll booth entry. On the way home it took 30 minutes to pay the “thanks for using Chicago toll Road, $1.50 please.

I don’t think it is worth going to Great America in Gurnee IL until after Memorial Day. No shows, no train-ride, no water park, or water rides were open, except the logs.

We did ride all the rollercoasters. SuperMan was the longest wait of 30 minutes. Lost my sunglasses again. I had them in my “hammer pocket” the little pocket on the side of my capri’s. I was so squished in that seat, I don’t know how they flew out. Went to Lost and Found and gave her my description of my Walmart sunglasses. She said they do a sweep after the parks close and if they are found, Superman will send them to my home.

Experienced line cutters twice. Wasn’t worth the hassle to say anything. First set was a bunch of girls that went to the bathroom and wanted to catch up to 1 friend. They talked so loud and obnoxious how they had to use the bathroom, we actually wanted to put 10 people in front of us, so we didn’t have to follow them thru the line. SuperMan is an awesome ride. You soar thru the air. The chair tips you facing down and then you soar.

We rode the 2 wooden roller coasters at least 3 times each with no waiting. I heard someone say, “they will run American eagle” till it virtually crumbles. This ride looks like it could use a good cleaning and paint job. On the other wooden roller coaster, I saw a lot of steal support beams that were new, and supporting the wooden beams.

Like I said the Water Park wasn’t open yet, but saw a lot of people cleaning and landscaping the area. No movie at the IMAX either, said it is coming in June. Darn, and it is suppose to be a 3-D movie too. No Magic Show, or any other show.

Didn’t do the “Giant Drop”-see Tag in Avatar.

My 2 oldest told me they were getting dizzy. Usually it takes at least an hour to wait in line to do any roller coaster at Great America. We were doing at least 4 an hour. We ate “all you can put on your plate at Angelo’s.” I had salad, bread sticks, noodles-with Alfredo Sauce and Ravioli. My kids piled their plates with spaghetti. Plus we all got a regular soda with the meal. Nice voucher. I thought I saw it ring up at $5.00, my dd told me she saw it ring up at $10.99. Papa John’s must have gotten in with Great America. I saw signs at a lot of resturants with their Logo. One large pizza is $24. A slice is $8.00. Soda’s are running $4.95. In the walkways a bottle of coke products are running $3.00. Water is $2.85.

Parking is $15 a vechicle. They were announcing that you could go purchase a ticket to return anytime for $25. Good for the rest of the summer. I went and got one for my dd, since she is going back June 8.
If you don’t have any coupons like a Coke can for a discount, price at the door is $49.

Lots of characters out. Made everyone ride the Carousel and the Round Needle ride that goes high in the sky, so you can see the whole park. We then shared a Funnel Cake with ice cream and hot fudge.

We left the park at 3:30. I think this was the earliest we have ever left Great America. But with no shows-wasn’t much else to do and everyone was pretty dizzy and ready to head home.

Saw at least 200 boys at 3:00 march out of the park. I think the were from Milwaukee Marquette h.s. An all boys school. The chanted and cheered all the way out of the park to their busses. Also saw a lot of older h.s. kids doing physics problems.

That’s about it. Thanks for reading.

 

[Free4Life11]

Sounds good! Did you do Raging Bull?? I could ride that one all day long.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, it has been sooooo long since I have been to Great America, I bet 15 years at least. Glad to read you had a decent time there, though probably better later in summer. Ouch on those buck and a half tolls. If you do come here often, good idea is an I-Pass, cuts the price to 75 cents.

 

[lajones81]

Thanks for the review! I hope to get to Six Flags this summer!

 

[OhMari]

Sounds good! Did you do Raging Bull?? I could ride that one all day long.

My kids did twice. That one is a little scary and I dont feel safe. My kids say it is like Superman-except you are sitting. I don't feel safe with just the lap thing. My kids got off and turned around and got in line.

I forgot to add-lots of security police walking around. My dd met a friend from Northern MI that works there. She said Six Flags did heavy recruiting at her school this spring. Plus many kids from Chicago go to Northern MI. Her friend is from Chicago and gets paid pretty good. 2 years ago-I didn't see security anywhere and I saw kids smoking pot. So maybe it was getting really out of hand. Plus they call Great America "Smoke Free" now. I never remember people smoking there before. Maybe people thought they couldn't. Now they have designated smoking areas and you walking by and it's really bad. The placed them in areas where foot massagers are. They are suppose to stay 8 ft next within the pole area.

I don't think I will be going back to Great America, once a season is enough. I might go to the Fields Museum-King Tut Exhibit. When we pull downsouth for races, we go through Rockford IL, only one toll to pay and then we make our way back towards Indiana/Indianpolis. Our truck and trailer is $3.80 a toll.

 

[sunlver]

Wow, things sure have changed. I use to live in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago for 29 yrs before moving to Virginia. I use to go to Great America at least once a summer. I do not ever remember it being so expensive. With that said, its been over 12 yrs since I last went. After being to Disney so many times, everything else to me is just a disappointment

 

[DisneyDotty]

Thanks for your review. We usually hit Great America once/summer--you know, the old kid-earns-a-free-admission-for-reading-so-the-rest-of-the-family-spends-$200 trip. I'm not a huge rollercoaster fan so I tend to spend a lot of time sitting on a bench comparing it to Disney.
I would like to try out the new waterpark, though. Although I'll probably spend all my time comparing it to the Dells or Schlitterbahn.
Wow--30 minute waits. That alone is a reason to go in May!
Thanks!

 

[disneyfan67]

I have had a love/hate affair with Great America for almost 30 years now. I have lived in or around Gurnee, IL for all my life and a majority of my family has worked there in one form or another. My sister worked there from 1977 to 1984 and I worked there from 1983 to 1985. My dad did security for one season as well in the late 90's when he retired from his real job and was just bored.

I have seen the park go through many changes including the sale from the Marriott corp to various companies, to the one that has it presently. It's been Six Flaggs since 1985 but Six Flaggs has been through a few owner changes and shake ups as well. I've seen the park go through a lot of changes and most of the bad, unfortunely. Thse past two years have been a lot better and the park is starting to look good again, but more work is needed. This will be the 1st season that I won't be buying a season pass for me and my kids. Last season was just too much work, money, and hassle to go again.

The water park was nice when it first opened but as soon as the schools let out, it was pure madness. I couldn't believe the difference between the first week of June and the rest of the summer. You couldn't even move or find a seat in the water park in the middle of July. Six Flaggs has raised the prices so much in the past year that it's almost cheaper to go to a Disney theme park. The parking is out of sight and the food is getting better tasting but way too overpriced and getting worse, price wise. The past couple of years were depressing to me due to the lack of maintainence and cleaning. Things looked really worn out and the black top areas in the park were in bad shape. The whole park could use a through cleaning, top to bottom.

If you're not into monster coasters, then as a parent you're out of luck. That's one of the things I like about WDW is that there's something for everyone in the family. The theming of Great America is nonexistance in some areas and their idea of landscaping seems to be overgrown bushes and weeds. Don't believe me? Then take a ride on the train around the park. They could do so much with what they have, if only they would try and put their heads together. It seems they just put up a new ride and forget about the rest of the park. They have a parking problem due to the new water park taking up a chunk of the old lot. The traffic on Grand avenue, right outside the park is terrible due to only one entrance being open now. It's a mess and the Village of Gurnee is holding town meetings on what to do. I've been reading about the meetings and nothing is being done at this moment.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for letting me vent.