Six flags New England vs great America vs great adventure?

[Danny K]

Ok so we live in Philadelphia, pa and we would like to take a six flags trip for 5 full days ( 2 days at the water park, and 3 days at the regular park). I have been to great adventure and hurricane harbor in no before and loved it. I also loved that the water park was a separate park and it wasn't in the same park like most other six flags parks. Both of the parks were very fun.

So this summer I need to go to Chicago and boston for other reasons, so we were thinking on trying New England or great america instead. (Cannot do both, only have time for 1 of the three parks). The bad thing about great adventure in nj though is that I cannot seem to find a reasonable good hotel nearby. Radisson inn is barely affordable.

So I do love great adventure otherwise because of kingda ka, nitro, and el toro, and all the coasters. They are even adding a drop of doom this year.

We are huge thrill fans, but we also LOVE water parks as well so do you think we would be disappointed with New England or great america since we have gone to great adventure? I also heard that great america is building a brand new wooden coaster called Goliath which will break el toros record, so that is what is drawing me to great America. And how is New England?

So what do you think is tHe best option for us between these 3 six flags parks?

 

[CWdreamer]

I have been to Great America and love it. I grew up there and went back a few years ago. My kids are used to Kings Island and Cedar Point so I wasn't sure how they would like it, but Great America has some fantastic rides (we are big roller coaster people) and they loved it. We don't go into the water parks, so I'm not sure how that is. The area around Great America has definitely built up and there are plenty of hotels close, be we actually stayed in Schaumburg (suburbs) and it was only a 45 minute drive. We are actually planning a trip there for late summer this year.

 

[Yoshi]

Great America is a larger park than New England and arguably has better coasters but if you have been to Great Adventure some of the rides at Great America are exact copies of each other. Both Great Adventure and Great America have the same Batman The Ride, Superman Ultimate Flight and The Dark Knight.

 

[jfoofj]

I've been to the Six Flags New England twice since it has been six flags- years ago it was called Riverside Park and I went there a bunch as a kid and teenager (80's and early 90's) and loved it. We went to Six Flags twice in 2010- once in July, and again in October for the Halloween events- and I will NEVER go again. It was a dump. In July we did the park and the water park and it was over crowded (to be expected, it was a hot day) and there were long lines everywhere and the water park felt uncomfortably crowded and unsafe. I lost sight of my DS for a few minutes and that was enough for me, we left and went over the the park side. It was dirty, trash overflowing, rude staff, and crowded with people who cut in lines and were just.... trashy. The language I heard (and we are not prudes, but come on, this is a place with a ton of children) was ridiculous. My husband even referred to the place as "ghetto Disney". It was bad. We decided to go back in October for the Halloween events (we had free passes, decided that maybe our bad experience in July was a fluke, it was hot and people get cranky). Nope. Still a dump, still rude staff, still line-cutting obnoxious people. I know that you get all types everywhere you go, but for some reason both times I've visited the park as an adult we seemed to hit the days all the real winners came out. I won't go back. Even with free passes, it is an expensive day with parking, overpriced food, and any other stuff you may buy. My kids even say they wouldn't want to go back.

 

[Mickey527]

We have APs for Six flags NE and even though it is a 1 hour drive we tend to go at least once a week. by the end of summer I am bored with the parks but my grandson loves the water park.
NE is not as dirty as the NJ park but it does get crowded, especially the water park when it is hot. We tend to stay in the wave pool and walk around lagoon and avoid the slides due to the lines. During the hottest days the rides are almost empty so you can go on a few rides then over to the parks then back. I always wear a coverup dress and the guys wear tshirts and their suits and flip flops and go on rides like that. You cannot wear bathing suits on rides and you will get stopped at the water park gate and told to put on clothes although I do see alot of teen girls walking around with bikini tops.
I think NJ water park is a seperate admission but don't quote me on that. I have never gone to the NJ water park. We did go to NJ once since APs are good for all Six Flags.
NE AP is much cheaper than NJ so that might be something you want to think about. If you buy now you can get parking included with your AP for $64.99 or one free parking admission for the $59.99 price. (you must buy 4 APs to get the discount prices.)
There is alot more to do in the NE area. You can drive to the casinos for the day, up to Boston to the museums, to the beach for the day, Sturbridge Village in MA, Mystic Seaport Aquarium and shopping village. I could go on.

 

[kwelch10377]

We have APs for Six flags NE and even though it is a 1 hour drive we tend to go at least once a week. by the end of summer I am bored with the parks but my grandson loves the water park.
NE is not as dirty as the NJ park but it does get crowded, especially the water park when it is hot. We tend to stay in the wave pool and walk around lagoon and avoid the slides due to the lines. During the hottest days the rides are almost empty so you can go on a few rides then over to the parks then back. I always wear a coverup dress and the guys wear tshirts and their suits and flip flops and go on rides like that. You cannot wear bathing suits on rides and you will get stopped at the water park gate and told to put on clothes although I do see alot of teen girls walking around with bikini tops.
I think NJ water park is a seperate admission but don't quote me on that. I have never gone to the NJ water park. We did go to NJ once since APs are good for all Six Flags.
NE AP is much cheaper than NJ so that might be something you want to think about. If you buy now you can get parking included with your AP for $64.99 or one free parking admission for the $59.99 price. (you must buy 4 APs to get the discount prices.)
There is alot more to do in the NE area. You can drive to the casinos for the day, up to Boston to the museums, to the beach for the day, Sturbridge Village in MA, Mystic Seaport Aquarium and shopping village. I could go on.

The waterpark in NJ is seperate, but you can buy combo passes.

I would also say that there is the same amount of stuff to do in NJ. There are the casinos in AC, the shore, the Camden Aquarium, Philly is about an hour away with plenty to do, Peddlers Village, New Hope, outlets right in Jackson, etc.

To the OP I would say to either do Six Flags NE or Great America. Since you live in Philly it isn't a far drive to get to Great Adventure another time.

 

[Danny K]

Thanks, I haven't chose yet, because I am kind of waiting for a bit more responses. But I am not worried about lines because I always buy the flash pass. I never ever go to six flags without a flash pass.