Six Flags New Jersey advice

[twinnersmama]

DDs want to go to Six Flags this summer (we usually go to Cedar Point). This will be a 7 hour drive for us. I see there are a couple hotels that are advertised through the Six flags site -- Radisson in Freehold and Holiday Inn or Days Inn in East Windsor.
Do I need to look into buying the "flash pass" ticket?
We will probably plan for 2 days at the park which is what we do at Cedar Point.

Tips, ideas, and any advice will be appreciated !!

Thanks !!

 

[goofyfigment]

If you are doing 2 days I think you would be fine without it. I used to live 2 hours away from there and we would get there for opening and leave at closing and got everything done. Last time we went it was the Saturday after the 4th of July and some waits were long but still got all the big rides in. We didn't do the safari but that's only about 20 minutes. They also have a separate water park in the parking lot if that's something you are interested in. IMO cedar point is much bigger than great adventure

 

[EMode]

DDs want to go to Six Flags this summer (we usually go to Cedar Point). This will be a 7 hour drive for us. I see there are a couple hotels that are advertised through the Six flags site -- Radisson in Freehold and Holiday Inn or Days Inn in East Windsor.
Do I need to look into buying the "flash pass" ticket?
We will probably plan for 2 days at the park which is what we do at Cedar Point.

Tips, ideas, and any advice will be appreciated !!

Thanks !!

Don't go

I don't want to be a downer but there is no way in hades that I'd make a 7 hour drive to go to Six Flags NJ. We are less than 2 hours away, went once and decided never again.
And whatever you do, skip their water park, or at least avoid the lazy river. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever "ridden" at a theme park.

 

[Lynne G]

We live less than 2 hours from Six Flags. We went once, for a day, and that's plenty. What my kids want (a teen and tween coaster riders), and is about 2 hours away, and west of us, is Hershey Park. They like the rides and the water park is included.

Also, have you looked at Dorney Park? It's also a smaller park than Cedar Point, near Allentown, PA, and my kids like it there too. That's about a little over an hour for us.

What about Six Flags is she most interested in? Even Busch Gardens Williamsburg would be fun too, if you are willing to travel some distance.

 

[jazzyscoob]

I have to agree with "don't go." I live 30 mins from Six Flags and won't make the drive for it let alone 7 hours! It's disgusting!

Would Hershey Park be an option?

 

[dawnhaze]

The only saving grace of Six Flags in NJ is the coasters, and if you're near Cedar Point, you already have some great ones. I would not drive seven hours to go to any Six Flags park. Unless you really, really, really want to ride Zumanjaro once it opens, there's nothing you're missing there. The new safari is okay but not worth that kind of trip.

I would just head out to Hershey instead. It's a much nicer 'experience' overall, especially for a trip that's more than one day.

If you must come to Six Flags in NJ - the water park definitely IS gross, don't go over there. Flash Pass isn't needed except on really busy days - mid-summer weekends and the time around 4th of July, you might want it if you're coaster enthusiasts - but if you're coming for 2 days you should be fine without it even then. I've stayed in the Days Inn near the park for a non-park-going reason, and it was fine, but it was a few years ago, so YMMV.

 

[texasroni75]

Former NJ resident here (moved to TX 5 years ago). Skip Six Flags. You can wait - LITERALLY - half of a park day for ONE coaster. Even their version of fast passes are not really "front of the line". Half the people who go buy them, so the waits are still very long. It's dirty. The food stinks and again, VERY long lines for that. No shade. You will bake in the sun. Not to mention that the people that run the stands, and much of the crowds are rude and nasty. I'm from NJ, and it's like the worst of the worst there.

Like PP mentioned, I suggest Hershey Park - they have plenty of big coasters and there's a water park too. Much cleaner, prettier and set up better. Also, Dorney Park in Allentown is nice too. Lots of coasters, and a waterpark too. DD and I used to have season passes there, and run from coaster to coaster all day long - hardly ever a line longer than 20-30 minutes.

Just my two cents. We have a Six Flags here in TX too and it's just like the NJ one - they lure you in with the promise of all the big thrill rides, and you get to go on maybe 2 of them due to lines. So disappointing!

 

[punkin712]

Don't go

I don't want to be a downer but there is no way in hades that I'd make a 7 hour drive to go to Six Flags NJ. We are less than 2 hours away, went once and decided never again.
And whatever you do, skip their water park, or at least avoid the lazy river. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever "ridden" at a theme park.

+1! We have lived within an hour of Six Flags for 15 years and only went once. It was dirty, the rides were questionable and the people there were obnoxious, loud and rude It's like they cloned the cast of Jersey Shore a thousand times and dropped them in a theme park. In fact, I know someone who works there and could give me free passes and I still wouldn't go!

How about Hershey Park? Or, if you are willing to drive 7 hours to Six Flags, is there anywhere in another direction that might be an option? If your DDs are really set on Six Flags, maybe you could try one in another state.

 

[crazybones27]

I live 15 mins from Great Adventure(six flags) and we don't go. It's definitely not worth a 7hr drive. The outlet stores near it aren't even enough to keep you occupied. To be honest the last time we went which was over three years ago or so more then half the rides would go down for the whole day. If you were already going to be in the area and wanted to do it I'd say sure give it a shot, but it's definitely not worth making a trip for.

 

[Beckalecka]

I live like an hour or so from Six Flags NJ and wouldn't bother to drive there. Last summer we did a bunch of short trips bc we were saving for WDW this year and we really enjoyed Dorney Park, Hersey Park is great as well. I don't know where you are driving from but we did a half a week at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and loved it!!! DD was 2 and she still talks about it all the time she wants to stop on our way to WDW but we are flying so it isn't going to happen lol. There is also Kings Dominion VA which we wanted to try but didn't get a chance.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Another here that lives in NJ and doesn't go there. I'm an hour away and it's dirty there! Hershey Park and Dorney Park are better options.

 

[mjkacmom]

Lol - over break, one of dd11's friends invited her to to go Great Adventure with her. Dd11 was excited, because she's never been there (and we live an hour away). My older 3 have been there on school trips, and we once did the Safari on the way camping (but didn't go to the amusement park). I went more when I was a kid.

We LOVE Hershey Park, though - 3 hours away, but worth it.

 

[MaggieMouse]

I also live in NJ and about 20 minutes from Six Flags. I don't find it to be dirty or nasty and I'm VERY picky. We had season passes last year and enjoyed it very much. We did not go to Hurricane Harbor last year but I have gone in the past and the kids enjoyed it very much.

With that said, would I drive 7 hours for it? Absolutely not! It's not worth that long of a drive for a theme park...

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

I also live in NJ and about 20 minutes from Six Flags. I don't find it to be dirty or nasty and I'm VERY picky. We had season passes last year and enjoyed it very much. We did not go to Hurricane Harbor last year but I have gone in the past and the kids enjoyed it very much.

With that said, would I drive 7 hours for it? Absolutely not! It's not worth that long of a drive for a theme park...

I agree. A few years ago they wanted to change their image and they now make employees carry around those sticks to pick up trash with. I didn't think HH was that dirty either. Unless you're a diehard roller coaster fan or you're going to make additional stops (to the beach, NYC, etc), I would not drive 7 hours just for Great Adventure. I'm another fan of Hershey or Dorney Park. HP includes everything in the price (water park, zoo). But to answer your question, if it were me - I would stay at the Radisson because its near the huge Freehold Mall and there are many restaurants around that area.
ETA- Their lines move very slowly! They don't move as fast as Disney. For example, if they had 6 trains for a roller coaster, they will only use 2. If you go for 2 days, I wouldn't get the fast pass. I would hit the big roller coasters as soon as you got there.

 

[lurkernj]

I also live near six flags (45min). I used to take the kids there once a year because they would get free passes for reading a certain amount. It was just ok. Definitely not worth 7 hr drive. I too would suggest Hershey park or even Dorney.

Also, do a mapquest search, East Windsor and Freehold aren't really that close to the park. Because we live close enough for a day trip, I'm not sure about what hotels are actually close, but there must be something closer than those suggested towns.

 

[twinnersmama]

Thanks for the replies. I think the lure of 6 Flags was the coasters. Cedar Point has some great - awesome- coasters which we have ridden several times.

Hershey Park would only be a 3 hour drive for us, so maybe that is a better option. I didn't really think about Hershey ... I was there as a little girl and didn't remember it being much of a coaster park ... but I am sure that a lot has changed in 30+ years !!

We went to Busch Gardens last summer while we were vacationing at Sandbridge Beach in VA. Enjoyed that too.

So ... now I may be re-directing our theme park adventure for this year ...
THANKS again !!

 

[Grandmatoniko]

We live 20 min from Six Flags and get season passes every year because it gives us something to do plus my kids love Fright Fest BUT is it worth a 7 hour drive...not in my opinion. It gets really crowded and there arent all that many rides. I would definately look into other things before I chose this.

 

[theoldmandan]

I haven't been to Hershey in over ten years, but when I was there there were a number of roller coasters that I though were quite good. Same goes for Dorney. I don't think Six Flags is quite as bad as some people think it is, but even I wouldn't drive more than two hours to go there.

 

[Asherry25]

I would do 2 days at hershey....or 2 at Hershey, one at Dorney (which I also find dirty, but not as bad as six flags)

 

[sunshineNJ]

Don't go!! It's a poorly run, dangerous and filthy place. Dorney park or Hershey are much nicer.