Six Flags vs WDW

[DisneyFanGuy]

I certainly don't expect Six Flags to be anywhere near the "Disney Experience". I DO expect reasonable attention to things like cleanliness and customer service. I get neither at our local park during the summer. I go because my kids get free tickets through school, and I really do enjoy the rides.

We usually end up going again at Fright Fest. The park is always less crowded, the attendants less stressed out, and the place is much much much much cleaner. (Probably because they have all week to do it!)

In fact, Fright Fest at Great America is a completely enjoyable experience!

My mother, a writer for the Chicago Tribune, did the opening story back in 1976. I have gone every year since then at least once, and I can tell you that Six Flags does not operate clean friendly parks. It can be done because Marriott used to do it well. Six Flags does not.

I am not suggesting that we wont go again next year either. The good outweighs the bad. They could very well do better though. It's mostly an attitude, because there are usually employees everywhere. Just not cleaning, and certainly not incented to be anything close to friendly. Just my humble opinion. (JMHO)

 

[barbeml]

tdsryan--you nailed Great Adventure's "clientele," the reason for my kevlar comment.

 

[madcoco]

Our 1st and probably last adventure to SF Magic Mountain last year.
1.Over 25 min in the car to get through the gates.
2. No one directing traffic
3. Waited at Tram stop for app 10 min.
4. Tram not running from parking lot.
5.App 10 min walk
6. In line to pick up tickets over 30 min
7. More than 15min once tickets in hand to get through metal detector
8. Another 10 min. to squeeze through "funnel" entry gate to place where you have to buy their version of Fast Pass.
9. Nearest Bathrooms out of order.
10. Wait in line over another 15mins to buy "fast pass". You get limited tickets to use.
11. Try to find Superman. Terrible almost nonexistent signage.
12 A rude employee tells us just get on the tram. What tram? Its over there Oh OK finally find it. Wait for app 5mins. Get on incline tram it is absolutely filthy
12. Superman is closed. Advertised open.
13. Head for the new X it is closed. Advertised open.
14. This is turning into a real nightmare and we haven't ridden anything but an dirty incline tram.
15 We ride some of the other coasters waits still 30-40 minutes with their "fast pass"
16 Go back to Superman It is now open. Wait app 30 min. It over before you know it but a nice rush.

17.Stop to eat the pizza restaurant is closed. Wait in line app 15 min for Tacos in another area.
18 Time to leave. One last ride. One of the original Steel looping Coasters.
19. It breaks 20 yards from exit. We are stuck for app. 20 min. It seems like 2HRS in 95-degree heat. A teen in front of me says, "He can't breath". (He meant the shoulder restraint is tight) The employee says to him and I quote " If you couldn't breath you wouldn't be able to talk! Hang on we will get you off in a few minutes" 10 minutes later they get us off.
20 Walk back to parking lot.
21.Week-old car hit and run in parking lot. Can't find security. Finally find someone they say "There are no security cameras in that part of parking lot. There is nothing we can do." ("Luckily" only ended up being $400 damage to rear bumper).
22. We stop at a gas station outside the park. My uncle can't get the gas cap door to open on his rental car. It is jammed. Finally get it open for him after busting knuckles
23 Glad to get out of Dodge. Not an exaggeration. So much stuff happened it is almost funny now. DD has been back 2x since and said it wasn't much better but nowhere near this trip from h....

 

[tiggersmom2]

I also live in Georgia, not far from six flags, and my family and I visit there quite often. I agree that it is NO Disney World, but when we have visited, it was clean and nice. As for the food, it your regular theme park food, overpriced - mediocre food. I just wanted to defend SFOG. Maybe they were just having an off day.

 

[f7prez]

We visited Six Flags this summer and were quite surprised how clean and organized the place was.

As like many of you disers, we have been going to WDW on a regular basis for many many years and usually base everything by those standards. Our only disappointment was the early closing of the water park at the end of the day.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Six Flags is so close to me in NJ. A couple of years ago I decided to get season passes and try it out. It wasn't too bad then, but the crowd just keeps getting more and more unruly each year. Rude, loud, litterbugs, classless, the list goes on and on...

The staff there is mostly foreign, which is fine, but they are also rude, regardless of lack of English skills. My son wanted to play a game at the Boardwalk area where you break a plate--well, these plates are made out of plastic--not ceramic, so are almost impossible to break unless you throw the ball HARD. There is a sign above the plates that says that throwing the ball hard is not allowed! Okay, so I guess no prize is to be won here. I said something about it to the game lady and she muttered something sarcastic under her breath then threw the ball at a plate to demonstrate for me, and sounded really angry. All kinds of games like that that are impossible to win that cost $3.00 for one try. Used to be a quarter.

The food there is raunchy and possible dangerous to eat.

The smell of the place...AUGGHH!!

Cost is prohibitive. Ride lines for any coaster are always at least an hour and closer to 2.

No staff in many of the stores; half of the rides closed; garbage everywhere.

The list goes on. Plus, they attempt to imitate certain Disney things--like the names of the themed lands, and the latest...PINS and LANYARDS! I couldn't believe it. I wonder if Disney has any rights to the pin and lanyard thing.

 

[gemini1029]

We went to SFGA a couple of weeks ago, first time there, and we were shocked at how much everything cost. My daughters had a very small pizza, 2 breadsticks, and 2 pops for lunch, it was $17.00. Plus it was $10.00 to park, isn't that a little pricey. The coasters were fun, but it was just too expensive for ev everything.

 

[ohanafamily]

This thread kind of gives people a reason to move up from cars 3 & 4!!!

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by ohanafamily
This thread kind of gives people a reason to move up from cars 3 & 4!!!

Not if you're into many more things than theme parks. Besides there are other nice parks out there in my opinion. Six Flags and the Disney parks are just two extremes.

 

[jscharf]

The Six Flags in New Jersey has always been pretty clean when I've been there. I think it just depends on the type of people working there.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

I think it depends on the park manager and staff. The right type of leadership improves everything. I see people sitting around at SFGA, doing absolutely nothing. It's clearly a management problem to me.

 

[OhMari]

This year there have been stories of Great America being down 20% in attendance, and they are offering 2 for 1 passes at the entrance. I would rather they just swept the lot once and awhile. [/B][/QUOTE]



What, I've been waiting all summer for a price bargain to go to Great America. Doesn't it scare you that if Six Flags can't keep their parks cleaned, are they really maintaining their rollercoasters?

 

[primax]

Originally posted by gemini1029
We went to SFGA a couple of weeks ago, first time there, and we were shocked at how much everything cost. My daughters had a very small pizza, 2 breadsticks, and 2 pops for lunch, it was $17.00. Plus it was $10.00 to park, isn't that a little pricey. The coasters were fun, but it was just too expensive for ev everything.

Well it is obvious you didn't stop in Jersey City area and NY ghettos to pick up all your discount coupons to get in for $5.00

God damn bus trips, 4 seat passenger cars that fit 20, coupons, turnpike - has made SFGAdventure a resort for criminals.

 

[barbeml]

Primax--you are sooooooooo right. We are often driving on 195 when SFGA lets out. (Gotta learn NOT to do that!) We've seen a lot of LOW-RIDING vehicles stuffed with people. I think they've got a few passengers in the trunks.