Who has been to these parks in MO, AR, and IL?

[BarryHom]

I was thinking of doing Patrick Con and then hitting these parks. For those that have been, what do you think of them?

Adventureland (Des Moines, IA)
Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)
Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, MO)
Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)
Celebration City (Branson, MO)
Magic Springs (High Springs, Arkansas)
Worlds of Fun (Kanas City, MO)
Santa's Village (Dundee, IL)

It's coasters, coasters, coasters this trip. 30 coasters in about a week. 1,572 miles on the rental car. Who needs historical scenery or museums? I'll visit them when I have kids or too old to ride coasters.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Michelle]

Barry, I actually WORKED for Worlds of Fun 100 years ago (okay, it was a little over 20 years ago) right after I graduated from college. I was a Marketing Rep. It's an okay park, it's no longer owned by Lamar Hunt but it does have some good coasters.

I've also been to Silver Dollar City, but again that was long ago. Definitely not a thrill ride park but interesting nonetheless.

P.S. The ONLY one of these parks that is actually IN the Ozarks is Silver Dollar City.

 

[KimRaye]

Hi Barry! Well, of course I've been to Great America Gurnee but, not in 2 years. They have the new Superman ride but, I'm sure you know that already. They have great coasters (not from my OWN experience) but, the waits in line can be awful!

And, Santa's Village is kinda a kiddie park. I'm going there Wed with DD's Pre-K class so, I'll know more after that. Otherwise, I haven't been there in AGES!

 

[becka]

Originally posted by Barry Hom
I was thinking of doing Patrick Con and then hitting these parks. For those that have been, what do you think of them?

Adventureland (Des Moines, IA)
Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)
Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, MO)
Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)
Celebration City (Branson, MO)
Magic Springs (High Springs, Arkansas)
Worlds of Fun (Kanas City, MO)
Santa's Village (Dundee, IL)

It's coasters, coasters, coasters this trip. 30 coasters in about a week. 1,572 miles on the rental car. Who needs historical scenery or museums? I'll visit them when I have kids or too old to ride coasters.

Thanks in advance!

I have been to Six Flags St. Louis, Silver Dollar City, Magic Springs and Worlds of Fun. If you are looking for coasters Six Flags is probably the best. The Mr. Freeze coaster is great (or so I heard because I am too afraid to ride it) but it also has Batman, Ninja, Screaming Eagle and a few others I can't remember the names of.

Worlds of Fun also has a few larger coasters but I have not been in many years and I don't remember the names of them.

Magic Springs was fun from what I remember but once again it has been so long that I don't even remember them having coasters. I know they were closed for a long time and only reopened in the last few years so I have no idea what it is like now.

Silver Dollar City is not like any of the other theme parks. We like it but the park is really more about the "Ozark experience" than about the rides. I don't remember any big coaster there either.

 

[Jeafl]

Well, my daughter threw up at Santa's Village just last Friday! She was on a field trip there with her class and got sick on one of the rides.

Anyway, it's basically geared to the 10 and under crowd. The coaster there is pretty mild, and the rest of the rides aren't much better than a carnival. There is also a separate water park adjacent to it. We live half an hour away and never go because it is pretty old and run down. I definitely wouldn't make a special trip to go there.

On the other hand, I LOVE Silver Dollar City. It's not a true amusement park per se, because none of the rides are very memorable. It's got craftsmen making their wares, such as blacksmiths, basket weavers, broom makers, candle makers, etc. It's got some pretty good shows too. It is more of an "experience" than a theme park, but it is a very pretty park. The landscaping is beautiful and it's very clean. It's got enough rides to keep my kids from complaining, but if it's a true amusement park experience you're after you may be disappointed.

 

[FINFAN]

Hi Barry...hit Great America in Gurnee, but as KimRaye says. SV is for the toddler crowd. That and the fact that it smells terribly like moth balls! That's about all I know about the list. DD's school is going to SF in St.Louis this weekend (she's not going ) but neighbors kids are, I'll grt the 411 from the 13 yr old point of view for you!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Six Flags has got the coasters! Mr. Freeze, Batman, and the new BIG wooden one that I can't think of the name are all good ones. Then there are several smaller ones too. There is also a new ride Xcalibur which turns and rocks back and forth.

The new park Celebration City has 2 coasters. One is wooden and one steel. Both according to my DD (who loves coasters too) are good but the steel is smaller but better. I suspect that means faster!!

Silver Dollar City has 1 real coaster, steel and really fun. The view is something as you go up the first hill. As everyone has siaid SDC is a different kind of park. It is all about themeing and we love to visit there.

We have passes to all three of these(I know it's an addiction) so if you need more info ask away!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

The last time I was in Adventureland in Des Moines was 8th grade ! From what I remember it had a couple of tame coasters. Nothing big like a Six Flags park. But that was a few years ago so.....

I was in Gurnee a couple of years ago. I think they have really good coasters. And, From what I can remember of St. Louis Six Flags, they had good coasters also.

Sorry I can't be more specific. I haven't been to a park like that in a while!

 

[December99]

DD went to Great America this past Sat and rode Superman - after an hour and a half wait mind you!!!!!! She said it was pretty good!!! Got a great pic that I don't know if I'll have time to scan and get to you but I'll try.

Barry - PM me if you decide to go to Great America.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

I've been to the 6Flags in Gurnee IL and it's a great park! They have really good coasters and quite a few too. I went on a weekday a few years ago and it got pretty crowded with some really long lines, though. With the addition of Superman, maybe that will lighten the lines on some of the older ones. Raging Bull is FAST!

 

[Micca]

Hey Barry I'm not a coaster enthusiast, but I've been to Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City. It seems there are several coasters at WOF that I hear people talk about. Also it's been many years since I went to SDC, but I remember a lot of stuff being demonstrated and sold by "authentic Ozark artisans".

 

[Bob O]

I have been to SF ST Louis alot of times and it is a nice SF park. It usually isnt too busy so the waits arent long and it has some good coasters in The Boss(great woodie) and Batman/Mr Freeze.
I go to SF GAM. often and just went today. Their new coaster-Superman is an excellant coaster and it is hard to beat the great airtime found in the back of The Raging Bull and Viper.
As long as you go and dont expect disney/Universal type atmosphere/cleaniess you should have a gfood time riding some great coasters. But dont go on weekends if at all possbile as waits can be awful with alot of foul mouthed teenagers running amok!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you Bob-O, for the Boss name. I have been thinking about that all evening. I must be getting old, not remembering the name of familiar things is a sign isn't it! It is a great coaster! It will have long lines, especially on the weekends. Your right about the teens, too! Don't expect Disney magic, it is NOT there. We always leave saying we wished we lived 30 min from Disney instead of Six Flags! The kids enjoy the rides though.

 

[Bob O]

disneycrazymom, I agree that i lived in FLA and was closer to high quality theme parks than SF parks, but i guess you all have a cross to bear!!!(lol),

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I've not been to Silver Dollar City since I was a kid, so I really don't know what its like now. Our company picnic is at Worlds of Fun every year and its an ok park, but Six Flags is definitely better. I personally don't think WOF is worth the price of admission, but to each his own. Some of the bigger coasters (only coasters really) are:

Mamba
TimberWolf
Orient Express
Boomerang

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Hey Barry!

I live right by Silver Dollar City, so I'm there all the time. They have a new steel coaster that opened last year that's pretty good! There's also a wooden one a few years old that's not half bad, either.

 

[bffttsiu]

I have been to SF in Gurnee about 10 times, good for coasters. Raging bull is fast and smooth and the Superman is an alltogether difference experience with the seats rotating so that you are facing the ground. Vertical Velocity is cool but doesn't seem to last very long. Deja Vu was way cool but it has been closed 6 out of the 8 times I have been there since it was open. Watch out for the older coasters as they can beat you up (important to keep your head back).

The Gurnee SF beats the one in St. Louis (was there last year) as far as the coaster. I will never go on the Boss again. I was sore after that one. The body takes a pounding on it. St. Louis does have a water park though which was nice since it was 100 degrees the day I was there.

I'm heading to Cedar Point this weekend to ride the new Top Thrill Dragster coaster (120 mph, 420 ft. tall). This is great park for coasters. They also have the Millenium Force (93 mph, 310 ft. tall).