The Problem with Six Flags Great America
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2023
- I recently took a trip to Six Flags Great America for the first time. I was thrilled to get some new coaster credits, but I noticed a huge problem with the park. This problem makes it difficult for visitors to have a fun visit and enjoy their roller coasters. If you're planning a visit to Six Flags Great America, you're going to want to watch this video. You'll be able to have a more enjoyable visit and enjoy all of the attractions! I also share my thoughts on the roller coasters and how they performed.
If you're planning a trip to Six Flags Great America, be sure to watch this video first! In it, I share with you a layout design problem that I encountered on my recent visit.
This fun visit was definitely impacted by the layout design problem, and it's something you should be aware of if you're planning a visit to Six Flags Great America.
Video Credit: Six Flags Great America CZcams channel
I know there’s many others out there, but skipping the OG Batman is a mistake IMO. Now, I may be a homer for Batman because it’s my personal favorite coaster (not the best coaster I’ve ridden, but certainly my favorite), but it’s also a must-ride because…
It’s not a clone. It’s the original. The original Batman that was incessantly cloned (but for damn good reason - it was amazing). The original B&M invert. Just imagine the coaster landscape at that time. B&M was still a fledgling coaster manufacturer with a couple years and only 3 coaster rides on their CV. And their best coaster produced at the time was the choice of a trio of B&M 1st-gen standup models (aka NOT everyone’s favorite model 😅). And they still managed to produce something next that would completely transform the future of the roller coaster industry. Six Flags Great America not only took a gamble on that fledgling company for their first ever coaster in Iron Wolf (1990), but the park GM at the time (Jim Wintrode) even came up with the idea and got Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard (and engineer Robert Mampe) to help him develop it into a revolutionary new coaster concept. THAT is a visionary GM: knowing what the park is missing and creating the idea to fill that need. And you’d be hard-pressed naming a more important and influential evolution in design in coaster history. It’s an ACE Landmark for heaven’s sake!
And that coaster is not only still in operation, but it still kicks FUQING ass! It’s my most-ridden coaster and I’ve done crazy (like 30-consecutive-rides-in-105-minutes-without-leaving-the-station crazy) marathons in literally EVERY type of weather condition imaginable (yes, including snow that turned into some momentary, mini hail during one single ride during my opening day marathon this year 😅). It’s also a terrain coaster. It’s like what sets apart the Over Georgia Superman clone from IT’S brothers and sisters…but Batman is actually GOOD. And apart from zen rides (which sometime makes Batman run super shaky - it definitely runs better with more people), Batman runs AMAZING for a ride that is so old (it’s 31 freakin’ years old 😳). I mean, a ride that is that intense that has given so many millions of rides over the years should take its toll on a ride, but it still runs relatively glass smooth (definitely smoother that some of the other inverts I’ve ridden). Its pacing is phenomenal (I’ve heard it runs faster than all of its clones - except for maybe the one at Over Georgia). It was the originator of that old-school B&M whip that imo is one of the most overpowered coaster concepts ever created. And it’s in all it’s vintage and splendor on this one. It’s limb-removing splendor.
Damn. Now I am really regretting not riding it. I did ride the other original Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure the year it came out. (1992?) I'm going to have to get back to Great America and ride the rest of the coasters, at least for the credits. Thanks for the awesome comment!
@@TSVisits You’ll get it next time. Hell, I’ll even meet up with you for a couple rides if you want. 🤙
The SFGAm Batman was the only original Batman that came out in 1992. The one at SFGAd opened the following year (1993).
Great America opened as Marriott’s Great America the year I was born so it’s been my home park all my life… whizzer and demon have been there since opening day, and American eagle a few years after. Those ride queues haven’t changed much (except eagle), and many of the other queues were built in the 80s and early 90s. Even when new coasters have replaced others, there’s not much room to work with and many of those queues remained in same places. Goliath snd Superman both use the exact same queues as their locational predecessors. The biggest issue with that park is that, very unfortunately, there is absolutely not one more inch of space to expand, as you can see on the google earth map you included. Everything is smashed in so tightly, and we can’t get any nice long track layouts or decent ride queues (raging bull being the exception to both)
Loved the video man! Just got yourself a new sub. I've noticed these issues too as this is my home park (I live 10 min away). I'd really love to see a redesign of some of these longer queues and exit paths as I'm currently in a wheel chair myself. It would open up a lot more space in the park for new attractions as well!
Thanks for the sub!
I lucked out the one time I went to SFGA and got to do everything on an empty Frightfest night. The thing that stood out to me is while they have a great collection of coasters that are surprisingly very well maintained they don't have that one standout or anything that gives me a reason to return. I actually think it's a good place for new enthusiasts to start since they have good versions of many different types of coasters. I know SF doesn't like spending money but maybe that can change with an American Eagle RMC conversion that's completely bonkers.
Interesting observation. You're right, nothing is currently a stand-out ride at the park, now that I think about it.
cough cough one intamin giga please
Interesting. It’s weird how even when these parks are operated by giant companies, there’s little design and cultural differences that remain a legacy at each park. Pretty odd that one that intersects ride design, architecture and ADA compliance would be so antiquated, as any time a ride gets built, the park has to collaborate with designers from different disciplines.
One major design criticism I have of Six Flags great America is that all of their major investments after raging bull have been 2 train operations. The lines are always so long for their main attractions and the rides are not very long in terms of duration. They need another big people eating attraction like raging bull. This could come in the form of a multi launch, a giga, a single rail clone of wonder woman, or a renovation and modernization of American eagle that allows it to run at least three trains. The park has a lot of great rides that cover pretty much every ride design category so they can’t really add anything else without cannibalizing their audience for existing attractions. If you build a better RMC what happens to Goliath? If you build a bigger better hyper what happens to raging bull? You build an intamin multi launch, max force has less demand. But unfortunately this is what they’ve done for the past 20 years is they have built these attractions with low capacity that are great but not best in class. Over georgias superman opened with 3 trains and a dual station while great america’s did not. I love the vibe of the park and think with some landscaping improvements or a front gate expansion it could be far more beautiful. The old town squares everywhere are charming and their southwest territory is actually amazing theme park design. Raging bull’s first drop looks amazing while it is front and center as you enter the land, and it dances across the rooftops of the buildings from within the land. Glad you enjoyed your visit!
My cousin Sam and I were there earlier this year. We took advantage of a special deal that got us a platinum pass cheaper than one day admission and parking would have been. It included a free fastlane pass for one ride, which we used to reride Raging Bull on our third day. At the time, the line for it was up to 1 hour 45 minutes, because Goliath, XFlight, and Superman were all down simultaneously, right at park opening, no less. Very surprised that you and I aren't irked by the same things with this park. Example: the oddball layout of the park, period. They started to make lands, and then kind of stopped. The result is weird twists and turns that are hard to navigate, and we got lost more than once. I do love SFGA, though. Some of those coasters really rate highly with me, as they did for my mom, when I was able to take her before she passed. I would be happy to talk more about my SFGA experience with you, if we can figure out how to pull that off.
Sidenote: It turned out that one of the days we were there, a black bear was loose in Gurnee! We may have driven right past him, and didn't even know.
I'm sure we can figure out a way to talk about the park, Skip. I do think the layout of the park is kind of janky, but it was less noticeable to me because Billy was showing me around. You two should meet sometime. Maybe next year we can all get together at a park.
i noticed this and wanted to tell u the park was originally owned by Marriott who themed it to be different areas in America and when six flags bought it they didn't add more theming to the areas so now it looks pretty boring in some areas
the park was also originally a circle until the western territory got added
I edited out a whole two minutes of explanation about how the two parks took different paths because of differing ownership. I had a really hard time explaining it in an interesting way and was afraid viewers would not understand how exciting and interesting it was.@@user-ol7ik3jk5b
Hi @TSVistits! I just moved from where I used live in Ohio! I’m moving to Texas! I’ll see you some other time! Take care Pal!
I'm going to miss you, little cousin. Come back for a visit sometime. And keep making awesome videos!
@@TSVisits ok buddy. I’ll come visit Some other time and I’ll still watch your videos!
Really neat video. Even with this being my home park I never realized this issue but it definitely is a big one. Also American eagle's structure cannot handle running both sides at the same time so they switch off every year since 2019 I believe. The red side is definitely a lot better.
Interesting to know. I liked that coaster a lot more than I thought I would. Given the low capacity on some of their coasters, and the long line I witnessed on that coaster, it would be great if they spent a little money and gave American Eagle some attention.
Apparently these “structural problems” with American Eagle are a myth according to a former employee I happened to be chatting with while waiting in line. Their staffing problems have just been that significant that running both sides isn’t worth it.
Nice Video!! I Subbed! 👍😃❤️🔥
Awesome. Thanks for that. I’ll try to make more that are this well thought out.
The Demon and many tube tracks suffer greatly from atmospheric swelling. The track was designed decades ago and will swell from sunlight quickly heating up sections, after a cool evening, leaving the tube track having different diameters and different places in the track. Iron Wolf, Zforce and many others had the same problem, but far worse. The difference in sizes will break down the precision fitting from the wheel cartridge to the track and cause problems and high maintenance. Trains going to slow or getting stuck is common from swelling.
Continued cool weather, or warm weather is preferred, but in part of the country, days and nights can vary by 30+ degrees. The Eagle is just old, and is in need of many improvements. One side is less warn than the other (RED). The super long skinny lines, is because this park was designed in the 70s when they wanted you in line for hours and most of those lines were hidden from view before you got into them, creating a false sense of wait time. Yes these were even before a wait time was posted. I remember going to the park and having to walk those lines in the 80s when they didn't fill up and you had to walk them, even experienced a young girl trying to climb over a railing in the Tidal wave line, who lost her balance, fell and broke her back. People tried to skip them all the time, and I agree they should have fixed and redesigned them long ago.
I would advise turning the background music down a bit. It's making it hard to hear and understand you.
I really appreciate the advice. Glad you told me.
U know that most rides don't have the spiny things its only old rides from 1900s and the clip u showed with the wide exit has stairs which is not gonna be helpful for disabled people But i do agree with the small entrence/exit problems.
I'm Sad Demon was off for you this is my home park i Agree with what you said, I have a wheelchair but luckily mine folds and I'm able to stand for a little bit, there were multiple occasions where i was going up a ramp and another chair came off, if i did not have the folding capability we wouldn't have been able to go through someone would have had to go all the way back to clear the path.
Sorry about the Demon being closed! My friend and I have a tradition to try to ride the demon as many times as we can in a row the last time we went, we went 8 times in a row but we noticed that after ride 6 it seemed extra clunky, some of the spots were acting different than before (losing speed and barely making the loops right after the drops, on the lift the cart kept shifting left to right) and we noticed that the wheel on the cart in front of ours wasn’t spinning, or even making contact. After ride 8, we found a higher up in park management who was there to oversee a shift change and told her about it, the next day, they closed the ride for the season
Dam no wonder is wasn't open when I went last time not to long ago
Duuuuuude you missed the best Batman
Regretting it as we speak...
The best Batman is at Over Georgia.
@@intuitivevisionsllcNo, this is the og Batman and the theming and landscape is very good since this ride was made for this chunk of land. Also out of all the Batman’s I have ridden, this one is the most intense and the most smooth!
Been in Chicagoland for almost 5 years, finally spent some time at SFGA this year (including yesterday) and I couldn't agree more with your criticisms. The long walks to rides is a bit overbearing, American Eagle is THE WORST!!! And the chaos of riders exiting and entering the ride is just awful and makes cycle times horrendous. Added to the fact that some rides run one train and it's a bit much on inflated wait times. No sass to the ride crews though, they were great all around, not their fault the station designs are terrible. Some of this comes from mostly visiting Disney in recent years where there aren't massive coasters (So you can take your back pack on almost every ride) and almost every ride exits in a separate area so you don't have the "stuff" pick-up/drop-off chaos issues. Overall I was impressed with the rides at SFGA, despite many being shorter or smaller due to space constraints they all pack a good punch for what they are.
great
Thanks!
I haven't been since maxx force opened in 2019 , this is my home park 💯
1 question brother, is the Superman ride gone 🤔
It's there. You can see it in the beginning of my video as we were walking towards the main entrance and then again in the background as I introduce my friend Billy.
@@TSVisits thank you brother I appreciate that, it's one of my favorite rides there
I missed it. I rode the clone at Great Adventure. It's not as bad as some people say. The pretzel is intense. Iike it. @@bruceaskew2107
i always thought that FLASH PASS was a garbage idea for any park ,. everyone who pays to go in should have to wait their turn to ride any and ALL RIDES , get rid of people who pay more to get ront of the linew privelages , ive always thought that was a stupid ass idea TO BEGIN WITH , every guest should get treated the same ,let every person wait their turn to ride ANY AND ALL ATTRACTIONS , PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!
I've been working on a video about this very subject for a while now, but it's taking a lot of time and research.
@@britt0890, I can afford it most of the time. The op might be able to also. But the only thing that makes a line cutter pass work is making sure that it is cost prohibitive. If everyone could afford it, then everyone would be buying it, and it wouldn’t work.
I’m sure some people are bitter that they can’t afford it. The majority of guests can’t. That’s the point.
B and M is Swedish now?
Oops. Sorry. They are from Switzerland. Swiss manufacturer. Thanks for the heads up.
American Eagle will never race again. A lot of people don't seem to know that
Why not?
@@wuwu1504 maintenance issues that would be too expensive and extensive. They practically have to rebuild the Helix if I understand correctly. Not worth the investment.
@@MattPerk7 Well then you'd might as well say the rest of the ride itself won't be lasting for too long either. It sucks it always been the go to ride for walk on
@@MattPerk7Well if they don’t want to get rid of it, they are eventually going to have to give it a refurb.
@@tigerrocks503chase8 at some point a very hard decision is going to have to be made. Because of the fact that the highway is wider than it was when the ride was built and zoning laws are a little bit different, at some point they're probably going to have to tear it down and build something else in that spot completely
Homie, Apollo’s chariot is the exact same coaster as Raging Bull 😅
The layouts of both rides are very different. One is a twister and one is an out and back. Other than that, they are similar. They are not clones of the other.