Still Great, or Great Letdown? Six Flags Great America - My Experience (June 2023)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- In June 2023, I revisited one of my favorite Six Flags parks, but the day left me with mixed feelings once I left the park. This is my experience.
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He even wore his RMC shirt 😭
Sofie's one or two word coaster breakdowns are why I love these. "Unexplainably Awesome" is the best thing I ever heard...😂
I love that you try to protect Sophie from the janky rides. A+ parenting!
I love seeing raging bull getting some good reviews for once. It is my number 5 coaster. And I've been getting awesome rides on it recently.
I feel like Sf Great America is one of the few parks where the RMC could be closed and you can still have a good day
What about Hersheypark
@@sendyboi7028 I would say that cedar point and magic mountain
Fiesta also has a good supporting cast besides iron rattler
It seems like for most parks this is possible. Maybe not Kolmarden or Fun Spot ATL...
@@Mr.Yeast2Fiesta's 2nd best is the RMC Raptor Wonder Woman so that would be brutal if both were closed.
this is my home park and let me tell you man...their ops and staffing issues are becoming a problem unfortunately. Sorry to hear you weren't able to get on Goliath :(
My favorite flat ride, Condor, has been closed all freaking summer!
the waterpark is way worse. the trapdoor slides there have been closed all season
With this being my home park I’m glad you guys enjoyed it! The Eagle is my favorite in the park! Glad you like the bull so much it’s a great hyper!
SFGAm has been my home park forever, and I’ve already been there this year more than any other year. I have a few takes.
The park has made a lot of small improvements this year that I appreciate. Hot water, better food, faster food service, paint, more benches, shade, etc. But their operations have taken a huge hit. And the crowds have not been behaving and giving the park bad publicity. So overall, it’s a net negative this year, but I’m not overly mad. Maintenance is so far behind and has been playing catch up all year (not their fault). Loggers Run ~just~ opened for the season and Condor still isn’t ready to go. Bull’s third train is nowhere in sight and it’s almost August. Staffing has been sub par. The water park wasn’t even open daily at the start of summer, I’ve only seen Sky Trek Tower run three times since it reopened. Demon was weekends only, and then was open for a couple weeks on weekdays, and now it’s been broke for around a month. Mardi Gras Hangover hasn’t been open in months. I assume it has been a decision not to operate it instead of some kind of breakdown and that it will be removed like a lot of them in the chain, but they have made no statement, and treat it like it’s only closed for “today” every day.
The best ride on Viper is row 2, with tons of room, and a loose seat belt. Most of the ride ops don’t push down, or only push down one click. The airtime is so strong and the laterals are insane. Row 3 or any last row in each car is a bit rough but not unbearable. Row 2 or middle rows run great in my opinion.
I’m 95% sure flash pass and guest relations just had no idea what you were talking about and that you still have the flash pass upgrade benefit. I have Diamond Elite and it is still in my benefits. I had a similar situation happen to me at SFOG Memorial Day weekend where they said they couldn’t do it and that it was only valid at my home park. I showed them the benefit on the app and they finally understood. They had me buy the gold and it was automatically upgraded to platinum on my phone. In years past, they had to do something on their end, but not at SFOG.
They turned the trims down on Bull this year. I’m not nearly as big on Bull as you are, but I have to admit it’s giving its best rides I’ve ever had this summer.
Good to know about the flash pass. Ive just never had this problem before travelling around to other parks
At some point in mid-June, Goliath had either its lift chain break or its lift motor burnout (I'm not sure which it was), which caused it to close for about two weeks. I think you may have been unfortunate to visit the park during that period.
Seems like it
Motor burnout. 😉
I am a 48 year old enthusiast, and it cracks me up that Sophie almost has as many credits as me.😂
I am glad I met you at the park that day!!! Sorry everything was closed 😅. Don’t know why goliath was closed that week
the editing on these videos is top tier. i love these vlogs
Really weird that goliath was closed while demon was open. Demon is almost never open and goliath is never closed along with the kiddie coasters
My biggest Six Flags let down was Magic Mountain. Last time I was there in 2021 Superman, Scream, Viper, New Revolution, Tatsu was not running and Full Throttle shut down when I was in line. That sucked. They have one more chance. If they keep it up I will go down the road to Knotts or Seaworld.
Excited to see your opinion on my home park. I love Maxx Force, Raging Bull, and Goliath. They’re all in a duel for my number one depending on the day 😂
Everything about this video was hilarious: the cuts, the memes, Sophia's DERP...😂👍
I love this park. It's definitely the Kings Island of the Six Flags chain. It doesn't seem to have any one signature ride, attraction or park attribute that stands out but it just does everything quite well. Not my favorite Six Flags park but definitely one of the best.
don't disrespect the Eiffel Tower like that lol jk. Although I would argue that The Beast is probably the signature ride of Kings Island
American Eagle and Batman were once the icons of Six Flags Great Am, but B&M inverts are pretty much at most parks now, and Eagle has really declined in 40ish years so i would agree with this assessment 100%
Soooooooo interesting to hear your opinions on my home park! Love all the videos. Sophie's reviews are so wholesome. Your video ideas are always great and I like how you take user ideas too.
I was actually there that day that you went and though I had a whole lot of fun that was the worst ive ever seen the park run in 8 years of going to the park. Great Vid!
I knew it was unusual for that park
Video suggestion : make a coaster using 1 element from every cedar point rollercoaster
Great America is my home park and the park has been struggling heavily since the park president died last year I believe. It is a park with a ton of potential but it desperately needs some TLC. But to be fair they did give viper some new track which is nice.
Oh and raging bull rocks so hard, I easily ride it 10+ time a visit it's top ten for me for sure.
If only Cedar Fair was the owner of this park instead. This “discount chain” reputation with Six Flags is a load a crap. It’s “discounted” in quality only. Still gotta pay an arm and a leg for anything.
The gift of prophecy really hit you like a freight train huh @@oceanthresher6184
i went a couple days after you and goliath was closed during my visit, but i got to experience all the other coasters so it could be way worse
This is my home park, I’ve gone 3 times this year (once in may once in June once in July) and I haven’t had much problems with closures. I’m sorry you got unlucky, but it makes sense you still had fun. Great America is an awesome park.
12:15 had me on the floor! Spectacular editing Chris.
BTW, Buy or Sell:
With the demise of the sand serpent, BGT’s next coaster with be a family-style wooden coaster along the line of Kentucky Flyer.
If this sells, would a BNM giga be an option?
I like the idea of a family friendly replacement
I am inclined to buy this theory since the park lacks a wooden coaster. On top of that, outside of Cobra's Curse and their kiddie coaster Air Grover, there is nothing that can truly be defined as family-friendly (and I believe Cheetah Hunt is intermediate family, back row ride is plain awesome, btw!) and this new wooden coaster would fill a gap in the park lineup that was missing since the closure of the original Qwazi and would provide a solid stepping stone to Cheetah Hunt.
Maxx force NEVER runs two trains and it causes it to have the worst line in the park. Demon has been closed for months, and mardi gras hasn’t opened once this season. Viper has definitely gotten rougher since last season. Sky trek tower is usually open most days now but sometimes closes after only a couple hours
Demon only opens during the weekend due to ride issues, staffing, and lack of ridership.
Sky Trek has also had issues for a few years due to the park WiFi
Apparently Maxx force runs only one train because of problems with the launchers overheating with two. If that’s the case, then the ride needs to be scraped. Such a powerful launch, yet you’re lucky to even get one ride on it when you visit.
Hope they can fix that issue soon as it can’t run two trains forever
Viper was the first time I experienced airtime and it was amazing
I wish I grew up in this era. I feel like all the best coasters were at Cedar Point or Magic Mountain when I was kid in the early 2000s. By the late 2000s and 2010 there was alot more really good coasters spread out amoung parks.
You have a beautiful family! Does your wife ever ride coasters?
My thoughts (it’s my home park):
1. That’s awful Goliath was closed! It may have been when the lift motor was broken. It was closed for like a week.
2. You’re lucky Demon was open - they haven’t had it open on weekdays.
3. Sky Trek has actually been open recently, and instead of a spiel it plays the original park theme song!
4. Don’t think Mardi Gras Hangover has been open at all recently.
5. On X-Flight the outer seat is WAY worse than the inner seat, especially on the last turn.
It has gotten so bouncy on that ending helix. But the outer seat in the back row over the drop is so worth it!
@@bschlegs99 Over or under side for back row?
@@connormagnuson6361 left wing so you get yanked over the drop
@@bschlegs99 I’ll have to try that. Thanks!
@@connormagnuson6361 hope to catch ya there one night it’s my home park as well. We can meet in the queue for x flight
I had me a Six Flags day at Great Adventure Easter 2023. Most rides were not running. They at least had Jersey Devil and Kingda Ka.
The front on Superman is just amazing for the unobstructed view
My dude, you need a front row ride on Wildcat's Revenge BADLY. I just rode it a little bit ago and it is insane. It will change your mind on this ride faster than anything
Amen!
Ive never once had a good ride in the front on an RMC
@@AirtimeThrills trust me, this is different. My ride in the back was ok, but the front row ride made it a top 15 coaster for me
@@AirtimeThrillsI had an awesome front row ride on Goliath this last time, got assigned there and it still brought the short amount of eliteness as usual.
Seems like a pretty solid park!
blud
I'm curious about the walk you took to the park at the beginning of this video; I stayed at La Quinta a suites to the NorthWest of the park, but and also found two ways to leave; the other being the main entrance and exit to the east; the conventional way cars take. It easier way to exit the park at the end of the day to walk a mile east to get quality beer at a good price and back again; better than going back to the hotel 1st which is out of the way.
Raging Bull is to my by far the best coaster in the park and I rode it 50 times in 3 hours Sunday June 4th 2022 as a single rider and was surprised that it was even better than Nitro at at SFGA N.J. which is longer, taller faster than Raging Bull, but inferior. I even noticed on my 1st ride which I deliberately rode for the very 1at time in the middle of the train: Row 5, I was surprised that the twisted drop to the left after the 1st camelback provided airtime in row 5. Since I was new at the park and didn't know the rules yet: to be courteous: I went back in line again to ride the front row. In extended that courtesy for my third ride where I rode the back row. By then I decided to do what I'd done at SFGA N.J. and just stay in the station as a single rider looking for empty seats. Consider: I was thinking: it was a Sunday and I had another 4 days there, so I figured it'd be best for me to stay back there in the station. Sure enough I got 50 rides on Raging Bull in 3 hours. (similar to what happened to me a week earlier on Nitro at the other SFGA!) The only B&MS I prefer that I've ridden to Raging Bull so far are are Behemoth, Diamondback and Fury 325. I've ridden Orion and Leviathan and I don't even think they're as good as raging Bull!
Sophie said she had a headache after American Eagle. Best not to question a girl whose excuse is a headache @ 10:31; it's no way to talk to your own 10 year old daughter, creep... ...You know she knows what she's doing. 😉I wonder who taught her that? Don't worry about it: Better to keep a watch on Demon Amy, she's probably already learned how to make $20 each time had an accident on your chest. It's just what babies do apparently: poo in all the wrong places. If they didn't do that: they wouldn't need diapers, am I right?
Please don't worry: I kid. I'm musician 1st and a comedian 2nd, with Coaster 'thusie coming in a distant 3rd at best. I only have 153 credits, all but 18 of which I've gained since May 21st 2018 when I was a young 48 year old baby myself. Thanks for what you've done and for being inspired by Canada Coaster Fan a.k.a. Ryan Clarke. But I must implore: Keep an eye on your daughters; if not: Sophie will bankrupt your ass with the accusation that "Daddy was Jankey!" You have been warned. 😑
Make great America great again!
When someone younger than me (if only by months) claims to be old 😭
Truth hurts
@@AirtimeThrills I don’t come to this channel for a reality check.
I’ve been there twice this summer and going this Sunday. I’d say it hasn’t changed much in the last 4 years. That’s not a bad thing though. Park always seems clean and it’s always a very enjoyable experience. And as far as I know, the giant drop has been closed all season. As for the 1 train ops, the ride ops are saying that it apparently makes operations faster. I have no idea how lol
We went here for the first time this June and I had great rides on Max, Goliath, Viper, American Eagle. Viper was great I’m the back row and Raging Bull absolutely blew me away in the backseat. I was so excited by how much airtime Raging Bull has! It may have a twister layout but every hill in the backseat was elite
You can get Amy’s train credit at the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union, Illinois. It’s the largest railroad museum in the country.
SFGAm tip: go when the weather is supposed be to be hot or on June 1-5 because everyone is still in school. Park was dead when I went yesterday (as of writing this comment) and everything was less than a 30 minute wait (even maxx force). Everything was open and running great. Idk why MF is on on train, but it sucks.
Edit: Eagle in the very back right seat is the best.
12:25 Yes, there are now stops between Glenview and the Illinois state line on the line closest to the park-yet Amtrak runs on it, shouldn't be that hard to start Metra service to the state line (that I actually checked maps to see if it would make sense to put the stop in Wisconsin or keep it in Illinois). You can call it the Metra C&M Line because that's how they names lines based on the actually name of the tracks they run on as opposed to their destination or an S-Bahn system (no scheduled trains through run in Chicago, which feels out of place for the city being such a major hub, there should at least be 16 regional trains in addition to Long Distance service between Milwaukee and Indianapolis (with three branches on each end, although two on the Upper side serve the Twin Cities)
It'd probably be a branch of the Milwaukee District - North line, with the line splitting at Rondout. I don't really see the branch continuing past Gurnee, because after that you have large gaps between potential stations, and even those potential stations aren't particularly promising.
During June goliath was closed for about a week because the lift motor broke, so they replaced/fixed it
Viper has been running really good this year. Seems like it's running faster than the last few years.
That’s debatable, I’ve actually heard more complaints about it
The ride has a literal pothole one the third hill that tries to throw you out of the ride lol
@@Galarticuno been on it a few times this year. Have not felt any pothole thats noticeable.
That was me on the xflight microphone at 13:30. 😂😂
Love your content. This is my home park. I been very disappointed every time i been there this year. Something is always down. Was recently there and whizzer, demon, eagle, rapids and loggers run were all down. I don't understand what is going on there. I don't know if its staffing or what. But it's been a letdown. Completely different from the way this park used to be Pre Covid.
I thought my trip in 2021 was great. But i know what you mean, this has always been one of the best run six flags parks
@@AirtimeThrills yeah it used to be a great park. But not anymore. Think it’s because of all the fights and whatnot happening there now. It’s very disappointing.
I think you went on a bad day, Goliaths lift chain broke and normally every time I've went the park was running well. Eagle opening up at 12:30 is normal, the sky trek tower has been open most days. Larson loop is closed for the season. Maxx force only runs one train because it significantly helps with down time I guess. Train is always a hit or miss with that crew.
You mean the park is run badly
@@Ryanishere78 no i have gone like 5 times this summer and the operations are great but somedays things like what happened in the video happens, i mean what do you expect? disneyland or universal operations in a six flags park?
@@lincoln2408 good operations can be possible but they fail at it
@@Ryanishere78 I wouldnt say failed, like i said originally ive been at the park like 3-5 times this year and the operation have been decent
wait huh? lol She has nearly 200 coasters but didnt ride a wing coaster till now??
did you never take her to holiday world, dollywood, nor cedar point??
I'm glad Sophie was brave enough for Maxx Force. And I like how she called the Dark Knight coaster a buzzkill and how the Buzzkill video got referenced(I actually listened to that again a couple of days ago).
You like a lot of what a 11 year old does.
YoU pedophile
I’m so glad they removed the Larson loop at discovery kingdom
What day were you there? I went there June 18th and Goliath was also closed the whole day and max force ran one train.
SFGAm has always been my home park and I think it’s an above average park. Ops are mediocre and the coasters are quantity over quality. Most of them are clones. I'm surprised by how much you like Raging Bull. It ranks at the bottom of my hyper list. With all that said I'm glad SFGAm is my home park. Too bad so many rides were closed especially the best in the park Goliath. I think Sophie would have liked it a lot based on how much she liked Maxx Force. Hopefully your next visit is much better.
They have the OG Batman with great theming...what else would be a clone?
You can look at rcdb, but I'll lis them here. Batman: The Ride, Dark Knight, Demon, Flash: Verical Velocity, Joker, Little Dipper, Sprocket Rockets, Superman: Ultimate Flight, Viper, and Whizzer(The other at CGA is long defunct so this coaster is a unique experience).
Here's the defunct/relocated clone list.
Deja Vu, Gulf Coaster, Ragin' Cajun, Rolling Thunder, Shockwave, and Tidal Wave.
SFGAm formerly had and currently has original coasters that were cloned later on so you can't hold that against them. Still diminishes the overall collection a bit. Most of the rides are still fun regardless so can't complain too much.
Flash Pass upgrade/discount only works at home park with Diamond Elite?? Say it isn’t so! Sounds like that hasn’t always been the case, I completely forgot I had those perks until last summer. I was just here at SFGAm 3 days ago and almost got myself and my father flash passes but it was a pretty slow day. And Batman was running amazingly!! I was at SFMM twice this year and Batman was just ok, but it was absolutely out of control here!! Possibly the greatest ride I’ve ever had on a Batman clone (errr, the original Batman 🤣)
X-Flight and Superman Ultimate Flight are my favorites❤
My guy….you can ride viper and American eagle and be happy, and then you ride x-flight and THATS what did you in? Great America is my home park…. I’m baffled
1-2 of the top coasters at Six Flags STL have been closed on every one of my visits this year. And there are signs up about school causing staffing issues or something. What is it with CEOs and running businesses into the ground and somehow they profit off of that? (the CEO, not the business. Why let something be good and fun and provide well-paying jobs for people who want to help people have fun, when you can scrape a few million off of false promises to investors then run to another company when you fail?) The sole reason we go to your parks is to have fun on as many rides as possible! Closing rides to save money should be the last thing you do! It's not that hard of a concept.
Viper is such an underrated gem, I enjoyed it more than Goliath on my last visit
So I work there and a couple days before you went goliaths lift motor broke so it was closed for like 2 weeks and you unfortunately went during that time
I went here last year and my favorite ride was either Superman or X-Flight❤.
This year I'm going to Cedar Point for the first time😊.
I was operating Maxx Force and saw you, don’t know if you remember but I complimented your t-shirt.
Six flags magic mountain is run terribly. Not sure how great America is but my home park great adventure has most rides open and multiple trains running on the coaster. I guess each six flags park varies.
B&M hypers are a dime a dozen 😭😭 me trapped in California with Goliath 😤
I'm a local and think the park probably has one of the 5 best collections in the country, but its still lacking a truly first tier coaster. goliath is great but way too much of a tease after riding longer RMCs, and raging bull has maybe aged a little and the trims don't help. the original batman, x-flight, viper, and maxx force are all good coasters but still second tier.
I know you said Apollos first drop wasn’t that insane. However I personally think it’s a good element. If raging bull is a more insane version of that element. I could only imagine
Yeah for some reason apollos just doesnt hit the same
This is a great park. Went to the sister park in California not as good. We even left early. Love your vogs. Just wish I could ride all the rides. I’m too tall and the rides are very uncomfortable. I agree one of the best parks in the country.
Airtime thrills is the type of guy to speed over a speed bump to get ejector airtime 😂
rumor is that maxx force is on permanent 1 train ops. The other train is stored in the dark knight ride.
I’m so upset I was at the park last Friday wish I could’ve saw you
Six Flags loves to constantly make new rules just to confuse people.
Your future knees will thank you for walking on grass once in a while!
In some ways I find it better than magic mountain
Ex: I recall Demon being surprisingly smooth
@@ashtonbrown4318 When I rode it a few weeks ago it was pretty smooth. Only bad part were the janky transitions.
You should make a top 25 and Sophie’s 25 and see if your favorites are remotely close
Viper is a fantastic woodie. The first time I rode it years ago I didn’t understand it but I have come around now
Also sorry about all the ops issues and closed rides. The park is really struggling this year. Any given day 5-10 attractions not operating.
Goliath was closed because the lift motor broke. It opened few days later
I think Amy might be my new favorite character.
I remember that intro
As a ride operator at Sixflags, I can confirm that MaxForce only ever runs oops, a change in SOP makes them no longer allowed to run 2 trains
@@patrickholland4708 Standard Operating Procedures, I wanna say.
You should go back to great Adventure
2024 for sure
You really are such an amazing father ❤
At least demon had airtime,smoothness I think not.
I feel like you're cursed with more rainy park days than most people 😂 That could also be good luck tho because sometimes rain brings shorter lines
A lot of enthusiasts seem to endeavor to go when there's some rain in the forecast (but not enough to shut everything down), for that reason.
And some coasters are better in the rain. My last ride on the Yankee Cannonball was a rain ride and it was pretty good!
So is it time for Sophie to meet Tatsu now?
Commercials hit right before they get in line to go on American Eagle. I'm assuming they needed the extra time to hike through the queue.
Hahaha accurate
They were fixing the chain on Goliath so it was out of commission for a week or so
Never ride row 3 in a woodie (Viper) unless you want a wild painful ride! I hope I wasn't the guy who said to ride it! I often tell people to ride Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach in Green Bay in row 3! That's of the wildest!
When will SFGAm ever redo the Eagle so that BOTH trains can run?
Great America is my home park but Goliath’s lift motor burnt out and was out for two weeks.also maxx force is only one train because the other one tore its self apart. It is sitting under dark night right now. But I am glad you enjoyed everything else. The only reason I know that because I know alot of people that work there.
Great America is my home park, and it's VERY feast or famine. You either get a great day with everything or most rides open OR you get a 2019 Six Flags Fiesta Texas day.
My sister made those demon trains look good
great america is my home park, demon has been closed all summe
Edit: it has been closed down for all of july and i’ve gone about 7 times and still hasn’t opened one day in july
It opened for me though
@@AirtimeThrillsjune it was mostly open but it is closed for the entire july, i don’t really care that it’s closed because that thing gives me a migraine
Same for Hangover. I've gone regularly this season and it hasn't been open once
Yeah...I got on row 3 of viper...my bad. Hahaha
Great video
Damn you got lucky! We were there on Wednesday July 26, and Demon was closed! Demon is my favorite ride at the park!!
It makes me kind of mad that demon was running for you, because I’ve been there 5 times in the last few weeks (it’s my home park) and it’s never open and I honestly kind of love it
Since they got Rapids and Tower open consistently earlier this month, they've been running Demon much less frequently.
Viper is def better in the back.
What places do u generally recommend to park at for free? I dont feel like paying $40 to park somewhere where they dont paint rides
I guess it just depends on where you sit because I say towards the front of viper and it was one of the roughest coasters I have ever ridden for me
Goliath was getting its lift motor replaced in June, unfortunately. It reopened early July
Your daughter, Sophie, Airtime Thrills has more coaster credits than me, which is a bit embarrassing, also your kids are REALLY really cute.
I get to go to Magic Mountain for my first time on Monday. Have any tips for a first time visitor??
Go to cw instead
@@Canadas_Wonderland_Nerd not how that works lol
@@anonymouscoasterenthusiast it is how it works