SFGAm 2013 Updates 9/14 Update

[steve0145]

I would of hoped that they would have used them someplace else in the park.

[Ace]

^Where else in the park would you use ticket booths?

[FParker185]

besides that, I don't think they could have been moved without extreme cost. They are/were cast concrete. Besides that they were in pretty bad shape, you could see even on the outside that most of the wood was rotted and paint peeling everywhere which allows moisture in causing all sorts of unseen damage.

[NightRider785]

Gonna look strange there this season with those gone... I don't remember anything else ever being there. What year were those ticket booths put in?

[PfightingPolish]

On the one hand, part of Great America's charm is the fact that a significant amount of the infastructure from the Marriott era, and all the attention to detail that went into designing the park in the first place, is still around. I'm no architecture expert, but Carousel Plaza, Hometown Square, County Fair and, to a certain extent, Yankee Harbor all kind of have sort of a Queen Anne, Stick-style theme to them (I had to do some Googling to figure that out), with the wood latticework and decorative roof facades and whatnot. Throw in some bright colors and plenty of red, white and blue you have something that both feels like a nod to history and fun at the same time.

The gates fit that so well and it's kind of sad to see them go. No way Six Flags would take the time to construct anything that detailed now.

On the other hand, if they were rotting and falling apart, they were rotting and falling apart and something had to be done. And it sounds like moving or fixing them was cost prohibitive. Plus, it sounds like the new gates will be more modern and might move entry along a little faster. What'cha gonna do.

[FParker185]

The ticket booths were original to the park.

[NightRider785]

I kinda figured they were. Too bad that repair wasn't an opinion.

[FParker185]

I think part of it is that the concept of tickets being sold at parks is outdated. If I had to take a guess, I'd say probably less than 20% of people buy their tickets at the park, especially with a $20+ savings simply by buying a ticket ahead of time on the SF website. Though it's under the guise of a new coaster, you'll notice Cedar Point is doing the exact same thing, getting rid of all the ticket booths in favor of a more out of the way sales building.

[DeathbyDinn]

I'm hoping that that the new metal detectors will have some sort of cover that is reminiscent of the ticket booths.I'm worried that they'll pull a classic Six Flags and just do whatever's cheapest than spending a little to make it look nice.

[PfightingPolish]

I think part of it is that the concept of tickets being sold at parks is outdated. If I had to take a guess, I'd say probably less than 20% of people buy their tickets at the park, especially with a $20+ savings simply by buying a ticket ahead of time on the SF website.

True, but I still think you could have found purposes for the structures. Keep a couple manned ticket booths, sure, but maybe convert a couple to automated ticketing kiosks, or interactive park information & data centers. Maybe have one or two devoted to platinum pass processing. Imagine getting your pass processed before you even go in the park -- I bet families who have kids who are excited to go ride stuff and would rather not wait in line inside the park for a picture and a piece of plastic might love that.

If they weren't in such bad shape, I think enterprising minds could have found a use for them. But, poor maintenance and upkeep, along with a lack of ingenuity in that regard, equals the picture on the last page.

I'm hoping that that the new metal detectors will have some sort of cover that is reminiscent of the ticket booths.I'm worried that they'll pull a classic Six Flags and just do whatever's cheapest than spending a little to make it look nice.

Your hopes. Don't get them up.

[FParker185]

Well in the new entrance plaza there will be a new multiple-window single-queue ticket sales area which technically should be more efficient.

In the end I think it's more important to preserve what's inside the park that everyone sees often rather than what's outside the park that technically is seen once and that's all. Plus now they can have more metal detectors then they have gates which allows for higher throughput, and they can open the checkpoint before the park and get everyone scanned ahead of time so when the park opens it's a simple matter of scanning a ticket and allowing admittance rather than each line moving really slow due to people having to be scanned after showing their admission.

Also after 1999 when they town down the fairly transparent wrought iron gates to the park and built their plywood palace entrance, I don't think anyone noticed anymore that the ticket booths were built in the exact same style as Columbia Carousel, so that aspect was rendered a moot point. The whole entrance plaza was no longer a "part" of carousel plaza.

[steve0145]

It would have been nice to save the two end one's just to get the theming started for the park. I am sure there will be no theme with the new system. I real hope it does not look like a entrance to a prison or some factory entrance.

[PfightingPolish]

In the end I think it's more important to preserve what's inside the park that everyone sees often rather than what's outside the park that technically is seen once and that's all.

The entrance is the first thing you see that you consider "park," so making a first impression that is consistent with your park's brand would make sense. And yes, while you only see it twice (on the way in and on the way out), it's the first and last thing you see, so it leaves a lasting impression. But, again, you're right on the efficiency and experience ultimately being better, so I won't say it shouldn't have been done -- it was time for an upgrade, no doubt. Just a bit of a bummer, that's all.

I real hope it does not look like a entrance to a prison or some factory entrance.

If it's understated, then you probably will just get a good view of Columbia and Carousel Plaza, which is picturesque enough. I think it'll be OK.

[DeathbyDinn]

Well there's at least one ride getting painted!

[PfightingPolish]

Surprised this made it to the Facebook site but not here yet:



The new entrance ... I actually have some hope for it.

[gottastrata33]

Whoa Superman looks dark, as in repainted... I havent been on here in almost a year so is this true or am I actin a fool?!

[Coaster Justin]

It's fresh paint compared to Six Flags Over Georgia. Their Superman is more Pink than red. Looks more like Penelope Pitstop- Ultimate Flight than Superman.

[PfightingPolish]

Looks more like Penelope Pitstop- Ultimate Flight than Superman.

If there was a Facebook-esque 'Like' button here, I would like this post, just for the chuckle that such an obscure reference brought to my being.

Bravo, sir.

[Coaster Justin]

Looks more like Penelope Pitstop- Ultimate Flight than Superman.

If there was a Facebook-esque 'Like' button here, I would like this post, just for the chuckle that such an obscure reference brought to my being.

Bravo, sir.

It was the only Pink character I could think of. Either that or Mr. Bubbles Ultimate Flight

[Goku1910]

Surprised this made it to the Facebook site but not here yet:



The new entrance ... I actually have some hope for it.

Photoshop fakery. Superman is "too red"

[CMV]

The layout actually looks interesting in that shot. Too bad we know better.

[DeathbyDinn]

There will be an exclusive showing of Screams and Dreams 3 at 12pm for season pass holders opening day.

[Coaster Justin]

I'll run to that after Batman Backwards.

[ZForce Rider]

The entrance is the first thing you see that you consider "park," so making a first impression that is consistent with your park's brand would make sense. And yes, while you only see it twice (on the way in and on the way out), it's the first and last thing you see, so it leaves a lasting impression. But, again, you're right on the efficiency and experience ultimately being better, so I won't say it shouldn't have been done -- it was time for an upgrade, no doubt. Just a bit of a bummer, that's all.

This is a great statement and I whole-heartedly agree. It's sad to see those original booths being bulldozed. Something more efficient was needed, but you have to consider that those booths were original to the park when it was built. Hopefully they do something to pay homage to the original style. Marriott was about the whole guest experience and creating an environment to be immersed in. That type of thinking is long gone. I'd bet money the target demographic today could care less what the entrance or anything else looks like.

[FParker185]

While not the target demographic, the majority of the demographic that goes... If they can't vandalize it in some way shape or form, then they have little to no interest in it.