park attendance

[chester016]

Im going to be going to the park on either August 8th or 15th. I am curious as to how the crowds have typically been and how operations have been during the middle of the week. I have heard very mixed reviews on how crowds have been this summer. In addition, I have been hearing Raging bull has been on 2 train op and Superman has had 1 train op quite frequently. I am wondering if anyone can give advice on how busy it will likely be, how operations will be, and whether I should by the flash pass ahead of time or not.

[Johnny.Ink]

If you are only going one time this season, I'd reccomend getting a flash pass. The crowds have been wacky to say the least.

During the week I have seen crowds and then it be dead. It's hard to predict the crowds at this point.

[onyxhotel08]

#1 Nobody has a crystal ball that can predict crowds. I went in June on a Sunday and it was pretty much dead when all rides were under 45 minutes all day.
#2 July/August and then October are always the worst. August you will have people making last minute trips before school starts and before HH closes for the season. Late August is better than early. Labor Day is busy but not too much.
#3 If you really want to ride everything, plan what and when. Do not waste money on a flash pass if the lines will be under an hour.

[BURTONxBLUNT]

This year has been wacked with crowds. I went today and lines were all under 30 mins besidesw superman(45) and than there have been other days i have gone that lines have been under an hr. You might want to wait a bit and see if the parking lot is filling up if it dont look like it than no need for one and sometimes flash passes arnt worth it depending which one you buy cause just the normal flash pass is somewhat wrong because ive gotten one before and said a line was 1hr 45 mins and it was like 10 mins

[woohoodude11]

Went at around 5 on Tuesday and the back parking lot was less than 5% full, but the front lot was at around 80% (weird?). Only rode three rides (Eagle, X-flight, and bull) and waited no longer than 10 minutes for anything (Eagle was a walk-on). The midways had a decent amount of people, but I'm assuming that was people departing Hurricane Harbor. These crowds have been wacky to say the absolute least, but I said it earlier this year even when the crowds are heavy its nowhere near what I remember it. I haven't seen the first queue house open for Bull all year.

[ragingbull1331]

The last time I went was June 15th and the park was packed during the afternoon. I didn't even stay for coasters after dark because everything was an hour wait. I'll be going later today so hopefully the crowds aren't bad.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Rule #1: Do NOT go to the park on a Coasters After Dark day, or to the event itself. *

* The only exception to this rule is if the park has a CAD on a weekday in May.

[rb1]

Oh just dont worry about the crowds and have fun and ride whatever rides you wanna ride since you're thinking buying a flashpass youre really gonna have fun. I dont even buy a flashpass and still get to ride all the rides when its busy so have a six flags day so dont worry about a thing just relax and have fun if u got the time go to HH have fun.

[sfgam#1]

^ Rule #1: Do NOT go to the park on a Coasters After Dark day, or to the event itself. *

* The only exception to this rule is if the park has a CAD on a weekday in May.

Coasters after dark Wasn't bad when I went!!! It was actually fun. I didn't show up till 6 because I knew it would be crowded. At first it was kinda crowded then when all the non season pass holders left everything was about a 15-20 min wait. And during those 2 hours We got on all the major coasters. But the longest wait's were for the flats (Giant drop had a 35 min wait )

[tribar]

^When did you go

[Luxornv]

^ Rule #1: Do NOT go to the park on a Coasters After Dark day, or to the event itself. *

* The only exception to this rule is if the park has a CAD on a weekday in May.

Coasters after dark Wasn't bad when I went!!! It was actually fun. I didn't show up till 6 because I knew it would be crowded. At first it was kinda crowded then when all the non season pass holders left everything was about a 15-20 min wait. And during those 2 hours We got on all the major coasters. But the longest wait's were for the flats (Giant drop had a 35 min wait )

The one they had in June was pretty bad. A few coasters were under a half hour wait, but most lines were about an hour. It was a far cry from one of the events last year where I remember being the only person on the train for Demon and everything else being no more than a 5 train wait.

[UWW-10]

This insane heat wave the midwest is suffering through this summer also impacts attendance. Yes, HH gets extremely busy but there are people (much like myself) who can't be in the excessive heat for medical, personal, or whatever other reason it might be. I choose not to be insane and venture out in these temperatures if I don't have to. If people know that it's that hot and humid, they just aren't going anywhere unless it involves a/c.

Looking at other midwest parks, you're seeing some of the same trends.

[Sporlo]

I was there July 17, and it was 95-99 all day while the sun was up. The attendance actually increased (based on my amateur observations only) around sunset time. The flumes had the longest lines by far. Not sure why, but we waited for Clipper for over 45 minutes. They became walk-ons well before sunset.

[BURTONxBLUNT]

Went again yesterday! the waterpark had some lines but theme park again was not long at all besides superman. Eagle was walk along with demon and log flume around 5-7. Raging bull was only around 20 mins and xflight took us 50 mins(sat up front) then around 6 the rides closed due to inclimate weather. That passed and were open around 630 and there were no longer than 20 min wait until 8 when the rides were shut down again due to inclimate weather and we stuck around to see if it would pass and never did. poaring rain from 9-10:/ still surprised that the park wasnt even that bad AGAIN! going again the 31st if its not crowded i wonder what is going on with the park. Oh and i forgot we were talking to security guard at Xtreme pass entrance to Waterpark and he was saying past few days the water park reached only 4000 people and theme park had only 8-10,000 people in it. Not alot of people this weather is killing the parks buisness

[Ilovthevu']

I really wonder how many of the general public really like X-Flight. That's supposed to be the main draw to the park. I have a heard a family while on Superman say that they thought it hurt which is my opinion. They were definitely not enthusiasts because they thought Superman was only a few years old. I heard other people say it was boring.

Forget X-Flight for a bit, and I think the last great addition was the Tornado, and the year before that was the waterpark. Tornado was 2005. Now, someone might say what about Little Dipper? Wasn't that a great addition, or you don't think it was a great addition because you don't like kids rides... Blah, blah.. I think Little Dipper was an okay addition, but the problem with Six Flags philosophy was that they wanted the kids that went to Kiddieland to come to Six Flags Great America. The problem with that is that Kiddieland was a really cheap park - around $20 with free parking and free drinks plus they had kids prices. Not many "toddlers" come to Great America because it's expensive for the parents to get in, and they don't have much rides to go on. That's why there WAS a Kiddieland. Parents didn't mind paying $20 compared to $60. So, to me the plan didn't work that good because of the price really for parents that come with the toddlers.

Before 2004, I think Superman was the next great addition. Enthusiasts might not think so, but that line is still pretty long for being a 9 year old ride. So, the question is are the previous additions hurting / aren't really helping the park in general, and is X-Flight to the general public really a great ride like a lot of enthusiasts think?

You can also talk about Dark Knight's disappointment to a lot of people (Sure, it gets some people, but I think there was a lot of disappointment from that ride- from people expecting too much), and the barely any lines for Buccaneer Battle. Even the new waterpark additions last year, I sort of think of them as a flop. The regular pool is the most packed of the new additions, but really anyone could just go to their local pool for $5 if they really want to just go in a pool. The body slides basically have no lines, and Tantrum has a line, but it's small, and no way as big as the Tornado ride. You also expect a lower height requirement than the Tornado because it's so much smaller, but it isn't that much of a difference.

[UWW-10]

^ Considering everything in the park was at one time a previous addition, I'm not sure how they have hindered the park in any way. The park constantly gets rid of the things that hinder them. It's not like they threw a dart on the map and it landed on IW.

The park had a slower year because of the insane weather....some of you make it sound like they are going to pack their bags and leave the place sit! I'm sure the park has noticed a decline and I'm also sure they aren't running around like little children with their hands in the air screaming bloody murder either. I would be on the look out for an incline in attendance the next 2 weeks as the Read To Succeed Tickets usually expire after the first week of August.

[rb1]

I'm sure its just the superhot weather hurting attendance people just dont want to wait in line when its 100 degrees outside. Xflight is a good addittion to the park I think the only reason the wait time is low sometimes its because they got a good crew and the ride is not that long. I would wait till the weather gets better attendance would probly pick up fright fest is just around thr corner so I wouldnt be suprised if the park gets packed. As for the stuff that they add to the park every new season were just lucky we still get something even if some people dont like them

[Ilovthevu']

I was there July 17, and it was 95-99 all day while the sun was up. The attendance actually increased (based on my amateur observations only) around sunset time. The flumes had the longest lines by far. Not sure why, but we waited for Clipper for over 45 minutes. They became walk-ons well before sunset.

The reason for that is because everyone leaves the waterpark, plus maybe after people left the waterpark, they went out of the park to eat, and came back. What I noticed they have been doing is that on really hot days, they have been extending the time for the waterpark for certain attractions. I don't know what certain attractions they are allowing open (I have feeling the stuff they are closing is in the back of the park - Wahoo Racers & that tube slide complex), but if it's really hot outside (I would say at least 90), I think they would extend the waterpark hours till 7 pm. If they did extend it 7 pm on that day, and people didn't leave the regular park, they probably started going on rides around Southwest Territory because people usually go on the first thing they see. Plus, just because the park closes at 7 pm, doesn't mean that everyone leaves at 7 pm. People have to change / take showers, so I would say most of the park is left at 7:20 pm if again it was extended.

[Coastermonkey61]

I'm heading there Monday and I have no idea what to expect. It's been a weird year.

[BURTONxBLUNT]

I'm heading there Monday and I have no idea what to expect. It's been a weird year.

To be honest it has been.....was there the 31 and the lines were 60+ mins......here today and lines are 60+ from what I see......but then ive been here before on a Saturday n there were 30+ mins wait and on weekdays mostly were walk right on so really this year has been wacked

[DejaVu2001]

Right now, we are in the final days of the Read To Succeed tickets which expire on August 12th. So if you go to SFGAm before August 12th expecting anything less than 60-120 minute waits, "you're gonna have a bad time"

[Ilovthevu']

^I was reading some website, and they said that ONE group of Read to Succeed ends on August 5th, and the other group ends on August 12th. I have no idea why they have 2 groups though??

[DejaVu2001]

^It appears you are correct.

Six Flags Great America (Wave 1): June 11 - August 5, 2012
Six Flags Great America (Wave 2): June 18 - August 12, 2012

http://readtosucceed.discoveryeducation.com/faq.cfm

Great, just great. Lets spread the Hell.

[BURTONxBLUNT]

^^^that is ok with me cause the 14th we have the ERT for X-flight least them tickets will be expired and wont be "as" packed

[bucks699]

Would anyone happen to know how crowds are on weekends in September?