SFGAm in the mid-summer

[Crombiedude]

Hey Guys.

I'm taking a group of non-enthusiasts students to SFGAm on a saturday in July, and I have a few questions...

1. What advice do u have for tackling the park?
2. Where's a GREAT place to stay around the park?
3. What fun things are there to do in Gurnee on fridays?

Any other advice for me?

[SFGA Bob]

1. go on a weekday. it gets crowded not long after opening and will stay that way until the afternoon regardless. wait that out and in the evening you should have every ride under your belt.

3. umm...besides GAm? the mall? I dunno.

[CoasterDude12-2]

1.Tuesday or Thursay. Do NOT go on the last week of Read to Succeed Tix
2. I really don't get this question. I'm usually walking/in line at the park, not staying around.
3. Go to SFGAm! But Gurnee Mills is fun too.

[ragingbull346]

My advise is to get there early before it starts grtting crowded. Also make sure you ride dejavu and raging bull.

[pennyroyalest]

I think he means what's a good place to stay that's near the park, as in lodging.

There's a section on the homepage of this site that will list all the hotels near the park.

[SixFlags4ever]

1.Start to the right and get on Whizzer first,you'll enjoy the park more after riding Whizzer.
2.I don't stay around I live 10 minutes away from Six Flags.
3.Go to Gurnee Mills on friday,it's a little crowded.


Get on Batman,Ragin Cajun,American Eagle,and Raging Bull.
Even if the line is long,it's worth the wait.

[rct2wizard360]

Well is your little group scared or the big rides?

1) If they aren't then hit Raging Bull and Deja Vu first thing during the day, these two rides get most hectic as the day goes on.

If they are...then start out small and go up. Let them define small.

2)There's a Holiday Inn right across the street, some other nice hotels in the area.

3)Just about 5 minutes away in Waukegan you can go to People's Choice Family Fun Center. It's a pretty nice arcade.

The Mall isn't all that great, from my viewpoint atleast.

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

my tips are to get there early, and hit all the big attractions first. There will be a massive line for bull almost immediately, so get to that one as soon as you can. Also, depending on how long you stay, some of the rides might have shorter lines after five. also, if you want to hit any rides that have anything to do with family, do it during the parade times, most kids are drawn to hometown square for that one. dress appropriately too, because it'll be hot. as far as other things to do, there's plenty of stuff to do at gurnee mills, and there are places to eat around there too. you can go on google and search the town of gurnee too, that may give you any ideas.

[Aero737]

During the mid summer, Hurricane harbor might make a dent in the lines in the main park. I didn't go last summer, so I don't know if Hurricane Harbor does that much, but I hear that the park isn't TOO bad during the summer. Also, I would suggest packing lunches of heading to one of the many fast food places outside the park, it will cut down on costs greatly.


As for lodging, check this link. Dave did a good job getting all the local places and website links.

http://sfgamworld.com/parkinfo/lodging.php

Outside of Six Flags, there is the beach in Waukeegan about 10 miles away. You can hop on a train in Waukeegan and go downtown. Gurnee Mills is a good sized mall, almost an attraction in itself.

[twixmix0303]

You could see a movie at the mall. I recommend Final Destination 3 of course (if it's still playing).

Unless you don't like shopping for clothes, Gurnee Mills mall is definately enough to do for one night. Even if you hate clothes, they've got an arcade (not the greatest), ice rink, movie theater, electronics stores, etc. As for dining Friday night, the mall isn't all that great, unless you want fast food. There's plenty of places to eat around the mall, including TGI Friday's, Applebee's, Max & Erma's, Chili's, Steak & Shake, Baker's Square, Uno's Pizzeria, and Panera Bread. I recommend parking in lot F, best to enter off Stearn's School Rd. to the north. Usually you can find a spot in the first or second row. It's also as close to the center of the mall as you can enter.

[SFGA Bob]

wait, I just remembered something. there's a place across the street from GAm that has either lazer tag or indoor mini-golf. I think I've been there once thanks to a coupon in the season pass holder's book. its allright as I remember and its something more to do than walk around a big mall.

[SixFlags4ever]

^you are talking about Monster Golf.I just went there last weekend and it's pretty cool if u ask me.

[SFGA Bob]

that sounds right. isn't it the one where the last hole is an actual monster or something?

[rb1]

Plan ahead get a map of six flags great america so youll know where to go bathrooms, lockers, food places etc, buy tickets online so you wont have to line up at the ticket center, ask your students what rides they want to go on so youll know where to go. Set up a meeting place just in case you get seperated the Carousel is a good place to meet and so is the Farmers Market for food. Mall on friday is good movie, arcade, reptile museum inside the mall Kristoffs in roundlake beach, and Fun Harbor in waukegan are akind of close to Gurnee they offer go karts in summer i think. There are hotels that are walking distance from the park I dont know the names but it will save you time driving to the park and paying parking some of them are pretty cheap too and its close to fast food restaurants and Monster Golf. The Holiday Inn is not within walking distance from the park. Watch out though when you walk to the park some drivers in that stoplight by the entrance can be reckless and you could get runover. Tell your students not to talk to strangers because you dont want them ending up like Natalee Holloway but the parks pretty safe so you dont have to worry about nothing. Have fun.

[Eagle04]

Since nobody has mentioned any hotels, I am going to suggest the Gurnee Grand.

I live a while away and when I plan a multi-day visit that is where I stay. It is in the block of hotels across the street, within walkinig distance. The rates tend to be the cheapest and I have never had a complant with how clean the rooms are. The free breakfest is ok, nothing great, but still worth a quick bite before heading to the park.

In the past I have stayed at the Adventure INN: the room was very worn & the bed in the themed suite was a very thick piece of foam

Country Inn & Suites: Stayed here once. Everything was clean, staff was helpfull.Not a bad stay. The only reason I choose the Gurnee Grand over this is the price.


http://www.gurneegrandhotel.com/

[Aero737]

Thanks for the hotel reviews! Most of us live too close to ever bother with them so we can't really provice much imput about how nice they are.

[Crombiedude]

hey guys thanks alot. Im thinking they're gonna enjoy going to Monster Golf . I'm gonna check that out, as far as hotels Im not sure I'm still looking into those. Anyone recommend "Midevil Times"?

[SFGA Bob]

its all right if you get drunk enough.

[Crombiedude]

thanks. I saw the NJ version I just didn't know if it was different.

[SFGA Bob]

oh no, I'm pretty sure they're all the same. but if the people you're going with haven't seen it, they may want to see the show.

[Dmrbug]

Here is a link to rinkside sports. They are open on Friday nights for public skating. http://rinksidesports.net/

They have a big arcade there too. I take my god daughters there all the time.