2009 Operating Schedule posted

[ben_the_bear]

They'll probably have some stuff closed, like water rides and giant drop. If it's raining, they'll have whizzer and iron wolf closed. I won't be there, but I'm sure it will be very empty that day and anyone who goes will get on a lot of rides.

[demonbulleagle]

08 opening day had the water rides open, but that was later then this.

[onyxhotel08]

Why would anyone want to go on water rides in early April? I can wait a month or two. Man, they really have very little time to get ready this off-season. Hopefully, most of Buccaneer Battle will be near completion.

[DejaVu2001]

Some minor schedule changes have been posted. The park is now closed for a private event on Friday, September 4th. There is also a private event on Friday, October 2nd, which was originally listed as open 5-11. They also added 1 day, the park is now open from 5-10pm on Friday September 25th.

[onyxhotel08]

I HATE those private events. Hate them. Did I mention I hate them? My friend lives about 8 blocks from the park and says he is jealous of those private events because those are the days when he usually has nothing to do. He works from home.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

Ok so I haven't been viewing this site for months, and now I come back on after seeing the operating schedule, and seeing it was posted ON NOVEMBER 21ST????

I got so excited when I saw it. I was like, FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD? I hope I'm on Spring Break then! because if I'm not I'm gonna be pissed.

I CAN FINALLY GO ON MY BIRTHDAY!!! Saturday, April 18th!!! Don't know if I will though, I mean, you know... why go there on my birthday? I may.

[onyxhotel08]

Last April 3rd I believe we had a snowstorm... And it was nowhere near 45 even

[rico28]

Friday Sept. 25, I believe it's season pass-holder night.
I got a e-mail to confirmed this

[DejaVu2001]

^ If September 25th is the Season Pass night, the website should list it as Closed- PRIVATE EVENT. Right now it says open 5:00-10:00. Then again, SF isn't exactly known for their flawless website

[onyxhotel08]

I finally noticed on the main page see you opening day April 3rd which gets me even more happy off-season will be dead in less than 4 months.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

Seriously, I'm wondering why April 3rd? It's a Friday. Who is going to be there? I have classes. Fortunately my last class ends around 11:45 I believe, I could always go a bit later. Or make an arrangement with my teachers But I seriously don't know if my boyfriend will even wanna go that day, as he said the first day we are going would be my birthday.

[CoasterDude12-2]

Hopefully it snows that day. I don't think many people will be there whilst snow falls, but I've always wanted to ride a coaster in the snow.

[onyxhotel08]

I don't think they will run any coaster in the snow...eh Dark Knight lol but if the forecast calls for snow which is like 50/50 these days the park will probably not open. People usually don't go to theme parks when it snows anyway.

[DejaVu2001]

^ It would depend on whether it is light snow or heavy snow, and also whether it is accumulating. I have riden Eagle Red in the snow before, but it was very light snow, and it melted as soon as it hit the ground.

[demonbulleagle]

I would be happy to just be in the park when its snowing

[onyxhotel08]

It would be nice to see in photos but in-person all the way up in Gurnee no way...unless I lived like my friend 5 blocks away.

[Bob O]

Im sure you could run some of the coasters ln light snow,. Ive been to FF when they ran during flurries.

On one of TPR's video's from Japan it showed that the park was open after they must have gotten several inches of snow the night before, they show park personnel shoveling snow as people went from ride to ride, and while people were bundled up, the park was operating.

[onyxhotel08]

Last year it was bitter cold in March and even into April. Mother's Day was a complete mess with rain and cold temperatures in the low 40's. I think snow is not going to be a major issue but rather cold air and possible downpours. It is April. I expect a lot Gurnee residents, not a lot of out-of-towners who live far away.

[BP317]

There is no set rule on how cold it has to be to shut down rides, its basically a game of "does this ride work today?" During FF 2006 before the park opened they parked BTRs trains on the top of the lift for the sun to warm them up because theres no heat in the building. Also at rides like Bull/Whizzer they cover the trains with tarps and put heaters under them to warm up the trains. It was really flakey at DejaVu, there were some blistering cold days that the ride worked fine and others it had issues because of the cold. SFGAm's maintenence is extremely catious to run the rides if they think there is a chance of a valley, especially after Raging Bull vallied in 07.

[onyxhotel08]

Yeah but on average there aren't that many days when it is so cold they have to really think about having to warm the trains up too much. Usually when the park opens late April/Early May it is at least in the 50's usually probably higher. Even in October park temps are fairly nice during the day only falling at night. Like I said I really don't think snow will be the make-it-or-break-it factor but rather the recent trend of having unseasonably cold temperatures and possible rain/snow/ice. It is April 3rd not April 27th. Water rides will be down for sure unless a miracle happens and it stays above 50.

[monsterfan99]

Can't blame them if they were to not open on a day where it was in the low 40's. On closing day at Six Flags St. Louis it was around 40 all day. With that, there were less then 300 people there and around 100 plus staff. Ninja and Tony hawk vallied before opening and the Boss was closed (has to be over 42 for the boss to run due to manufacture specs.) On top of that, riding a fast ride like Mr. Freeze just sucks in the cold and simply hurts the skin.

[Bob O]

I would have a big problem with the park closing, UNLESS they annouced it the day before.

Other wise people have traveled, some far distance's to attend and buy tickets ahead time on the internet. The park would know what the temps/weather conditions are the day before, so if they are going to close they should update the web site/phone system as much as possible so no one comes down to find a park closed, and they should NEVER do what they did last year and close the park early once it had opened.

I went to BGT this past Dec., and while we drove from our hotel it was raining very hard, and kept raining till around 1030am, and the park was dead with few cars in the lot when we got there just before 1000am.
But the park did open on time and by 1100-1130am all the rides were open and some ran with 2 trains which was alot for the slim crowds, but the park didnt close early even though im sure they lost money big time that day. When we were in a rest. that had a x-mas show we overheard some employee's talking among themselves that they only had abut 600 people in the park, and this was about noon, so this park at least didnt screw the guests who decided to come and visit. And as it turned out it didnt rain all day and we had a great time at the park!!

[monsterfan99]

I would have a big problem with the park closing, UNLESS they annouced it the day before.

Other wise people have traveled, some far distance's to attend and buy tickets ahead time on the internet. The park would know what the temps/weather conditions are the day before, so if they are going to close they should update the web site/phone system as much as possible so no one comes down to find a park closed, and they should NEVER do what they did last year and close the park early once it had opened.

I went to BGT this past Dec., and while we drove from our hotel it was raining very hard, and kept raining till around 1030am, and the park was dead with few cars in the lot when we got there just before 1000am.
But the park did open on time and by 1100-1130am all the rides were open and some ran with 2 trains which was alot for the slim crowds, but the park didnt close early even though im sure they lost money big time that day. When we were in a rest. that had a x-mas show we overheard some employee's talking among themselves that they only had abut 600 people in the park, and this was about noon, so this park at least didnt screw the guests who decided to come and visit. And as it turned out it didnt rain all day and we had a great time at the park!!

Oh I agree 100% with the announcing it in advance. Last year it was raining bad and Great America waited until after opening to say it was closed. Made me a little mad I drove there, but can only imagine those that drove hour plus.

I also agree on the closing early deal. St. Louis did that closing day and it screwed my day's touring plans I had. I wanted the last ride on EK for the year and had it planned that way. 30 minutes before 4, they said they would be closing at 4. Gave me 25 minutes to run to Screamin' Eagle for a last ride and then book it over to EK (which is not easy with the parks design.