Six Flags needs to add better experience
For several years, my family and I have been season pass holders at Six Flags. The 2010 season is no exception.
With the reduced season ticket pricing for 2010, we were excited about enjoying another summer of many days spent at Great America and Hurricane Harbor; as well as visiting Six Flags, St. Louis. In fact, we were so excited that we purchased our season tickets in January!
My wife and I decided earlier in the week that we would surprise our son and daughter with our first trip of the season to Great America last Sunday. When we told them that morning, they were very excited and couldn’t wait to get to the park.
But, that excitement quickly dwindled.
First, were the changes in parking. In years past, there was “VIP parking” that got you into a special section of the parking lot, very close to the entrance. But, this year, the main parking lot rate was $10 higher than parking in what used to be the “overflow parking” (which is more than a quarter mile from the park entrance). There were no tram stops or regular shuttles even provided to take guests to the entrance from this more remote lot. There is no alternative but walking to the gate, unless you want to pay the extra $10 to park an eighth of a mile or so closer.
The next issue was when we arrived at the gate. As on our past visits to the parks, we threw a bottle of water and a granola bar for each of us into a backpack. But, when we went through security, we were told we were not allowed to bring them in. We were given the choice to toss them in the trash, go outside the gates and eat them, or take them back to our car. We opted to eat them just outside the gates, and then re-enter.
Back in the park, having gotten our season pass photos taken, we headed to our first ride. As we were entering the line, two teenage girls asked us if we knew where the $1 ride lockers were. We were a bit confused, so they explained that they had just come off of two rides where they had to pay $1 each for a locker to put their bag in while they rode the ride.
That was appalling!
A family carrying a backpack to keep together several things needed during the day (sunscreen, kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc) is now forced to pay, in addition to the gate price, to be able to ride rides together. Charging one dollar per ride is just plain wrong. If the park is trying to deal with problems of theft, etc, then these lockers should be complimentary … or cost a maximum of $0.25.
My family and I opted not to pay the fee … which contributed to dampening our fun because at least one member of our party had to skip the ride to hold the bag. But, the curious question on our minds was, why wasn’t this at all the rides? A number of other rides still had bins to put your stuff in … why not all?!
Six Flags could make more money, and attract more visitors to their parks — particularly Great America — if they were more family-friendly. My family and I have visited Six Flags over Georgia and Six Flags, St Louis in the past, and these were more family-friendly. I wonder if and how they’ve changed (I’ll have a chance to find out when we visit St. Louis later this summer).
There is not the “experience” at Six Flags Great America any longer. There isn’t much to see, even while spending “forever” standing in lines waiting for your next ride.
While I don’t think or expect that Six Flags should try to copycat Disney, there is a lot that they could learn from the “Disney experience” that people have visiting their parks, etc. There, people really seem to forget about “the outside world” because of what they are experiencing at the park … and, in turn, they stay longer and spend more — because they enjoy it, not because they have nothing better to do.
This year, because of the recession no doubt, Six Flags is trying to get more people to their parks by making season passes only about $10-15 more than a one-day admission. That has some effect, but people will still feel they got their money’s worth after only 2 or 3 days in the park. Likely only a small percentage would spend 20+ days (even 10+?) this summer at Six Flags’ parks.
But if Six Flags gave them the experience that makes they yearn to come back again and again … they’d improve their reputation, and make the money they seem to so desperately want and need.
June 25th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I bought season passes for my family this year for the first time. With my husband out of a permanent job (he’s temping for now), finances are horrible. I’ve always thought it would be a neat experience to have a season pass to an amusement park and be able to go whenever and stay however long we wanted – not the open to close we usually do to get our money’s worth.
The first two visits were pretty good. Not all of the schools were out for summer and it was busy, but not jammed. The most recent visit was crazy. It took over 30 minutes to get off the highway. Then almost another 90 minutes to get into the park. We have the season parking pass, so we weren’t too far from the entrance.
I wondered about the food – there is a picnic area inside, so I thought we could bring food in… we just haven’t since we have to come out to change out of our swimsuits and we plan to eat lunch then.
The only way we could do the season pass was to make sure we don’t spend money in the park. So no way was I going to pay for a locker!
The thing I noticed mostly this year, is that a lot of the staff is from a different country – not sure which one (some place in Europe?) though. There were a few questions I needed answered and most of the staff I approached didn’tunderstand English very well and couldn’t give me answers. We usually go to the park once a year (free coupon from reading incentive program) and I don’t remember having a problem asking questions before.
Oh well, now we’ve had the experience I don’t think we’ll go back again. I do like the water park though!
June 26th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
We went to Six Flags yesterday and I just wanted to clarify that you CAN bring “one small water bottle per person” into the park. Our bags were not searched for food or anything else. I carried in a Fuji waterbottle and my sister’s family had 2 stainless steel bottles in the carriers on their backpack. We were able to refill them all day at the concession areas.
I just wanted to clarify this because after reading your post, I was assuming we would not be able to bring in any water. This is not true and I want to be sure folks know that your experience was unique – next time you can point to the sign and put up a stink.
Now that I read that part of your post more carefully – I see that you were told to toss the granola bars. The sign also mentions – “items for special dietary needs”. I would have argued this at the gate too. Especially after we observed three separate instances of people passing out in the parks.
June 26th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
To Carla: I’m glad that you did not have the problems our family did. Not sure how busy the park was yesterday, but I have a feeling that the busier the park is the less likely they are to do a thorough search of bags, or to enforce their policies.
I spoke to 3 different security officers, including someone I was told was head of the security team, and all insisted that it was the policy of Great America not to allow these items in. (It was early in the season and no such “one bottle of water per person” signs that you mention were anywhere to be seen.)
Perhaps, too, as they are receiving more complaints, they have relaxed the policy.
As I mentioned in my post, this is something we’ve done for years with no problem, which is is why I was surprised to be told that this is “not a new policy”.
June 26th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
To Sherri: I believe the “picnic area” is for parties, corporate picnic events, etc, rather than general use. Companies I’ve worked for in the past that have had Great America outings have mentioned lunch would be available to employees and their families in the picnic area.
Numerous times in the past years, even with season passes, we have tried to limit how much we spent in the park, so we would pack a cooler and come out to our car for meals. (In years past, too, we saw some people bring medium size coolers to Hurricane Harbor; but we never did that.) It’s kind of a nice break in the day; and with the season pass, like you mentioned, you don’t feel like you have to get on every ride.
I haven’t noticed the staff issues you mention.
July 14th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
We go to the Six Flags over Ga. We purchased a $13.00 cup on our first visit and refills of soft drinks are only 99 cent and ice water is free, they also let you carry toddler snacks in so I can live with that. My complaint is the locker experiance, the one time we used a locker we had to get it in the Skull Island area in order to keep it all day and it was $18, but what are you suppose to do with the bathing suits and towels while you are on the rides, especially since you can’t wear a swim suit on the rides. Then there is the issue of making you walk through stores when you come off rides- to be exact- Thomas the train ride. You must pass through an over priced store with train table and pieces there for the little ones to want. I actually left the park today because my child was screaming because he couldn’t stay in the store all day (he is 2 so he really doesn’t understand) but it could have all been avoided with letting us pass through the gate outside the store, we would have stayed and spent money on food and drinks.
July 25th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BUT I WARN ALL TO STAY AWAY FROM SIX FLAGS ST LOUIS WATER PARK A BIG WASTE OF MONEY RUDE PEOPLE AND THE LIFEGRDS ARE ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD ON A POWER TRIP I WILL NEVER GO BACK THEY SUCK BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!