Originally Posted By ctdsnark ....and the various reasons why it wasn't an enjoyable day. Granted,I wasn't thinking very hard when I chose to go on a Saturday;for people who dislike crowds and long lines,it's not the best day of the week to visit.Add to that the fact that I arrived about 12:15 p.m.,which resulted in my spending 45 minutes just to drive in---like everyone else,I ignored the posted signs stating that the park was too crowded,advising I visit another day---when I was finally parked,it was at the very outskirts of the mammoth parking lot,not far from the fences that separated it from I-94. The metal detectors which I had to pass through to gain entry to the park, dampened the less-than-jovial mood I had at this point,a mood that was killed even more when I learned that both the Columbia,the two-story carousel at the entrance,and the 285-feet-high Sky Trek Tower were closed that day;the latter attraction,I can do without,but to have the Columbia,one of this park's icons,inaccessible---to me,that's like going to the Magic Kingdom,only to find the whole of Cinderella Castle covered with an mammoth grey tarp. I don't remember when my last visit here was---were I to guess,I would say sometime in the late '90's---but even then,I remember my dismay at the park seemingly being more and more dominated by upside-down roller coasters with each new season.I was positively beside myself when I learned that one of my personal favorite rides,the Sky Whirl---a three-wheeled ferris wheel that enabled you an excellent ariel view of the park,lasting from 15 to 20 minutes {in contrast to Sky Trek,which isn't near the center of the park,so most of the time,you're looking at the parking lot!}---was GONE,replaced by--WHAT ELSE?--an UPSIDE-DOWN ROLLER COASTER!Just HOW many rides of THAT type does this park need,for cryin' out loud?!!? I would imagine there are many out there who are wondering,"So what's wrong with upside-down roller coasters?"In truth,nothing---but being as overweight as I am,more so than I care to admit online,they're not exactly designed with someone of my ample girth in mind,and this park has so MANY of these bloody things---as opposed to the Magic Kingdom,whose most famous rides don't have weight restrictions {I know,I know---it's my cross to bear}. For me,this was a large part of why I no longer enjoy this place as much as I used to---I was in eighth grade when MARRIOTT'S Great America opened {in fact,it was one year after my first visit to Disney World,so I was already high on amusement parks},my first visit an eighth grade field trip there---brought home two souvenirs:a Jacyln Smith poster and a foot-long rubber skeleton,painted in psychedelic colors.As soon as I got my driver's license,I would visit,sometimes twice a summer---even in the first few years after they became Six Flags,it was still an enjoyable place.Regrettably,it is no longer a "country of fun,for everyone".Just everything I loved about this park---the Traffique Jam ride,the two cable-car rides {ANOTHER great way to see the park from up above},the Alee Mystique Magique Shop,the Hot Shoppe {a Marriott exclusive,a mini-bar that served 5-cent root beer},the two animated shooting galleries {I especially loved Pirates Alley,some of its targets were reminiscent of Pirates Of The Caribbean---the arcade that replaced it still bears its name},and all the shops that sold hand-crafted merchandise {in some places,like Yankee Harbor's Glass Schooner,the artist was in residence!}---are all gone.I do realize that,as an amusement park,they can't be stagnant;they must change with the times,or risk losing their customers,but still....!Disney World has changed a lot since my initial visit in '75,but I still enjoyed myself there at my August '05 visit! I would be remiss if I didn't point out that,for me,there were still some pleasant experiences to be had here---the live shows are still good,as are the four water rides {I didn't visit the newly opened Hurricane Harbor,the water-park section,open free to all park visitors}. I guess I just miss "Marriott's" Great America.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark Sorry,I neglected to mention---the reason Disney World is mentioned so often in the above is because,since my last visit to 6FGA,I've visited WDW twice {possibly three times?};perhaps I was unconsciously comparing a park I sill love to a park that has changed so much,I don't feel comfortable there anymore.
Originally Posted By a1stav ctdsnark, great to see you back. I hope to read some more of your armchair imagineering threads again.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<a Jacyln Smith poster>> I never understood why Farrah Fawcett got all the attention! Jacyln was, and still is, hot like the sun.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark trekkeruss,I couldn't agree more! I guess I just couldn't resist sounding off about 6FGA;I'm afraid I'm turning into an old fogie prematurely {you should hear one of my rants about present-day network TV "This industry is dying of FOX poisoning!!!},and the fact that Great America has to serve the thrill-happy youth of today,no longer giving a tinker's cuss about the first post-Vietnam generation of youth, has got me up in arms. {Did I really just write "giving a tinker's cuss"?!!?} I still have a lot of the souvenirs I bought during the Marriott era {although a certain snowglobe I used to have has,unfortunately,gone the way of the one the dying Charles Foster Kane held in his hand},and these are just more physical reminders of the march of time---not to mention the fact that the above-mentioned Sky Whirl hasn't given birth to the same sort of cult following generated by the likes of something like the Carousel Of Progress,so when the Six Flags brass decides to tear it down,I shouldn't bother looking for any websites rallying people to save it. {It was such a great snowglobe,too---had mini-bas-relief recreations of the Columbia,the Sky Whirl,and a teeter-totter configuration of a log flume rider,and a bumper car passenger,accented with a trio of balloons,all set in a watery blue background!}
Originally Posted By smctopia At least Great America yielded to public outcry and saved the Wizzer from being removed. Check out this page about the History of Great America with the emphasis on MARRIOTT's. I hope to go to GA later this month. Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com</a>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ctdsnarks report of his experience at SFGA, is the reason why I just stick to Disneyland. My theme park time is limited, so I'd rather just go somewhere that I know is going to be a good time.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark Last night,I related my recent 6FGA experience to my teenage nephew.While he too says he dislikes wholesale change {which is inevitable with time},he says his trip there,roughly a month ago,was an enjoyable one---in fact,he says he and his brother deliberately chose to go on a hot,humid day,the idea being that such conditions would keep people home---he ignored all the shows and parades,going on one thrill ride after another,sometimes more than once. No question about it---these days,the "country of fun" isn't for everyone.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark Pardon me,smctopia---I checked out your recommended link---a fascinating page,but I find anything about Great America!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Living in the western suburbs of Chicago SFGA is readily accessible, however we have not been there in over 5 years. The last time we attended was a Fright Night - and that's what it turned out to be...members of our party were accosted by wanna- be's when they requested money and some refused to give them any. Also sustained car damage - yes it can happen anywhere but over the years I found the crowd there becoming less and less what I am comfortable around. My 21 year old daughter stopped going years ago also for that reason along with the fact that for the cost, it just isn't enjoyable. ( And she goes on those upside down metal behemoths - I don't) - but they are the only theme of the park - and 2 hour lines the last time for a ride like Batman that lasts 90 seconds..makes me yearn for a Fastpass. lack of decent food and entertainment and a preponderance of coasters and that's it keeps us from attending - even on nights when corporations have free admission... Just my opinion and not meant to upset anyone, it's just not my kind of park.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Six Flags powers-that-be have made no secret this year in recognizing some of the problems that exist at their parks (too many unaccompanies youths). They have made it known they intend to return to marketing their products to families and providing a better family experience. Of course, that change isn't going to happen in one year so I'm going to give Six Flags the benefit of the doubt and see where they are next summer and beyond. I always thought they overextended when they went on their buying spree and lost touch with their core. I hope they can reinvent themselves.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 We used to go to Great America on a yearly basis, we'd often stay overnight at Marriotts, a real treat with their indoor/outdoor pool and fantastic brunch. It took YEARS for DH to stop calling Great America "Marriotts" As the years went on and the kids grew up we still went but it was becoming a day park. The last time went was 3 years ago with our then 16 year old daughter (last child at home) after 4 hours she and her girlfriend found us and said that they were done and wanted to leave.......?????.........of course by now we were Disneyland addicts and GA and all it had to offer just wasn't what our family enjoyed anymore. Still DH and I have talked about going back sometime just to check it out. I believe last time I only went on 2 rides, the log ride and the one in the building sort of like HISTA. The Grizzly always wrenched my back and other than Screamin at DCA which I love, I have yet to be tempted to go on another upside down roller coaster. We ended up in the Nicklodeon area just watching other peoples kids have a good time. Thanks ctdsnark for bringing up some memories. Hey, did you ever get their red white and blue ice cream?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I only have only one memory of Marriott's Great America, the park in Santa Clara, California. I must have been visiting California; I was born in the Bay Area in 1961, but moved to the east coast in 1973. Anyway, I went to buy a soda. I hate when concessionaires fill your cup full of ice, so I asked for a soda with no ice. I was then told that if I wanted no ice, then they could only fill the cup half-way with soda. So that's the lone memory I have of MGA. I don't remember the rides or shows, just a park so cheap they would only serve half a cup of soda.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I was then told that if I wanted no ice, then they could only fill the cup half-way with soda.> Isn't that ridiculous? So instead of giving you a quarter of a cent worth of beverage, they gave you a half a cent worth of beverage. You can hear the Food & Beverage Manager, 'Well, if we did that for every customer, we'd be losing money.' Uh-huh. How many customers ask for no ice in a beverage? One in 2000?
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>You can hear the Food & Beverage Manager, 'Well, if we did that for every customer, we'd be losing money.'<< Like they don't make a killing on those $3.00 cokes
Originally Posted By smctopia Oops, here is the link! <a href="http://www.greatamericaparks.com/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.greatamericaparks.c om/history.html</a> Visit Walt Dated World
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA That site of Great America is really a blast to the past. Thanks for posting, smctopia Man, that's what all those theme parks were in the 70s. It sure looked wholesome, didn't it? My how times have changed...
Originally Posted By DAR <<Living in the western suburbs of Chicago SFGA is readily accessible, however we have not been there in over 5 years>> It's a 45 minute drive for me and I haven't been there in 15 years
Originally Posted By ctdsnark Thanks for the revised link,smctopia. The fact that 6FGA was,as I mentioned in my initial report, filled nearly to capacity only proves that my opinion is not that of the majority---I may have lost my passion for the Park Formerly Known As Marriott's,but the general public has not.And,since it is the only major theme park in the Great Lakes region,they must appeal to the youth market,not a bunch of woolgatherers who still wish it was the 1970s.They don't have---and,in all likelyhood,will never possess---the creative minds,or the budget to create attractions like those at the Disney parks,ones that appeal to generations, with only the slightest of modifications over the years.I know little of pre-Disney amusement parks that still exist today {as seen on a recent PBS special},but were I to examine their history,I would learn of the many changes they made over time.
