Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <How long can Six Flags encourage repeat business if its only going to add family fare?> I used to give Marine World plenty of repeat business until they filled their parking lot with unthemed coasters. And I remember going to Great Escape in New York and Riverside in Massachusetts years ago and finding plenty of things for a family to do. I'm certain I could come up with some ideas for Six Flags that would make their parks more family friendly and wouldn't break the bank.
Originally Posted By a1stav "Substitute 'Six Flags Magic Mountain' and you've described the park in SoCal." There is no way you can compare the two parks. SF Elich Gardens is a trashy carnie in a parking lot. It has only one custom coaster (Twister 2) all the rest are off the shelf Vakoma cheapos (mind eraser, boomerang) or even worse Zamperella (the flying coaster). SF Magic Mountain has theming, an amazing location (I love climbing Samurai Summit) and some of the best coasters in the world. In operations they are weak, but not nearly as bad as Elich's.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <<"Substitute 'Six Flags Magic Mountain' and you've described the park in SoCal." There is no way you can compare the two parks.>> Perhaps I need to just do the substituion here. One reason we don't bother with our local Six Flags Magic Mountain is because it has been a dirty park that caters to thrill seeking teenagers. If you are not into roller coasters there is not much there to attract you. It is also jam packed with carnie type games where you try to win junky plush toys. The above describes my 'feelings' about Six Flags Magic Mountain. And frankly, most other amusement parks around the country. I know Great America is not far from me here in Merced, but we have no plans to go.
Originally Posted By sjhym4 Hey Jim. My point is that I think Six Flags can do both. Family and thrills. But most importantly they need to clean the place up, hire a chef, make that parks look nice. You can attract families with young kids and families like mine with young adults and teens.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA You may be right sjhym4. But it's much harder to win customers back than to keep them. And attempting to change Six Flags from a coaster freak's paradise to a family destination -- tough sell. And I completely disagree that Six Flags Magic Mountain is 'themed.' It may have a few sections of theme-ing, but overall, it's just a hodge-podge of thrown together stuff. Like most amusement parks in the U.S.
Originally Posted By a1stav If you re-read my post I said that "SF Magic Mountain has theming", that is very different that saying that MM is "Themed" or a "Theme Park" I just stated that MM has some nice themed areas. SF Elich's has really no themeing at all. What is there is so poorly done that it hardly reccomends mentioning. In comparison MM is a fully immersive experience compared to the parking lot that is SF Elich's.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I just stated that MM has some nice themed areas.> Aside from the 'Gotham City' section, I can't think of any themed areas in MM.
Originally Posted By FoxHound I grew up going to Six Flags Over Georgia and my family loved visiting the park. My last visit was in 1992, about the time we noticed some problems with employees and upkeep. The park was something special, but over the years, they have plopped a rollercoaster everywhere, to the point where the new Goliath rollercoaster towers over the park and snakes around the entrance ("let's make the whole park one big rollercoaster."). One of the park's only family rides, "Monster Plantation" used to be a lot of fun (yes, I'm aware it is nasty and run down now) but when it opened (1981) it was pretty impressive. Sadly, they did not maintain the ride, and even in 1992 it was falling apart. Hopefully this new direction will restore peoples' fond memories of Six Flags.
