[arby]

Six Flags Great Adventure (these three are all part of CoasterCon)

That's awesome that you are going to CoasterCon this year! I had it penciled in this year but we all know how plans change. I'm hoping to be able to go in the next few years. Once my daughter is off to college I should have enough time off to go to CoasterCon more often. Right now I have to use about 7 days of vacation a year for her dancing.

[Jonathan]

It's hard for me to get into the idea of Coaster Con. I'm not sure if I'll ever go to one. It's so expensive and seems like too many days at the same parks. There's no way I want to spend three days at Great Adventure. I wish it was possible to register for only part of the event, because I would do the Morey's part for sure. That will probably be amazing. I'm irritated that they aren't hosting their annual Coastin' by the Ocean event this year because of Con.

[arby]

Yeah, I did bring that up to management - they would probably get higher attendance numbers if they cut the event down to 3 days since it's hard for some of us to take so much time off work. That seems plenty of time to have an event. The idea of 6 days is a big spoiler but I did plan on signing up for the whole thing sometime and only showing up for a few days.

[Tawny71]

I hadn't planned on going to CoasterCon, but the opportunity to do it kind of fell in my lap. Some of my friends are going because they have family up there, and they said we could ride along with them. Saving on transportation costs (and not having to do all the driving) were big factors in my choice to go.

The way I look at it, I would probably not ever go to those parks if it weren't for this trip, so if I spend multiple days at the same park, it's no big deal. I haven't been to them before and probably won't be going to them again, so a couple of days won't hurt me.

My daughter really loved the ACE Spring Fling event at SFOG, so she's super excited about this trip, too. She just hopes she can grow half an inch between now and then so she can get on the 54" rides!!!

[Jarsh]

I think the length of the event is the way it is because there is so much they schedule for folks to do. I mean, there are only so many hours in a day (outside of normal operating hours) that you can have ERT on rides so getting ERT before and after a park opens and closes is the main factor in stretching 1 or 2 day parks into 3 or 3 1/2 days. And honestly, anyone who has ever attended a Coaster Con knows that there is more to Con than ERT. The parks plan SO MUCH extra stuff for attendees that you kinda need the extra time there to get it all in. I've really never felt like I got bored with any of the parks during Con.

Look at when the Con was here in our region a few years back. Who would've ever thought anyone could spend 3 whole days at Dollywood and 2 whole days at Carowinds and NEVER get bored? It was the additional perks that the parks threw in that made that one special. Plus there is the business meeting, photo contest, video contest, etc, that kill the better part of a day.

[aoriole19]

Coaster Con seems like something I will do one day, when I have enough money. At least once, just to have the experience.

This year, I've been to SFNE and am going to Carowinds for the first time tomorrow. (And will be going many times this Summer as 2 good friends finally gave in and bought season passes this year)

Later, I plan on going to:
-SFOG
-SFOT if I go to visit my dad in Texas (which is a maybe right now)
-I also don't know if I plan to go to New Jersey this summer (we often do because we have family up there) but if we do we always go to SFGAdv, and I may also be able to convince my mom to stop at Six Flags America on the way up.
-SFNE again, possibly early in the semester right before or right after classes start. But I definitely want to go to SFNE's Fright Fest.
-Dollywood, with about a 15% chance of it actually happening. It's not impossible that my mom will have enough money and time to go. I think we are cancelling a beach trip we had planned for this summer so she may end up being able to take me.

Question about SFOG: Is it typically a really crowded park? How crowded will it be on 4th of July weekend? They have a special offer for admission plus free lunch July 3-5 for like $40 so my mom may do this. Will it be extremely packed? Might it be smarter to just go some random day and pay $45 (with no free food sadly) but be able to enjoy the trip more?

[Jay]

Question about SFOG: Is it typically a really crowded park? How crowded will it be on 4th of July weekend?

I would say avoid this if at all possible. You will be standing in some long, long lines.

[MarkD]

...Epic Halloween adventure (busch gardens tampa, universal orlando-islands of adventure, universal hollywood, knotts then disneyland-california's adventure).

Its kinda hard because I travel alone due to everyone I know is still living in the ghetto...

Now that sounds like a great Halloween plan. Hmmmmmm!

[shane235]

I'm going to Cedar Point next week! I'll be staying at the renovated Hotel Breakers! Super excited. I'll probably post a trip report when I get back.

[Sean978]

It's hard for me to get into the idea of Coaster Con. I'm not sure if I'll ever go to one. It's so expensive and seems like too many days at the same parks. There's no way I want to spend three days at Great Adventure. I wish it was possible to register for only part of the event, because I would do the Morey's part for sure. That will probably be amazing. I'm irritated that they aren't hosting their annual Coastin' by the Ocean event this year because of Con.

Since I am considering making a trip to SF Great Adventure, and because you've been there, how much time do you think it would take to ride every coaster in the park and re-ride a few (Nitro, Bizzaro, Kingda Ka, etc.) assuming you buy a Fast Pass one day?

[aoriole19]

Hi, I've also been there, although Jonathan may have better insight than I do.

It really depends on when you go (what time of summer, what day of the week) but I have been 3 or 4 times (all in different years) and I've always felt like I've had enough time to ride everything. This also included taking time to sit down and eat lunch and maybe dinner with my family and time to go to gift shops. Are you trying to do it in a half day or something? I've never done Flash Pass so I don't know how long those waits usually are. I'm guessing with Flash Pass you'd be able to ride everything at least once (and maybe some re-rides depending on lines) in half a day.

[Edwardo]

Depends on when you go. I always go when I know that park will be dead but ur is a major park in the largest metro area of the US. If you're gonna get Flash Pass, spring for plus. The operations aren't the best and the park is large and packed.

[Jonathan]

You'll be fine with Flash Pass. If you get there at opening there are two potential strategies. One is to go straight for Kingda Ka and Zumanjaro since they will have some of the worst lines so you can get them over with right away. Or, if you're getting Flash Pass anyway you could save them for later and go straight to El Toro. You can usually get several re-rides before the crowds make it back there at park opening.

Most of the rides are probably gonna be one and dones except for El Toro and Nitro, so I don't think you'll have much of a problem. One thing to keep in mind is that if you want to do the safari (and I would definitely recommend it) it is a pretty big time commitment. Make sure you don't miss Houdini's Great Escape.

[Sean978]

You'll be fine with Flash Pass. If you get there at opening there are two potential strategies. One is to go straight for Kingda Ka and Zumanjaro since they will have some of the worst lines so you can get them over with right away. Or, if you're getting Flash Pass anyway you could save them for later and go straight to El Toro. You can usually get several re-rides before the crowds make it back there at park opening.

Most of the rides are probably gonna be one and dones except for El Toro and Nitro, so I don't think you'll have much of a problem. One thing to keep in mind is that if you want to do the safari (and I would definitely recommend it) it is a pretty big time commitment. Make sure you don't miss Houdini's Great Escape.

Thanks to all that responded! I believe we will be buying FP+ and be riding everything once except El Toro, Nitro, and Kingda Ka. I'll probably try for about 2 days at the park, that's how long KI took with a FL+ one day.

[Jetp]

Carowinds whenever I can. up to 126 rides on Fury!

My September trip has been finalized with hitting Universal and then Busch Gardens Tampa.

I am hoping to get a trip to Dollywood in as well.