Great Escape, Lake George TR About This Page:

[DVC_Don]

Who?: The Disnydad Family, my wife’s brother and his son, 10.

Where?: The Great Escape (Six Flags) amusement park, Lake George, New York.

When?: August 5, 2003

Why?: Annual summer visit.


Our weather here had been hot & humid with thunderstorms for days. We wanted to make this trip while our company was here and the long range forecast was the same every day, so we decided, “What the heck, let’s just do it. If it rains, it rains!” [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

The park opened at 10 AM so we left our home at 9 AM for the 30 minute drive up north. On the ride north, I watched as the clouds grew darker and darker. Reminded me of that commercial for anti depressant where the cloud follows the little fellow around. We arrived and purchased the admission with a $7 per person discount I had and got into the park by 9:40 after passing through metal detectors and a much more thorough bag search than WDW does. Sort of like Disney, they kept us near the entry way till 10 AM.

Once in, we headed up to the Frontier section of the park and rode their flume type ride. Think Splash Mountain, but no where near as themed or large. On the walk up there I noticed the park was not as trashy as last year. Still trash around, but the trash cans were not overflowing like the last trip. Immediately after that ride all, except me and my nephew, rode the new ride “Canyon Blaster”. My wife and kids said it was like Big Thunder Mountain without the theme. Just a roller coaster with mine carts for the ride vehicles.

From there we walked over to one of the kiddy areas. The kids wanted to ride the cable chair ride. Real lame and slow. My BiL and I sat this one out. I headed for a shady area behind the Chicken Shack (or something like that) and sat at a table. Looking around on the ground there was quite a bit of paper trash that must have been from the prior day as it was all wet and there had been no rain since the evening.

Our nephew was real hesitant to go on any rides and we found out this was only his second trip to an amusement park. The first park he did not remember as he was so young. So, my kids talked him into going on the little kiddies Ferris wheel. From there our kids went on a fair type ride, you know the ship one where it goes up one way and back again. Nephew backed out on this one.

It was now 11:30 so we decided to beat the lunch crowd. We ate in a German restaurant that I can safely say is nowhere near to Biergarten in Epcot. Awful, that’s all I can say. My bottled water however was great!

After lunch it was time to hit the water park section, Splashwater Kingdom. We changed and rented a locker ($8) to stuff our stuff into. First up was the lazy river. This was a nice little ride. About a third of the size or the lazy rivers at TL & BB. Dear Nephew (DN) went around for a second loop, so our kids floated after him while we sought out shade. Then it was down to the lower level of the water park to the wave pool and Paul Bunyan’s Bucket Brigade. A few minutes after we got into the wave pool it got shut down for a water check, so we went over to PBBB. This is a cool building type thing about 3 stories tall with slides and lots of water spraying around. There is a BIG bucket on top that fills and dumps out on everyone below now and again. Our kids said the slides were very lame and slow. By the time they tired of this attraction, the wave pool was waving again. This is a nice attraction, but only a third as large as TL and the waves never got over my chest.

The skies were really getting dark now, so we decided to head on home. We changed and when I turned in the locker key for the $3 deposit the young lady spotted my WDW 2003 polo and asked if I had ever been to WDW. Have I ever been to WDW?!! After a few minutes of answering questions about WDW & DCL I excused myself as I could see my family outside wondering what happened to me. I referred the young woman to PassPorter.com and WDW.com. (maybe there should be cards availible at the PassPorter store?) On the way out of the park we caught most of the High Dive Show, which was kind of nice.

There were quite a few attractions closed without any explanation. The bumper cars, bobsled ride and there was no magic show (just an empty tent). [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

On the way home we stopped to pick up MiL from her nursing home in Saratoga Springs and continued on home for pizza [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] and swimming in our pool. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Never did rain till almost dark.

We might note here that we have invited BiL & son to come on down to WDW during our August 2003 trip, but SiL will not allow it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-06-2003, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Disnydad ]

[Tara O'Hara]

Ummmmmmmmm, Don. It sounds like you had an interesting day. In the future, try not to be so excited about your trips! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[mattjs]

Thanks for the review Don. You'll love this rumor. Just popped up on Bloomberg. Truly laughable (or so I hope [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] )here at Bloomberg:

Six Flags Shares Rise on Disney Speculation, Dow Jones Reports

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Riiiiiight [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[DVC_Don]

Gotta agree Matt. I'd have to see that one to believe it. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] Far fetched I think.

[Dumbo]

Interesting rumor.

Glad you were able to give yur nephew an amusement park day. Sounds like the poor kid doesn't get to do a lot.

[LilMarcieMouse]

Is there an animal park across the street form it? I remeber a park in Lake George. With Cabins right next door to it. Is that the same one? I sounds like you had a good time even if it wasn't Disney.

[DVC_Don]

Originally posted by LilMarcieMouse:
Is there an animal park across the street form it? I remeber a park in Lake George.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Would that be this place Marcie? It's just up the road from the Great Escape. Magic Forest

[AKLRULZ]

LOVE IT! Don this is classic, thanks for posting it. Sounds like your Six Flags day wasn't quite up to par with Six Flags even - actually sorry to hear it. We had a pretty fun time down at SF over GA last month and Six Flags America in DC was fun. Nothing like Disney for sure.

Thanks again!

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for sharing Don [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] We drove past this on our trip to Lake George/Lake Placid, but we never had time to go in. Sounds like we made the right decision [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Don thanks for taking the time to share your day trip with us! Haven't been up to the Lake George area in years.

[Irenaroo]

This is too funny, Don! My family spent a day at the Great Escape in July. I also spent too much time comparing it to Disney and obviously it wasn't even close to par with theming. However, my DH planned this as a surprise for our kids. We have a house in NH and figured the drive would be about 3 hours from our vacation home. So, we woke all 6 kids up at 5 am, got them dressed and DH told them we were going to a museum for a special breakfast program. We are members of a children's museum near Dartmouth College that has lots of fun programs. Well, the kids bought it until we passed the exit to the museum. DS (12) noticed immediately. So we told them in Vermont where we were going. They were so excited and had a wonderful time that day. They love the roller coasters. My 12 year old rode that Boomerang thing that has a few inversions, then backs you down, completing the ride again in reverse. [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] They also liked the Comet and the Canyon Blaster. They even took my 2 year old on the flume ride(Splash Mtn type thing). my DD (10) decided at the end of the day that she wanted to ride the Steamin Demon before we left.(the coaster you see at the entrance) So I rode that one with her. [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] My seven year old daughter was just so happy that she was in New York. This was her first time ever in your state! As far as the park, my big complaint was that there weren't enough benches. With a 4 month old in tow, I often stood and waited for the rest of my family. And at the end of the long day, my DH duly noted that the exit takes you right through the gift shop. He said, "now this reminds me of Disney" after I spend the day saying how much it doesn't compare. My kids loved the park and ask when we can return. We didn't do the water park. Thanks for your report!