Six Flags America for free - my daytrip report About This Page:

[AKLRULZ]

Who?: Dad2jbj and family.

Where?: Six Flags America, just outside of Washington, DC.

When?: August 4, 2003

Why?: Had free tickets to use and everyone loves a good coaster ride.

We woke up leisurely the morning of our visit – what a great thing about regional parks - not having to drive a long distance to your destination! WAIT! We’re in the D.C. area – home of our Federal Government and home to the world’s WORST traffic! UGH! We’d also be facing the most terrifying ride of all today – the Springfield Mixing Bowl construction traffic! So upon realization that we’d most likely have quite the commute from my in laws in Northern VA to Southeastern Maryland, we high tailed it in terms of getting ready for the day.

Once up and out we encountered DARK clouds looming on the horizon – the weather forecast called for severe storms, but what the heck – the tickets were free and we’d been in storms at Disney before – off we went!

Surprisingly, the drive up was easy! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] No traffic to speak of (we’d left shortly after 9 AM – the tail end of the official rush hour in DC) and before we knew it we were over the Woodrow Wilson bridge, into Maryland, and pulling into the Six Flags parking lot shortly after 10 AM.

After taking out a small loan for parking ($9.00!!) [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] , we easily found a space right up front by the main entrance. Dark clouds continued to provide a sickening backdrop for the coaster hills we spotted from the lot. Anticipation was building!

The park officially was to open at 10:30 am, but the front gates opened at 10:15 to permit patrons to shop along Main Street. We spent most of this time in the Looney Toons store – which really was rather nice in terms of selection, but also rather shocking in terms of price! We made no purchases here much to the angst of three children.

10:30 - the time was here for the official park opening. As we meandered through the end of Main Street, Sylvester the Cat and Daffy Duck were making appearances. We’d left the camera home to dry out after getting caught in a torrential downpour at Arlington National Cemetery the prior day, but we let the kids introduce themselves.

Time for coaster wars! We passed a few of the big ones to get to the VERY biggest of all, Superman and Batwing – of course in the VERY back of the park. Superman is a Hyper-coaster topping out at 200 feet tall. No loops, just enormous hills and tight curves that threaten to eject you from your seat every time you crest! Unfortunately, Josh was not quite tall enough [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] so waited it out with my wife while I took the older two on. We were luck to be on the first train out for the day and we rode in the very back seat – MAJOR airtime! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] We labeled this ride as the best in the park and one of the best coasters we’ve been on.

Batwing was up next – again, Josh was too short, however. What a trooper though as he cheered on his brother, sister, and dad. Batwing is a flying coaster – similar to the Superman ride in Georgia and New Jersey, but this one starts you out flat on your back in the station and flips you once you crest the big hill. Really strong G-forces and makes you feel like you are flying. No line at all so once we completed the circuit, my wife took the older two on for a second spin. She thought it was fun.

As we exited the Superman/Batwing area, the clouds were as dark as we’d see them all day and sprinkles began to fall – BUMMER! [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] So what do we decide to do? Get in line for Penguin’s Blizzard River – a soaking water flume! [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img]

Coming up: A SPIN OUT [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] on Penguin’s River and farewell to the clouds!

[DVC_Don]

Sounds like a better park than ours. Thanks [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Although our parking was FREE!

[iloverags2]

Sounds awesome! Poor Josh! At least he's a good sport about it...he deserves a reward for that. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Can't wait to hear more about the day when you had the park to yourselves. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ProChristo]

Sounds fun, hope Josh got to ride something soon.

[Tara O'Hara]

Me too! I hope Josh got to ride something!! It sounds like you guys are having a blast!!
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Who?: Dad2jbj and family.

Where?: Six Flags America, just outside of Washington, DC.

When?: August 4, 2003

Why?: Had free tickets to use and everyone loves a good coaster ride.

So as the sprinkles began to drop harder we queued up for Six Flags’ new ride for 2003, Penguin’s Blizzard River (Penguin as in the evil villain from Batman). This ride is really unique – imagine a raft ride like Kali River that travels down a winding chute. Since it was sprinkling, we just wanted to make it into the queue house to avoid getting wet (so that we could then board a ride that would soak us – only in America!). Therefore, we had no clue what the ride really did – but it was something we all could ride together – yay for Josh! Just a short wait and the sprinkles gave way to a bit of sun bursting through the clouds. We boarded our raft, strapped the seat belts on and we proceeded up what is very similar to a roller coaster lift hill, but on a conveyer belt! Once we crested, this ride still appeared very mild – until the spinning started. I don’t know how long the flume is but this thing SPUN and SPUN – just like a teacup until the final splashdown which ended up soaking my wife and oldest son. Can I tell you just how hard it is NOT to laugh at your wife when she just received a complete drenching and you are basically dry! Well that would change because as you round the bend headed back toward the boarding station these penguin statues squirt water out at you! Overall a really fun, wet and disorienting ride – I bet we see more of them around other Six Flags parks in the next few years.

After Penguin, the sun was coming out and the clouds were clearing up. No one was here still, so I boarded something that should be called the Vomit Comet with my younger two since it had no line whatsoever. My wife and oldest son decided this torture chamber device was not for them – smart move. On this ride, called Riddle Me This (another Batman related ride) you stand up and the chamber starts to spin – faster and faster and faster until you know if will go flying off the axis. Just when you think the ride is over – the dagone thing tilts so you spin at a 45 degree angle. After what seemed like years the ride ended – and I’ll be the first to admit that I thought I was going to lose it ya’ll. No shame here – I laid out on a bench to recover and seriously thought I was done for the day. It was horrendous. I’m used to being able to ride most anything. This one though I will never ride again as long as I live!

Once I started feeling better we thought it might be a good idea to grab a bite to eat. Subway has franchised with Six Flags so we hit a familiar place with unfamiliar prices – dang! $7.99 for a 12 inch sub and $3.99 for a large soda! So after paying nearly $60 for lunch and feeling much better we queued up for The Wild One Wooden Coaster – an older coaster that used to be up in Massachusetts that they moved down and restored. Josh was tall enough so we all were able to ride. Short wait again, but the train that dispatched before us got stuck on the lift hill and the ride shut down – ugh! So off we went to the coaster next door – Two Face, the Flip Side. This is a boomerang style coaster that goes forward and backward – but there is a trick. You ride FACING one another so while during the first pass, ½ the train goes forward ½ backward – and once you reach the spike on the other end after flipping upside down 3 times you do it again – going the opposite direction you went the first time through! I went forwards first watching the two older kids go backwards – and then it was backwards time for me watching them go forwards. Absolutely insane and I loved every single minute of it!

Six Flags has a freefall ride called Tower of Doom that I took all 3 kids on – fun, but not nearly as tall as the Drop Zone near us – still gave us a tickle when they dropped us. Josh loved it – and another thrill ride he could go on.

Up next was another wooden coaster called Roar that was completely twisted – looked like it should have been made of steel it was so twisted. Another ride we could all hit and this was Josh’s favorite thus far. A WILD WILD ride, indeed and one of the best wooden coasters we’ve ridden.

Coming up: We face an Octopus, have our minds erased and take a wild ride!

[DVC_Don]

After what seemed like years the ride ended – and I’ll be the first to admit that I thought I was going to lose it ya’ll. No shame here – I laid out on a bench to recover and seriously thought I was done for the day. It was horrendous. I’m used to being able to ride most anything. This one though I will never ride again as long as I live!

Once I started feeling better we thought it might be a good idea to grab a bite to eat.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Classic! OK, I was almost sick, let's go eat! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Originally posted by Disnydad:
[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Classic! OK, I was almost sick, let's go eat! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

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

[iloverags2]

The penguin ride sounds totally awesome! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] You should've laughed at Susan anyway...we've come to expect that of you guys. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

The coasters sound just awesome...have always loved Six Flags coasters. Glad Josh could join in on a few. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

More please!

[iloverags2]

Thanks for sharing your day with us. I admit, I do miss Six Flags (the one up in Chicago) but for exactly the reason you said...the coasters. As far as ambiance, I agree...definitely not Disney. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Sounds like an excellent day filled with lots of rides for you all. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Who?: Dad2jbj and family.

Where?: Six Flags America, just outside of Washington, DC.

When?: August 4, 2003

Why?: Had free tickets to use and everyone loves a good coaster ride.

After Roar, we thought we hit a few more of the spinning rides – the kids all love the Octopus ride, but I thought I’d sit out of any more puke inducing rides for the rest of the day and leave it up to my wife and kids. Again a short wait for the Octopus and watching the delight on the kids’ faces was enough for me this time!

By this point it was getting wicked hot out with humidity right out of the tropics but we marched on towards Six Flags’ suspended looping coaster – the Mind Eraser. Flips you upside down 5 times and just the older two kids were tall enough to ride. This is ONE rough coaster – I think they call it the Mind Eraser because it literally knocks your head from side to side throughout. Once was enough for this one – and with my daughter now complaining of a headache from the ride we thought an ice cream break would be a great way to cool down.

After the break we marched back over towards the Wild One wooden coaster which was back up in operation. Short wait – maybe 4 or 5 dispatched trains before we boarded. Classic ride and actually pretty smooth for a wooden coaster!

Josh wanted to hit some of the kiddie rides in Looney Tunes Movie Town (he loves the thrill rides, but is still able to ride the kiddie rides too!). He specifically wanted to ride – what else – the kiddie coaster which actually had the longest ride of the day.

The Carousel was up next and Six Flags has a pretty cool one with zoo and jungle animals on it rather than the traditional horses. Although it was a slow spin, I still decided to sit this one out – afraid it would do me in!

How ironic is it that I wouldn’t even ride the Merry Go Round yet afterwards we found ourselves headed back over to the Gotham City area to ride one of the wildest coasters yet! We’d skipped Joker’s Jinx earlier since I was ready to puke after the torture device I’d ridden over there earlier but I was ready to tackle it head on at this point. But on our way over we noticed that the Batman Stunt Show was ready to begin, so we grabbed some good seats and watched a pretty dagone corny version of Batman trying to save the pretty girl from the Joker – lots of explosions, car chases, and Batman on a zipwire – but Josh absolutely LOVED this show, thinking it was the real Batman. Had we only done one this one thing, he’d have been VERY happy!

Joker’s Jinx was up next – and it’d be our final ride as we wanted to try to skip rush hour to head back to Northern VA and my inlaws house. No line, but only Justin and I wanted to ride. This coaster launches you into what I promise looks like a huge bowl of spaghetti – okay its green but this coaster is twisted! The launch is so cool and because you only have a lap bar, the inversions and twists are that much more intense!

Once we pulled back in the station we were all ready to call it. Of course we were in the VERY back of the park but we trekked our way past all the things we’d done and eventually found ourselves at the car – covered in glorious shade so it wasn’t too hot! Loaded up for the drive home, pleasantly surprised that this little park had a lot of bang for the buck (especially since admission was free for us!).

Six Flags America sure isn’t Disney – not even close. The park could use a good cleaning, sweeping and scrubbing down overall, but for the most part, the employees were friendly and the best thing Six Flags has going for it - the coaster array of course! This park particularly has a great assortment of coasters, but Josh was only able to ride the wooden ones and the kiddie one. They could use a mid sized or junior steel coaster that smaller kiddos could ride on.

Would I recommend visiting this park? Sure! Keep in mind if you visit though that it is Six Flags – you won’t get a Disney experience, but then again who goes to Six Flags expecting that?

Overall rating for the day: B-

[DVC_Don]

You seem to be sitting out more rides. Could be age creeping up. Some say it's triggered by the first protate exam as that clues the body in it's getting older? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks for the TR. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for the report Steve [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Sounds like you all had a great time and it was worth the trip!!

[dsnytina]

Dad2bjb:
Thanks for taking me back to my childhood with the description of the ride I loved when I was 11!!! This was always at our state fair, not themed of course, just cages that you stood in and then got spun around [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] - at this stage I wouldn't even ride the wooden coaster that didn't go upside down [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] , but I could handle the spinning, go figure! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Glad you had a happy day with your family!
Tina [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[AKLRULZ]

Originally posted by dsnytina:
Dad2bjb:
Thanks for taking me back to my childhood with the description of the ride I loved when I was 11!!!

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">LOL! Tina, glad you enjoyed the report - I loved that type of ride when I was 11 too, and hadn't seen one anywhere in the longest time so I thought, WHOO! Alas, I found out I'm not 11 anymore! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]