51 replies to this topic

[GAcoaster]

Our wish for Day 7-

Bring back the amazing Saturday Night Lights fireworks show.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Saturday Night Lights was simply an incredible fireworks show. Even though the weather was sometimes an issue, guests really enjoyed it and the show added a whole nother level of excitement to the park at night!

[ThemeParkRider]

I never knew it was a one time thing. Aren't they going to bring it back?

Edited by ThemeParkRider, 07 December 2009 - 07:06 AM.

[CoasterPrince]

When asked if it would come back, Mark Kane said he wasn't sure but I pray this thing comes back. This slowly transforms our park into a day-long resort. I managed to catch mostly all the firework shows but never got to sit in the Grand Stand even from the sides it was such a beautiful show. Please let this come back, Gadv has one uped Disney at something!

[Chiller]

This was a really good show, and I hope it comes back! It had Great Music and Great Fireworks!

[Thunderbolt]

Fireworks are a must. No Fireworks == FAIL

[ThemeParkRider]

Well, fireworks really complete a park, so I'd love to see it come back. Also, when I don't want to watch them, its a great time to ride either El Toro or Nitro. Plus it still gave a great view.

[DarkKnight]

it better come back because it was my families favorite thing to do on saturday nights

[gafreak]

Im almost positive that this is comming back, Trust me.....

[GAcoaster]

As of now, the show SHOULD be coming back. Of course all that is subject to change...especially with so much of Six Flags future up in the air right now, and in the hands of a judge.

[thechiller15]

^I read about that yesterday and Jeff Speed did not sound too convincing with his statement.

[Ogolo]

If it does come back (fingers crossed) the park should have a set of defined/posted rules as to when the show will be canceled and how it will be rescheduled. It was often a mystery this year unless you were following the Great Adventure facebook page. I know they want to keep people in the park but not for a disappointment.

[Thunderbolt]

It would be interesting to see if the judge will order several changes in management ranks. I'm not sure who would want this job, but I'd like to see Jay Thomas move up into a senior position. I think Jay coupled with a competent CFO (who "gets" the theme park business) could really turn things around. Personally, I'd be headhunting people from Universal or BEC in earnest.

[Ol'FormerRideOp]

As a former "Mine Train-er" we had NIGHTLY fireworks over the lake by the Western Cables... The park used to be open until midnight DAILY - and sometimes until 2 AM on concert nights. Fireworks began at 9:45 PM nightly and were over at 10:00 PM. Wasn't a HUGE display, but it WAS very enjoyable! The best part, is that the park was open for a couple of hours afterward which allowed many guests the opportunity to either filter out of the park, or enjoy some last minute ride hopping.

The way things are today, the fireworks show is TOO crowded and once they are over, that's it - park's closed. Every person is now scrambling for the exit which creates mayhem at the gates, not to even MENTION the backup of traffic getting out of the parking lot! Last time I went, it took over two hours to get out of the parking lot! TOTALLY messed up!!!

I believe if they want to make an impression, lighten up a bit on the "one-day-per-week" massive display, and go for a smaller nightly show which EVERY guest can enjoy. Not just those who battle Saturday crowds! And extend park hours until midnight again.

I know... money money money. Seems like they were always profitable when I worked there - what's happened since? Here's what's happened:

1. Park theming and other "enhancements" have ruined the feel of the place. It's now just like every other Six Flags park. What makes GA a special place to visit? Used to be that the park remained comfortable and cool even on the hottest days thanks to all of the trees that were painstakingly spared during any construction project. Beginning with the Time Warner days, massive trees were cut down and the park became flooded with concrete and steel. Now they have to install misting fans and other cooling areas in order to keep the guests from passing out in the direct sun. How smart was that?

2. The park has been marketed to teen-age kids for many years. They have no money. Tearing out family oriented rides (i.e., all flat rides) in favor of multi-milllion dollar heart-pounding rides hasn't proven the most cost effective. Not every ride has to be a screaming coaster.

3. Food & Restaurants - Someone should be fired for allowing all of these independant contractors in the park! GA used to have some really decent dining for a theme park - and at REASONABLE prices no less! The old Best of the West is now a complete joke. A frozen Tyson's chicken breast qualifies for "BBQ-Chicken" ??? What has happened to this place!! REALLY!?! Bring back the originality throughout the park! Seriously, if I want "Johnny Rockets" or "Papa Johns" I'll stay home thank you, and pay a heckuva lot less!!! All of this contracting out, detracts from being at a theme park. Makes you feel like you're at a very expensive mall's food court. Can someone in GA food service management please take a trip out to Knoebel's in PA and actually SEE how a park can profit with unique food?

4. Merchandise - Enough with the damn Looney Tunes characters!! LOL! Seriously though, the park used to have very unique merchandise along with the typical crap. Today, there's only crap. No more Austrian Crystal, no more Native American products (heck, no more Tee Pee either! Way to go GA. Let the park rot away.

5. Staffing - They've cut staffing of the rides to the point they cannot be run at capacity which means long lines that make for tired & angry guests. Used to be that six people at a minumum, ran the mine train. One operator, three loaders, one usher assigning booths, and a person at the top of the stairs to let 28 people into the station at a time. Yes, all these people hustled three train operation all day, but the ride ran at max capacity all the time. You could go through an entire full queue line in about 30 minutes.

I have a whole list of "wishes" not just for the park as a guest, but from a management perspective. Dan Snyder may know how to rip off sports fans at FedEx field in MD., but the theme park industry is entirely different. He has no clue about it, nor how to run the largest chain of parks in the world!

BRING BACK LARRY COCHRAN!!!

[Yoshi]

A nightly fireworks show or even on 1 or 2 weekdays per week would be great. I'm one of those people who will not go to any park on a Saturday in the summer, it is too crowded to be any fun. The fireworks sounded amazing this past season and it would be great to see it more than once a week even if weekday fireworks were scaled down like you suggested.

[Thunderbolt]

I have a whole list of "wishes" not just for the park as a guest, but from a management perspective. Dan Snyder may know how to rip off sports fans at FedEx field in MD., but the theme park industry is entirely different. He has no clue about it, nor how to run the largest chain of parks in the world!

Amen!

Larry Cochran did offer his services to Six Flags in a bankruptcy petition.

[GAcoaster]

We'll see...so much is in flux right now with the whole industry, we may see big management/ownership changes in the not too distant future for a lot of parks.

[Thunderbolt]

Change can't come fast enough for Six Flags. I just hope the next regime has a theme park background, and is willing to keep the Time Warner parks together (with perhaps Discovery Kingdom). They could sell the rest off for all I care.

[GAcoaster]

Look at the announcement about Cedar Fair. With the economy picking up there are companies out there snapping up these businesses in trouble for a song. I wouldn't be surprised to see Merlin or one of the other European park chains making a play for Six Flags.

[Mike13]

As a former "Mine Train-er" we had NIGHTLY fireworks over the lake by the Western Cables... The park used to be open until midnight DAILY - and sometimes until 2 AM on concert nights. Fireworks began at 9:45 PM nightly and were over at 10:00 PM. Wasn't a HUGE display, but it WAS very enjoyable! The best part, is that the park was open for a couple of hours afterward which allowed many guests the opportunity to either filter out of the park, or enjoy some last minute ride hopping.

The way things are today, the fireworks show is TOO crowded and once they are over, that's it - park's closed. Every person is now scrambling for the exit which creates mayhem at the gates, not to even MENTION the backup of traffic getting out of the parking lot! Last time I went, it took over two hours to get out of the parking lot! TOTALLY messed up!!!

I believe if they want to make an impression, lighten up a bit on the "one-day-per-week" massive display, and go for a smaller nightly show which EVERY guest can enjoy. Not just those who battle Saturday crowds! And extend park hours until midnight again.

I know... money money money. Seems like they were always profitable when I worked there - what's happened since? Here's what's happened:

1. Park theming and other "enhancements" have ruined the feel of the place. It's now just like every other Six Flags park. What makes GA a special place to visit? Used to be that the park remained comfortable and cool even on the hottest days thanks to all of the trees that were painstakingly spared during any construction project. Beginning with the Time Warner days, massive trees were cut down and the park became flooded with concrete and steel. Now they have to install misting fans and other cooling areas in order to keep the guests from passing out in the direct sun. How smart was that?
What park doesn't have to install misters these days?Since the new management has been in control,they have been adding trees and shrubs and all that stuff throughout the park.

2. The park has been marketed to teen-age kids for many years. They have no money. Tearing out family oriented rides (i.e., all flat rides) in favor of multi-milllion dollar heart-pounding rides hasn't proven the most cost effective. Not every ride has to be a screaming coaster.
Flat rides have been taken out due to budget not being there to replace them.When Shapiro came in,he has only taken out rides that haven't worked or needed major work on them..

3. Food & Restaurants - Someone should be fired for allowing all of these independant contractors in the park! GA used to have some really decent dining for a theme park - and at REASONABLE prices no less! The old Best of the West is now a complete joke. A frozen Tyson's chicken breast qualifies for "BBQ-Chicken" ??? What has happened to this place!! REALLY!?! Bring back the originality throughout the park! Seriously, if I want "Johnny Rockets" or "Papa Johns" I'll stay home thank you, and pay a heckuva lot less!!! All of this contracting out, detracts from being at a theme park. Makes you feel like you're at a very expensive mall's food court. Can someone in GA food service management please take a trip out to Knoebel's in PA and actually SEE how a park can profit with unique food?
The independant companies coming in are a Corperate Alliance thing I believe.But yes good food would be nice to have,but not really something I would expect to see at this point.Prices are rediculous at any theme park for food,it's just how buisness is done these days.Economically they would make more of a profit with lower food prices since when Price for food is down,demand goes up.But honestly I don't know what there sales are like for food and that stuff.

4. Merchandise - Enough with the damn Looney Tunes characters!! LOL! Seriously though, the park used to have very unique merchandise along with the typical crap. Today, there's only crap. No more Austrian Crystal, no more Native American products (heck, no more Tee Pee either! Way to go GA. Let the park rot away.
I don't know if you have been living under a rock but the Teepee was removed due to a bad storm damaging it,and fixing it would cost ALOT to fix,and it really wouldn't make alot of sense to fix it.

5. Staffing - They've cut staffing of the rides to the point they cannot be run at capacity which means long lines that make for tired & angry guests. Used to be that six people at a minumum, ran the mine train. One operator, three loaders, one usher assigning booths, and a person at the top of the stairs to let 28 people into the station at a time. Yes, all these people hustled three train operation all day, but the ride ran at max capacity all the time. You could go through an entire full queue line in about 30 minutes.
Staffing is all part of the budget,that is obviously not that good since financially the company was going down the pooper.But honestly I think guests can be smart enough to get themselves into a row.Now you really don't need that many people,then it just becomes to crowded up there.With a good crew of one Operator,and 2 attendants,you can easily move the line along at a good pace.

I have a whole list of "wishes" not just for the park as a guest, but from a management perspective. Dan Snyder may know how to rip off sports fans at FedEx field in MD., but the theme park industry is entirely different. He has no clue about it, nor how to run the largest chain of parks in the world!
Sporting events and Theme parks aren't to differant.

BRING BACK LARRY COCHRAN!!!