California's Great America Vlog September 2024

[@harryhopkinson162]

Love that you included the on ride pov's from the park. It adds so much to the vlogs.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you. I wish we could film our own, however I’ll be adding in official POV’s when we can’t!

[@user-ql9wd6uh6u]

Thumbs up here for that. Normally I have to stop watching , find someone else's pov (secret recording) or park official then fast forward to carry on with where i got to on yours

[@vengalee]

This is the park my family and I grew up with. Thanks for unlocking so many core memories. Have to get back down to this park before it closes in a few years. Thanks again for sharing our NorCal parks.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for joining us!

[@blinard1]

Thanks for making effort with official povs

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you. We always love to film our own, however will include official POV’s whenever possible!

[@MichaelDery-z7h]

It's a shame this park will be closing. So much potential. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which was Six Flags Marine World when I visited, may have the more thrilling coasters but Great America has a lot more charm and personality. Flight Deck, then Top Gun, was my 100th coaster.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s such a beautiful park

[@AmusementLabs]

23:14 That's me on the stage in the green shirt. I got second in the stein holding contest, then came back the next day and got 1st. :)

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

@17:54 AWWW I liked that operator with the red shirt giving a wave but felt sorry for her because no one waved back at her :( awwwww

[@JoeyYee]

Love that you’re visiting the Bay Area! Great America was my “local” park (closest one to San Francisco) and I’m so sad that it’ll probably close before my kids are old enough to ride most of the coasters. Glad you had a good time here!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great time!

[@lorenlio]

That demon was my first upside-down roller coaster. I grew up 30 mins from there and would spend my summer days there. Patriot when it was vortex is easily my most ridden coaster. Glad to see you guys visit finally

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Great ride!

[@marybradley7791]

I appreciate that you included the park POVs in your vlog, it makes such a difference.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@rthomas470]

This park was opened by Marriott at the same time as Six Flags Great America north of Chicago. They were at one time almost identical parks but over time, and being sold to different chains, they only have a few rides that are still the same. The Columbia Carousel, Demon, and Star Tower. Funny that both Great America parks are back under the same company again. Cheers!!

[@Bmkmusic]

Came here to say the exact same thing! haha. Six Flags Great America is my home park

[@rthomas470]

@@Bmkmusic It’s my home park too!!

[@64onyx]

Here for the Chi town coaster riders

[@Dazalton]

Was this ever Paramounts Great America?

[@Bmkmusic]

@@Dazalton The one in California was, yes!

[@Ewoonation]

Gold Striker! One of the most well paced GCIs out there!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Incredible

[@chrisbaker9767]

Great video Shawn and Charlotte from California's Great America! Keep the good videos coming on the channel, Shawn and Charlotte. 😃😀😎👍👍👍👍

[@benjaminalston8884]

Can’t believe Flight Deck is that old! Looks like one of the best B&M invert layouts I’ve seen, rather than the usual. That whip round immediately after the loop looks intense

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s such great ride!

[@ThomasJhones-jo5nx]

Beautiful theme park with nice roller coaster 🎢 I hope you have fun in the USA 🇺🇸 😊

[@bigbrostevo]

If this park is going to be demolished soon, then I'm so glad you both got to experience it and share it with us too. Memories and documentation recorded which is great. I only hope they sell and/or transfer all of those great rides to other locations, and hopefully none end up in landfill.

[@zarajenkins6948]

What a lovely park, its a real shame it will be closing, I don't know how it has survived with the car park situation , I really love how you appreciate the scenic views of the parks you visit, really love your vlogs you put so much effort in to them, you really make us feel like we're there with you both, really looking forward to the rest of this series, thank you both😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you. We had a great time!

[@scottcoleman4184]

Hello to the Sandbrookes!! You legends, keep growing 💜💜

[@OliverMercer-gr5ks]

A fab quirky park. 🎪💈🎠🎢🎡⛲️

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Loved it

[@moon993]

I've been waiting years for you to visit California's Great America so thank you for the vlog and the nice words about my home park. I'm still upset about potentially losing it forever.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was great to visit. We had a wonderful time!

[@LancerX916]

What a shame, we need a park here in Northern Cal, so it sucks that this one is closing down. I guess when the high speed rail is completed, we can just take the 2-hour trip to LA for the Disney parks.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s such shame as it’s a beautiful park

[@stevenking8688]

Great park great vlog again!. Look forward to the rest of your visits.❤

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@katiem7463]

My mum was super excited for this vlog - she rode Patriot way back when it was Vortex, it was fun for her to see it again!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Awesome!

[@deloron8813]

Surprised about your thoughts on Railblazer. I myself found the ride to be excellent

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a great ride, I think we have just been spoilt with the new Intamin Hot Racers!

[@webmasterbill2]

My company had an all-park picnic at Great America in ’79 after I got hired out here from back east. The park has always been a Southbay fixture for me. I'll need to go there again in the next couple of years as a farewell visit, and I'm sure I'll shed a tear or two. 😢

[@stoppropaganda2573]

Never been to this park but I knew it had a little pocket of Arrow coasters, I would have visited a long time ago! I hope by some stroke of luck it remains if just for the Arrows! Nice job filming as usual guys ... looking forward to the rest of the rip destinations!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great time!

[@joemarquez9789]

Flight Deck has 3 inversions, not 4. I hear it's a great ride though. So is Gold Striker & Railblazer

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a fantastic ride, really enjoyed both of them!

[@catherineclark4484]

That santa cruz boardwalk was wonderful

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s beautiful

[@petesomebody7389]

Massive well done for your silver award in the uk theme parks awards ❤❤❤❤

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@decadentdevil]

It's a shame a park like this can't make it. I wonder how this park would rank if it was in the UK??? Great video guys❤

[@iliketrains3546]

Probably same level as Blackpool or Drayton. It needs a standout to get to thorpes or towers level

[@barbarabornholdt2854]

What a nice park. Perhaps they can move the rides and create a new park further from the area. Also.. yay dip n dots! I love the banana split flavor. I believe they are -25 degrees (F) and formed by dropping the mixture into liquid nitrogen.

[@SkogenWhisper]

Brilliant vlog as always, thank you for sharing all this magic with us!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you for joining us!

[@MatecaCorp]

It’s such a shame that the park is closing. I wish there was a way to somehow downsize the south side of the park so they could still redevelop part of it while still saving the park.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s such a shame as it’s a beautiful park

[@Andrewoll68]

Flight Deck. What a beauty. Great vlog. ❤

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a fantastic ride

[@stephenshayler-appleton7650]

That Demon ride reminded me of the old Corkscrew at Alton Towers. Good editing work, putting up the parks POVs.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Such a classic!

[@justinchavez9530]

Such an incredible vlog! It’s a shame that California’s Great America is closing in the next few years. In my opinion, this park has definitely got the potential for some new investments. Now, if CGA stayed open for a bit much longer and the stadium was built in a different location, here’s what I could see come to the park: *A reimagining of the front gate and entry plaza, this would be something similar to Cedar Point and Worlds of Fun, or possibly a new design. It’ll also involve an update of the Celebration Fountain. *Ditch the current theme park logo and bring back the original Great America logo that was used during the Marriott years. *Focus on general park improvements (i.e. add pavers, give some of the coasters a fresh coat of paint, improve the foliage, replace the worst restrooms with new clean, modern ones, improve the food quality, etc.) *Give The Grizzly the much-needed RMC hybrid conversion that it desperately needs. *The building where Mass Effect: New Earth is located could be used for a new interactive dark ride. As for the theme, park guests are invited to take journey back in time to hunt their very own dinosaur, though the journey comes with a warning. *We'll see some form of expansion to the park entertainment. This would include some new shows, park events throughout the year (which would involves the return of Halloween Haunt), streetmosphere characters, interactive elements and a nighttime show during the summer months. *The park could add a new parking structure, which would help to handle the flow of cars that are visiting CGA. It'll have 3-4 levels of parking and Great America could be very smart to hide it from within the park so it’s not very visible. *We could see some improvements being done to the Planet Snoopy area, building off the success of the other legacy Cedar Fair parks. This involves replacing some of the older kids rides with brand-new ones and opening a new family coaster. *We could finally see the park open the long-rumored Hyper coaster, as for the manufacturer, I’d go for Intamin. *The area that’s towards The Grizzly, I’d love to see the park open a 250ft. StarFlyer attraction and a ropes course, similar to the former Adventure Mountain at Dollywood. *South Bay Shores, which is Great America's waterpark, could benefit from another expansion. As for the attractions, we could see a Mat Racer, Family Rafting Ride, Water Coaster, and a Multi-Slide Pool. With these additions, I predict that California’s Great America could become a much-better park than it already is.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing all of these great ideas!

[@justinchavez9530]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide You’re welcome Shawn 😊😉🙏🏻

[@nathanseaman6328]

Good ideas but they're not "moving" a 10 year old stadium they spent $1.3 billion on.

[@Xtremerides]

Do you have collab with the park? Because I know people where over there was not allowed to vlog in the park? Very strange but I have never heard of that. In the attractions, it is also in the UK but not on the paths is very strict.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We didn’t have a collaboration with the park and just used our cedar fair passes for entry. No issues at all!

[@Xtremerides]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide thanks, you do great mate a lot of themepark in a short time. The time of your life :)

[@joshuadunn4294]

Great vlog shawn and Charlotte looks like a great park keep it up 😊.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@KevinTheSpider]

Everytime i see hometown square or that carrousel .. reminding me of the movie 'Beverly Hills Cop 3' Wonderworld ... wonderworld 🎶

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a beautiful area

[@RaeAnn_1202]

The sky whirl was so iconic. It was too bad when they removed it. We went while they were filming (park open daytime and filming was overnight) It was fun to see the props all over then see them in the movie.

[@KevinTheSpider]

@@RaeAnn_1202 That's so awesome! *Code red on The Spider!*

[@djdrdave5262]

Turn off that (*******) song

[@KevinTheSpider]

@@djdrdave5262 Wonderworld ... wonderworld 🎶💃

[@triple7marc]

I grew up with this park! It made me an enthusiast. I used to go every couple weeks since I lived only 25 minutes away. I will miss it!

[@marybradley7791]

I loved that vlog, what a beautiful park, such a shame its going to close, maybe they will transfer the rides to the six flags park you are going to tomorrow, pity we did not get to see the rapids, do you think you will visit this park again before it closes? I loved your Santa Fae vlog too.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for joining us!

[@NicksAllotmentDiary]

Hi Shawn and Charlotte. That looks like a great park. Such a shame that it’s going to be closed down in a few years time. There were some different rides there. Glad you were able to make the most of such a long day. Take care. Nick

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great day!

[@TheNextOuting]

Had a great time here a couple of years ago! Hopefully it'll stick around in the future. The wooden coaster was top notch from memory.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a fantastic park

[@ItzTheJLife]

What a beautiful park! Some great rides, loved the new Orleans area of the park.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was beautiful

[@Graeme-mb1jd]

Looks like a really good park. Not that old in the scheme of things, but has the true feel of a classic amusement park.

[@Mas_Mas123]

Hope you had a great time 😊😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great day!

[@Paolo8772]

Thanks for saying the big RMC single rail coasters are better than the small ones (even though I prefer the back seat on all of them I've ridden; the only other one being Jersey Devil in 2022) I figured that out when I visited this park the last Saturday of October 2023. I prefer a longer, taller faster but not as painful a ride, and it's not just because I'm in my mid 50s apparently. Much love to both of you and have a good time riding coasters!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We definitely enjoy the large ones more!

[@Paolo8772]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide You're the only coaster enthusiast I know of who agrees, which is commendable to say the least. Keep riding coasters!

[@camikelly2356]

I’m glad you had a wonderful time at CGA! I went to Six Flags Great America two days ago and loved it. I hope to visit this park before it closes down, which is a bummer.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was great!

[@attractionshubno1]

Great Vlog as always Shawn and Charlotte

[@LindaSolis-b9s]

Another park in my neighborhood. I remember the bicentenial year they opened 1976. I graduated in 1977 and we went there a lot. I worked there one summer during college also, Maggie Brown's fried chicken. The food was great! I need to go back and ride what I can before they close. Thanks for the vlog!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing!

[@RaeAnn_1202]

I graduated from jr high in ‘77 and we went here so often. Amazing to think our parents would drop my friends and me off for the day.

[@jasonhamelin2859]

The park looks great even though they've committed to closing it. Would love to see that change, certainly a beautiful park with some good rides. I do remember flight deck when it was first constructed, being one of the first non batman clone inverted coasters. Loved seeing the footage you included and hearing your thoughts after riding it.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great time!

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

Great vlog Shawn and Charlotte 👍👍😃😃

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks!

[@richardmcilvain329]

Knoebles is getting one of those byern kurves as well so there will be 2

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Looking forward to it!

[@michaelneal7273]

That was the Theme Park "Wonder World" in Beverley Hills Cop Film.

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

Shawn and Charlotte my theme park worldwide cushion has finally come. I at one point thought it was never going to come 😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

That’s great to hear!

[@VeronikaWilliamson]

That's Mt favorite park along with Knotts berry farm universal studios and Alton towers glad u had a great time

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s a fantastic park

[@harryhopkinson162]

When a theme park that will soon be closing has some better theming than Alton towers you know that things are bad with theme parks back home. Love the vlogs!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@derekwtang]

My old home park miss it so much

[@RaeAnn_1202]

Me too!

[@RR-fg2rl]

As a kid I'd visit from la my relatives and this was marineworld which is now discovery kingdom no rides , there was a marine land in la that closed in early 80s , there was a Busch gardens in van Nuys that closed in 79 no coasters 1 log ride mostly drinking area for adults and a tram ride thru beer factory which is still there

[@Stephenhunt-r5y]

Love the vlog

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@Fierce.gamingg]

First commenter Love your vlogs guys 😊

[@charlotteb4516]

Looks a lovely park. Folly Farm now sells a version of dipping dots in different flavours 😊 xxx

[@johnheyer5424]

Welcome to the Bay Area! Hope you had a great stay! My kids love Great America & Six Flags Discovery Kingdom...my first inversion coaster was the Demon at GA! Not a park for thrills, but if you're still up here, check out Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA! A beautiful family park!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a wonderful time!

[@C3T1C]

CGA only has 9 years left, I need to visit there soon.

[@sarahlouisewinwood2709]

Great video xxx❤

[@FaceRippedOff]

When you got to magic mountain, you’ve gotta do Wonder Woman at night towards the back. It feels like a different ride later in the day once it’s warmed up!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Looking forward to it!

[@beardown6574]

Seems like a very nice park. Shame it will be closing. Seems like a big complex there with the 49ers stadium

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’ll be missed as it’s a fantastic park

[@iliketrains3546]

I think most of the rides can be moved. Patriot to somewhere like michagins adventure, flight deck to kings dominion, rail blazer to six flags America or Canadas wonderland. As for the woodies, I think they could clone gold striker at cedar point or carowinds, and remake grizzly as an rmc in somewhere like six flags great adventure or great escape

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens to the park and the rides within it!

[@Paolo_DLR]

Considering you just came from Santa Cruz, what a great day to visit.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was perfect!

[@MrHawkeye41]

Sad I missed you guys. I'm there almost every Saturday and Sunday, but I was oncall at work the weekend you were there so I couldn't go.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was a great day!

[@k9feces]

I’m excited to see which park gets the RMC once the park closes.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’ll be interesting to see where it goes

[@eddieg6436]

It’s too bad you didn’t stay at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for the entire evening. The vibes at the Boardwalk are incredible, especially at night. But like you said, you’ll be back. A great day there is a BEACH day at Santa Cruz, a visit to nearby (beautiful) Capitola for lunch, then back to the Boardwalk to enjoy from around 3pm to closing for proper California vibes.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We will definitely head back in the future!

[@danielsebastian7231]

I went to this park when I turned 18 my Mom got me this trip for my 18th birthday. it was really fun.

[@nicolaward1034]

Love dipping dots too, very yummy 😋 Great vlog 👍🏻

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

They are so good!

[@rockstarsouth3405]

Some decent rides there I hope some will find a good new home…..that invert looks better than Nemesis 👀

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Hopefully so!

[@Norwich_News]

You’re living my dream… also what’s your all time favourite coaster mines either smiler, cu Chulainn, hyperia or galactica

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We love it! Steel Vengeance for me!

[@HurryArt]

안녕하세. 영상을 진짜 잘 만들었어요. I like your video so much. Thank you for sharing 🎉❤

[@tomguellert993]

''there's a big stadiium just off to the left hand side"...that would be the home of the San Francisco 49ers as well as the SuperBowl in early 2026 🤣

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Awesome!

[@kennethcoggins5888]

Another bucket list park for me. Just curious what are yours and Charlotte’s coaster count?

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was great! I have over 1600 credits and Charlotte will be updating her count this winter!

[@GeometrySmash321]

😍 great video

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks!

[@Stephenhunt-r5y]

Is hyperA the tallest coster

[@RichardMorton73]

Crazy that they're closing the park, looks great! I hope at least the rides get sold on to other parks. I bet the park was there way before the houses around it, but then the residents complain and somehow win, even though they knew what they were moving near to

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s such a great park too

[@Couch_potato123-w5g]

I really hope they can save Californias great America by keeping it open or moving it to Fresno which I hope one of these 2 options happen

[@themeparklunatic1996]

the place would be such a mess in Fresno people in that area don't know how to keep anything nice

[@Couch_potato123-w5g]

Right I got it from a petition so I have no idea

[@themeparklunatic1996]

@@Couch_potato123-w5g but I do agree central California does need a park we literally have nothing in this area other than 2 water parks

[@matthewhill5426]

Will the rides get scrapped or sold most likely when it’s closed?

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

They’ll be sold most likely

[@peanutismint]

I’ve had an unused ticket for this place since my trip got cancelled during the pandemic! I’m hoping they still honour it, one of these days…. 🤞

[@sagascending804]

For the algorithm ❤

[@keiranhyre750]

Brilliant vlog

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@LilianaBarajas-z5f]

The g forces on rail blazer😵‍💫

[@Jenna_2000_]

Go to Butlins Minehead for the adult weekender❤

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Love Butlin’s!

[@Jenna_2000_]

I'll be there soon, would love to meet you guys 😊

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

Hi Shawn and Charlotte, I did watch the U.K. theme park awards and I’m glad your KZbin channel won but was a little bit disappointed you came in second place and not first place because I prefer your KZbin channel to digital Dan. Digital Dan came first place. I’m still happy though you at least came second place 😊🥈

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@seany84uk]

Great video :) always good to see new parks! I bet most of them rides will find new homes if it does close for good!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you!

[@ericlindstrom8932]

Great America was my first theme park and the Demon was my first ever roller coaster. My older sister had Grad Night there in 1976 before the park officially opened. It's sad it's closing because it's a huge part of everyone from the SF bay areas childhood memmories.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jxzbelle]

I love great america❤❤❤❤been since 8-9-10 years oldd

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We had a great day!

[@misterA2Z]

I believe technically it doesn’t have to close if they choose to lease the land from the new owners, the park did that previously when it was owned by Paramount.

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

Hello Shawn and Charlotte 👋

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

Love the shirt Hans. Looks good on you.

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

@@DanielKing-dk5nr thank you. It’s a T shirt with the theme park worldwide logo on it. I also have a hoodie version of that top as well. And I have a theme park worldwide mug as well

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

@@Hans_Eriksson94 super jealous, i need to get a mug so i can drink some coffee while watching there videos.

[@Hans_Eriksson94]

@@DanielKing-dk5nr on the theme park worldwide KZbin channel home page there is something on there that says visit shop. If you click on visit shop, either on smart phone, computer/laptop or iPad there is an internet link on there for theme park worldwide merchandise

[@triple7marc]

31:48 Star Tower usually does spin. That’s so weird!

[@davefroman4700]

I hope they save Flight deck and move it to another park.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I hope so as it’s as great ride

[@briancalifornia]

Dang you should have jumped on Mass Effect. It’s a solid 4D show with live actors.

[@krrhys]

Are you guys going to goose fair this year?

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

We will be!

[@krrhys]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide brilliant, can you please include the height restrictions for the bigger rides please? My son is about 1.37 and is dying to go on the booster rides which are usually 1.40 so I’m hoping goose might have one which has a height requirement of 1.35……at least that’s the hope. Love your videos guys, I’m a very early subscriber to your channel and love all your posts. Thank you for replying xx

[@Amandajoneill72]

Have you done all the six flags Shawn ?

[@souldiscovery1238]

No he hasn't been to Mexico YET lol

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

There’s still some on my list!

[@RyRySoup]

This park is okay, but are you going to go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom? It’s only an hour away.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It’s on the way!