Six Flags Darien Lake Review, Western New York's Best Thrill Park | A Game of Hot Potato

[@daniscool8]

The little jab at Westbrook made me smile. He’s been my favorite player since I was like 14. Hope he stays on the clippers he was looking good there.

[@CanobieCoaster]

He just keeps bouncing team to team, but he's still productive.

[@Blue_Stork]

As a Western NY native, I really appreciate you covering this park and Seabreeze! Superman really ignited my passion for hyper coasters and it's nice to see some regional representation!

[@CanobieCoaster]

You're welcome.

[@Didyus]

This park has the potential to be a better Six Flags park. I think an RMC would fit this park

[@JulianDale94]

Predator is probably safe from RMC but a raptor would be perfect

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'd love to see one there.

[@matthewfoote6531]

A Raptor would go so far. The easiest tangible change though would be to buy back second trains for Ride of Steel, Viper, Mind Eraser & Predator.

[@BoulderDashBoy]

Have been waiting for this review for a while! Glad it happened.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@SkyrushFanboy]

I don't believe I've mentioned it before, but I really love how you add captions to your videos! I'm in the one train ops queue for steel curtain (thanks parques reunidos lol) and the captions really help me be able to watch these videos!

[@CanobieCoaster]

You're welcome!

[@ItsSiebay]

This park is very similar to my home park Six Flags America, so when I say I have hopes for these two, I mean it. I see what potential they have/had, and I want to see them start getting back to that higher quality. Ever since Six Flags announced they were acquiring the park, I’ve been watching it diligently, wanting to see things improve, and I know it will in time.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I hope it gets more love.

[@gogomica]

I really wish they would extend park hours back to 10 pm they used to be open till even 11 sometimes. It is hard to experience rides at night now because they close early

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be nice.

[@jacoboehler]

Thanks for the amazing review!! I visited this park in October last year. I have to say however that I did not have a good experience here. I would say that it was my least favorite days at any six flags park. They had mind eraser and tantrum closed. I was super bummed about the latter but not the former. I would say that predator was by far my favorite coaster in the park. I only got to ride Superman once in the morning towards the middle of the train because they were assigning seats. We were there for two days and this was the only time the ride was open (it was open for about 20 minutes). Because of this, i preferred Predator and Moro coaster over this. Predator is a very underrated ride in my opinion! I would agree that this is the best thrill park in New York but i far prefer Six Flags Great Escape!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've never seen assigned seating at Ride of Steel before. I've heard the area by Tantrum and Mind Eraser can close due to low staffing, which may have happened to you.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I wish I had taken the time to ride Moose on the Loose. I had a great time at the park. Predator in the front row was so good. I was there from 4pm-10pm on a Sunday, and the lines weren't too bad. 1-train ops had Ride of Steel & Viper at about 20-30 minutes. Everything else was 0-10 minutes. The following day was very rainy & hundreds of school groups were coming, so I headed on into Canada early.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Moose on the Loose is something you wouldn't expect at a Six Flags park. I know I missed it my first trip.

[@AirtimeProductions]

Awesome review as always! But wow the Russel Westbrook analogy sounded personal 😂

[@CanobieCoaster]

Just a basketball fan.

[@Possibly_A_Drummer]

The first amusement park I went to, I'm going later this month for the first time in about 6 years, very excited!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Im going to Seabreeze, and Darien Lake next weekend. Always fun to visit new parks.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@richardlong172]

The two "back entrances" were taken away for about 20 years, you could walk into the campground area without passing through gates, connecting Boomerang and MotoCoaster. In recent years, those two gates were reinstalled, and you now have to exit and re-enter the park in order to use that connecting path. This is because staying at the camp ground used to include park admission, but those policies have since changed! Additionally - I've reached out to the company a few times in regards to advertising to Niagara Falls tourist, but haven't heard a reply

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for explaining the history of those 2 entrances.

[@ednamclean4909]

My home park! I enjoy playing and working here!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@ScottyMania313]

This park looks fun. A Bills Game and this park would be a great NY State Weekend. Props on the Westbrook pop lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@jdspeedruns5002]

Great review, as always! Do you know by chance if they'll rul thier big coaster in rally cold weather? I was thinking of visiting during November this year.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I know Ride of Steel can run super slow in the cold. But I don't know if they have specific temperature cutoffs for any ride.

[@ReonSkyridge]

Nice review, I’ve been meaning to check this place out for a while, especially since it gives me another reason to get the Six Flags membership for the year. How do crowds look on weekends? That’s usually my best time to go without requesting off work….

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks! I have only visited on weekdays and the last few hours of Memorial Day. I'd say to start with Ride of Steel since it's their most popular ride.

[@chrismdb5686]

The park is never crazy busy (especially nowadays), but one train ops can ruin your experience even on a day of light attendance depending on what they're trying to ride.

[@MinaWalker]

I love the roller coasters here ❤

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@JayGoodman-we7vw]

Sometimes when you use the fast pass line you can pick your seat if one’s empty. Just to note if the fast pass line has enough to fill one car they always put you in the middle and on ride of steel they sometimes chain off the gates for exactly the middle of the train making those seats fast pass only.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They tend to put you closer to the middle, but they would put me with a single rider when I was alone. When I had a friend, we got random seats more towards the middle.

[@spikedwk]

At magic mountain I almost always get to pick my seat with flash pass. Sometimes on full throttle, X, or tatsu I can't.

[@mateoalvira3514]

When Mind Eraser, the Vekoma SLC at Darien Lake, opened in 1997, what do you think, if it opened to acclaimed reception or to ok reception by many enthusiasts?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Negative reception.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Coaster Lineup is underrated but the operations definitely hold this park back

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish they had multiple trains on several rides.

[@KeonColeman.Productions]

I think this is one of the best theme parks in my opinion me and my go there tons Since we live in Buffalo And you can never get bored especially with the Superman

[@CanobieCoaster]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@mateoalvira3514]

At Darien Lake, to ride, what do you think about Mind Eraser, Boomerang, and Predator?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like Predator. Hate Mind Eraser. Boomerang is ok.

[@empyre9534]

Darien Lake is garbage, but it’s our garbage and I love it so much

[@CanobieCoaster]

It has itd positives.

[@mateoalvira3514]

When Mind Eraser and Boomerang were built and opened, was the park named Six Flags Darien Lake, or Darien Lake, and under which ownership?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Still Darien Lake at that point and it was owned by Premier Parks.

[@ThrasheReyes]

My home park is over ga and im coming up to west New York to visit some family. I decided to see this place and glad I found this video to see what I’m getting into

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@mateoalvira3514]

Six Flags Darien Lake has a Vekoma SLC and a Vekoma boomerang, what are their names and their opening years?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Mind Eraser (SLC) opened in 1997. Boomerang opened in 1998.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Premier Parks was in plan of adding roller coasters to their parks during the 1990s and they were easier to get cheap coaster installations and clone them. Five of them were named Mind Eraser. Put here the parks those five Mind Eraser coasters were built, the years those five Mind Eraser coasters opened, and the manufacturer and model:

[@CanobieCoaster]

RCDB will have that for you.

[@teddym2808]

I've had a weird experience like that with food at Knott's. We were waiting 15 minutes for some fries as she was gossiping away, and after all that they were made and sitting there almost the entire time. My friend said what is going on with my fries? She saw them and said, "here" and handed them to him. His face was priceless. They were completely hard and cold. As in COLD, not lukewarm. After all that. He threw them at her and said these are not fit for human consumption, YOU eat them! Luckily it was right at the end of the day and we were leaving lol. This was a LONG time ago, July 2000.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh my! Those fries sound awful.

[@mattr3922]

Great review!! For the people suggesting to RMC Predator (I know thay seems logical)...however they just installed more Titan Track this season on the 1st turnaround after the 1st airtime hill. It's a multi season project so I'm a little baffled as to why they are doing such little portions at a time but maybe in the future they will just bite the bullet and finish. I DO KNOW Titan Track is expensive.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I would rather them keep Predator as is based on my rides last year.

[@mattr3922]

@@CanobieCoaster agreed but I can see it giving some incredible airtime if they can smoothen out some of the valleys /hills. Even if they just do the valleys. It seems like each install is increasing the speed slightly so it really has potential to be an airtime machine without any layout change🎶🎵🤘

[@zfilms4858]

i rode predator on Sunday, June 11th, it went from personally ranked nearly dead last (that goes to Mind Eraser, God, that needs to either go or get new cars), to my park favorite, beating ROS and Viper for the top spot! That titan track really made the ride just that much more enjoyable. the only two sections i can see them adding more titans would be that 1st turn out of the station and transfer track, and the top of the 2nd airtime hill

[@WCfanboy]

16:11 LMFAO

[@CanobieCoaster]

Such an odd experience.

[@drawsomethewizard3006]

I've heard that they ordered new track pieces for their boomerang which makes me hope that they have plans to refurbish it in the near future, well along with hoping they have plans to order a new train for it, and then give the same treatment to Mind Eraser

[@CanobieCoaster]

I was surprised to hear that. I can't recall another boomerang getting a partial retrack.

[@briandevine8292]

I am going next Friday I am pretty exited.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

Random question, what straps do you use for your glasses on coasters? I just got sunglasses and the straps I got barely fit over the glasses arms and don’t tighten enough to secure them in a way I feel confident they’ll stay on lol.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I use neoprene ones that stretch over the glasses.

[@jugglerj0e]

There was an indoor roller coaster here at Darien Lake over 20 years ago. It was called the Nightmare. It didn't last very long & wasn't very popular.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That one bounced around a few parks.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Predator at Darien Lake was in your video of most surprising roller coasters in the world, why?

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a great ride now with the trackwork if you're in a non wheel seat.

[@flipflubduck]

Again, this all checks out. The one train ops and the rude employees are the biggest issues right now. Fix both of those and I honestly think this would be a solid mid-tier Six Flags park

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree.

[@andrewlehr123]

Well, Mind Eraser is having new trains for next season, so this should make the coaster tolerable and make head-banging a thing of the past and if you ride it with the new trains, and do a new countdown, you should be able to place this coaster in

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hopefully that makes it enjoyable.

[@mstudios5637]

This Park suffers because its closed 6 months out of the year which is why they never get any upgrades. But then again Six Flags Great Escape just received a new coaster. They have a couple of generic coasters but yeah tons of expansion opportunities. Marine Land is trash lol. Nice Review!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hopefully they get some investment in the near future.

[@juliawilliams382]

Is this park good to work at?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I do not know. I have never worked at a theme park.

[@juliawilliams382]

Thanks for your response

[@strudelninja]

In my experience, Six Flags is being VERY crappy on rainy days this season (maybe it varies park by park though). St. Louis had a whole 3 rides open after 1pm when I visited a couple of weeks ago and even when the lightning threat passed, they kept all the coasters closed. We ended up leaving early because there wasn't any point in standing in line to ride a bad dark ride, disc-o, or pirate ship over and over again. I assume it's part of Bassoul's cost-cutting - why close the park when you can just close most of the rides and then have big school groups have nothing to do but play midway games and buy food?

[@CanobieCoaster]

A lot of their parks have a tendency to close early in rain. I know New England and Great Adventure love to do that.

[@benthelegend]

I’m going here in July, thanks for the imfo

[@CanobieCoaster]

Have fun!

[@coaster_corner]

Can you do an islands of adventure review

[@CanobieCoaster]

I made one years ago.

[@MattSmith38258]

As a WNY local and from southern tier when saying they need to tap into Niagara tourism, ya know it’s easily an hour more like hour and a half from Niagra. That’s a hike for people who already travelled there and the biggest hurdle. Now locals wouldn’t mind the change too much except the Rochester more central NY people who go to Darien Lake. Price changes were notable too six flag name upped prices about 30% the first time tickets for a day were about $35 when they left down to about 25-28 dollars after six flags and now are back up to like 35 with more add ons than ever. That’s without parking now too. Six flags knows how to suck the consumer fry that’s for sure. I will grant that $35 ticket in 2005 vs $35 in 2023 are a bit different but I wonder what prices would be if the event in 2020 didn’t happen and attendance didn’t become an issue since.

[@MattSmith38258]

That’s great, I’m leaving this comment 2 months after this video goes up, and the price dropped $5 dollars on the website, I will admit I’m posting in august, later in the season. So that could be a possible influence.

[@CanobieCoaster]

People will drive an hour if the destination is appealing enough. I've seen it with other parks in tourist areas.

[@Thelightning1out]

I would like to see a RMC of their woodie

[@CanobieCoaster]

I actually like Predator, but an RMC would be better.

[@spikedwk]

I'm glad I live by Magic Mountain. Went to Discovery Kingdom once and realized how big MM is.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Discovery Kingdom has some solid rides, but the operations there are brutal.

[@spikedwk]

@@CanobieCoaster I didnt get to ride medusa since they had a medical emergency that closed it for the day, but the rides were definitely fun. Nowhere near MM levels offl fun or things to do though

[@tdawgpetranek]

i live 3 towns from darien lake and i honestly preferred it before it was reclaimed by six flags a few years ago

[@CanobieCoaster]

Interesting. Why?

[@tdawgpetranek]

@@CanobieCoaster i dont know how to explain it but i just isnt the same darien lake i grew up with

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

It’s a shame they don’t have a Ferris Wheel anymore

[@CanobieCoaster]

I know.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I wonder why DC and Loony Tunes never came back to this park

[@CanobieCoaster]

They now have Flash Pass so there's one bit of branding.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

@@CanobieCoaster hopefully it will continue

[@anonymouscac]

​@@CanobieCoaster just FYI they brand their flash pass as the "go fast pass", much like Great Escape and Frontier city. It still says 50% off go fast pass on my coupon list for this year as well so I don't think it's changed. I haven't seen any DC branding in the park, other than maybe some merchandise? Unless of course it changed this year and they haven't updated the app or website.

[@IKR5-m8q]

Amazing they don’t have 2 trains running on anything by now

[@CanobieCoaster]

Tantrum has in past visits, but that's a problem with this park.

[@jacobselleck9750]

My train hit a seagull on the final bunny hills of ride of steel on my only ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh wow!

[@Calakapepe]

i didn't know Hershend owned Darien lake at one point! makes me a little less hopeful for Kentucky kingdoms growth hearing that lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

They only had it for a short time.

[@cantdisappointpodcasts]

So… can I have those fries if you’re not gonna eat them?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol

[@mitchellries256]

If our economy hadn't taken a turn thanks to the pandemic, I believe Six Flags would be putting more new attractions into this park, but I am sure they will when it becomes more stable. My first priorities would be a redo of Predator by RMC, a new roller coaster where Cuda Falls used to sit (no idea what kind), bring DC and Looney Tunes back to the park, add vest restraints on Mind Eraser (and Boomerang if it's that bad), and their own version of Justice League: Battle for Metropolis in that empty building where the indoor roller coaster used to be.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Would be nice

[@CanobieCoaster]

I also wonder if the fact they manage the park versus outright owning it makes a difference.

[@bubblegaminglol]

Kind of ironic that this was posted 3 days before I’m going

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wanted it out around the park's opening day.

[@kamicoasts]

When I revisited new york recently for nostalgia, I actually looked this up as a potential stop, was a bit too out of the way for my family though

[@CanobieCoaster]

Bummer.

[@johnhale805]

I started working at DL in 1995. I have been through most of this, (meaning your recap of history). I have to tell you, you are wrong most roller coasters can operate 2 trains at the same time. I've seen it done. However when you employee teenages in this day and age.. I guess we are safer with one. I will also add the Viper actually can run 3 if need be at the same time, yet as I just said. I also disagree with the Mind Eraser review, maybe that's why it's called what it is? However, the Predator is far worse. The fact that it is wooden always needs help as the shaking loosens stuff and nuts and bolts fall out! I love this park I worked there, lived there. I hated the first time Six Flags took it over, not feeling any better about it now.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I know the rides used to run multiple trains, but many have just one operational now.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

What Six Flags park does this physically remind you of

[@CanobieCoaster]

Has a lot of similarities to Six Flags America.

[@QWERTY-cl8wh]

When I went on tantrum and there was a really nice guy working there

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@teddym2808]

I detest this version of ride of steel, both here and at SFA. We couldn't disagree more on that one. 3/10 vs 9/10 at New England (due to restraints, first edition restraints are a 9.5/10). Even though it has a couple of good spots, it's constantly interrupted and doesn't "flow" right. Don't shoot me, but the best word I can think of is that the layout is not *organic* whatsoever. To be honest, I find it dull and boring overall, and overall is how I rate something. First drop is so so and I think there is actually more dead track than thrill track. The helixes are ridiculous. Just my 2c lol.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I much prefer the New England one, but I still really like Ride of Steel.

[@Liight]

I love this park. I think many rides here are underrated aswell such as mind eraser.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

The SLCs like Mind Eraser are not well regarded among enthusiasts, but non-enthusiasts tend to like them. I find that if I keep my head to one side or the other, right up against the pillow restraint, I don't get any headbanging into the other pillow. I enjoyed Mind Eraser, even if there were several other rides there I preferred.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not a fan of that one myself.

[@Liight]

@@OklahomaCoasterFan Im an enthusiast i just think they’re not as bad as people say. I didn’t get headbanging or roughed around like many say

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

@@Liight Same with me. I enjoy getting a ride if the line isn't long. They're not the best inverts ever, but they're not as bad as enthusiasts say.

[@Liight]

@@OklahomaCoasterFan Yeah I agree, I perfer the b&m inverts i’ve done (Batman at SFOG and Montu at BGT)

[@Kittyhat]

16:07 based

[@CanobieCoaster]

Such an odd experience.

[@dnasty312]

No more Superman for me 😡 My shins are too long apparently

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh no!

[@dnasty312]

@@CanobieCoaster it's all about the angle of the bar. You encounter anyone with that issue when you rode?

[@shawntilley8348]

Sad that this is the best NY can do for a amusement park. It's like the red headed stepchild of six flags! Wish they would at least paint and garden. Clean it up. Stop minusing rides, and not adding anything in return.😢😢😢

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think I prefer Luna Park overall.

[@bobbouchee1452]

extremely disappointed wish i would've never spent my money here on passes such a shame i dont even like rides it was for the kids but knobles is 100 times better go to knobles actually dont its getting packed lol ill be hanging out in hooks lagoon i suppose

[@CanobieCoaster]

I much prefer Knoebels too.

[@YourPointOfViewPodcast]

Six flags Darien lake sucks and unfortunately this my home park

[@CanobieCoaster]

I enjoy an occasional visit there.

[@shawnokeefe1580]

This is not Upstate New York…it’s Western New York

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sorry about that!

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Imagine two Vekoma coasters, one some headbanging and other non stop headbanging, what are the differences between "some headbanging" and "non stop headbanging"?

[@CanobieCoaster]

How much you hit your head.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Imagine going to this park and riding Predator, Viper, Boomerang, and Mind Eraser again. What would you think? I think those four coasters look thrilling.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They are thrilling.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

In 2010, was the park named Six Flags Darien Lake, or Darien Lake?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Darien Lake

[@Wetzel983]

Taking my 15 year old son tomorrow. He hates roller coasters, do they have anything else to offer or I am screwed lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

They have some nice kids areas.

[@Wetzel983]

@@CanobieCoaster he’s 6’1… he will only like bumper cars and go karts