Six Flags Great America Opening Day Park Tour | Things To Know Before You Go - Wristbands Required

[@TheBigb1973]

I think the last time I was at a Six Flags, it was Looney Tunes themed, lol.

[@PDX7]

It’s challenging finding those characters now, Bugs was greeting people in the beginning he split right before I could film him :)

[@officialsamstermadness]

@@PDX7 my advice to you is, if you want to see the characters, stick around in Hometown Square. That’s where they usually meet and greet. Or, get there a bit earlier to see them in front of the carousel

[@PDX7]

Thank you :)

[@officialsamstermadness]

@@PDX7 anytime! :)

[@295g295]

43:22 - Looney Tunes were here at Great America park in the Marriott times when the park opened, years before Six Flags owned it.

[@RETROOBLIVION]

I haven't been to that Great America since 93. They sure changed a lot of stuff! Very Cool!

[@PDX7]

Man that’s awesome you’ve been there, we actually might have crossed paths back then :)

[@RETROOBLIVION]

@@PDX7 I'm originally from Chicago and use to go there with high school friends. I had a lot of good times there. I'm glad they managed to stay open through out the years.

[@PDX7]

@RETROOBLIVION I am too :) it’s my favorite theme park to go to besides Disneyland.

[@saiyanspirits]

The sky trek tower drama was like a movie. Breaking down right before getting on, the suspense, the danger, and then the victory music finally playing as you're lifting off. I was on the edge of my seat lol. Also, I think you want to work in the parking lot tower because you watch too much baywatch😋

[@PDX7]

lol I didn’t think of that :) The tower was my favorite part to film :)

[@zayedpalos5033]

We were there that day too. We are Dimond Elite pass holders and it is very worth it. It was very cold that day and my husband I left by 3 pm because we were both freezing!

[@PDX7]

I left just before you both did, I was freezing walking to the car :) Thank you for watching, hope to see you there!

[@zackdreamcast]

Blast from the past. I don’t think I have been to great America since the early 2000’s. So many changes. Thanks for the upload PD7

[@PDX7]

Thanks for watching Zack 👊 Hope to see you there this summer!

[@comronfouladi9583]

If I still lived in the Chicago area I swear we would’ve became friends. Enjoy season at great America!

[@PDX7]

Definitely 👊

[@icemana51]

@@PDX7ok so this is Chicago. I was trying to find an answer then just started to match things up. Didn’t know if all parks looked the same though lol

[@PDX7]

@icemana51 they do, but some are better with more rides. Great America is in the top 5 in my opinion:)

[@DaneMarshall56377]

I remember going to Cedar Point in the mid 2000s and they still had dozens of 80s cabs. Donkey Kong, Sinistar, Zaxxon, everything. Unfortunately it’s only modern arcades now.

[@PDX7]

It’s a shame man, I was so excited to see Pacman lol I wish I would’ve appreciated the arcades more back then :)

[@kevinclauson7613]

Very cool Phil, yeah I remember shockwave being there at the entrance. Great memories. I remember the season passes pay for itself after only 2 trips, lol. By god what did they do to the batmobile, lol. They promoted the grand opening on the news, but if 50% aren't open screw that. Glad you got a season pass.

[@PDX7]

Thanks Kevin, the Batmobile has seen better days lol looking forward to going back on a warmer day and more attractions open :)

[@barbaralance7942]

I haven’t been to Six Flaggs Great America since , 2000, they sure have a lot more roller coaster, I hope I can visit again someday😊

[@PDX7]

How close are you?

[@skippythealien9627]

CONDOR IS RUNNING!!!!!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Thanks for the video my man. Condor was closed all of last season so i'm glad to see it finally running

[@PDX7]

I forgot about that, dude Thank you for watching 👊

[@celticbastard001]

In 1978, I worked Security at the park just before graduation, and that whole summer.(April - August) Back then it was known as "Marriot's" Great America and there were two of them. One in Gurnee, Illinois, and one in California. Both parks were built Identical. You could walk through one, or the other and it was laid out the same. Our Uniforms resembled those of late 19th century Police with the Bobby style hats. I lived in McHenry, and drove the 45 minuets there for the summer. I will always remember the two tiered Merry-go-Round. The characters were Warner Brother themed, and I had a "Bugs Bunny Watch that I bought and took with me when I left to join the Army in September of '78.

[@PDX7]

Thank you for sharing :) was Marriot Magic Mountain now?

[@ChosenOne1994]

Yeah buddy.. Won't be too long until I'm able to go to our six flags in st louis!!! Gotta wait a little longer tho... Thanks for the video!

[@PDX7]

Maybe I’ll meet you down there, always wanted to check that one out :)

[@Igetzmon3y22]

Alright Phil it's time to make that trip to galloping ghost arcade. They just completed their expansion and added almost 100 more cabs. Now they're pushing 1k cabinets. It took them 5 years to complete this expansion. I'm guessing the building needed alot of interior work.

[@Igetzmon3y22]

Actually they have 979 cabs but yeah shout out to Brookfield area.

[@PDX7]

I promise promise this time I’ll go soon Damien :)

[@JesterTester]

Great video, Phil. The kids behind you were characters. My daughter was at our Six Flags today also. ( well, yesterday now) Your Six Flags is so much nicer than the one here.

[@PDX7]

lol I didn’t notice them until after :) How was the weather out there? Did she go on a lot of rides?

[@JesterTester]

@PDX7 She went on Batman and she was happy she got the front row. Then she went on the Joker Coaster. Then, the last one was Eltoro. It was a nice clear day but cold.

[@PDX7]

@JesterTester Awesome! It’s so much fun :) I’m glad she had a good time and got the front row!

[@jolietpinball7439]

Great America was originally a Marriott park...it was on par with Disney back then...and even today, with much less theming, it is significantly better than an average "Six Flags" park.

[@JesterTester]

@jolietpinball7439 Oh, ok. Thanks for that info, brother. You can definitely see a difference in parks.

[@mikeb6323]

That sky trek is the most terrifying ride there ! I just think about free falling with that music playing

[@PDX7]

If you don’t think about how high up you really are :) it’s scary if you think about it.

[@djavatar68]

You are wrong about American Eagle. It is opening this season. It says coming soon on the website.

[@PDX7]

Thank you for clarifying, I was worried it was shut down it looked blocked off yesterday. Thanks for watching 👊

[@djavatar68]

Probably because of construction of the new ride right next to the que line.

[@PDX7]

@djavatar68 I thought it was for American Eagle :) I’m looking forward to going on it.

[@Bubbles156]

I use to go to Six Flags Great America during the summer every year. I moved out of Illinois in 2012. Man…they did change a lot there. I did remember Shockwave roller coaster at the time before torn down and placed in with Superman. Space Shuttle America was my favorite simulator theater ride. I used to go on there and had a special place in my heart. R.I.P. Space Shuttle America 1994-2007. It was used to be located next to the Sky Trek Tower at the front of the park. The Viper and Whizzer I used to go on a lot. American Eagle carts used to go backwards until they changed it back to forward. It’s a shame the antique car ride was removed…it use to go on there. I haven’t rode Raging Bull because I was scared of heights at the time and my family use to go on there when the park open

[@PDX7]

You experienced the glory days of Great America! I miss those rides too, I kept thinking about Space Shuttle America when I was in line for Trek Tower. Where are you at now?

[@Bubbles156]

@@PDX7 I live in South Carolina now. Yes, I did experience the glory days of Great America because think I started to go there around 1997 or 1998. I’m glad to hear somebody else remembered that ride existed with a big space shuttle model. I keep thinking of that shuttle at that spot when I was watching this video.

[@PDX7]

@Bubbles156 hurricane harbor took its place unfortunately 😒

[@Bubbles156]

@@PDX7 I rarely experienced the water park side after construction. I have no experience of Hurricane Harbor. So, I don’t know much about it. 2011 was my final year visiting that park. Now I was curious what changed the last time I visit.

[@PDX7]

@Bubbles156 I’ll be back soon, I have a few video ideas planned over there. I’ll try to show off as much as I can :)

[@anarchorepublican5954]

...always bought "Great America' season passes in late 80's and 90's (under $100)...real handy when visiting family came to town...on date nights, would hit the park, ride a roller coaster or two ("the Demon" or wooden "the Grizzly") ...then get dinner and a movie in Santa Clara...mostly Paramount Movies (Tom Cruise "Top Gun"; "Days of Thunder"; and Star Wars) themed and during the Summer decent A- & B+ list Rock Concerts & best 4th July Fireworks...there were a couple of thrill-ride deaths...

[@PDX7]

So much value with season passes! Have you been back lately?

[@anarchorepublican5954]

@@PDX7 ...nope...live in Montana now...but your tour brought back memories...saw Captain Kirk(William Shatner) there in the 90's-

[@PDX7]

@anarchorepublican5954 that is so cool you got to see him at Great America!

[@anarchorepublican5954]

@@PDX7 ...Under Paramont's ownership they hosted a month-long Star Trek "Convention" Event, with lectures, props, phasers...Romulians, Klingons from Uranus...the works...hey! where you from originally- I can't place your accent...

[@PDX7]

@anarchorepublican5954 man I wish I would’ve seen that! My Dad was a big Star Trek fan, I live just outside of Milwaukee.

[@michaelleary9233]

I wouldve loved that park as a kid, Super Friends was my jam!

[@PDX7]

Wouldn’t be Saturday mornings without Super Friends 👊

[@michaelleary9233]

@@PDX7 Yeah, when I was in 6th grade, I got teased for having their lunchbox, till the toughest kid in the class brought his. Shut everyone up fast!

[@PDX7]

@michaelleary9233 I’m jealous lol I had a Rambo :)

[@SirGriefALot]

45 degrees is nice. You can wear a jacket or a hoodie and you don't have to worry about sweating your ass off standing in line in the hot sun.

[@PDX7]

Saturday waiting for Batman I was wishing for 45 again lol

[@WiscoDufflebaggers]

Super great video! Love all the POV and great voice commentary! I've been coming here since 1986 and consider this to be my "home" park, although I live 3+hrs away in northeast WI. So many changes over the years.. buuuut yet so much is *still* the same. I've visited many many times over the years, with the last time being in 2017. I'm still incredibly salty over the removal of Shockwave! It was the 7 inversions that got me hooked at 14 years old. Back in those days I always took my 35mm on all rides and got some amazing shots -one being in the Demon's tunnel with the lights. Oh btw, was the Demon theme song playing in queue? That song is something else I tell ya lol.

[@PDX7]

Yes the classic Demon song lol I love this park too, but Shockwave missing is a bummer. Magic Mountain has the Viper, it’s red but exact same ride if you ever get to LA. Are you thinking about going back this year?

[@WiscoDufflebaggers]

@@PDX7 Most likely not however my niece will experience her very first Great America trip in a few weeks with classmates post HS graduation! She is incredibly excited and can't wait to see it all. I'm bummed that she won't be able to get on the Eagle as it won't open until Striker is completed or near completion 😕 That just means her auntie will have to take her back lol

[@PDX7]

@WiscoDufflebaggers it gets you to go back :) I can’t wait for Eagle to open

[@295g295]

5:50 - I think that is the first installation of a B&M suspended roller coaster.

[@PDX7]

Might be :) how close to Six Flags are you?

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

Probably wouldn't be the best choice or it would piss off die-hard enthusiasts, but I've seen alot of old Great America videos and it makes me wish that great America was still well themed like Disney or even Knott's as a fair comparison.

[@PDX7]

I know I do too, but I’ll enjoy it for what it is now. I hope improvements are made, it’s changed over the years. Thank you for watching

[@295g295]

0:33 - You live so close, from your home to the car-parking spot at SFGAm, is the same time as from the car-parking spot to walked inside the entry gate of SFGAm.

[@PDX7]

I live about 50-60 min away, parked pretty close to the back of lot to get a good shot of park :)

[@andrewk7745]

In the 80s I lived so close to the park I would hop the fence in the backyard and I was in the parking lot, lol. I live about 12 minutes away today

[@PDX7]

@andrewk7745 I saw those houses last week! That would be awesome :) do you still go?

[@andrewk7745]

@@PDX7 haven’t been there in awhile. I just hate waiting in lines, lol. I really should go this year. I lived in the most NW house boarding the park. Fun story! My friend and I would walk into the park about 30-40 minutes before closing. Everyone was rushing to leave and beat traffic out. We would have the rides practically to ourselves! We would bee line it to a ride against the huge crowd leaving. Many times we would actually ride over and over again without even getting off the coaster. Sometimes we would get off and run back and get right on to the next one, because they would make us. Fond memories. You should try my tactic! Oh, and we had fireworks every night practically in me backyard.

[@PDX7]

@andrewk7745 I’ll try it at night! They are getting to be bad lines, I went last weekend again. Takes forever to load people, they want you to buy flash pass. It’s not like it was..

[@Baseballandfootball24]

I'm hyped I'm going there in 10 days

[@PDX7]

You’ll have a blast! Try to get there before open and get 2 rides in before lines build up.

[@Mahteez]

5 more days

[@PDX7]

@Cheeno.perriko next week Hurricane Harbor opens I’m going back!

[@jamalbawadi6966]

The last time I was at six flags great america was 1998. My favorite rides was Shock wave rollercoaster and Space Shuttle America. What are the rides there now in 2024.

[@PDX7]

Gosh I remember Space Shuttle America. Are you close by still? One of the newest rides X Flight is a really great smooth roller coaster.

[@tedadamgreen]

Thanks for a fun video!

[@PDX7]

Thank you Ted Adam :)

[@candacecherry2846]

Sweet sounds like fun

[@PDX7]

Thank you for watching :)

[@Khrissy4life]

Six flags great America has been my park 2 hours away but closet park I’ve been on all the roller coaster rides definitely recommend

[@PDX7]

What is your favorite ride?

[@Khrissy4life]

@@PDX7 that’s an hard one probably Superman I love the loop part

[@PDX7]

@Khrissy4life it’s one of mine too, Thanks for watching :)

[@princeerick11]

👑Magic Mountain Wears The Crown👑

[@PDX7]

It’s probably the best :)

[@chicagofan76]

Superman was built in the mid to late 90’s not 80’s. Batman came around 91-92.

[@PDX7]

I might have been talking about Shockwave, I’m really surprised how long Superman has been there.

[@atranfanatic]

Looks like a cool place! Sadly it wouldn't be worth it for me due to not being able to ride any of the rides. I have motion sickness and acrophobia. lol I was getting a little jeeby when you were on the Sky Trek. I went to Six Flags in California on a youth group trip at a church back in '93. And it was pretty much all Looney Tunes themed throughout the whole entire park. I was able to ride a couple of roller coasters that were a little less crazy. lol (well one was called the Gold Miner and the other was Log Jammer if I remember correctly.) Was many years ago now. Sheesh! Nowadays my fear has gotten worse and I freak just thinking about leaving the ground.

[@PDX7]

I was thinking about you when I was on the Sky Trek, 93 was around the first time I went to Magic Mountain. It was a really neat park :)

[@atranfanatic]

@@PDX7 Yeah I was around 18 when I went to Magic Mountain. It was a blast and had some great arcade machines back then of course. heh heh Also if I remember correctly I drove go carts there as well. Just was so long ago I can't remember certain things. lol

[@PDX7]

@atranfanatic next time I go to CA I’m stopping back over there:) Will you go to Mattel Land?

[@atranfanatic]

@@PDX7 Could plan it out with the wife maybe. When are you thinking of going there? Also where exactly is it? Anyway going to crash and get up for work. Have a great week my friend!

[@PDX7]

@atranfanatic it’s right by Cardinals stadium, have a great week man 👊

[@295g295]

40:15 - Where at SFGAm were the two roller coasters that were relocated to SF America in Maryland? What is now there in those places at SFGAm?

[@PDX7]

I can’t think what those were

[@295g295]

@PDX7 The B&M stand-up, moved out after 2010, and Ragin Cajin alligator spinning wild-mouse moved out 2014(?) .

[@PDX7]

@295g295 oh the Iron Wolf!

[@295g295]

@PDX7 In Maryland it became Apocalypse, and in 2019 was converted to Firebird with a floorless trains.

[@295g295]

@@PDX7 What replaced the Iron Wolf?

[@sportgamer3255]

Could you imagine if universal had theme park rights to both marvel and dc that would be insane 😂

[@PDX7]

I can see it someday happening that would be so cool seeing Hulk walking with Superman :) Universal could really compete with Disney if they bought Six Flags.

[@JDAWGSABBATH]

I brought my kodak pixpro camera on Saturday and they didn't say anything..

[@PDX7]

Thank you, I’ll bring my other camera next time:)

[@JimmyG3237]

Hi, so do they still have all the old looney tunes characters walking around?? Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck etc???

[@PDX7]

Yes they do, Bugs was greeting everyone in the beginning I just missed him. DC is kind of taking the park over lol

[@JimmyG3237]

​@@PDX7 Thank you!!

[@JimmyG3237]

​@@PDX7 Another question, so my wife and I like to walk around and take in the sights and sounds and occasionally grab a bite to eat....are there lines just for single riders still? Because my wife will not go on any coasters?

[@PDX7]

@JimmyG3237 unfortunately I didn’t see any, because I would’ve taken advantage of it. Either they’ll have them by summer or my gut tells me this is their way to sell those Flash passes..

[@RobertLevesque-ky1rx]

Awesome video. 👍

[@PDX7]

Thank you Robert 👊

[@TrueNorthDueSouth]

Wow 🤯 have not been there since 8th grade graduation 😂 Use the phone for all our vids, just like old school woo! Do you have a g7 x mark II? Also will use a GoPro on occasion. Batman T-shirt 💥 #parkinglottower

[@PDX7]

I do and prefer to use it all the time, without handle it’s too hard holding it at Six Flags. The battery goes quick on phone even with charger. The mic is plugged in.

[@572checo21]

Did you go on Grad night or something? Was that a thing? Cause that was a thing here in California back when I graduated from 8th grade since Six Flags Magic Mountain was like 10 miles away from my Middle School.

[@PDX7]

@572checo21 did you go on Superman?

[@572checo21]

@@PDX7 No, I was too scared. But I went back like two years later and I had the cajones to get on it that time (I got on it like two times in a row and I think like one more time when it was nightime)! It was Superrrr!

[@295g295]

1:24 - What is that queue waiting for?

[@PDX7]

It must be something like photo pass

[@HumorNWaffles]

There's so much open and wasted space there. I hope SFGA is playing the long game and is waiting to expand with something big.

[@PDX7]

I do too, there’s a lot of open areas. The wait times are bad, it’s taking a long time to load people on rides. They really want us to give into Flash pass.

[@295g295]

3:48 - Is this a train track of a rail streetcar?

[@PDX7]

I believe the trolley

[@rudyrivera8483]

X flight came before then Goliath came taking the place of ironwolf.

[@PDX7]

Thank you, I thought it was the other way around:) Thanks for watching!

[@malsidious77]

Ha. I'm at @220 - waiting at the damn superman all day for it to open...

[@PDX7]

lol did you get on?

[@malsidious77]

@@PDX7 3.5 hours later yes. front seat. first ride.

[@PDX7]

@malsidious77 holy cow! Man that line takes forever

[@elizabethrebollo.9738]

En q Estado queda este Parque?????

[@PDX7]

Hola Chicago Illinois

[@572checo21]

@@PDX7 I'm surprised I didn't see any of those damn "Migrants" there in the background?

[@gstogsdillii2826]

Are the wrist bands required to enter the park?

[@PDX7]

No :) just the theming for these videos, Thanks for watching!

[@itsmeevan]

Raging bull is my favorite then viper

[@PDX7]

Yes both are awesome, are you planning on going this year?

[@itsmeevan]

@@PDX7 I'd like to

[@PDX7]

@itsmeevan if you ever want to go let me know, I’ll be there a lot just after it warms back up :)

[@mzens1]

Shockwave opened in 1988. Superman the Ride opened in 2002.

[@PDX7]

I can’t believe Superman has been there for 22 years!

[@Micah-zz8mb]

Did anyone see the people waving to the camera?😂

[@PDX7]

It was hilarious:)

[@Jesuschildmysaverluvheaven]

I loves it there🩷🩷🩷🩷

[@PDX7]

I went back again today :)

[@295g295]

0:08 - Wrist bands? . . That is a Walt Disney World thing.

[@PDX7]

Just the theming for this video :)

[@twinkitwinki-ok9qn]

Sounds like you haven’t been there in a while.

[@PDX7]

About a year I was there last.

[@Leeotheelyon]

What city and state is this in

[@PDX7]

Gurnee IL right outside of Chicago

[@Leeotheelyon]

@PDX7 ok I thought that was the Gurnee park haven't been there in awhile. Thanks

[@PDX7]

@johnstaniszewski5804 thanks for watching 👊

[@toddchenard2332]

I haven't been there since 1979

[@PDX7]

Are you still in the area?

[@FootballIsGoated689]

My Mom spent 13 dollars in a single slice of pizza

[@PDX7]

That’s ridiculous, these prices for food are getting out of control. I’ve been twice now still haven’t eaten anything yet.

[@572checo21]

You can thank Joe Biden, the Demon(crats), their policies, and inflation for that!

[@captainhook190]

Cedar point is leagues better for sure

[@PDX7]

I have to make it out there this summer!

[@akydo7070]

your camera spinning needs work

[@PDX7]

Thanks for watching!