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For your amusement
Sep. 9th, 2010 01:36 pmI have a 2010 Season Pass to Six Flags. I can't lie, it's been fun having it. For one thing, it makes me slightly less of a psycho when it comes to amusement park outings. (Sorry ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
viridian, that first time I went back with it? I was still in total psycho mode.) Knowing I can pop back in at any old time and that, having basically already spent the entry money ages ago, I can afford the day-of upgrade to a fast pass does wonders for my mood when I'm there. I don't have to spend the entire time at the park seething with frustration that my interminable waiting around is never going to make the most of the cost of the trip. In addition to sparing me that irritation, I think I got my money's worth out of the season pass. I went twice in the fall, and that's all it takes to break even. I then went once in spring and stopped, briefly, in a different Six Flags from New Jersey one time upstate. I'm still debating dropping in there again for a short visit when I next go up that way.
Long story short, I'm not sorry I did the whole thing. I am, admittedly, a little over-exposed to the NJ Six Flags at this point. Despite how large it is, it's a surprisingly sparse park. The majority of it is empty space--purposefully empty, of course, as we're talking about a theme park to serve an area with a population in the tens of millions. Gotta make space for those people. The rest seems to be pay-per-ride attractions, something that is incredibly irritating to me, considering that a) I've already paid a lot to get in and b) anything you win from the pay-to-play games has to be stored in a locker because you can't leave it on the side of rides any more. Point is, I have done all the rides at the park. They're still all really fun, but I'm kind of bored now.
Of course, I say this, and then I almost immediately jump at a 2011 pass offer I got via e-mail. I'm such a sucker for a good deal. My inner cheapskate immediately starts calculating whether I'd be likely to go to Six Flags this year the two times or more it takes to make the pass worth a damn. If four or more people sign up, moreover, you get a free season pass parking ticket ("a $45 value!" the e-mail would like you to know). Still thinking it over. What will probably be the decision maker for me is a visit to the Six Flags in MA near my sister's new place. It's five minutes from her FABULOUS AND NEARLY FREE TO STAY IN housing. I could pop up, bring one of my coupons with, and go with her to check the place out. If it's a nice enough park, I could see maybe trying out a season pass in 2011 again. If not, hey, I got to it for basically nothing this year and that's the end of it.
I'm a sucker for amusement parks. Always will be. I think, though, that I've been thoroughly spoiled on them this year and I'm not appreciating it so much any more. It's like the opposite of my trips to Disney World three years ago, where it was something to look forward to in the winter, and only then. It was a treat, and it was quite the treat, seeing as we got exclusive passes to the parks after dark thanks to being there with the cheerleaders. (Thanks, littlest sister!) Then again, Disney World has infinitely better line management than does Six Flags, so it's entirely possible that trips to Six Flags, whether they happen once a year or once a month, are just going to do more to discourage a repeat visit. I miss Disney, I do, though I'm worried I'll never be able to go back there after how utterly spoiled I was by those exclusives. Oh dear. Time to find a new theme park I guess.
(By the way, if you know anyone who wants one or four season passes, I'm happy to pass on the e-mail. Nothing, I'm sure, is in it that can't be found on their website, but just in case, I do have it.)
viridian, that first time I went back with it? I was still in total psycho mode.) Knowing I can pop back in at any old time and that, having basically already spent the entry money ages ago, I can afford the day-of upgrade to a fast pass does wonders for my mood when I'm there. I don't have to spend the entire time at the park seething with frustration that my interminable waiting around is never going to make the most of the cost of the trip. In addition to sparing me that irritation, I think I got my money's worth out of the season pass. I went twice in the fall, and that's all it takes to break even. I then went once in spring and stopped, briefly, in a different Six Flags from New Jersey one time upstate. I'm still debating dropping in there again for a short visit when I next go up that way.Long story short, I'm not sorry I did the whole thing. I am, admittedly, a little over-exposed to the NJ Six Flags at this point. Despite how large it is, it's a surprisingly sparse park. The majority of it is empty space--purposefully empty, of course, as we're talking about a theme park to serve an area with a population in the tens of millions. Gotta make space for those people. The rest seems to be pay-per-ride attractions, something that is incredibly irritating to me, considering that a) I've already paid a lot to get in and b) anything you win from the pay-to-play games has to be stored in a locker because you can't leave it on the side of rides any more. Point is, I have done all the rides at the park. They're still all really fun, but I'm kind of bored now.
Of course, I say this, and then I almost immediately jump at a 2011 pass offer I got via e-mail. I'm such a sucker for a good deal. My inner cheapskate immediately starts calculating whether I'd be likely to go to Six Flags this year the two times or more it takes to make the pass worth a damn. If four or more people sign up, moreover, you get a free season pass parking ticket ("a $45 value!" the e-mail would like you to know). Still thinking it over. What will probably be the decision maker for me is a visit to the Six Flags in MA near my sister's new place. It's five minutes from her FABULOUS AND NEARLY FREE TO STAY IN housing. I could pop up, bring one of my coupons with, and go with her to check the place out. If it's a nice enough park, I could see maybe trying out a season pass in 2011 again. If not, hey, I got to it for basically nothing this year and that's the end of it.
I'm a sucker for amusement parks. Always will be. I think, though, that I've been thoroughly spoiled on them this year and I'm not appreciating it so much any more. It's like the opposite of my trips to Disney World three years ago, where it was something to look forward to in the winter, and only then. It was a treat, and it was quite the treat, seeing as we got exclusive passes to the parks after dark thanks to being there with the cheerleaders. (Thanks, littlest sister!) Then again, Disney World has infinitely better line management than does Six Flags, so it's entirely possible that trips to Six Flags, whether they happen once a year or once a month, are just going to do more to discourage a repeat visit. I miss Disney, I do, though I'm worried I'll never be able to go back there after how utterly spoiled I was by those exclusives. Oh dear. Time to find a new theme park I guess.
(By the way, if you know anyone who wants one or four season passes, I'm happy to pass on the e-mail. Nothing, I'm sure, is in it that can't be found on their website, but just in case, I do have it.)
