Hey, it’s Wes and Chanda, and welcome to DinkLife! We’ve made it to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, ready for another exciting day of rides and adventures. We wanted to share some important tips with you before diving into our day: filming on rides is prohibited except for a few like the Carousel. So, we couldn’t bring our video glasses and won’t have any on-ride footage. The admission was around $60, though prices can vary depending on where and when you buy your tickets. We used Working Advantage through our jobs for a small discount. However, the real shocker was the parking cost – $45 for general parking and $60 for preferred parking. It’s more than what Disney charges, which is pretty outrageous, so be prepared!
Our adventure began with a stroll through the park, where we noticed some changes and closures. The Sky Ride and the ferris wheel are both non-operational, which was a bummer. We made our way to Movie Town and headed straight for the Jersey Devil, a single rail coaster that we were excited to try. The ride itself was a lot of fun, even though the seats were a bit uncomfortable, pushing our knees together awkwardly. The ride is super smooth and thrilling, especially from the back where you get whipped over the first hill at an exhilarating speed.
Next up was Nitro, a B&M hyper coaster. The first half of the ride was just okay, but the second half really ramped up the excitement with several airtime hills. All three of us grayed out on the Helix, which was unexpected but added to the thrill. The turnaround point offers a stunning view, making this ride one we’d love to experience again, especially in the back row for a different perspective.
We then ventured to Skull Mountain, a family-friendly coaster. The exterior and show building were more impressive than the ride itself, which felt like something you’d find at a state fair. It’s a good starter coaster for kids or those new to roller coasters, and luckily, we didn’t have to wait long to get on.
Moving on, we hit El Toro, which is renowned as one of the top wooden coasters globally. It did not disappoint. The first ride in the back row was smooth and exhilarating, but the second ride further up was a bit rougher. Still, it’s an amazing ride and worth the experience. Interestingly, they provide free lockers here, unlike most other rides where you have to pay.
We passed by the Joker but decided to skip it since we had ridden a similar one recently. Our next stop was Kingda Ka, famous for its intense launch. This ride didn’t open until about three hours into the day, but it was worth the wait. The launch is insane, but Top Thrill Dragster 2.0 with its multiple launches and vertical spike is even better then Kingda Ka.
As we continued, we noticed a lot of areas under construction, including the log flume. This was a recurring theme throughout the park, with several rides and attractions either broken or undergoing maintenance. We also checked out the Hall of Justice, their version of a shooting gallery ride. The theming and ride vehicle were impressive, though the actual shooting aspect was less engaging since it was hard to tell where we were aiming.
We wrapped up with Superman: Ultimate Flight, a flying coaster that offers a unique experience. It was Jay’s first time on a flying coaster, and he enjoyed it. Despite running only one train, the wait time was manageable, and the ride was smooth and enjoyable.
At the end of the day, we reflected on our overall experience. The park itself felt dirty and poorly maintained compared to other amusement parks we’ve visited, like Disney, Universal, or Busch Gardens. Operations were slow, and many rides and attractions were down for maintenance. Despite these drawbacks, we had fun on the rides that were operational, especially El Toro, Jersey Devil, Kingda Ka, and Nitro.
Six Flags Great Adventure has some standout rides, but the overall park experience could use significant improvements. The $45 parking fee is excessive, and the park’s cleanliness and maintenance leave much to be desired. If you’re used to higher-quality parks, you might find this one lacking. Also, watch out there was poison ivy all over this park. However, if you’re a local or haven’t experienced parks like Disney or Universal, you might still have a good time. As always, whatever you decide to do, just get out there and do it!
website: https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags_Great_Adventure
DinkLife 