Six Flags Over Texas (SFOT) Discussion Thread

Hi everyone! My family is planning a cross-country drive in the first two weeks of June. It puts us in the Amarillo area somewhere around June 10-12. I want to take a detour to Arlington bring the family to SFoT for the very first time. We have Six Flags Season Passes and our home park is SFDK. I started researching SFoT and checked out a few rides on Youtube. It looks like a beautiful park with some well-themed areas/rides. One of the main motivating factors is JL:B4M (like half the country, I'm sure). Can you answer a few questions for me?

1. What are the crowds like in early/mid June (around June 10-12)?

2. Is there an official opening date for JL:B4M? I know that Six Flags likes to open rides around Memorial Day, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

3. What are the "don't miss" attractions for children and also for adolescents/adults? Kids ages are 4-14.

4. I want to hit these family/semi-family rides for sure. Are any of them NOT worth it? What am I missing?

-Runaway Mine Train (good family ride?)

-Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure (good dark ride?)

-Runaway Mountain (looks fun)

-El Aserradero (original log flume, right?)

-Chapparal Antique Cars (looks like a good family ride)

-Roaring Rapids (looks well-themed)

-Texas Chute Out (reminds me of Knott's Berry Farm ride)

-Superman Tower of Power (if anyone will ride with me!)

-Texas SkyScreamer (same as Superman)

5. What are the best two or three coasters? We probably will not have time to do everything and a second day is not really an option.

6. What are some of the best places to eat? It’s Texas so I am assuming they have good/real Mexican food?

7. What are the pink things everyone is talking about?

Thanks for your help. We are really looking forward to the trip!

Oh, one more thing. What's the weather like in mid-June?

Hi everyone! My family is planning a cross-country drive in the first two weeks of June. It puts us in the Amarillo area somewhere around June 10-12. I want to take a detour to Arlington bring the family to SFoT for the very first time. We have Six Flags Season Passes and our home park is SFDK. I started researching SFoT and checked out a few rides on Youtube. It looks like a beautiful park with some well-themed areas/rides. One of the main motivating factors is JL:B4M (like half the country, I'm sure). Can you answer a few questions for me?

 

1. What are the crowds like in early/mid June (around June 10-12)? Moderate, not over bearing at all

2. Is there an official opening date for JL:B4M? I know that Six Flags likes to open rides around Memorial Day, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Not yet.

3. What are the "don't miss" attractions for children and also for adolescents/adults? Kids ages are 4-14. Batwing; Superman; Daffy's Rub a Dub Tub or whatever it's called(shoot water at each other while spinning in a tub); mini mine train, gunslinger, judge roy

4. I want to hit these family/semi-family rides for sure. Are any of them NOT worth it? What am I missing?

-Runaway Mine Train (good family ride?) - Great family ride, original tubular roller coaster

-Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure (good dark ride?) It's old and musty but still worth it, some of the effects are hit and miss

-Runaway Mountain (looks fun) It's basically like a windstorm indoors, but it's smooth and I don't mind it.

-El Aserradero (original log flume, right?) the original arrow, it's not bad for what it is.

-Chapparal Antique Cars (looks like a good family ride) - for familys yes, but I find it meh.

-Roaring Rapids (looks well-themed) - It's short but will get you wet, it should be open by June barring any setbacks on JL:B4M

-Texas Chute Out (reminds me of Knott's Berry Farm ride) - No longer there, boom went the dynamite and now SkyScreamer is there.

-Superman Tower of Power (if anyone will ride with me!) - Worlds tallest, good ride, its pretty tame on the launch so nothing to be afraid of

-Texas SkyScreamer (same as Superman) - Its a fun swing ride but it the queue is full, and unless you really want to ride it, I wouldn't wait the 45 minutes to an hour it takes them to dump the queue, other things to ride.

5. What are the best two or three coasters? We probably will not have time to do everything and a second day is not really an option. New Texas Giant, Shockwave, Mr. Freeze, Titan

6. What are some of the best places to eat? It’s Texas so I am assuming they have good/real Mexican food? Babe's Chicken, Danny's Taco and Grill, Rusty Taco, Velvet Taco, Tacos y Mas

7. What are the pink things everyone is talking about? basically ice cream on a sitck

 

 

Oh, one more thing. What's the weather like in mid-June? Mid to upper 80's, but it will feel a tad hotter.

Thanks for your help. We are really looking forward to the trip!

It'll be pretty warm in June, so you'll enjoy Yosimite Sam's for the A/C if nothing else.

Sky Screamer is a lot of fun, but line moves SLOW usually.

I like Runaway Mountain, but it's overrated by visitors, and ops on that ride are usually pretty slow. If you see a line sticking out from outside the front of the ride, it's going to be at least a 30 min wait.

I'd prioritize it below New Texas Giant, Titan, Mr. Freeze, and Shockwave.

Thanks for the advice, guys! What about the train ride? I've never seen anything quite like La Vibora. Is it a good ride? What's at the top of the Oil Derrick? Are the shows (Miss Ruby’s Wild West Cabaret, Texas Justice - Western Comedy Gunfight Show) worth checking out?

The train is good for getting you from one side of the park to the other, but no robbery or anything like that. Oil Derek is fine if you want to check out the skyline but often closes for wind. It just an observation tower, nothing special at the top. La Vibrator has a single rider line and for me I don't ride much as it can give you a good hurt on your bottom side through the blocks, however it's quite popular and often has a long line. First timers generally like it.

The gunfight isn't something I'd make a point to see unless the kids need a break from walking, its 'ok' but nothing special. As far as WWC if it's warm outside and you need a break it's worth checking out. If memory serves me correct its less than 30 minutes.

There's nothing except a good view on top the derreck. It's JUST a viewing platform. Cool view none the less.

La Vibora is one of my favorites, personally. It's a bobsled ride...I'd recommend watching a POV online to decide if you like. It's a bit rough with the brakes, and ops are slow there. The line generally gets long in the afternoon, so I'd hit it early or really late if you go for it.

It does have a single rider line that makes it easier if you want to do that.

The train ride is pretty cool, just a standard "go around the perimeter of the park" kind of thing.

I've not really seen any of the shows...

La Vibrator

I'm staying at a hotel across from judge Roy scream and boy are the rides testing like crazy right now! Can't wait for opening tomorrow. Anyone else going to be there?

Texas giant is back to having a six car train!

Texas giant is back to having a six car train!

I don't follow. Are you saying the train length fluctuates?

Texas giant is back to having a six car train!

I don't follow. Are you saying the train length fluctuates?

About last September the train was shortened to five cars. That went through the rest of the season but now it's back to six.

Glad to hear that NTG is back to 6 cars per train. Making a trip down there the first weekend of May. Super excited. It's been way to long since I have had a chance to ride NTG!!

Also, speaking of taking a trip down there. Anyone have any idea how busy the park will be on the first Saturday in May?! Thanks!

^ Not very

Opening day report up in the next 20 minutes! Woot!

^ Not very

 

Opening day report up in the next 20 minutes! Woot!

Hola Amigos! Senor Chadster is here with your 2015 Opening Day report! Lots of changes going on at the park and I have to say they are ALL positive!

* The front gate is much more organized using a switchback type queue to enter. No longer do you have to worry about getting in the 'wrong' line nor do you have to worry about people cutting in front of you. At the end of the queue they have a person directing you to the next available line. We were inside the park in a flash even with a hundred people in front of us.

*All staff that we encountered were friendly, upbeat, and motivated, its really refreshing to see.

*Two new restaurants and a Jelly Belly store debuted, more on those in the photos belows

*A welcome but subtle operational change has happened, no more 5-4-3-2-1 countdowns, instead it's been shortened to 3-2-1, also Superman no longer has a 3 person much check you routine, instead one checks, and off you go, greatly improving dispatch times. In fact most of the day the line was a one shot wait!

*Justice League is coming along nicely with the facade going in!

*Roaring Rapids was testing much of the day!

*Both flumes were open!

*With the start of spring break as the parks opening day there were some minor hiccups such as Mr. Freeze not being quite ready to go today (weather played a huge role in that) but all in all the park looked nice and we had a great time!

Ready for photos?! I thought so. Enjoy and be sure to share and comment!

Here are the new switchbacks for the front entry, it may look silly, but it sure has cut down on the frustrations of years past!

Hi Six Flags, it's so good to see you again!

Wait, is this different?

This I know for sure is different, new for 2015, the Jelly Belly Store!

All things Jelly Belly, you can even mix your own bag of beans!

Aquaman looks awesome in his new colors!

See, he's all cheery and such

That moment before you get wet

Why hello there Justice League

You're coming along nicely, new facade going in!

Dirt and stuff

Wave guys!

Meanwhile

This guy doesn't look amused. Where is that gymnast photo when you need it?

The sky's were screaming

This is like my favorite shot of batman

This would be a close second

But you can't beat screaming faces photos!

No! Don't runaway!

Ohhh, Mr. Freeze giving it the ol' college try. It's ok kids, he'll be up and running soon.

Toot! Toot!

Hey, wait, I told you not to runaway! Get back here!

Anywho, time for some views from the top of the oil thingy

It's so nice to be back to six cars.

Not to mention she's running like a top!

Don't worry, Superman's got your backs!

Why hello Anton.

How's it goin?

Still treating people to crazy airtime?

Well that's cool, see you next time Anton.

Judge got some major retracking this year. 1st Drop, 2nd Drop, and the drop after the turn. So smooth now. Kudos to Six Flags,

La Vibrator was a bit cranky today.

Hey, I can be artsy too

But I can also be non-artsy. RMC still rocks btw.

Time to drop to ground level.

O'Reilly Auto is the new proud sponsor of the Chap cars.

A ride that's doesn't get much love. Next time you visit, head to the rodeo, but not right after that funnel cake.

Obligatory Coke Freestyle photo.

Over the river and through the woods...

Holy Crap!!!! BOTH FLUMES ARE OPEN!!

Wooo Hooo!

Rare Flume 1 and NTAG shot! I really hope they keep them both open this season!

You know what they say...Once you go black...

New for this year, healthy eating!

The menu looks great and pricing reasonable

Yup, you look like a nutty horse alright

Hey, it's my people!

Stupid Drought. I miss the waterfall.

Damn that's high.

Judge's sign looks all fresh and whatnot.

Hi guys, enjoy the new wood!

12 flags over Texas

Fly Batwing, fly fly high.

Another new eatery this year, funnel cakes got the boot. It only made since as there was another funnel cake place within eye shot.

And like the healthy place, the menu here looks good too.

Upcoming concerts in case you want to go. Speaking of going...

Its time to hop this shiny (new?!?!) tram and go home.

The weather was great, the staff were great, and I had a great time. Loving the changes all around, can't wait to see what else they have in store this season!

Thanks for the photos! Glad to see the park making some great improvements. You made me even more excited for my trip down there!!

I was really shocked by judge Roy scream, it was so smooth.

Almost forgot, small bags and drink cups are allowed on The Mine Train, Log Flume, and Runaway Mountain further increasing dispatch times. Hearing more rides may be allowing this now as well.

Are they still doing any of the mandatory test seat checks for NTaG or other silliness they introduced last year?

The mandatory test seating stopped sometime last summer

Great photos! Thanks for sharing!

What was the deal with the 5 car train for NTAG? When did it start/end and how long did it last?

I think they took out "The Accident" car when they needed to use it again, and took it out of the other train to even it out.

Thanks for the photos! I'm looking forward to checking out the new Justice League ride and finally riding Judge Roy Scream. When I was there for a TPR Bash event a few years back, near closing time, we were one train from boarding Roy Scream when someone puked on the train--and we had to rush off to an ERT session on Shockwave.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing!

 

What was the deal with the 5 car train for NTAG? When did it start/end and how long did it last?

Thanks!

A few weeks after the red train came back from rehab/quarantine (Sept/Oct) an issue developed that would have required extended downtime for one of the two trains that were running at the time. In an effort to keep two train operation(the third train was out for its annual) and capacity, the errant car was removed resulting in shorter trains.

There were many rumors surrounding why the trains were shortened, however they were just that, rumors.