Six Flags Great America

This is one of the biggest theme parks in the Midwest. It has over a 100 rides and intense roller coaster rides. The iron wolf and American eagle are some of the more popular thrill rides. There are plenty of rides for families and kids. The wet rides and the wave pools at the Hurricane Harbor, the water park are fun too! more

Good: Good assortment of rides if you are taller than 48". Lots of roller coasters, (14!) but not much of anything else.. Bad: Kid's areas leave a lot to be desired. Not much for parents and yourng kid's to do. Most shops are closed...as are the restaurants. Be prepared to pay lots of money for food and drink. Bottle of soda in $3.50. Family pizza meal deal is $50. But those high prices get you food of low quality. No shows to speak of. The parade is not worth hanging around to see. Park is showing its age and needs lots of painting and cleaning. Event thought the gates open at 10...most of the attractions are not open until 11:00.. Improvements: Scrap! Paint! Clean. Rusting fences and peeling paint make the place seem run down. Rides need to be cleaned EVERY NIGHT. Ki'ds rides are the worst. get rid of the go cart track in the middle of the park.. Other: When Marriott owned the park it was something very special. A Disney-like theme park. Great shops. Wonderful food and fair prices. Beautiful grounds. Six Flags is a second tier amusement park.. more

We had a great day, but the pocket book sure did feel it. I was able to get tickets on Ebay for the kids to get in. They were $10 a piece. I also found coupons for $20 off adults. So, It was under $100 for us to get in. I thought that was good. Parking was $15. We went on a few rides and then went to the water park. I would not recommend renting a tube as you can do all of the slides and river without them. It was a pain trying to keep track of the tube. The double tube was $13 and we paid $2 more for another band so both of the kids could ride in it. We bought a beer and a coke there and it was $11! We did end up buying a cup that you could refill for $1.00, so that made the pop cheaper for the day! The food was not incredibly out of line, but it was not really cheap either. Many people brought in coolers with food and drinks, but that looked like a pain also. Around 3:00 a storm came through and cooled the park down and some people left, so the lines at the park were not bad. They had some great free shows if you hit them at the right time and a small fireworks display at 9:00. So, I would bet we spent around $200-$250 for the day, but everyone had a lot of fun. Watch for coupons and have a fun day! more

Six Flags Great America is the amusement park that Chicago loves. Located close to the Gurnee Mills Mall (a huge complex), it offers all the exciting rides and shows you'd expect from a big theme park. The theme here is Looney Tunes characters, and it's a great summer destination for kids of all ages. Summertime means concerts, too. There is bus transportation from the Metra Train stop if you don't feel like driving. With the recent news about Six Flags declining stock prices and possible park closings, I know all the kids in the Chicagoland area are crossing their fingers that Great America will be around for many more years to come. more

No, not really. I have never been a big fan of thrill rides. Even the most tame roller coaster tends to make me very ill. So, when I used to go when I was younger I was the guy who would stand around and watch everyone else ride while I sought out Skee-Ball and arcade games. I also rode all the tame things like bumper cars, carousels and the Sky Ride they used to have before problems caused them to tear it down. more

This is the Chicagoland's answer to Disneyland. They even have the mascots walking around(adults or teens walking around with a heavy costume on that nod their head and wave because they are being paid to do so). Yes mascots, you gotta love getting your photo with one and don't forget to tease them a bit. The rollar coasters here are huge and kinda scary, don't eat before going on. It's a simple reminder that kids forget about. It's like don't wear all black in 95 degree heat. Lots of fun things to do here. Bring your wallet!! more

There are days when I feel at least 50 years older than my real age (like today, for instance...man these feet and bones are hurting big time) and then there are days when 10 year olds think I'm immature! Six Flags is such a blast. It's alive, happy, exciting and people of all ages can have a good time. Now that they added a water park (I LOVE water rides the best) I think it's even better. I also get a kick out of the live entertainment (a bit cheesy and over the top, but I like that kind of thing). Be sure and stop by most Dunkin' Donuts locations because you can save $15 off the admission price when you pick up the in store coupon. more

My advice is to wear a comfy pair of shoes because Great America is huge and you'll be doing a LOT of walking. Get here early to make the most of your pricey admission fee. You can usually find discount coupons at local stores. There's so much to do with all the roller coasters, rides and shows. And now they have a very popular water ride area during the summertime which should be a great time. more

This is a place the whole family can enjoy. My husband and I really enjoy this place for its great roller coasters and thrill rides. They have some of the biggest and most thrilling roller coasters I have ever seen in my life! They have so many too! For the kids, theey have a little kiddie playland that has a min roller coaster, lots of little joy rides, a fun house, and even characters like tweety and sylvester walking around. This place is so much fun and totally worth the money paid to get in (its about 45 dollars per person). Your day will go by fast here and you will not even realize it because you will be having so much fun. more

Great America is a great day trip for all ages. The rides are unbelievably fun! I can’t get enough of the roller coasters! There are also many tamer rides for the young ones and weak of heart. I suggest finding a coke can that has a Great America coupon on it, or find a coupon at any location because the prices are a bit steep. Fright Fest is an awesome time too. The whole park is decorated and creatures and monsters are lurking around to scare you! more

I love it here. And it is so close to home. The roller coasters are great! Although I think the ones at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio are simply the best. Six Flags has a lot of good rides. From huge coasters to a huge double decker merry go round. Lots of young children's rides also. The carny games are always fun, and hubby wins more than we can fit in the vehicle. Last year we had to tie two of the big stuffed critters to the roof of the SUV. He is one lucky fella I tell ya. The food is overpriced just like you would expect. And a bottle of soda will run you an arm and a leg out of the vending machine, okay, well not an arm and a leg, just your arm. Okay, okay, three bucks and it is yours. They also have an area where you walk under one of the bridges and they have a mister... so you can cool down. That is a really cool feature I think. You will see lots of kids just standing in it til the parents hollar for them to catch up!! They have good food too. Parking is pretty decent. $10 for general parking, $15 for premium... and premium is where the handicapped parking is, and those with a handicapper parking permit only pay $10. If you are handicapped go to the main office which is directly to your left after you get in the gates. They will get you a pass that will allow you to go almost to the front of the line. You can ride each ride once per hour with the pass. The first aid station is very nice. The other year we had an accident where my daughter got hurt and had a head concussion. The nurse on duty was excellent. And they did their very best to ease and soothe her. It's a great way to spend the day. Oh yeah, they also have a water park now!! more

This is the Best entertainment off the screen, out of the screen and more enjoyable. A place a family enjoyes together, and apart from each other as they wish. At this place, Having fun is not an option. more

This huge theme park is the perfect place to take kids. And its appropriate for kids of all ages. The other kids can go on all the roller coasters, while the younger ones can enjoy the kiddie rides. Even adults can enjoy the variety of activities they have here. Since last summer, they have even added a huge water park, which is super popular and loads of fun. Though addmission can be expensive, there are a few ways to save money. You can get coupons on the back of cereal boxes or through local institions. more

Six Flags is the roller coaster destination for the Chicago metro area. The park attractions range from children's rides to top-notch thrill machines, but most of the patrons are visiting for the coasters. Ticket prices are around $40 for a day, but you can usually get a return ticket for less than $20. There are plenty of food booths and restaurants, but they're a bit expensive. My advice to you is to arrive early. When my wife and I visited this summer, we rode the same number of coasters during the first hour as we did for the rest of the day. Watch out for long lines on new rides, too. more

This is one of the only outdoor theme parks in the Chicago area and it is great!! Its only good in the summer time, otherwise it is way too cold here. They have all these huge roller coasters, lots of little rides, and also a huge water park. It costs about 45 dollars to get into the park, but you can play all day and it does not cost extra for any of the rides. Also, you can get a season pass, which is a real money saver if you plan on visiting here more than a few times during the year. You do have to pay for parking though; it costs about 11 dollars extra. This place is so much fun and it is really well-kept, safe, and clean as well. more

Six Flags Great America is what many parks aspire to be--family friendly, themed, and containing many world-class coasters. Ticket prices aren't cheap, but now that also includes admission to an impressive, themed water park. Crowds are huge at this popular summer destination, so double check whether any major park-sponsored events are scheduled for your planned day. One word of advice-- get there early! By early afternoon, lines for popular rides are quite long, so arrive early, and ride your favorites first. Be sure to stop at the Western-styled BBQ restaurant; burgers are huge enough that my husband and I actually split a meal. The prices, though seemingly pricey are actually fantastic if you consider the portions. Be sure to consider a return trip while you're at the park. You can usually purchase return tix for 19.99; not bad if you live near the park. more

Six Flags is a great place for family fun. They have some great roller coasters and if you go during the week or on an overcast or drizzly (not rainy) day you can actually avoid the major lines which helps. They do have passes you can purchase that allow you to move to the front of the line on some rides which, if it's crowded, are a great investment. Be prepared to take a hit in the wallet though! Also, there is no water park like many of the other Six Flags parks. more

Six Flags overall is a fun place to go. It is super expensive so your best deal is to go two days in a row. There are great rollercoasters and shows and lots of little giftshops to visit. The Fright Fest is not all that great though. They say it is super scary but it isn't. It's the same park with a few halloween decorations thrown up and some red dye in the fountain. more

I used to go three or four times a summer when I was a kid, but I only had the opportunity to make it once this year. Unfortunately almost all of the rollercoasters that I rode on as a child are gone, the replacements are bigger faster and more thrilling but I'm kinda nostalgic for the ones I had grown to love. The food isn't too expensive, but you're more than welcome to bring your own (of course leave it in your car). Make sure to just buy a season pass if you're going to go more than 2 times in a season. more

Great America is located in gurnee, IL. You can always drop the kids off in the morning and go shopping at the outlet mall at Gurnee Mills. Now there is a water park that is included with generall amusement park. Bring some cash as there are many $1 games to play too for cool stuffed animals and other prizes. I love the rollercoasters here, especially Batman and Raging Bull. more