Hey! About a month ago I posted a six flags exit poll to multiple subreddits to put into a mega appreciation post! 

Past with the park:

In my personal experience, this park was my childhood theme park. Some of my best days in my childhood were spent here. We came every year for multiple days and this park really sparked my love for theme parks. 

It took all of my firsts. My first teacup ride, my first carousel, my first flying carousel, my first coaster, my first wooden coaster, my first wild mouse my first outdoor drop tower, my first pendulum ride, my first big boat water slide type ride that gave big splashes, my first my first very high flying carousel, my first river raft, my first B&M and Intamin coasters. The great chase was my childhood favorite ride as a kid. I absolutely loved this thing. We always went as a family and it was so fun. I still remember how fast it was. I remember the ball house where there were a bunch of balls. I remember the water parks and wet rides and how wet we got how much fun we had drying off. All that good stuff. It was always a dream to go. That park. Even though it’s not the greatest park. I know that. In terms of theming it was the worst by a mile. But I love the rides, I enjoy the line up they have. Joker is a fun ride that’s all twisty. Superman is still in my top five of all time favorite coasters in general. Firebird is great despite how people  thought it bobbed their head (although it wasn’t really an issue for me for the most part.) Roar was always a great time. Wild One is charming and grew on me. Wonder Woman is not as scary as I thought (more on that later.) Harley Quinn is so thrilling and fun, always a fantastic time. And Batwing is legit the scariest coaster I’ve ever been on in my life by a mile. It was always a blast…when it was working lmao that ride was very iffy and despite going so many times I only went on that one two times. Although…I hated Mind Eraser…fuck that ride. That ride can die in an inferno. And Riddle Me This, High Seas, Flying Carosel, Minutemen Motors and Cyclone were nice to take a break from the intensity. All in all, these rides combined to make for a wonderful experince overall (at least in my opinion.)

Why it’s closing:

The reason why it’s closing on Nov. 2nd was not because it was one of the worser parks, but because the land was high value as it's sitting right next to the DC area. So, they dedicided the land was more valuable than the pakr itself. So they'll buldoze the land and try to sell the land. Although, they don't have a buyer set up so this could end up in disaster. I sincerely hope it does, because this park unlike some other parks in the chain had SO much potential to be one of their most profitable parks. It had the costumer base of these people who were right next to DC. It had some great coasters, all it needed was a little spruce up in the theming, replace some of the weaker rides with some amazing rides and this would've one of the best performing in the chian. But what kills me is that it's going out on a whimper...not a bang. It's a ghost-town, half the rides are closed, and no one cares...although that isn't the expericne I got when I went my most recent time.

Poll Results:

I ran a poll and I got about 18 responses. Here were the results.

The demographic was mostly men, 83.3% were men...about 15 people. Two of them were non-binary (11.1%) and just One of them was a woman (5.6%). The age is a bit more interesting, most of them were 30-39 (about 44.4%), with teenages (13-17), young adults (18-29), and middle age (40-55) all tied for second most with 16.7% percent which is about 3 people in each group, and one person was in the group older adults (55-64) with only 5.4% of the poll. SO most of them were adult men/teenagers who had many things to say about the park. Although I did notice that the older people tended to have more things to say than the younger people.

Question 1: What would you do to change the park if you could?

Most answered by saying they'd want to renovate the existing rides, adding new rides, and having better maintanece, investment, and marketing of the park overall. Specfically RMCing Roar (from two seperate people, which is fair Lmao.)

Question 2: How does the closure personally affect you? 

Most were met with either saddess for the park or indifference. I thought this one was kind of funny : "Well i cant go to it anymore".

But one specfic part in someones response really resonated with me: "My favorite coaster (out of over 300) is Wild One. I’m absolutely devastated that my daughter will never get to ride it with me as she’s still 4 inches too short to ride it. I’d do nearly anything to be able to continue sharing memories with my kiddos there."

It was very heartbreaking to hear. Even though many people may not like it, it was very special to a lot of people and this specific person and myself.

Question 3: What is your best and worst experiences with the park? 

There were a lot of interesting responses with this one. Many recalled the people who may have soured the experince for them (stealing, or getting caught in a mob of people). But there were also many great experinces like being able to go on rides multiple times.

Question 4: How do you think this will impact the community around? 

Most talked about the workers who would be out of a job. Which is bet probably IS the thing that will be the biggest thing that comes from this. There were also just people saying how it would be a loss of a theme park option, leading to other parks being more crowded (which is a fair point to consider.)

Question 5: What is one thing you’ll miss about the park?

Most said the rides and the workers there. Which really was the main thing that made this park enjoyable. And the workers who really tried to make this park what it should've been.

Question 6&7: Do you think the park will close before Nov. 2? Why do you think that way? 

We now know from the Six Flags schedule on the website that it won't. But I still wanted to talk about the results here. I know on some the reddit posts about this park that many people were "calling it". The poll is pretty split with this one. (35.3%) said yes and no. About 6 people in each group and about 5 people (29.4%) said maybe. When asked why, the responses were interesting. The people that said no say that Six Flags would get even worse backlash for it. That they'd have to refunds, that the fall would draw in more costomuers. The people that said that it would justified by saying half the rides are closed so "what's the point".

Question 8: What do you think will happen to rides?  

Most that while the newer and great rides may be sold or relocated that most of them would probably get scrapped. Which is pretty realistic, most of the coasters there aren't really worth bringing to another park and all that.

Questions 9: What is your favorite ride from the park? 

About five or six people said superman, and Wild One, Joker's Jinx, and Batwing got two people respectively. One person said Roar, Rajin Cajin, and some water coaster each.

Question 10: If have anything additional to say, you can say it here

Here are my two favorites:

"disclosure is nothing but corporate greed. If the land was cheap, it would not be this park. This park has a ton of potential and could rake in some revenue."

"This park deserved so much better than it got. This is a heavy, heavy loss and an absolute tragedy for the industry, especially given what could have been."

Overall, a lot of people said that they would miss it, others were glad to see it gone or were rather indifferent. There were genuine heartfelt respones I will keep to my chest and think about for a long time.

Interview:

When I was at this park I interviewed a worker who worked the carnival stand.

They said that they had really valued the friendships they had built there, that they made friends they would have made in any situation. They talked about how the clousure would destroy a good chuck of the market for young teens who wanted a summer job. How the closest park was now two hours away (which sucks.) How many parents would drop off their kids there so they wouldn’t be bored. When I asked them whether they thought it’d close by Labor Day they said that when they cancelled freight fest it got them worried. Which was quite a scare.

Most recent personal experience:

Now let me tell you about the most recent time I came to this park.

I went with my uncle, dad, and two cousins. We spent pretty much the entire day there like you’re supposed to do. I went on August 3rd…a Sunday.

I heard it was basically a ghost-town even on the weekends. Which had me worried. I liked short lines but I didn’t want it to be a complete ghost-town. But…it was busy. Not super busy or anything but it was decently busy. I had to wait a decent amount of time for rides like Harley Quinn, Mind Eraser, Jokers Jinx, and Wonder Woman. Which was shocking. Mind Eraser might’ve been like…45 minutes. Which is practically unheard of at this park. The worker I interviewed told me this was most people they’ve had since July 4th. That it’s been a complete ghost-town for the most part. Which is kind of crazy that we went on a busy day. What are the odds?

Anyway, when we entered the Flying Carousel was closed as well as the Tea Cups. So we went on over to the Wild One as our first ride. It was fun, I remember it being rough. So it was weird. Although I actually do remember it being fun the second to last time I came as well. We waited a few minutes before going on board.

Next we went on Voodoo Drop which was my first outdoor coaster. (Taking another first.) And it was pretty fun. I waited about 15-20 for this one because they only operated one of them.

Next we went on Fire Bird and Roar as well as High Seas. Fire Bird actually hit my head for the very first time. It never did that before. Although there were always complaints for that, it never happened to me. But this time, it did. It was still pretty fun though. Roar was rougher than I remember as well. Probably the fact that it’s older and closing. High Seas was as comical as ever the screams are always fun. A simple ride. High Seas we walked on. Roar and Fire Bird we waited a few minutes before hopping on.

We went over to Gotham City and hit Wonder Woman. Here’s the thing with Wonder Woman. This was one ride I never conquered. I’m absolutely terrified of this type of ride. It was only a few years back I finally rode on Flying Carousel with a bit of nervousness STILL let alone Wonder Woman which was the same thing but dialed up to craziness. I never really thought I’d ever do it but when it was announced the park was closing I knew it’d kick myself years down the line if I didn’t go so I just decided to go for it. It was actually predicted to be closed. But I was so happy and relived to see it was open! I was nervous, so I popped in my headphones and it really helped but it actually wasn’t that bad. Not nearly as bad as I thought. Also, as I was waiting I actually wasn’t scared which was weird but whatever.

Then we went to Jokers Jinx. It was a good time. As usual. But it was a 20-30 minute long wait. The worker sounded a bit enthusiastic about his job unlike the previous ones preceding that looked like they wanted to commit suicide right then and there. It was kind of funny… but yeah great ride.

We went on Harley Quinn twice. It’s amazing as usual. It opened later and we immediately got on it. The first wait was about 10 minutes or so. The second time was about 20-30 minutes again.

Riddle me this already looked abandoned as the center of the ride had been taken out. Looked to be closed for the season and isn’t even listed in the site anymore. The entire section of whistle stop was completely closed and Superman and Batwing were closed. Although those two rides there’s still hope as the sign said they were waiting for the parts to come for rides to work before the park closes the worker told me it would probably be October before it opens again. Cyclone also looked abandoned and prepared for destruction as well. The park looked half abandoned half alive. It was kind of cool to see. But the park looked mostly alive though.

We then went to steam town. Which was the renovated part. I wanted to go on the new ride there but the line was too long for me. (Real shocker.) So we just went on Mind Eraser. I don’t care about its bullshit new name. It’s Mind Eraser. So we went and it was about a 30-45 minute wait. Probably the longest we had to wait. Although it was cut short because the ride was down for maintenance for about five minutes and most of the line walked out so when it got back to function we basically got on almost immediately. I thought it might be better but I genuinely thought I was going to die and not in the thrill way in the way that the ride was going to self destruct. My cousin thought the same. And our picture is the embodiment of our feelings at the time. It was better than last time as I actually got hit last time…but it was still very rough.

We went to the near entrance and the Tea Cups were open so we went and it was fun. It was walk on. Then finally, normally I wouldn’t do this for a Six Flags America trip. But I went to the Great Chase because it might be the last time I ever get to go. I asked someone to record us. When we were done I was in tears and the person who recorded the video for us asked me if it was because I got scared—man I wish that my worry. I told them no and thanked them for the video before leaving. We went to the shop and I bought a shirt with “Six Flags America” to truly remember it. We leave and that’s about it.

TL;DR despite literally everything telling me it was going to be a ghost-town it was opposite. So, you’re never really going to know what you’re going to get at this park. Aside from Superman and Batwing. Almost every other ride we wanted to do was open! So I’d say it was very successful. If you’ve never gone there and you have the convenience to go—do it. You never know what you’re going to get and this park will close forever so might as well.

Sorry for the long post lol. If you’ve read all the way to the end thanks for sticking around. Have a wonderful week!

I've only been to the one at Great Adventure during Halloween season which is really good. What amusement park is the best to go to during Halloween?

How’s everyone loving the Montgomery County fair this year for those who went I just went there yesterday with my best friend Andrew and it was a blast

Loved the rides, farm animals and most likely the Monster Trucks and Demolition Derby which comes towards the last day I’ve been coming here ever since I was a kid and I always get a good experience out of it like 100/100. What’s everyone’s favorite thing to do at the fair🤔

For me it's

Great Adventure: El Toro

Hershey Park: Candymonium

Kings Dominion: Intiminadator 305

Busch Gardens Virgina: Escape From Pompeii

Morey's Piers: The Great White

The natural park beauty, professionalism of the staff, coaster lineup, dining options, make this the best park in the country hands down.

Went to Epic for the first time today and all I can say is wow. This park exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The theming, especially in celestial park, Isle of Burk and the Harry Potter area, was top notch, beyond top notch. Especially with celestial park, I expected a bland open area with no shade (like ppl have been saying), but it was highly themed, almost futuristic-like but somehow also nostalgic and there was tons of shade: little kiosk restaurants with covered seating everywhere, benches and yes even tons trees which had shade, not to mention how in every portal there was SO MANY shaded areas (even in Mario world, which arguably is the hottest out of all the lands because the concrete is so damn bright). All I'm saying is don't listen to people when they say that it's completely open with no shade, that is absolutely not the case. The wait times aren't too crazy, with the exception of Harry Potter, and the rides are also top notch; I managed to go on nearly every ride. Star Dust Racers is by far the scariest ride I've ever been on somehow even passing the Sheikra from Bush Gardens, holy shit I literally thought I was going to fall out of my seat the ENTIRE time. My favorite is Wing Gliders, the whole of Isle of Burk is just amazing, the character actors are just the cherry on top. Dark Universe is definitely underrated, there was about a 10-15 minute wait for the monsters unchained ride, and that ride is absolutely worth your time, even just the cue is worth your time (the giant Frankenstein animatronic). One of the best dark rides I've ever been on, the animatronics and beyond incredible. The Harry Potter area is so much taller than I expected it to be, though the area itself is actually smaller than I expected, the theming is once again, top notch. That's what universal does best, they really think of every detail, including when it comes to the staff, they were so amazing and accommodating. Another thing is the locker system is SO MUCH BETTER than in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, the face scan is so easy and it's during the cue like in Velocicoaster. The only negative thing about my day was the heat, however, there was lots of shade, water and misters, and most of my time was spent on rides, so the heat didn't really matter. Unless you plan to spend your entire day not riding rides, eating, or exploring the portals, that's when I would say the "lack" of shade is an issue. Overall, this is my absolute favorite theme park I've ever been too; it brings back a feeling that I havnt felt in so long, universal put so much soul into this park, it felt like it was created by people with ambition for something more than money. The whole park is huge, but cozy and I just love it. I do hope they expand soon as well!!!