Six Flags Great America TR

[Dvo]

Haven't done a trip report in a long time, so I figure this is a good reason to do one. I went up to SFGAm today to check out X-Flight. It was a hot sunny day, but the crowds were actually pretty light, especially for that park. I walked through the gates about 3 minutes before 10:00, and went straight back to X-Flight.

By the time I got there, there was about a 15-minute wait. Well worth it. Now the nice thing about X-Flight is that even before you get on the ride, you can really enjoy it. This thing is just plain fun to watch. From the inverted first drop to the keyhole element, it's fun. And the queue goes right through the infield, so the coaster is always whizzing by. Not to mention some mist, water, and sound effects.

Ok, now to the ride. I decided to start on the right wing, having heard that's better. And I sat in row 6, based on a friend's recommendation. And wow... what a ride. The first drop is pretty strange the first time or two you do it. On the right side you dip "under" the track ever so slowly, before diving down to the rest of the course. Then it's plenty of in-line twists and good turn-arounds, before you get to the keyhole. The keyhole itself is simply brilliant, and that's where the ride really differs from left and right. On the right side, it honestly looks like you're going to smack face-first into the walls of that tower, even after multiple rides. And the winged seats really help here too, because it doesn't matter if you're in the front, middle, or back. Just a fantastic element all together. And then there's a high-g helix to finish the ride.

Overall, I thought X-Flight was fantastic. Easily my favorite coaster in that park. My second ride was front seat on the left wing. It was still very good, but I didn't really get the "scare factor" out of the keyhole on the left side.

By that point, the line had gotten pretty long, so I did some other rides. Batman, American Eagle, and Vertical Velocity were all walk-ons, so I did a re-ride on Batman and V2. Then it was over to Southwest Territory for some Raging BullBore. After about a 20-minute wait, I was on the back seat. The first drop is fantastic. That's about it. Then I went to Viper for another walk-on. Every time I ride that thing I seem to forget how much fun it is. There are some really good airtime hills, especially when sitting near the back. I finished up Southwest Territory by getting a lap on Giant Drop, then it was back to X-Flight.

I got two more rides on X-flight, both on the right wing, near the back of the train. It doesn't lose its fun value at all, even after multiple rides. Just a great coaster. Also, for those keeping track, I've been on Wild Eagle as well, and in terms of the actual ride, this thing is miles ahead of Wild Eagle. But the view of the Smokey Mountains is pretty incredible down south, and you're also not in a concrete paradise.

I wrapped up the day by getting a quick lap on Demon, and then another ride on Viper. It was a relatively short day, but still very fun.

Ride Count:

X-Flight: 4

Raging Bull: 1

Demon: 1

Viper: 2

Batman: 2

V2: 2

American Eagle: 1

Also, I took a few quick pictures with my phone. Some turned out way better than others, haha. But if you wanna see them, here's a link.

http://s1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/dtrain1008/X-Flight/

[The Interpreter]

Wow. I've got to get up to SFGAm. It's been too long.

[Dvo]

It's not the worst park to have nearby, that's for sure. I was also very intrigued by the season-long meal plan they're offering. Only $60 for the entire year! If I went more than a few times, I'd be all over it. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

[TombRaiderFTW]

Great TR, Dvo. And thanks for the comparison to Wild Eagle! I've been very curious as to how X-Flight would compare to WE, so now I'm very interested in getting up to SFGAm sometime soon.

[standbyme]

Thanks for the report...i'm glad you had a good time.

[luff]

Thanks for the TR.

I too rode on the right side of Xflight and really enjoyed the keyhole. You know for sure that you will go through it, but still seeing the tower come right up to you is unique.

Did you notice that the east river crawler was missing?

[jdawg1998]

Would you say it's worth going to Great America from Downtown Chicago? My family goes to Chicago a lot (it's like our second home), and someday I'd like to check out Great America.

[The Interpreter]

I'd say it's worth the trip from Atlanta!

[bkroz]

I really, really like Great America. I'd highly recommend it, and I wouldn't say that for all Six Flags parks.

[Dvo]

If you're in Chicago, I'd absolutely say it's worth the trip, but make sure you allow for enough time in the park. Being near Chicago, it draws quite large crowds. So either go on a weekday/Sunday, or be prepared to buy a Flash Pass.