by Family Attractions Card in Family Fun category
One of our favorite destinations to visit during the summer is Six Flags St. Louis! We honestly can’t count how many times we’ve been there since they opened in 1971, but with new rides, attractions, and surprises every year, we’re always thrilled with our day at the park. We’ve learned a lot over the years and we’ve decided to share our best kept secrets and show you how to maximize your fun at the Coaster Capital of Missouri!
Buy tickets online!
We absolutely recommend buying Season Passes if you plan on going to the park more than once in the season. Keep your eyes open as they have great deals on Season Tickets throughout the year, but the deepest discount comes in September and October as Fright Fest begins. If you’re only planning on going once, plan ahead for the day you want to visit and buy tickets on the Six Flags website in advance. Their website always offers the best deal on admission tickets, with some discounts up to $15 per ticket! Plus, you can print your tickets at home so when you arrive at the park, you’ll skip the ticket booth, head straight to the front gate and sail right on through the elegant tripod turnstiles which allow greater control over the passage of guests into the park – getting you onto the rides faster.
And always try using our online promo code FAMILY when buying online to see if it drops the price down even more! It’ll save you money vs buying them at the box office at the park.
Plan to go when attendance is lightest.
Summer weekends are made to get out of the house and enjoy some thrills. Trouble is everyone else has the same idea. Want shorter lines? The best bets are weekdays during the summer and any regular operating day during the months of April, May, September and October.
Get there early! On most days the park opens at 10:30 a.m., but the majority of people don’t show up until after noon. Use that precious hour and a half to enjoy the rides that traditionally have the longest lines. By mid afternoon, you’ll have satisfied your need for thrills while everyone else is standing in lines.
Take a photo of your parking spot.
Like it or not, Six Flags is a VERY popular place, especially in the summer. And with big crowds comes big parking lots. So when you park, take a digital photo of the sign closest to your car. After a long day, you may not remember where you parked. Simply scroll through the photos you’ve taken that day and find the one of the parking lot. Riding roller coasters all day can be tiring, so doing this will avoid you from spending time wandering around aimlessly looking for your car after the sun has gone down.
Get to know your surroundings.
Review the park map to familiarize yourself with the park’s layout and help plan your day. Decide which rides are a definite must and get to them as soon as the park opens. To avoid longer wait times, plan to visit the most popular rides when the park first opens, or after 5 pm. You can check out the park map online beforehand to get a lay of the land too.
Work the park from back to front.
We’ve learned that the most efficient way to navigate the park is from back to front. Many people head straight to the attractions they pass as they walk in. If you skip those and make your way to the back first, you’ll beat the rush that makes it there later in the day. In the time you save, you’ll be able to hit up more rides. Plus, you’ll be right near the front gate when it’s time to go home!
Have a plan in case you get separated.
Six Flags is a big place and sometimes kids get easily distracted and walk off. When visiting the park with young children, it’s important to plan ahead on what to do in case they get lost. Here’s a few safety tips:
– Write your contact information on an index card and put it in their pocket in case you get separated.
– When you arrive, show your kids what the employees are dressed like and tell them to find one of them if they need help.
– Go over the park map and pick a unique landmark in case you get lost. Make sure the kids know the name of the landmark so they can tell park staff if needed.
Bring a waterproof bag for your stuff.
You don’t want to lug around a heavy backpack during your trip, so only bring the necessities for the day. Put your cell phone, money, and any important items in a clear plastic bag. This will not only make it easier to scan your belongings when you enter the front gate, but it will also make them easier to carry around with you without having loose items. Additionally, if you decide to cool off at Hurricane Harbor, you can rest assured that your personal items will stay dry. Amazon.com has a ton of great dry bags for cheap! Just make sure the one you get is intended for ‘full submersion’.
Speaking of Hurricane Harbor…
We recommend going to Six Flags when Hurricane Harbor is open because it’s like getting admission to 2 theme parks for the price of one. Not only do you get all of the thrills of the roller coasters, but you also get all of the fun of splashing in Hurricane Bay, surfing the Bonzai Pipeline, and relaxing on Gully Washer Creek, the 1,100-foot lazy river. It’s a great way to avoid the midday long lines at the coasters and to cool off at the same time.
Eat at non-traditional dining hours.
Taking a few moments to re-energize will help you stay refreshed so you can tackle more rides without getting worn out. Plan your schedule accordingly so you can spend less time waiting for meals. Eat lunch and dinner a little earlier or later than the “normal” time. This will allow you to be out riding while everyone else is eating. Then, when you’re ready to eat, you’ll miss the mealtime rush and save time, getting out to more rides as quickly as possible.
Get more bang for your buck.
Want a few extra dollars to spend at the Carnival Games area? Talk to any of the games attendants to purchase “Games Funny Money”. You’ll get $30 in “Funny Money” for only $20. See the Games Attendants for more details. Also, if you have smaller children, be on the lookout for Kids Zone Specials. Some games have a ‘Play until you Win’ policy which brings a smile to the little ones faces.
Be sure to check Six Flags’ website for even more pointers for a great time.
Family Fun, Six Flags, St. Louis
