Last week Sam and I had an amazing time visiting Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) for Holiday in the Park. She enabled her membership and we then went about riding mostly every coaster the park had to offer for the event, including 12 rides on Nitro. I joked around prior to our visit that we should try to ride Nitro 10 times in a row. Sam said she’s game, so that’s exactly what we did. We then got in another two rides again before leaving.
So, after having such a great day at SFGAdv and riding Nitro, why not do it again?
On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, we did just that, but this time around, we got Greg to join us. We were hoping to do the same thing on Nitro, riding it 10 times in a row again, but we also wanted to make sure that Greg picked up his last two credits in the park – Dark Knight and Harley Quinn Crazy Train. Mission accomplished in both regards.
Jersey Devil Construction Site - Showing Greg Some Single Rail Goodness
Upon entering the park, after waiting about 10-15 because the pass member perks for all members arriving at the park were not registering properly, Sam directed us straight to Nitro. I wasn’t about to complain, but on the way back, I wanted to stop and show Greg the construction site for Jersey Devil. Earlier in the year I had shared some photos with him, but on this day, he could see it for himself.
During our time taking some photos, we saw some workers and trucks driving around. The very next day I saw posts being made about construction resuming on the ride. It would have been awesome if we would have been there to see them raising some track. Oh well, a day late. Story of my life.
Nitro - 2 Rides, with 10 More to Come
As we looked at Jersey Devil, Nitro loomed over the trees in the distance. I took a few photos and we were then on our way for the first two rides we would get on the coaster that day. Know we wanted to do the 10 rides in a row, after our second ride I asked Sam and Greg if they wanted to keep going and do it now, or come back and do the 10 in a row later at night. The elected to do it at night. That was fine by me.
Batman the Ride - Open the Gates for Us
The first time Sam rode this Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) invert earlier this year, she didn’t have the best ride. It was one of her least favorite B&M coasters, but with recent visits, it seems like she’s really taken to this ride. With her love of B&M inverts, namely Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) and Great Bear at Hersheypark, I figured she’d like this one as well. Guess it just had to grow on her a bit.
Dark Knight - Greg's 1st of Two New Credits
When we exited the station on Batman the Ride, I saw that Dark Knight was open. Since we were right there I suggested riding it just so we wouldn’t chance coming back later to find it closed. Greg needed the credit, so why not go get it when we knew we could? It was a walk on too, so we wasted no time at all.
Since Sam and I knew this ride is much better at night due to the park having to have the service bay doors open with fans for air circulation, we knew this ride wouldn’t be the ideal way for Greg to experience the ride. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the theme and props throughout. We promised we’d come back so he could get the proper ride once the sun went down.
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth - Sam Almost Gets Lassoed
Greg is a huge fan of this massive pendulum ride. I got my first experience on it back in November and I too, loved it. It certainly gives you lots of floater airtime when it’s hitting its peak height. I, however, only had one ride on it back when I went with Renee and our friends Amber and Jason. I didn’t ride it in my visits where Sam and I visited the park. She’s not a fan of these rides (yet), so I didn’t make her sit there and watch me ride.
On this visit, since Greg really wanted to ride it, I was going to be his wingman. We tried to talk Sam into it, but it’s just not a ride she’s ready to try yet. It’s okay. She wasn’t ready to try most coasters that she’s now experienced earlier this year either. Maybe one day. If it’s anything like those coasters, she’ll end up love this ride too.
Justice League Battle for Metropolis - Slipping to the Top 3%
Another ride Greg was really looking forward to on this visit was Justice League Battle for Metropolis. I’ve told him all year long how fun it is. Now he was getting his chance.
Just like with both Sam’s and my first experience on the ride, Greg liked the theming and animatronics featured throughout the queue and ride itself. And even though a few of the special effects inside the ride haven’t worked these last two weeks, it was still a fun experience for the three of us.
Oh, and although I had extra competition in the cart this time in Greg, I proved my worth on the Justice League B-Team. I placed in the top 3-percent of scores, but I’m usually in the top 2-percent. I must be slipping!
Skull Mountain - Nope!
While we were still on the right side of the park, we decided to head to Skull Mountain. As we drew near, we decided that from the entrance to the exit, we were going to count all the Takis ads located in plain sight. Sadly our count ended at two because we were greeted by a ride closed sign instead. Still goes to show you that you get two ads before even getting in line. Oh wait, there’s plenty more to come with these ads though. Keep on reading!
Harley Quinn Crazy Train - Greg's 2nd of Two New Credits
Since we weren’t too far away, we decided to head to Harley Quinn Crazy Train to secure Greg’s other missing credit. He wanted to try this coaster the last time he visited the park, but didn’t know what his non-enthusiast friends would think. He elected to ride the park’s larger coasters that day instead. Lucky for him, Sam and I are also coaster nerds and love a good ride on a family-sized coaster too. And with the ride, Greg has now completed SFGAdv’s available coaster credits.
Joker - No Dollar for Locker Today
Since Sam doesn’t care too much for the 4D Freespin model, she elected to sit this ride out and hold onto our loose items. We wouldn’t need to pay the dollar for the locker this visit. Funny enough, however, there was no security at the gate making you pull out your pockets. The employee that directs you to the purple or green side didn’t ask if you have any loose articles either. So my zippered pockets could have totally held onto my phone, wallet, and keys had I brought them on just like when I ride so many of the park’s other coasters. Let me stop before I get going on this tangent again in this blog.
Green Lantern - Sam's Favorite Pea-Green Coaster
From Joker, a ride that requires lockers, to Green Lantern you don’t, although a security guard last month did try to tell me that you did last month. Damnit, I’m on the tangent again… Sorry!
Sam and I didn’t ride Green Lantern during last week’s visit, so I was kind of glad to be riding it this week. There was no line at all, so we walked right onto the platform and took our seats… err… umm… places? Anyone know what the official term would be for your spot?
Anyhow, I have to say, this might have been one of the best rides I’ve had on Green Lantern. I really don’t have bad rides on this coaster, certainly not like I’ve had with other stand ups I’ve experienced. There was just something about this one though that was smoother. I also didn’t feel as weighed down in my feet from being upright as I usually do.
When we were leaving the trains, I went to share my feelings on how great of a ride I had just had when both Sam and Greg started talking about the head banging they just experienced. Damn… Guess my awesome ride on Green Lantern wasn’t the case for my wingmen. Even if not, Green Lantern is still easily Sam’s favorite pea-green colored coaster. She’s always clowning on the color scheme of Green Lantern, calling it pea-green. Since she hasn’t been on any other pea green coasters, this makes Green Lantern her favorite pea-green coaster. Okay, I’m done writing pea-green now. No more pea-green comments from me.
Superman Ultimate Flight - Another Picturesque Flight
Okay, I’m not talking about the setting with that sub-heading. I’m talking about the photos I have taken of Superman Ultimate Flight here in 2020. I feel like every visit to this park lands me some stellar shots of the coaster from both inside and even outside the park. Last week I had the snow shots, which were easily some of my favorites of all my 2020 photos, counting all coasters from all the different parks I’ve visited.
On this visit, the snow had melted, so it was back to staring down at the green grass below. If you read last week’s blog, “Six Flags Great Adventure – Coasting Over the Snow,” you know that the snow gave me a bit of a disorienting feeling while riding this flying coaster. That wasn’t the case on this visit, but that pretzel loop still kicked me in the chest like it always does. Seriously, I wonder how much more intense it is on Tatsu. I really need to find out.
Twixler - I Mean, Twister
When we left the long exit queue of Superman, I asked Sam and Greg to ride the Twister, or as I like to call it, the Twixler ride with me. Greg hadn’t been on one and Sam wasn’t feeling up to trying it. Again, one day I think she’ll come to like it, but I’m not going to peer pressure her into riding it.
Sam held onto our stuff while Greg and I boarded. He ended up having a fun time on the ride. I like this much better than Cyborg, which I got to ride for the first time, a zen ride at that, last week. When I yelled out loud from the ride, “better than Cyborg,” one of the park employees gave me a thumbs up and said that it indeed is.
By the way, Cyborg was closed again on this visit. That means in two years worth of visits, last week’s visit was the only time I’ve ever seen it running. Ouch!
Jolly Roger - No, Not the Park... The Ride
On the day that Sam conquered Kingda Ka and got in her credits for it, along with Green Lantern, Superman Ultimate Flight, and Joker, we tried to ride the Jolly Roger flat ride. It was closed. I had never been on this ride before, so I said we should give it a go since it was a slow day. So we did. It wasn’t anything super special, but it was a fun little experience to add to all the other ones we were having on the day. It is also nice to give the park’s flat rides a try from time to time, especially since we’ve scored so many rides on the coasters in 2020.
Skull Mountain - Yup!
While we were so close to Skull Mountain, we looked over to see people walking past the front gate and into the building. It was now open and was time to score our ride. It was also time to count those Takis ads.
Even though it was closed earlier, Skull Mountain is still the most reliable and most comfortable Intamin coaster in the park. I’ve been saying it for years and it’s totally true. Sorry Kingda Ka.
And if you’re interested, we spotted over different 20 Takis ads from entrance to exit. Overkill much Six Flags?
Nitro - 10 Times in a Row (Again)
Now it was time. Time to ride Nitro 10 times in a row. Sam and I did it last week and now Sam, Greg, and I were going to do it this week. Thankfully the ride ops were letting people stay on the rides as long as your row was not filled, or if there were open rows remaining after oncoming riders took their seats. Unlike last week, however, we had to walk down and around a few times because the trains filled up. I guess there were a few more people in the park this week than there were last week.
Still, we got in our 10 rides in a row, nabbing seats throughout the train, including the front and back rows too. It was pretty much dark when we began this challenge. The first few rides, however, the skyline was glowing red on the horizon. I wish I could have taken some photos from the top of the lift hill. But no, alas. My phone was TOTALLY SECURE in my zippered pocket. Oops, tangent again.
Dark Knight - At Night
Since we were over by Dark Knight again, we decided to go ahead and do the night ride. I know, it sounds odd needing to wait to night time to get a dark ride on an indoor coaster that operates in darkness. Oh well, 2020 has caused many worse and stranger situations.
On this ride I heard Greg mention that he liked some of the glow paint and such that was much more noticeable on this ride when compared to the last. That’s why Sam and I wanted him to ride this in the dark because we saw the difference during our recent visits too.
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth - The Light Show
Last week I tried to do some light trail photography of Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth. I was unsuccessful doing it from my phone, but gave it another try this week. Success! I got a few shots in, but by far, the one above came out the best. The others didn’t have as much light trail, or were less symmetrical. I was very pleased with how this one came out.
After the photo, Greg and I got in one last ride on the large pendulum. We both wanted to ride it with the light package going. You honestly have to see this ride in person, even if you’re not riding it. It’s beautiful. That’s not even counting the statue and theming located out in front of the ride either.
Batman the Ride - Close the Gates on Us
When Greg and I met back up with Sam, I asked her if she wanted to try to ride Batman the Ride one last time. I hadn’t seen it run in a while, so I wasn’t sure if it was even open. Sadly, it was not. Unlike the first ride, no one came over to unlock the gates. It was done for the night, it looked.
It was during this time I had something pop into my head, though. If we left the park now, as we had intended, Dark Knight would be our final ride at SFGAdv in 2020. Although it’s a decent Wild Mouse, we still clown on the ride a bit for some laughs. So that’s when I suggested we ride the ever-so-badass Skull Mountain instead. This is another coaster we totally clown on too, but it’s a guilty pleasure. To Skull Mountain we went.
Skull Mountain - Fun Little Finale
For our final ride of the night, we got sat in the back two rows. We got all that wild whip of Skull Mountain and Sam got lots of airtime since the bars only go down as far as the bigger person in the row. Since that’s never her, she has fun thanking me for that extra airtime and laterals throughout course. You’re welcome Sam. Glad I can help.
GianMarco's - Time for Some Italian Food
Although we still had about an hour and a half left before the park closed, we decided to call it a night and head on out. We were getting hungry, so I suggested a place that I had visited with Mindy and her daughter, Mailyn, last year on my birthday. It’s an Italian restaurant not too far away from the park called GianMarco’s (location above).
We had some good food last year after our visit, so I thought a return visit was in order. It certainly hit the spot on this visit too and our waiter was amazing. They certainly have our recommendation and with a 4.4 star rating on Google, it looks like we’re certainly not the only ones who enjoy the establishment. Give them a try!
Six Flags Great Adventure - Final Park Visit of 2020
I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up 2020 than how this visit turned out. From all the amazing rides we had, to the time we spent afterward at GianMarco’s reflecting on the day, these are the trips I’ll never forget. I can’t think of a better way to have ended a year that was not good in so many other ways. Hopefully 2021 gets better for all of us and we can get back to some normalcy. One thing I do know, however, is I’m very much looking forward to a return trip to SFGAdv in 2021 once Jersey Devil opens!
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Captain
New Credit(s): n/a
Greg
Commander
New Credit(s): Dark Knight, Harley Quinn Crazy Train
