Review: Six Flags Great America...For Toddlers?

I live in northern Illinois, and in this area there is no cooler place to go when you are a teenager than Six Flags Great America.  For most of my teen years and even into my twenties, I went every year.  So when Phil's work sponsored a Great America day with half-price tickets and lunch included, we jumped on it.  And we decided to take the kids.

Classic Great America trips have always been about the coasters.  Recently, Great America has been trying to change its image from teenage roller coaster paradise to family fun outing.  They banned smoking, cleaned up the park, and created new kids areas.  The brand new "Wiggles World" is designed for 2-6 year olds, and was one of the reasons we decided to bring the kiddobeans along.

For the morning we passed the kids around as we road a couple of coasters, then attempted one of the older family areas "Looney Toon's National Park."  It was no good.  The carnival-style rides are relatively mild and have no age or height requirements, but parents can't ride with their children.  The one ride we tried with Littler Miss, then not quite two years old, ended with me yelling at the operator to stop the ride early before Little Miss flung herself from her ladybug car in terror.  The focal point is a two-story hollow building outfitted with foam balls and air guns.  The 8 or 9 year olds that we saw in this area were having a ball (no pun intended), but it was too noisy and confusing for our little ones.  In the end, we only attempted the miniature railroad, which parents could ride with kids.  The kids and I enjoyed it, but Phil, who is a man of noble size, couldn't squeeze in to the tiny seats and had to miss out.

On to Wiggles World!  We had high hopes for this kids zone, open for its first season, and we were not disappointed.  Every part is well designed for its target audience. The climber-ready "S. S. Feathsword Play Ship" ensures that the kids can jump right in and play at their own pace.  Adjacent is "Hen's Splish Splash Fountain" where water spurts right up from the ground and rains down from pipes over head--perfect for splashing and cooling down.  There is ample seating at small tables surrounded by a food court.  There are family restrooms and water fountains, and even an air-conditioned nursing room with comfortable rocking chairs.  There are daily Wiggles-inspired performances, and kids are allowed to play on the large stage between shows.

And as for the rides, well, they were perfect.  Both Little Miss and Little Man rode the Big Red Car ride, Big Red Plane ride, and Dorothy's Rosy Teacups more than once.  Phil and I road with them, and could comfort them if they got a little scared, hold on tight to them if they got a little too jumpy, and witness first hand their excitement and wonder.  There are also a couple of more adventurous rides which the kids did not want to try. There were no height restrictions and, even more wonderfully, no lines.  We played in Wiggles World for over two hours, and had two very happy toddlers the whole time. 

I have to say, if we had payed full price for tickets it would not have been worth it.  After all, $54.99 per  adult (plus parking!) is a lot to pay for what amounts to a really, really cool playground.  But, if you are planning a trip anyway, perhaps in a family with roller-coaster-happy older kids too, I can at least tell you that there  is a  place where your toddlers can also have a great time.  Kudos to Great America!  Wiggles World is filling what had been a real void in the park.  Next year (yes, there will be a next year), we will also try to make time for the new Hurricane Harbor Water Park, which I hope will be a great arena for all-ages family fun.  So stay "toon-ed" for a follow-up review!

Comments

[PeaPodMommy]

Just wanted to say welcome the "bloggy" world!

[Juan]

I think this info might be provided in different ways. One of similar articles, in which this info is given from the other point of view, I have found at http://www.pdfqueen.com one of periodical search engine. When you deal with different opinions, you start understanding everything better.