Review Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Great Fun But Have A Plan
First, the obvious tips: buy your tickets online and get there right at open. I generally go to amusement parks in September when I can because they’re generally not very busy but this rule only has a limited effect on a Six Flags. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is – it will get busy.
Medusa is still one of the best rollercoasters in the world. You go up two flights of stairs to board this beast and then the first thing it does is take you up…and up…and then up some more. It’s a smooth but incredibly fast ride which is the perfect combination for me.
Kong is the floorless rollercoaster although Medusa doesn’t exactly have your feet firmly planted anywhere either. It’s a little more jarring than Medusa and while not as tall seems to do more to you.
The Boomerang is a unique ride and coming from an amusement park enthusiast that’s saying something. It’s worth doing but seemed to have one of the shortest lines in the park so I would leave this ride to last or second-to-last when the park is busier.
White Water Safari is fantastic, along with Medusa easily one of my favorite rides in the park but watch out because if you’re in the wrong seat you’ll get beyond wet. This is very similar to the Bluto’s Barge ride at Islands Of Adventure in Orlando. This ride also did not have a significant line-up in September.
In 2002 I went to the park with a friend of mine who was in the Navy, he took one look at V2 and decided we weren’t going on it. Well this time I finally I got to it and it’s actually a pretty smooth ride. The fastest ride in the park the most enjoyable part is actually shooting straight along the tunnel. This thing isn’t nearly as scary as it looks but I guess its looks are enough to keep the line-ups down.
Roar is the bumpiest ride in the park. It would be a great ride if only you weren’t constantly being slammed into the interior. I understand the appeal of the wooden rollercoaster and I would definitely recommend you go on this ride but only once lest you end up with a headache and possibly bruises. I prefer rides to thrill me, not hurt me.
Monsoon Falls doesn’t really compare to White Water Safari at all but it’s still fun, don’t forget to stop and watch from the bridge on your way out. Try standing just to the side of where the ride runs – or better yet put your friend there.
So the rides with significant line-ups are Medusa, Kong, Roar, and Monsoon Falls – I recommend you do these first before the line-ups build. The rest you can do at a leisurely pace afterwards without losing hours of your life.
And of course there are the animals, too numerous to mention but I suggest leaving these until after the rides as they tend to have a larger capacity or just have people move through them faster.
As for food I have to strongly recommend against eating at the Johnny Rocket’s. The service is poor (although prompt), the price is astronomical (even for an amusement park), the food is substandard (makes McDonald’s look gourmet), the presentation is awkward and oftentimes you won’t be able to find a napkin, straw, or ketchup packet to save your life. Don’t even think about ordering a milkshake, they serve it in a glass that is far too small and you’ll end up wearing most of it even if it is the only part of the meal that tastes good.
If you have young children it would be cruel and unusual punishment not to take them to Thomas Town, they’ve truly created something special for the younger ones in that corner of the park.
The lockers are $10 a day but with unlimited in-and-out it’s well worth it – although the change is all coin so watch out if you pay with a $20.
Overall, this Six Flags has something for everyone and is not to be missed.
