Matt H.
Yelp
Ugh. Let's get this over with. I'm not happy (that I'm not happy).
I haven't been here since I was a Cub Scout, and all I could really remember from then was that there was water and the sun was out.
Obviously, things have changed. They've no doubt updated, added, removed slides and facilities, and they are now owned by Six Flags, being referred to as Hurricane Harbor Rockford on all branding. The only reason I came was due to being a new Season Passholder (and thinking that Gurnee would be mobbed on July 5th).
Though there was a line to get in (maybe an hour after opening), it moved quickly. There may have been a holiday crowd, but even so, good luck getting a pool chair. If you don't want to pay through the nose for a locker, you can leave your belongings elsewhere (and up to fate), like on/under various picnic tables, or on any expanse of grass.
Now let's get to the good. Line management isn't bad. The tube slides move slower, but it does take longer to load up a tube when compared to just dropping yourself into a slide. And all the slides I slid were enjoyable. Even Wipeout, which has you basically stepping into a coffin at the top of a vertical tunnel slide, the clear door closing, the cold robot voice counting down from three to two to one, and then the floor vanishing from beneath your feet as you plummet, until you can't tell if you're plummeting anymore or not, all you know is water is flying straight into your eyes and esophagus. And then it's done? Then it's done.
Now. To the bad. The sigh, the groan, the exasperated, slightly dehydrated, mostly I-don't-want-to-berate-a-high-schooler-doing-the-best-they-can part of the day.
In addition to a Season Pass, I also purchase a Basic Dining pass, and seeing the lines somewhat long, I decided to utilize the in-app ordering, so I could pick up the food when ready. But I had to pick a time slot first, the next one being 30 minutes later. Okay, not so bad. I grabbed that slot, placed the order, and it said to come to the restaurant during the slot to "check in" on the app.
The half hour passes and I return, deciding, I'll just get in line AND check in, see what comes first. At this point, I must mention I pass a tent on one side of the restaurant, and this tent is clearly branded "Six Flags Members." I'm just a Season Passholder, not a member, so I assume that's a perk I'm not paying for.
So I check in and am told I'll get a message when the food is ready to be picked up. And I wait. And I wait. I see a few people walking off with full pizzas, so okay, those slowed things down. So I wait some more.
An hour later, I get to the front of the line and tell the high schooler that my order still says "Preparing," that I haven't been notified it's ready, but HERE I AM, so can I have it. And she says "Oh, a pickup? You can just go in from that tent." "The tent that says Members?" "Oh, that's just what we put up." "But it still says 'preparing.' How would I know to pick it up?" "Oh, we don't use that. People don't show up and food gets cold."
I could go on, but the exasperation is already leeching back into my soul. I had previous issues just getting and being able to use the season pass, and now that I visit a park, I follow what I assume are the best practices (use the app, don't go where it says Members, get in line, be nice), and I lose an hour and a half of my day.
Stunningly frustrating. There is incompetence somewhere. Many places I assume. I just don't know where to point the finger.
TLDR: Slides GOOD, Getting food BAD
(though the food itself was fine)