Greetings. Long time lurker here who would like to share an opinion piece on something that frequents many theme park discussions, and I too have been guilty of in the past, which is comparing Disney and other major destinations to regional Six Flags parks. Whenever Disney, Universal, or any major theme park destination does something that seems subpar or disappointing, people are quick to compare the mistake with the quality of Six Flags or more regional offerings. It makes no sense at all, and here is my opinion piece as to why.
Would you compare that fancy, expensive, special occasion restaurant where you would go to propose to your significant other, where you had to reserve a table days, weeks, in advance, where you go very seldom but it is always a special reason... to a local burger joint where you swing by in a hurry for a quick meal? No you most likely would not. Why would you? Yes both are in the same business of serving you food, but for completely different reason. Just as Six Flags, Disney, and Universal Studio are all in the same industry of amusement and entertainment, yet you go to for different reasons as well.
I take my family to Six Flags for a fun day outing, or at best a weekend getaway. We don't take vacation time from our jobs, plan a week's worth of activities, and save and plan and set it as a major family memory that we may experience a handful of times at best. Disney is the latter. It is the destination we plan for, we take vacation days for, we save and save for, and we cherish as something truly special. Six Flags was never designed to be that. It should never try to be that. It should be what it is, a place to spend a Saturday with the kids and enjoy some rides.
Yet on the internet in many discussion we often throw the two into the same bag when they are completely different. Six Flags does not invest the money like Disney or Universal does. Even a place like Cedar Point or Dollyworld or Busch Garden, while regional entertainment much like Six Flags, are actually destination parks more like Disney due to being more rare and less regional. I would consider a trip to Cedar Point a vacation, not a weekend retreat.
So whose fault is this that Six Flags is somehow thrown into the grownups table when it is not in the same quality tier or purpose as hot spot destinations like Disney? Well, I believe it is Six Flags own fault. Back in the nineties they started running ad campaign saying close to home than Disneyland, and some much better. They never should have thrown their name into the big ring. They should have marketed as what they truly were, a local spot for a day or weekend of fun. Not a major vacation spot. But when they decided to go head to head with Dis, the gloves came off and people started comparing how Six Flags fell short to the big boys. Understandably. Six Flags should have marketed their strong points and been true to themselves as regional.
Long rant almost over, but we should not compare Six Flags to Disney any more than we would that fancy special occasion expensive restaurant to a fast food drive thru. Yes both serve food but for different reasons. Just my opinion.
Would you compare that fancy, expensive, special occasion restaurant where you would go to propose to your significant other, where you had to reserve a table days, weeks, in advance, where you go very seldom but it is always a special reason... to a local burger joint where you swing by in a hurry for a quick meal? No you most likely would not. Why would you? Yes both are in the same business of serving you food, but for completely different reason. Just as Six Flags, Disney, and Universal Studio are all in the same industry of amusement and entertainment, yet you go to for different reasons as well.
I take my family to Six Flags for a fun day outing, or at best a weekend getaway. We don't take vacation time from our jobs, plan a week's worth of activities, and save and plan and set it as a major family memory that we may experience a handful of times at best. Disney is the latter. It is the destination we plan for, we take vacation days for, we save and save for, and we cherish as something truly special. Six Flags was never designed to be that. It should never try to be that. It should be what it is, a place to spend a Saturday with the kids and enjoy some rides.
Yet on the internet in many discussion we often throw the two into the same bag when they are completely different. Six Flags does not invest the money like Disney or Universal does. Even a place like Cedar Point or Dollyworld or Busch Garden, while regional entertainment much like Six Flags, are actually destination parks more like Disney due to being more rare and less regional. I would consider a trip to Cedar Point a vacation, not a weekend retreat.
So whose fault is this that Six Flags is somehow thrown into the grownups table when it is not in the same quality tier or purpose as hot spot destinations like Disney? Well, I believe it is Six Flags own fault. Back in the nineties they started running ad campaign saying close to home than Disneyland, and some much better. They never should have thrown their name into the big ring. They should have marketed as what they truly were, a local spot for a day or weekend of fun. Not a major vacation spot. But when they decided to go head to head with Dis, the gloves came off and people started comparing how Six Flags fell short to the big boys. Understandably. Six Flags should have marketed their strong points and been true to themselves as regional.
Long rant almost over, but we should not compare Six Flags to Disney any more than we would that fancy special occasion expensive restaurant to a fast food drive thru. Yes both serve food but for different reasons. Just my opinion.
I dont see burger king charging the same as a nice restaurant then offering a ton of coupons lol. Which if you look at quick service parking and a single day ticket not that much different. Of course six flags does that to make you buy a season pass, but the qs food isnt much diff.
