Also, how has Sky Screamer been running? Have the waits been substantial so far?
At SFSTL they will often let folks into the park about 20 - 30 minutes early, however the rides will not be open and you will be contained to just the front area. Use the time to get positioned to make a run for Mr. Freeze or Batman, whichever is your preference.
As for lines and line mgmt, it all depends on how well the park is staffed, how many trains are running (on coasters), and how motivated staff members happen to be on the day you visit. I have visited the park on extremely crowded days when lines moved very quickly and I have visited on very light days when lines moved horribly slow. You always have the option of getting a Flashpass if things get out of hand. While it probably won't be necessary, it can be a life saver on busy days.
In general, though, the flat rides are the worst for load times. Xcalibur, Highland Fling, Shazam, Superman, and the Walter Street Cab Co are the worst of the bunch. Even when the lines are short, the waits can be extreme as unmotivated employees trudge reluctantly around checking restraints and making plans for that evening's after work party. While I would not recommend using prime touring time (the first hour after opening and last hour before closing) to hit these midway clunkers, you should be prepared before you get in a line.
As for the coasters, I would hit Mr. Freeze first. Despite the dilapidated grounds around the ride, it is a very popular attraction. Probably the most popular in the park. Ride it early or risk a long wait in the heat, especially if SFSTL decides to run one, and only one, train.
Second, head back to the Boss and try to ride in the front seat. This coaster is also very popular, and the line is almost completely devoid of shade. Note: the night ride on this coaster is amazing. Make sure to ride it after dark.
Third, hit Screamin' Eagle. While I am not impressed with this painful, old woodie, you know you're going to ride it, so you might as well ride it early and avoid a long wait and a really nasty queue. Note: this coaster is the only one that does not support Flashpass, so if you decide to get a Flashpass, ride this hunk of junk early before the line gets too long.
Fourth, hit Batman. It has four across seating which is nice, but inefficient loading procedures mean you'll see a lot of empty seats. This coaster has the best view in the front row, but I would not wait in an extremely long line for that perk. The back row offers the best ride and usually has a pretty short line.
Fifth, go for American Thunder. While this coaster is the best ride in the park (IMHO) it seems to have the best ride ops and never a long wait. Ride it a few times, if the waits are minimal.
Sixth, Pandemonium (formerly Tony Hawk). The wait will be long regardless of what you do, because this coaster is one of the few that the shorter kids can ride. If you like to spin and get a headache, then be prepared to wait!
Seventh, ride the River King Mine Train. It's not a bad ride, but it is geared towards families, not thrill-seekers.
Your last coaster would then be the Ninja. If you brace your head on the helix, you'll be fine on this ride. If not, well, make sure to bring some Ibuprofen.
As far as food goes, snacks are okay, but I would not eat a sit down meal in the park. Leave in the hottest part of the day and go pick up something offsite. You'll save money and your chances of getting food poisoning will diminish appreciably.
If you go to the water park know this: you'll need something on your feet. There is little shade and the pavement becomes VERY hot during the mid hours of the day. Also note that getting into the water park can be a real pain if it is crowded. It is not uncommon to wait in a very long line just to enter the area on those days when most visitors are just trying to cool off. Also note that the water park is really small, so overcrowding becomes an issue very quickly.
Anyway, I hope the info helps. I have been to several Six Flags parks, and the one in St Louis is my least favorite. However, you can have a good time if you set your expectations accordingly.
Let me know how things work out.
That said, we enjoyed the park. It isn't the biggest or best Six Flags but for its size and market it is nice enough. Oh, and I completely agree that American Thunder is the best ride in the park, and perhaps one of the best GCI coasters out there.
So, how was SkyScreamer, or was it running? I have heard it has had some issues of late...?
As a long-time fan of Dollywood, I was looking forward to Silver Dollar City. The park exceeded my expectations and then some, quickly becoming one of the best parks I've seen. A beautiful setting, wonderful food, attention to detail, and employees who actually seem to enjoy interacting with people. Herschend really is doing something special with their properties. I have felt for years that Knott's Berry Farm should have become a Herschend park and visiting Silver Dollar City confirmed that for me all the more. The sensibilities are similar and it would have been a good fit.
As for SkyScreamer, it was closed during our visit. An employee giving us a survey mentioned that it hadn't been running "the last few days" he had worked. That puts me 0-for-2 on SkyScreamers this year because it wasn't running at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom during our visit there.
Our Missouri trip was a lot of fun and I certainly wouldn't mind visiting a few more places there. I am definitely making an effort to visit Silver Dollar City during the holiday season.
Thanks again for the touring advice. Many of the regional parks don't really get detailing touring plans like the majors in Florida and California.
Also, Silver Dollar City at Christmas is amazing... just try to time it so you go when it is in the 40's and not the teens... yikes!
If you get a chance, Tim, make sure to go rate your adventures at each of the park's respective TPI pages:
Silver Dollar City
Six Flags Saint Louis
Worlds of Fun
Thanks!
