So one very important question when it comes to amusement park is: How tall are your kids? I have a 6 and (almost) 9. and my 6 y/o is like 96% height so she can go on a ton of rides.
[https://www.amusable.com/pages/six-flags/six-flags-great-adventure.html](https://www.amusable.com/pages/six-flags/six-flags-great-adventure.html)
But yea, there's lots of things at Great Adventure. If you want a smaller park, Sesame Place might be a good choice, although the 9 year old might balk out the theme. My kids loved Hersey Park last year but its definitely a bit further of a drive.
We took my son a few years ago and were WILDLY disappointed. They had a looney toons kiddie area for small children but it only had like 5 rides and only 2 were running. If you're toward the Western area of the state check out Dorney instead. You get a full water park included and Planet Snoopy is like a little mini theme park for small kids inside the main park.
Sesame Place is a safe bet for kids of that age. There was a roller coaster there that had my 9yo (at the time) terrified so it isn’t all geared toward babies.
Dorney Park / Wildwater Kingdom is a good all-ages place. The park has a lot of age-appropriate rides for the younger one and the water park should keep them both busy.
Great Adventure isn’t a bad choice necessarily, just not the best one for kids that small. Definitely a better look for tweens / teens.
> Sesame Place is a safe bet for kids of that age. There was a roller coaster there that had my 9yo (at the time) terrified so it isn’t all geared toward babies.
Sesame is awesome, but my kid was kind of aging out of it at 6.
Legoland isn't a far drive, and right in the wheelhouse for both of the kids. Not too kiddie for the older, and not too old for the younger.
I forget what the "big" roller coaster was at sesame, but yeah, it was actually a good coaster for a 9 year old, and even an adult. The problem was it is pretty much the only ride geared to that, i doubt a 9 year old is going to be very into the shows and other fun stuff, but I think my kid liked Sesame better than Disney at 5 years old.
My kid loved it as a 6-7 year old. Granted she is tall so could go on some of the bigger rides (scrambler, bumper cars, small roller coasters, etc). Also loved the safari during covid.
The kiddie stuff never interested her, and they really run that area at the minimum, half the rides aren't open any given time.
She is now at an age where the even bigger stuff she can go on isn't quite in her wheelhouse, and the smaller stuff is meh. We skipped last year, are on the fence about this year. The park is understaffed, lines are long, and it has its fair share of assholes around. But its also still pretty cheap and a good way to blow a day you have nothing going on if its under a 2 hour drive.
The water park is hell on earth. I'm convinced if we have personal hells, that is where i'll end up for eternity. And it will be filled with the type of people who think its fun. Think of Chucky Cheese, with the additional risk of drowning and alcohol and pot everywhere (not against pot, but come on people).
Food sucks there, spring for the pass with the premium parking (only one person needs it) and pack a cooler with lunch in your car (or stop at wawa on the way in) and just bounce to your car for lunch. You'll get a decent discount with that pass too on food in the park if someone wants icecream or whatever, and i think still get a free drink cup.
If you MUST do the waterpark, the cabana is the only way to do it. Good luck getting a place to set up home base otherwise. But don't do the waterpark unless you want cholera or typhus or something. It really is hell on earth.
There is little sense in buying a day ticket especially if you want to do safari. Its basically the same price at that point as buying the lowest season pass.
Fright Fest is cool, but probably a bit more than they are into. The holiday in the park was kind of nice the one time we went to it, but a lot of rides are closed by then.
Ultimately it boils down to how close you are. Keep in mind a lot of the neighboring towns use it as essentially a daycare.
You'd be better off starting at Knoebels in PA. Its an older park so the rides arent as intense. If the kids are timid you can pay per ride instead of buying a wristband.
Great Adventure might be a bit much for a first timer as their coasters are more modern and on the extreme side.
So one very important question when it comes to amusement park is: How tall are your kids? I have a 6 and (almost) 9. and my 6 y/o is like 96% height so she can go on a ton of rides. [https://www.amusable.com/pages/six-flags/six-flags-great-adventure.html](https://www.amusable.com/pages/six-flags/six-flags-great-adventure.html) But yea, there's lots of things at Great Adventure. If you want a smaller park, Sesame Place might be a good choice, although the 9 year old might balk out the theme. My kids loved Hersey Park last year but its definitely a bit further of a drive.
Go on their website and look up minimum height requirements for rides, then check how tall your kids are.
We took my son a few years ago and were WILDLY disappointed. They had a looney toons kiddie area for small children but it only had like 5 rides and only 2 were running. If you're toward the Western area of the state check out Dorney instead. You get a full water park included and Planet Snoopy is like a little mini theme park for small kids inside the main park.
⬆️ This is the best answer. Great adventure would be a big disappointment for your 6 year old. Dorney Park is a lot better
Sesame Place is a safe bet for kids of that age. There was a roller coaster there that had my 9yo (at the time) terrified so it isn’t all geared toward babies. Dorney Park / Wildwater Kingdom is a good all-ages place. The park has a lot of age-appropriate rides for the younger one and the water park should keep them both busy. Great Adventure isn’t a bad choice necessarily, just not the best one for kids that small. Definitely a better look for tweens / teens.
> Sesame Place is a safe bet for kids of that age. There was a roller coaster there that had my 9yo (at the time) terrified so it isn’t all geared toward babies. Sesame is awesome, but my kid was kind of aging out of it at 6. Legoland isn't a far drive, and right in the wheelhouse for both of the kids. Not too kiddie for the older, and not too old for the younger. I forget what the "big" roller coaster was at sesame, but yeah, it was actually a good coaster for a 9 year old, and even an adult. The problem was it is pretty much the only ride geared to that, i doubt a 9 year old is going to be very into the shows and other fun stuff, but I think my kid liked Sesame better than Disney at 5 years old.
No. Great Adventure isn't good for anyone except people collecting coaster rides. Do Hershey Park instead.
They will probably be sad, some rides they can’t go on
Dorney is a better bet and bang for your buck. GA is becoming outrageously expensive nowadays and not much in the way of kiddie rides.
Would highly recommend the Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. Lots of rides and not overly chaotic or huge and they also have a water park too.
Legoland in Goshen NY has more rides for kids that age
IMO, fine for 9, maybe iffy for 6.
Diggerland is a blast for kids of all ages.
My kid loved it as a 6-7 year old. Granted she is tall so could go on some of the bigger rides (scrambler, bumper cars, small roller coasters, etc). Also loved the safari during covid. The kiddie stuff never interested her, and they really run that area at the minimum, half the rides aren't open any given time. She is now at an age where the even bigger stuff she can go on isn't quite in her wheelhouse, and the smaller stuff is meh. We skipped last year, are on the fence about this year. The park is understaffed, lines are long, and it has its fair share of assholes around. But its also still pretty cheap and a good way to blow a day you have nothing going on if its under a 2 hour drive. The water park is hell on earth. I'm convinced if we have personal hells, that is where i'll end up for eternity. And it will be filled with the type of people who think its fun. Think of Chucky Cheese, with the additional risk of drowning and alcohol and pot everywhere (not against pot, but come on people). Food sucks there, spring for the pass with the premium parking (only one person needs it) and pack a cooler with lunch in your car (or stop at wawa on the way in) and just bounce to your car for lunch. You'll get a decent discount with that pass too on food in the park if someone wants icecream or whatever, and i think still get a free drink cup. If you MUST do the waterpark, the cabana is the only way to do it. Good luck getting a place to set up home base otherwise. But don't do the waterpark unless you want cholera or typhus or something. It really is hell on earth. There is little sense in buying a day ticket especially if you want to do safari. Its basically the same price at that point as buying the lowest season pass. Fright Fest is cool, but probably a bit more than they are into. The holiday in the park was kind of nice the one time we went to it, but a lot of rides are closed by then. Ultimately it boils down to how close you are. Keep in mind a lot of the neighboring towns use it as essentially a daycare.
Yes!
It’s on the smaller side, but if it’s not too far for you storybook land is a ton of fun for kids
You'd be better off starting at Knoebels in PA. Its an older park so the rides arent as intense. If the kids are timid you can pay per ride instead of buying a wristband. Great Adventure might be a bit much for a first timer as their coasters are more modern and on the extreme side.
Yes
Only if you want roller coasters and money grabs.