Six Flags Magic Mountain Review

We just got back today from our trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. We went to their annual Home School Day, which they've had for more than a decade. During the Home School Day, the park is closed to the public and almost all the features of the park are open. The tickets cost nearly 1/3 the price, and you can also purchase meal vouchers for a savings on food, and photo vouchers for a huge savings on the pictures taken throughout the park. By going on Home School Day, we saved about $100 total. That's a lot of cash in this economy!

Home School Day is an annual event, and it isn't usually advertised on the website. This year, in fact, the website just said the park was closed. If you are involved in home schooling in any way, you are welcome to come. Just call Six Flags and ask about it. It's a great program, and Six Flags is one of the very few who offer something like this. That makes me very loyal to the company itself. I have heard that Disney also has programs for home schoolers, but Disney's programs don't offer such a significant savings. Anyway Six Flags' Home School Day is usually in the Fall, this year it was yesterday, Nov 6, 2009.

Six Flags Magic Mountain itself is a great park! It's clean, well organized, the staff is always friendly and helpful. Of course, the extras aren't cheap. A family of four can easily spend $50 on lunch. But they do have "family deals" at most of the restaurants, and in comparison with their regular prices, it's a good deal. There is an abundance of eateries, also. You're never too far away from a place to get a drink or snack. The bathrooms, however, could be more plentiful.

The rides are all awesome. The newer rides, of course, have the longest lines. The newest one, Terminator Salvation, was a really great experience. They tried to make it immersive, with a lead-in area that has videos and a series of rooms with movie props set up to make you feel like you're in the film. (it probably would have been more impressive had i actually seen the movie) The ride itself is a blast, although one always wishes the ride were longer, considering the lines you wait in. We liked that it was rated for 48". Our daughter is just tall enough for those 48" rides, and it's great that they have so many real coasters she can ride. As it stands, there were only a few rides she wasn't tall enough for. It's important for kids to be able to do grown-up stuff, and riding a real coaster is high on that list.

I do wish their map, and signage in the park, were a bit better. I got turned around easily. Thankfully I have a husband with a good sense of direction! I think they could embrace technology a bit better as far as their helping guests navigate the park.

We love going to Six Flags each year for their Home School Day. The park is awesome, the staff is cheerful, the rides are fun and varied. Six Flags is a great choice for family fun.