PARKINGPARKING
The economy daily
parking rate is $15.00. The parking lot can open up to
1 1/2 hours prior to the opening time for the park, but on most
days it opens no more than 30-60 minutes prior to opening time.
NEW FOR 2007: Premium Parking Returns! At the West lot a section closer to the park is now $20 per day. However there are still economy spots much farther away in the West lot, so the East lot (closest to Batman) would be the best bargain.
A
great deal is the Season Pass parking permit for unlimited visits Buy the pass when you purchase and/or process
your Season Pass or afterwards at Guest Relations - just be sure
to bring your current parking ticket for a refund of today's parking
price.
Parking Lots Not Operated by Six Flags Some enterprising folks have set up "gypsy" lots just as you get to park property. Some of these are on recently paved lots, others are in motel parking lots (but they're not operated by the motel), but none are affiliated with Six Flags. The official lots are the BIG ones to the right or left at the barricade on Six Flags Drive. Some of these characters charge the Premium Lot price (or more) for parking. On the map below these gypsy lots would be where the word "hotels" is. And the hotels also provide parking for a fee.
PARKING FEE EDITORIAL: With the insane parking fees the park is now charging, I figure the independent lots will go to $10 (easier to make change) and many more people will grumble. I have disagreed about the parking charges for a very, very long time. And now, with fees that are much greater than Disney where it's only $10 for cars and $12 for a bus, I really don't know how SFOG can honestly justify this increase. At Disneyworld you get your choice of transportation that takes you right to the gate via trams, monorails, boats and wagons. I know Dan Snyder thinks that running a theme park is just like running a sports franchise but I think he's very wrong. People have other things to do, and no loyalties to return. Charging these kind of parking fees will make repeat visits very questionable - people will be hit with the high cost of coming to the park and be rethinking their decision to come even before they enter the gate.
Locally, when you go to a sporting or entertainment venue for an event you don't pay the owner for the parking - it's an independent outfit. But Six Flags owns their parking lot. Charging parking to the people who have been invited to enjoy the day with them is unquestionably a hidden increase in fees and I don't think it will go unnoticed. Just think if you invited everyone to a party at your house and charged them for the privilige of parking in your driveway - I bet most would go out and park in the street. This is not my definition of hospitality. And what do you get for $15? A piece of hot asphalt and not much more. For this much money I would expect a valet to take me to and from the gate, along with a car wash and perhaps an oil change.
Everyone keeps saying the park is going to be improved over last year, well then, take the time to earn an increase in parking fees. I am quite skeptical that the guest experience will be that much different (hopeful, but skeptical just the same). Everyone needs to work hard to earn the guest's loyalty - we've been let down before with surly employees as the season headed into full swing, overflowing trashcans, closed facilities, less-than-optimum ride operations - it's going to take a long time to forget the days of one-train operation on every coaster with the parking lot almost full - so hold off on the customer gouging until everyone's act is together and the value is there.
Instead it feels like the park is out for the quick buck because they don't know if their turnaround plan will work so they'll get as much money out of a guests pocket every chance they can. Where is the "middle America" entertainment value that is family friendly when you're charging 25% more for parking, even more for food and beverages, and the family's income is stagnant. People will come once, realize how much they dropped in a day at Six Flags and explore new more afordable options for fun. The wallet will close after they pay the admission fee. And, sorry, the whole entertainment venue / sports event doesn't wash. An amusement park is open daily, and I've never paid these kind of prices to park at the zoo, aquarium, museum, etc.
Instead the park should prove that they've gotten better in 2006, earning greater parking fees through repeat visits and then sock it to the price increases in 2007. This should be the year to get everyone out of their homes and into the park to try the improved experience. The park needs to earn back the guests that over the years have found other options for fun. Then, if things really are changed, people won't mind paying greater-than-Disney prices for the local amusement park. But doing this now will only alienate more people who think going to an amusement park is already a rip-off eroding any hopes of generating good guest karma.
That's it - I'm done (for now) - but I will never agree that these kinds of charges are fair and acceptable.
Anyway, if you enter the East (cheap) lot, park as close to Batman as possible. Parking at the west lot (across the street from the Georgia Cyclone) is less complicated, but there is no shade.
Parking tram service was discontinued in 2001, but in a part of the 2004 focus on guest-first programs the trams returned to service in the East (standard economy) parking lot. Although if you're parked near Batman the Ride it's usually easier and faster just to walk. But no more walking on the tramway - you could get run over!
RV, motor home and bus parking is provided in either lot, however there is more space in the "standard" lot. These large vehicles have their own spaces reserved facing Thunder River but not quite to Deja' Vu.
The question has become, "how to beat these huge parking charges?"
In 1999 Six Flags closed several roads surrounding the new west parking lot. These changes are highlighted on the map below. It's important to note the route from the west when the west lot is not open - guests need to turn just at the Wendy's upon exiting the interstate.
In 2000 the state of Georgia renumbered the exits. Six Flags is now at Exit 46 (towards Atlanta) or Exit 47 (from Atlanta). Just follow the signs to "Six Flags Park."
As you pay for parking you will be given a brochure with a map and a separate show schedule. The brochure can be folded so that the map is very easy to refer to during the day. If you don't receive a map or schedule from the parking attendant the ticket takers have them as you enter the park, and schedules can be found at most shops throughout the park. Only SFOG Parking Permits provide no-charge parking at the park (unless you have a non-SFOG Six Flags park employee ID).
A parking ticket is good for one re-entry on the same day; be sure to get your ticket stamped as you exit the parking lot.
EXITING TIP: if it's unusually crowded when the park closes the parking lot becomes one of the most inefficient exercises for traffic management. Prepare to wait out the crowds or leave a little earlier than closing (5 minutes earlier than closing will suffice) to beat the rush hour blues. Otherwise stick close to Batman and Mindbender as most drivers head the other direction to the exit lane - the closer you join the line to the parking gate the shorter your wait will be. And after you get past the parking booths use both lanes! They both turn right at Six Flags Drive - and everyone just sits in the right hand lane while traffic zooms past in the left lane. The actual eastbound merge doesn't happen until you get onto the entrance ramp to I-20. And people going to the west really need to be in the left hand lane anyway since that's the only way to get to I-20 westbound.
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