Pictorium Theater - (847) 249-1776

This Six Flags is like any other you would visit in another state. It offers the same rides and amenities with incredible service. It will take you some time to journey there if you are near Chicago city limits, but once you're there you have the theme park, the Gurnee Mall, and neighboring outlets to get involved with.

Remember when Great America was owned by Marriott's? It was a true Diseny-like experience with clean restrooms, friendly employees, great foods, good shows and a wonderful park. Six Flags has let the park go downhill . Great American is now very second rate. You will see a lot of peeling paint and dirty facilities. The whole place looks worn out and need of repair. The employees are a bit rude and very poorly trained. No one seems to know what is going on or how to handle food properly. Admission price is high. Food and merchandise prices are sky high. Parking is $15.00! A 20-oz soda is $3.50! Popcorn is $8.00! "Homemade" fudge is made from mix ("just add water") . Best bet: Avoid any food outlet operated by Six Flags - the pizza is especially bad. Burgers are mystery meat. Look for the brands like Papa Johns, Panda Express or Johnny Rockets for places that are cleaner and have better value. Call ahead - most of the time the kid's areas are not even operating.. When they boast of 35 children's attractions, they include a slide and swing set. Note: If the day's attendance is low, shops, restaurants and rides will begin to close. Staff will say they are having "electrical problems". Live shows are dull and uninspired...music is on tape. Some of the shows are just videos of the Country Music Awards. The parade is just a waste of time. Perhaps Six Flags could clean the costumes and repaint the floats. once in a while. Another tip: Avoid the early season in April and May - employees are completely untrained - and end of season (October) - no one cares anymore. So go with low expectations....and lots of cash.

We stayed at Key Lime Cover Water Park across the street and bought tickets to Great America on line for $40.00 (guests of Key Lime Cove can get them for $35.00). We took the shuttle over so we didn't pay the $15.00 parking fee. First thing we went to was the go karts. Could not believe that it costs extra! $7.00 for a single car and $9.00 for two in one car. We told the kids no. Happiness has begun. We then went on the ride that brings you up in the air and you can see the entire park. I was reading the park map and found that to go to Hurricane Harbor and use any ride that includes a "tube" you have to pay extra! I asked the ride operator how much the charge was and she conveniently didn't know. Found out that it was $9.00 for a single tube and $17 for a double! We told the kids since we spent the money to stay at a waterpark we were not going to pay more money....happiness continues. Asked my husband to go put our suits in a locker so we weren't carrying them all day. I was mad when I found out the "small" locker was $9.00! That's outrageous! Now we are all happy! I have back and neck problems so I planned on riding the park benches while the kids enjoyed their day. Problem is they don't take the "gouge" money and spend it on benches! The other ride that costs extra is the one that drops you 150 feet. I understand and accept the fact of a high ticket price given the costs of labor, electricity, gas and so on, but I truly resent being taken advantage of. Don't nickle and dime customers after you trap them in the front door. Charging extra for rides is not acceptable. Charging extra for the tubes to be used at the "included" water park is a disgrace. Not providing park benches for those that can't ride the rides due to health, pregnancy or age is unbelievable. Then the biggest insult is the "Flash Pass". If we had gotten them it w/h cost us $140.00 for our family of 4. We didn't and come to find out they are only good on 8!