Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio: A Local's Guide

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is located in the northwest area of San Antonio, right beside the La Cantera shopping center and just off I-10 and 1604. We're lucky enough to live just fifteen minutes from Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and we make frequent use of our season passes. If you want to get the most bang for your buck when you visit the park, here are some tips to keep in mind.

First of all, timing is everything. If you can possibly manage it, avoid the weekends! We've found that the best days to visit are Tuesday and Wednesday, even though the park closes earlier during the week. Shorter lines more than make up for the slightly shorter operating hours--you'll get on more rides and spend less time waiting for everything from food to bathrooms. Saturday is the absolute worst day to visit, for obvious reasons. The locals are off work and come to play, and vacationers arrive to visit, too. No matter when you go, I'd advise against paying the extra $5 for preferred parking unless you plan on leaving before the park closes. While it sounds very nice to park right next to the gates, when everyone's leaving at closing time, you'll find yourself sitting in your car for an hour or more before you can get out of the parking lot.

Also on the subject of timing, be smart when you plan when to board the most popular rides. Everyone wants to ride the new Goliath coaster, as well as long-standing favorites like Superman, Poltergeist, and the Scream. Most people will take a break for lunch between 11am and 1pm, and the lines are shorter at that time. Likewise, food lines will be much longer at those times. When you notice that lines are building at the food booths and restaurants, head for those popular rides to cut your wait times.

In the summer, most people will arrive as soon as the park opens to ride the rollercoasters before the day gets too hot. Then crowds flock to the White Water Bay water park to cool off. If you plan on riding the water rides--and I'd certainly advise it, since the water park is tons of fun--go against the crowd. Play in the water first, then when the lines start getting long, change out of your swim suits and hit the rollercoasters. Also, if you want a locker during your visit, get one early since they tend to run out pretty quickly, especially on busy days. Remember that two of the water rides require a certain number of riders--three or four for the Tornado, and four for the Texas Tumble. While you can easily pick up an extra person or two once you get to the top of the line on the Texas Tumble, you won't be allowed to get into line for the Tornado until you have at least three people.

Finally, a word about the Flash Pass--in my opinion, it's not worth the expense. At either $32 for a regular Flash Pass (doesn't save you any wait time, but buzzes you when it's your turn to ride so you can spend your time elsewhere in the park instead of in line) or $47 for a Gold Flash Pass (cuts 75% from your wait time and buzzes you when it's your turn to ride), it's almost doubles the cost of your day at the park for only a slight convenience. Very popular rides like Superman, Scream, and Goliath have single rider lines which allow you to fill extra seats on the ride if you don't mind not riding with your party. This saves a ton of time and is free. Also, the Flash Passes aren't available for every ride, every day, so you might shell out big bucks only to find that your favorite ride isn't participating in the Flash Pass on the day of your visit.

Now, on to food. Of course, the best way to eat at the park is not to eat there--bring a cooler, leave it in your car, and head out there when you're ready to eat and have a picnic. Just make sure that you get your hand stamped on your way out so you can come back in when you're done eating. While you can't take a cooler inside, you can bring a few energy bars in your bag. If you must eat at the park, head to the International Food Court at Sangerfest. You can choose from pizza, burgers, German sausages, Italian food, turkey legs, salads, and Mexican food, and wash it down with cold beer and soda while you sit in the large, air conditioned building and see performers put on a show, or watch special features on a truly enormous television screen. The German sausages are really good, and if you get the largest meal for $9.99, it's easily big enough to share between two adults. The turkey legs are great for kids since they're very big, filling, and not overpriced--$4.50 for an enormous drumstick.

In our opinion, the best food value in the park are the candy and caramel apples. These are sold at the candy shop beside the International Food Court. They're big, extremely delicious, and cost $3 each--no more than you'd pay if you bought a generic one at the supermarket. They're really fabulous and are a great way to keep children busy and happy while waiting in long lines. It's hard to get impatient with your mouth full of that much sweetness!

As far as drinks go, there are water fountains throughout the park, and many people get a bottle of water and refill it throughout the day. If you'd prefer soda, the best way to go is the refillable souvenir cup. At $12.99, it definitely gives you an "ouch" factor when you buy it, but you can refill it for free all day on the day you buy it. If you're coming back the next day, bring it with you and refill it for $.99. Considering that single drinks start around $3.50 and go up from there, you'll be glad you shelled out for the refillable cup. Just remember that the free refills don't apply to the lemonade stands. You'll have to pay the $.99 refill cost there. We like to have Powerade, which is available at most, but not all, food courts. When it's really hot outside, dehydration has to be considered.

And now a word on the games. Like all amusement parks, the games at Six Flags Fiesta Texas are really hard, but not impossible, to win. You'll see people walking around with enormous stuffed animals and wonder if you can win one, too. Of course these games are one of the park's best money-makers, and the better the prize, the less chance you have of winning. If your kids just have to play a game, look for the "winner every time" games. These are often fishing games or strongman games where you or your child will swing a mallet and try to ring the bell at the top of the post. Six Flags Fiesta Texas made a smart decision when they priced these games--some are $3, others are $5, so you can play these without breaking the bank. Your child will have fun playing and will be guaranteed to walk away happy with a stuffed animal or a cape.

If you've never been to the park before, take the time to visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas's website to familiarize yourself with the rides you don't want to miss. Study the map online, and get a map when you walk in so you don't get turned around--it's a very big park. The train is a great way to get around, especially if your feet start hurting before your children tire out! The shops all sell basic over-the-counter medications for upset stomachs and headaches, and you can get sunscreen and hats at the large gift shop just inside the gates. If you need help, the first aid station is right beside the International Food Court in the Sangerfest area of the park, and there are always tons of employees nearby--just look for the neon yellow shirts.

One final note--Six Flags Fiesta Texas can't page you on a loudspeaker if you get separated from your children or your party. While there's a "Lost Parents" area where children are escorted if they're lost, I've found that a better system is to keep your cell phone in your pocket and put your phone number on your child. You can either do this with an ink pen or using SafetyTats, which are removable tattoos that are custom printed with your phone number on them. The reason I recommend actually putting your number on your child, rather than using a slip of paper in a pocket, is that water rides can soak the paper and make your number unreadable, or the paper could be lost. If your child has your number memorized, they still might forget it in the fear and stress of being lost in such an overwhelming place. SafetyTats or a waterproof marker, in my opinion, are your best bets for making sure that you get a call if your child is separated from you.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a great amusement park, and the rides are tons of fun for all ages. With a little planning and some careful timing, you can get the most out of your visit to the park. Have fun, and I'll see you on the Scream!