California's Great America (and Boomerang Bay Water Park)
add photosCalifornia's Great America (formerly Paramount's Great America) has both thrill rides older kids and teens, but they also have kids ville for youngest guest as well as a large water park area called Boomerang. Admission gets you into both the theme parks and the water park.
Late afternoon discounts. Discounts for online ticket purchases as well.
12 Reviews for California's Great America (and Boomerang Bay W...
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2 families found this helpful
"Great Times at Great America"
It was at the request of our tween that we be sure to make it to California’s Great America this summer, and it didn’t take much persuasion to get the younger kids on board after taking a peek at the photos of the park online.
After scouring the internet for coupons and codes, I found that the best deal was right there on the Great America website: if we were to buy four or more tickets, each ticket would only cost the equivalent of a child admission ($34.50). Parking could also be paid for at the time of sale, so we checked out with five tickets and a one-day parking pass and promptly printed them right at home the night before our outing.
Since we planned to go on a Friday, we left Modesto at about 9:30am (though still managed to sit in late-morning Silicon Valley traffic), and arrived in Santa Clara near 11:30am. Driving to the park, finding parking and making our way through the entrance gate were easy peasy. There was quite a line for admission tickets, which we bypassed thanks to our pre-purchased tickets.
Our first few rides of the day were family rides: the double-decker Columbia Carousel — the tallest of its kind, and the 200-foot tall Star Tower observation tower. Though labeled as “low thrill” rides, we enjoyed the chance to ride together and acquaint ourselves with the layout of the park via the Star Tower.
Once we had made our way towards the rear of the park, we found the need to divide and conquer. Many of the rides in the areas other than KidZville and Planet Snoopy were not suitable for our youngest child, who is only 5 years old. Being more of a thrill-seeker myself, I took the tween and headed for the nearest roller coaster; my husband took the grade schoolers and stopped for lunch.
Food Festival, located in the “County Fair” area of Great America, had options galore and shaded seating was abundant. The kids noshed on corn dogs, french fries and [a bit] of a green salad. Though expensive, the food was quite good for being concession grade; everything seemed freshly made and the portions were large enough without being wasteful.
** At Food Festival, visitors can choose from tacos, burgers, teriyaki bowls, soft serve and more.
** Expect to pay $4-6 for a fountain drink, $3.75 for a bottled water, $5-7 for a hot dog or corn dog, and nearly $10 for a complete meal (protein, starch and side). Pretty awesome in-park deals are offered via text messaging. At the beginning of your day, text CGAToday to 74674, and you’ll receive at most six texts that day. Of the five I received, two were for free drinks with purchase, one was for a free appetizer with purchase, and one was for half off a game fee. Message and/or data rates may apply.
**Outside food is not allowed inside the park, but there are picnicking areas outside the entrance gate and re-entry after eating is allowed.
Rides for adventurous souls are the meat and potatoes of Great America’s appeal. There are four main high-thrill roller coasters: Grizzly is the only classic wooden coaster; Demon is a whirling dervish of corkscrew turns; Vortex is a twirling, topsy-turvy coaster that riders will actually stand for; and Flight Deck is the best combination of all the above, during which riders are seated with their legs hanging for an ultimate flying sensation.
** The tween said that her favorite coasters were Flight Deck and Grizzly. The least favorite (by all accounts) was the Vortex, whose very bumpy, jostling ride gave both of us instantaneous headaches.
**The lines were of course much longer for these rides, but the longest we ever had to wait was 30 minutes prior to boarding. I’ve experienced longer waits at Great America before, but only on weekends.
KidZville and Planet Snoopy are areas of the park dedicated to those 36-48” tall. KidZville had only a few rides that enticed our kids (Fender Bender 500, a bumper car ride and the KidZville River Adventure, a walk through water exploration area), so they pushed through to Planet Snoopy where the bulk of their afternoon was spent.
** Each ride was enjoyed at least twice: Woodstock Express — a small, age-appropriate roller coaster with hills and turns but no sudden falls or inversions — was a favorite, as was the Pumpkin Patch — a ride that took us slowly up 30 feet in the air, spun slowly around and then returned to the ground — but this was mostly due to our own emotional attachment to “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charile Brown”.
** Snoopy’s Splash Dance is a maze of water sprays and misty curtains. While it does not require a bathing suit, we can say from experience that it’s highly advised.
** The kids were cast on-the-spot in “Charlie Brown’s Pirate Adventure”, one of many live shows throughout the park, though the only one currently showing in the Peanuts Playhouse. It was very fun for them to sing and dance along with giant Peanuts characters! Total photo op!
There was an entire portion of the park we never even made it to. Boomerang Bay is the water park within a park at California’s Great America, packed to the gills with features: a huge wave pool, inner tube river rides, water slides, and two water play areas for children. Jackaroo Landing, with smaller-scale slides, bridges, rope ladders and more, looked like immense fun for toddlers and preschoolers; Kookaburra Cay, strictly a “sprayground”, was a perfect spot for little ones who were more timid or needing to wind down.
** This section of the park operates on a schedule slightly different from that of the rest of the amusement park. Be sure to check the schedule when planning your trip.
** Don’t forget the sunblock — there are no mature trees in the area, and shaded seating is sometimes hard to find.
** Weather in the Bay Area is not nearly as warm as the Central Valley. Expect, even on days with midday highs in the 90’s, for the evening to cool significantly. Be prepared with lightweight clothes for changing into after a day of fun in Boomerang Bay.
** Lockers are available in the Boomerang Bay, as are full-body dryers, which are sort of an experience in of themselves. Both of these features require additional money.
All in all, we had a great time spending the day at California’s Great America — so much, in fact, that we’re contemplating season passes next summer!
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0 families found this helpful
"It is a Great Family park"
I always go there over the summer and spend forever there. Although, the lines get so long and i don't like waiting forever to go on a 4 minute long ride. I think they need more rides so you don't have to wait in line all day. But, the Halloween Haunt that they have every year is the BEST THING EVER! its so much fun to walk around and talk to the employees who are all dressed up and in costume. Its a great experience and recommended it (but not to the little ones, primarily for teens and adults)
1 family found this helpful
"DAY AT THE WATERPARK"
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE THIS PLACE! DID I MENTION I LOVE THIS PLACE! I WENT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST SUMMER ITS WAS NOT OVER CROWDED, DID NOT TAKE LONG TO GET ON THE WATER RIDES THE LONES FLOWED VERY FAST! AND THE BEACH AREA WAS THE BEST! I WAS ABLE TO SUN BATHE WITH NO DISTRACTIONS JUST THE SOUNDS OF ADULTS AND KIDS HAVING A GREAT TIME; THEY EVEN HAD BEER FOR ADULTS AND FOOD INSDE; THE PARK WAS VERY CLEAN EVEN THE BATHROOM AREAS AND THE PERSONAL CABBANNA'S! OMG THE BEST!!!!!
0 families found this helpful
"Good for the entire family"
This year is the first time we've brought my 3 year old daughter to Great America. The previous years, we did not come here thinking there won't be any stuff for her to do. We were pleasantly surprised of the amount of activities and rides for her age. She also loved the Peanuts characters. It was a great time overall.
1 family found this helpful
"pre-teens and teens"
my 14 year old niece and her friends love this place. it seems like they wanted a ride her everyday of the week during they're summer break. deffinetly not a place i want to take my daughter until shes atleat 10. i tried to tahe my younger nieces and nephews ( 4-8) deffinetly not again. every place we turned we heard foul language, saw inapropriate behavior, disrespectful teenagers. and rude people.. i did not enjot it one bit with the children, but teenegers seem to find it paradise.
0 families found this helpful
"Fantastic with children"
My children love going there. We went once when the pools were open and that was the best! We try to go to friends who have children that are in the same age group as ours. The dads take the bigger kids to some rides while the moms take the smaller children to the small kids rides. Everybody get to enjoy time with their friends and feel safe in the ride they pick,
0 families found this helpful
"G.A. Summer '09"
Lines for the Rides for our 3 1/2 yr. old were wide open and the best thrill for our girl was that the Nickolodeon characters were everywhere. The Nick. Central area is just right for toddlers and adults can ride along as well. The Dora show is one not to miss. I recommend sneaking in a lunch, because even chicken strips and fries was very pricey! Their gift shops had major discount prices, so definitely go in there to see if you can stock up on gifts for the future for the little kids. Wear comfy shoes. The huge merry-go-round in the front of the park is always a hit.
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"Fun with the Family"
Plan one long day here for fifty rides, coasters, and spectacular, Broadway-styleshows; movies and TV are the theme. This is the only theme park in the state with a water park—Boomerang Bay has thirty water slides, lagoons, rushing rivers, and sur-fable waves (in the Tazmanian Tornado, you slide through a completely dark, 300-foot cavern and rocket out into a funnel that tosses your raft around).
Toddlers like Kooaburra Bay, a quiet, shallow pool with waterfalls. The big thrills are the roller coasters—including Top Gun, a suspended jet coaster; the Vortex, a rare stand-up coaster; the Drop Zone Stunt Tower; Invertigo; and more scary machines. For smaller kids and less brave adults, there are many easy, fun rides, too, like Rugrats Runaway Reptar and Psycho Mouse. The fancy double-decker carousel is the tallest in the western states and may be the tallest in the world. One admission price gets you on all the rides and into live and filmed extravaganzas. At the Days of Thunder motion simulator, strap yourselves in and get ready to scream around a stock car racetrack.
Take the littlest kids to the audience participation Flintstones show and to Rugrats. See IMAX movies, live ice shows, and rock bands. Fort Fun and the Smurf Woods are filled with rides and entertainment for toddlers.
New in 2006 is the world's first reality coaster, Survivor The Ride. Tribal music, jungle drums, and tall torches get riders in the mood for chanting and ritual dance competition; the losers are sprayed with water, then everyone boards a giant circular platform that whirls and rocks through rugged terrain—a thrill ride like no other.
3 families found this helpful
"For older kids only"
If you have teenagers that can ride the regular rides, I'm sure this park is great. But the little kids' area at this park was a disaster for us. First of all, it's located way off in the middle of the park, so just herding the kids from the parking lot to the rides they would be interested in took forever. Once we got there, it was hot, crowded, and the kind of rides you see here could be found at lots of other (cheaper) places around the Bay Area--the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Oakland Zoo, etc.
0 families found this helpful
"Free Fireworks!"
For little ones who can stay up late, the fireworks on the 4th of July weekend at Great America is wonderful. You can park on side streets near the Great America park and stroll your kids in to the parking area. There are lawn and open areas around the entrance where families bring blankets to wrap up while viewing the fireworks. You do not have to pay parking fees if you walk in.
2 families found this helpful
"Little kids' area opens later"
Note that, at least in the off-season, the little kids area sometimes doesn't open til 11am, while the rest of the park opens at 10am. (This was no where on their site or marketing materials.) I took my son (3.5 at the time) as a special "being a good big brother" treat and we ended up having to wait around an hour, watching the bigger rides go. It was a total bummer because he was angry he couldn't go on them.
Also, go online and check the height limits. If your kid is taller (and shoes count), you can ride more rides. Otherwise, it's a lot of money to have access to only a few rides.
1 family found this helpful
"Great fun"
This is great fun for families with kids of various ages, particularly if you go on a day that is not super busy (otherwise lines can get very long). If it's not very crowded, it makes for a fun day with something for everyone!
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