originally posted on 9/8/2023
Photo: Fahad Rahmat. View full-sized image.
On August 19, Six Flags New England (SFNE, Agawam, Massachusetts) hosted A Dark Knight With ACE. This free, ACE members-only event drew attendance from 14 states: all six in New England, plus New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota.
The planned itinerary included early entry to the park, a group photo, a behind-the-scenes tour of Batman The Dark Knight, a Q&A session with park representatives and the ability to get first rides of the day on the coasters as the park opened to the public. SFNE also had a surprise (or two, or three) in store for attendees.
Check in began at 8:45 a.m. when each attendee received two exit passes and a complimentary admission ticket if they didn’t hold Six Flags season passes or memberships. The exit passes were good for up to four people, so members were encouraged to team up with others for multiple ride opportunities without having to endure long waits.
The first surprise came with the distribution of wristbands for access to the park’s VIP Lounge (regularly a $14.99/day upcharge). The lounge allows visitors to cool off in an air-conditioned space and enjoy complimentary beverages, light snacks and comfortable seating equipped with charging stations for portable electronic devices.
Following check in, event attendees were given access to restricted areas of Batman The Dark Knight for unique photo opportunities.
Photo: Rus Ozana. View full-sized image.
Photo: Rus Ozana. View full-sized image.
With 112 members assembled, all were led into the park, where the first activity of the day was the group photo at the entrance, followed by the long walk to the south end of the park that is home to Batman The Dark Knight — a 2002 Bolliger & Mabillard floorless coaster. Park staff were testing the trains when the group arrived but stopped so attendees could enter the fenced, restricted areas for rare photo opportunities.
Surprise #2 came around 10 a.m., after an inquiry was made for a possible location where the public was not allowed but from where photos could be taken while the trains operated. With a couple of quick radio calls by park staff, those who wished to ride could climb the stairs to the station for riding, and those who wished for photos from a restricted area were led off to capture some unique-perspective shots with the running trains full of ACE members.
Attendees enjoy the event’s namesake, Batman The Dark Knight.
Photos: Rus Ozana. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
After approximately 30 minutes of ERT and exclusive photography opportunities, surprise #3 was announced. Joker (2017 S&S Worldwide 4-D Free Spin) and The Riddler Revenge (1997 Vekoma suspended looping coaster) along with Harley Quinn Spinsanity were opened to the group for what was essentially an ERT session in the south end of the park until it opened to the public at 11 a.m.
The Q&A session with SFNE’s Director of Operations, Frank Doninger, began in the picnic grove at 11:15 a.m., where he answered nearly two dozen questions. While on the minds of all in attendance, one brave ACEer raised their hand to ask about the space previously occupied by Goliath — the Vekoma giant inverted boomerang removed after the 2019 season. Doninger responded by stating employees are unaware of any plans for the site.
With all questions answered, attendees were free to explore the park at their leisure. Being a sunny Saturday, it was especially crowded with both park fans and several group outings.
Superman The Ride, a much-loved ACE favorite coaster, was down for maintenance for the two days prior to the event. Though still closed when attendees arrived, it opened at 1:15 p.m. but with only one train. By late afternoon, the wait time showed to be 275 minutes, ensuring the exit passes definitely came in handy.
ACE New England was grateful to Frank Doninger and Park President Pete Carmichael and their teams for the wonderful surprises and much appreciated and generous courtesies extended to attendees for the day at the park.
— Rus Ozana, ACE New England Regional Representative
#ACENews