By Laura Dinsdale
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a popular place for students, families, or even people that travel across the world to visit, even you have probably visited, or driven by if you live in the bay area. But after these visitors spend their day at the park they are commonly left disappointed, with lots of money charged for basic food or trinkets, and unmet standards.
The animals are trapped in small enclosures that are nothing like their natural habitat and are treated horribly. According to PETA for years, the park partnered with Have Trunk Will Travel, a company whose handlers were caught on video beating elephants with bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods. If you visit it leaves you feeling guilty and sad for the animals well being.
Another article from PETA talks about the dangerous treatment of Six Flags animals saying, “The park still exhibits dozens of big cats, birds, and reptiles and offers dangerous hands-on interactions between guests and dolphins, giraffes, and other animals. All of these animals live in misery, forced into stressful encounters day after day, long after travelers return home with their photos and memories.”
The bus is supposed to allow visitors to avoid the long walk to the park from the parking lot but many have complaints. A review from a trip advisor’s article on the park says, “The bus from the parking lot! My husband was injured, so the maybe 4 minute ride was elongated to a 30 minute affair, with 0 urgency by the bus driver, long lines with no one really knowing if the bus was even running (the parking lot attendant was no help and could really care less), really inefficient loading and unloading. Absolutely no care to get customers efficiently either in the park or out.”
Not waiting 30 minutes for the bus to arrive leaves you having to walk in a long line of visitors crowding into the park. Especially after a long day of venturing throughout the park you don’t want to have a long walk behind slow walking visitors and tourists.
The app is useless and not a good look at the park. I’ve read many reviews on the app and many say the app leaves false estimations on the lines wait time.
After finding a student at Benicia High that has used the app to check wait times I asked the question, “How long did the app say the line was and how long did you actually wait in it?” Jesten Naweerakant replied, “It said there was a 10 minute wait and I ended up in the line for 50 minutes.” This really makes you wonder how long rides really are and how many you can even squeeze into your trip at the park.
The cost of the park is ridiculous for how cheap their products seem. A review from Russel Meyers says, “Six Flags got so popular because their admission is so cheap. However, what people don’t realize is that even if it only costs $50-60 to get through the gate, Six Flags will nickel and dime you to get that $100 that you would have spent anyway.”
If you find yourself visiting the park expect to see animals suffering, a long wait for the bus or a long walk to the park, an unreliable app, and your wallet empty by the end of your visit.
beniciapaw.com 