07/23/08

Not a Bad Waterpark - But Could Be Better

by dansatx

My family attended Schlitterbahn Waterpark on a Tuesday expecting to find shorter lines; however, the lines were still long. The staff, though, was helpful and polite. I had no complaints with their service. The price of admission, for me, was a little more than it should be considering the long wait times for the rides limit what you can do at the park. One problem I had with the waterpark is it is spread out over three locations. A shuttle bus (tram) takes you from the east side to the west side and back. The east side is broken into two parts that are separated by a large parking lot. Therefore, if you want to see all of the park, you have to sacrifice some of your park time to wait in line for a tram, take the tram to the other side, and walk to the third area. This can amount to two or more hours of your time at the park. If you don't see all of the park, then, you are paying for more than you use. This is a major problem for Schlitterbahn. Another problem with the park is it's maps. The park has nice colorful maps. However, the maps only show you where each ride is in the park not where the entrance to the ride is. Often, you have to walk around to find this entrance. Again, this uses up park time. Also, another item that disturbed me is the park has no policy to discourage people from "cutting" in line. People "cutted" in line on every ride I attended. Even at the tram, this happened. Sadly, this, I think, is more a reflection on our society than on the park. Those "cutting" in line even defended their actions. The park needs a policy that removes those who do this, they need to post this policy everywhere in the park and they need to strictly follow the policy. Finally, the food prices in the park were high. But, you can bring your own picnic. People leave their picnic items on the numerous picnic tables within the park. We chose to eat our picnic at our car. I wasn't convinced that unguarded items were safe from others.

• Pros: Many Fun Rides, Friendly Staff
• Cons: Expensive, Long Waiting Times, Park is in 3 Separate Locations, No "Cutting" in Line Policy

07/14/08

WARNING: CITY issues PARKING TICKETS in parking lots!!!

by vmquinn

We paid $7.00 to park in a City (municipally-owned) parking lot and got a receipt. We were TICKETED for "parking more than 18 in. from the curb." What??? What kind of a chicken-sh** charge is that??? Parking is just a revenue-generator for the City! New Braunfels has three months to raise the revenue for their municipal operations for the entire year, and they do most of it during the SUMMER. Be careful!!! Our advice is DON'T GO! it's WAY too crowded anyway!! And if the City has this kind of attitude toward the people who come there (who are trying to parking legally) they don't deserve the tourism!

• Pros: close to san antonio and austin
• Cons: Too crowded, City issues tickets on municipally-owned parking lots

06/22/08

Bad crowd control

by Calingaladha

Perhaps I'm biased, having been since my childhood to the Disney World waterparks, but Schlitterbahn simply did not thrill me. The long lines weren't too much of a problem, and for the large rides, were expected, but there was one major throwback for me: In the middle of the day, a storm came through, and lightning caused a temporary park shutdown. I can understand this, for safety percautions, but could all the visitors take it as adults? Apparently not, because a loud storm of cursing and disgruntled strings followed as we all made our way back down. I can understand disappointment, but these people acted like toddlers throwing tantrums. We were escorted to what was called 'a covered area', even though it only consisted of a wall, to wait for the rides' reopening. A crowd began to gather and, as predicted, a stampede occured when the 'all-clear' whistle was blown. I'm glad there weren't any young kids in that group, because otherwise someone would have been hurt or worse. I had someone dash past me and cut my hand with their watch, which mostly just suprised me, even though it was painful. Adults as they were, it would have been much better if we'd all walked back up, single file, with our finger to our lips like in elementary school. That 3-minute period of a kindergarten episode took the visit down a notch.

My other problem was simply that none of the rides were very thrilling. I myself like the poo scared out of me when I go to amusement parks. Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach had no comparison at Schlitterbahn.

Schlitterbahn is good for kids, as there are plenty of less-thrilling rides, and for adults there is a swim-up bar in one of the newer park sections.

• Pros: parking, tram, splash cash
• Cons: small lockers, poor crowd control, long lines

Aquatic thrills and cool summer fun draw families and groups of friends to this wet, wild park.

by Contributor

In Short
This popular central Texas water park with speedy body and inner-tube slides, dark tunnels, a wave pool and a huge swimming pool, is packed with smiling faces. Families float through swirls, dips and waves, through rocky pools that look just like--and in some places are--the real thing. Adventurous types enjoy thrill rides, like the Master Blaster uphill water coaster or the Torrent, a "hyper-action river." A younger crowd hangs in the many kiddie areas.

07/25/03

More time spent in lines than in water

by moonpickles

I drove from Houston to go to the "#1 waterpark in america." It was like holding a major league baseball game at a smalltown baseball field. Not enough restrooms, parking, ticket tackers, waterslides, resturants, ect.. I had to park at a shuttle run at a nearby baseball field. It took 30 minutes to get on the shuttle! Then there were only 3 ticket-tackers so it took another 30 minutes to get in. If you want to go to the west side it was another long shuttle wait. Yes, the Masterblaster is a 2 1/2 hours wait! The two lazy rivers were the best I'd ever been on but after 3:00 (when the waterpark does their mid-day pass) it become packed with rowdy teenagers. The shuttle back was full of unhappy customers. It's a far cry from America's real #1 waterpark Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells.

• Pros: water attractions, you can't find at, other waterparks
• Cons: crowds, not enough facilities, disorganized location

07/21/03

LONG lines and no crowd control

by jlkovar

My family was at the park for 6 hours and rode 2 rides! The MasterBlaster had a 2 1/2 hour wait, but posted no signs estimating this timeframe...only a sign that said "extended waiting time." After an hour, we thought we had invested too much time to not ride it, but little did we know that was just the start! While the ride was fun, the 2 minutes was not worth the wait. Furthermore, on the other ride of the day, the Raging River Tube shoot, we waited another 1 1/2 hours for the poorest quality ride ever. They packed so many people in that everyone went down it tube-to-tube-to-tube...only separating on the small drops. Horrible!!! Unless you plan to make it when no one else wants to go, expect LONG lines, and poor quality rides. This park really needs to assess the crowd control problem...

• Pros: What pros???
• Cons: Long Lines (2+hrs), Packed tube rides, Too many people!!!

08/30/02

SCHLITTER-FUN

by meme78745

Its a fun place to go for the kids but be ready to walk!! I dont like the fact that there are 3 seperate parks that you have to ride a shuttle to and from. I dont like the hottub/bar at the origional park being so close to children playing in the big pool next to it. I had a hard time keeping my child out of it and it was filled with adults drinking.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Close to home
• Cons: Crowded, No Rollercoaster

08/29/02

best cool

by opinionated

Best place to cool off, labor day least busy time of all. Terrific to take own picnic, float, slide, tube. More fun than anywhere in area and short drive,too. Does need more changing rooms/rest rooms in the newest area-Blastenhoff. Master Blaster is best ride with Black knight a close second.

• Pros: location, bring own food
• Cons: expensive, need more restrooms, lots of walking

08/08/02

Best Waterpark in the Country

by bevo3k

Schlitterbahn is easily the best waterpark I've seen. It was even rated the best by the Travel Channel. It is quite different from the cookie cutter waterparks around most of the country. It uses the Comal River perfectly. One waterslide even dumps you into the river! Also, the master blaster is the most innovative ride I have seen. You actually go UP on a waterslide.

• Pros: Beat the heat, Great rides
• Cons: Crowded

07/24/02

Hottest coolest time in US!

by skybug49

Schlitterbahn has grown and improved each year we've been going there and we've been going for over 12 years. Always clean; you can bring your own cooler of food and now that they have doubled their size, they've got the best transportation to each area. The staff is well-trained and has a great attitude and, of course, the place is huge and has a great variety of the best water rides in America. You can't do it all in one day anymore and a big plus is their very affordable season pass.

• Pros: can bring your own co, free parking, extremely clean