we'll be visiting nyc in august and would like to head over to six flags in new jersey for the day.we heard there's a bus that takes you from the ny port authority to six flags. has anyone done this? we're wondering if it's worth the effort or if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with this type of excursion.

I don't know about the bus, but the drive is very easy. If you will have a car, just do that. Tolls are about $4 going and $10 coming back.
Last weekend the water park seemed much less crowded than the park, at least at then entrance. Go and come back early if on a Sunday to avoid shore traffic heading back to the city.

Hi Betty -
I live 15 min. from Six Flags in NJ and worked in NYC for quite some time. If you're going to take a bus to the park, do it really early in the a.m. or else you could get stuck in traffic due to people heading to the Jersey shore(esp. on a weekend).
Since I've commuted regularly to NYC from this area, I would really advise against it. It will be a minimum of an hour and twenty minutes to get there. (I have taken a bus only to be caught in traffic and get home almost 3 hours later!!!) Plus, if the bus gets filled up, you'll have to wait for the next one. Personally, if you really want to go there, I'd rent a car so you can come and go at your leisure and not be a slave to the bus schedule.
We've had seasons passes to the park in the past and I hear the water park is lots of fun. The amusement park is decent but some rides are showing their age (such as Rolling Thunder). The safari just depresses me b/c the animals look so miserable (and people throw things at them or feed them junk food). Maybe I sound jaded, but I've been going to that park since I was 8 and am now taking my children there (but only when we have to).
If you're looking for fun stuff to do for the family, go to Sony Wonder in the Sony building on 57th (?) and Madison. It's free and the kids would get a real kick out of it (adults too)
Best of luck and hope you enjoy your trip to NYC!!!

Last I heard, Six Flags NJ was a gangsta paradise.

I posted an answer about Six Flags for someone else this past weekend and I thought I'd do the same here...j is not misinformed...the last time I was there was 2 years ago when my team competed in a cheerleading competition...afterwards, I let them get on the rides, etc....I'm patient and don't care about the inevitable lines, but the majority of the people in the park were loud and rowdy...I left feeling that it was not such a nice place anymore.

betty:
I think Six Flags is not nice anymore too. I spent lots of time there as a teen and enjoyed it. Too many kids looking for trouble now,,,,please reconsider.
How about Coney Island for the day? Cheesy, but fun and easy to get too.

I took the bus there from Port Authority once...it was full of noisy teens. We were held on the bus for 20 minutes after we got there so they could give us the spiel on "no knives, no guns, no multi-finger rings, no bats". The park is not what it used to be when I was a kid!

thanks for all the input, i've changed my mind about six flags. we might try renting a car and driving the 5 or so hours to niagra falls for an overnight. i think there is an amusement park near there also.

betty;
Ditto the feelings about Great Adventure. Niagra Seems to be a long trip for just an overnight stay. Lake George has a nice amusement park too. It is not as far as Niagra. Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom or Hershey in PA are some other options.

Betty,

Niagara Falls is 410 miles from NYC. The drive will be closer to 7 hours than 5.

up for Vince