As Six Flags Gold Member for the past 12 years, we have made countless visit to both Fiesta Texas and Six Flags, and over the years we’ve found one thing to be pretty true, that while we also love Six Flags over Texas in Arlington, Fiesta Texas is the better of the two. The great thing is, a Six Flags Pass or Membership gets you in any Six Flags park all year long, and FREE parking, so you can do your own comparison and tell me what you think!
1. The mild San Antonio weather means it’s open earlier each year.
While Six Flags is now open weekends year round, Fiesta Texas in San Antonio is much warmer in the Spring, and as a passholder, that means I get more weekends for my money.

2. The Annual Mardi Gras Parade
Six Flags Fiesta Texas brings New Orleans to life each year for a huge Mardi Gras celebration, nightly parade, food and music! It’s so much fun, included in your regular ticket and while availability is limited, pass holders and members can even ride on the floats! Click HERE to read more.
3. It’s in a canyon
Built in an old quarry, the walls add an extra element of fun as many of the rides seem to come perilously close, like the Pandemonium! The walls also create amazing special effects during Fright Fest!
4. The Der Pilger Bahnhof
Every Six Flags has a train ride, but those same canyon walls make Fiesta Texas’ unique as the train goes through the mountain pass under a waterfall!
5. The Coasters
Fiesta Texas has some of the most amazing coasters, like the Iron Rattler with a staggering drop of 171 feet at 70 mph with an angle of 81 degrees and four over-banked turns, more than any other hybrid coaster, and the first of its kind to feature a completely inverted barrel roll, and the new Wonder Woman Golden Lasso, the world’s first single rail coaster!
6. White Water Bay
This fun waterpark is located inside Fiesta Texas, and your regular admission to Fiesta INCLUDES admission to all the fun rides, attractions, lazy river and huge Texas-shaped wave pool!
7. 4th of July Fireworks
While both parks celebrate the 4th with special events and a fireworks show, the Fiesta Texas show is incredible, the largest in South Texas!
8. It’s Less Expensive
While it’s only a few dollars, you’ll save money at Fiesta Texas where daily admission and parking is less expensive.
9. Fright Fest
No one does Halloween better than Fiesta Texas! With amazing light shows on the canyon walls, FREE Haunted Houses for pass holders and incredible concerts, it’s a must for us every October!
10. Holiday in the Park
Both parks offers a similar Holiday in the Park program, with great live shows, Santa and lights everywhere. The biggest difference is the weather, which is milder in San Antonio and makes for more fun!
11. Dog Kennels
I love that all Six Flags parks offer FREE kennels for your pets while visiting the park, but Fiesta’s kennels are much better than Six Flags, and while I’ve toured but never had the need to leave my dog at Six Flags in Arlington, we did leave our little Dublin at Fiesta and felt she was safe and in good hands the entire time! I love that it’s located next to the park instead of in the parking lot, so we could conveniently check in on her if needed.
12. Nearby hotels
While Arlington does have some hotels nearby, you can’t beat the variety of hotels near Six Flags Fiesta Texas! Many of the hotels offer special packages and even complementary shuttles to Six Flags!
What’s better at Six Flags Over Texas? I certainly don’t mean to knock Six Flags, they also have amazing rides like the Texas Giant, which has 183 ft. drop, and the Sky Screamer goes twice as high as the one in San Antonio! It’s also located in the Arlington entertainment district, next to Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium, where the Texas Rangers Baseball Team and Dallas Cowboys Football team, respectively, play. We love summer visits to Six Flags during the day and walk over to watch a game in the evening! Another big plus for Six Flags is the cool shaded park with picnic tables that Six Flags offers for those not dining inside the park. They even have complementary cooler storage!
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
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