Excellent review. This video is the best walk-through of ZDT's on RUclips. Been to ZDT's over a dozen times, most recently on July 8, 2022. This is an underrated gem of a park + prettier than in some of the footage when it is sunny out. I've only visited on weekdays, when it usually feels like you've got the place to yourself + a few friends. Have never once waited for any rides or been here when a (dry) ride was down. Not sure if ZDT's still offers, but I bought the season pass for $100 on end-of-year special which gives a second pass at 50% off. This is a crazy bargain relative to what you get, provided you visit more than once. I usually pair visiting this park with a road trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World San Antonio, Splashway, and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. ZDT's ride lineup obviously doesn't compare to the big corporate parks, but if you measure just by fun, and amount of rides-per-hour, the overall experience this park offers is much closer to the others than you'd expect, arguably even superior depending on the day. For example on this past Friday, I visited Schlitterbahn New Braunfels (the self-described best water park in the world, lol) in the morning for a few hours and rode 5 slides total, one time each. By 1 pm, the Schlitterbahn lines were 60-90 minutes for their most popular slides and the park felt claustrophobic so we left and headed to ZDT's. While ZDT's only has 3 water slides (plus a splash zone), we got over 30 rides in a couple hours at the water park section, which was much more fun overall than Schlitterbahn. The video says the water coaster at ZDT's is the "smallest and least interesting water coaster I have ever seen." Yep! True! But it's also my favorite water coaster in the world because it's still a blast and I can ride it 10 times in a row with no line. Unless you hit a water coaster at certain parks right at opening (e.g. the one at Six Flags Fiesta Texas), it's hard to avoid large lines let alone get immediate re-rides on many water coasters. The other two slides at ZDT's are deceptively good, and you get to decide whether to use a raft or mat on the tube slide. The staff at ZDT's is top-notch. Unlike many larger parks, they don't automatically assume their customers are idiots. There is no ride announcement lecturing and a complete absence of "safety theater" or angry, low status workers power-tripping. The staff here just do their jobs and ensure guest safety. That might sound unremarkable, but the more amusement parks you visit these days, the more you appreciate competence (and friendliness!) when you see it. The Go Karts are wonderful. People praise the ones at Fun Spot, which deserve praise, but ZDT's has better karts & tracks, plus there is no line. I've ridden these for close to 45 minutes without getting off. Switchback is a surprisingly good wood coaster. My daughter ranks it above Phoenix, El Toro, Mystic Timbers, and Ghost Rider, which is nuts, but Switchback is still in my top 10 woodies. Plus no line! I've never tried the outdoor climbing wall/silo, but my wife & kids love it and it's a unique experience. The downside of this park is the operating schedule. I wish it were open more (e.g. Tuesdays). They've got room for one more flat ride too. I worry about them financially, but would love to see this place acquire some of the run-down property surrounding it and expand. Some day word may get out on this park and the crowds will show, but for now it's not to be missed if you're in the San Antonio area.
ZDTs is probably the strangest park to ever exist. I went back when it was just the arcade with motion simulator and it was already a great place. Finding out a few years later that it got a Gravity Group coaster and other actual rides just blew my mind. I always wish I could stop on my way they Seguin to go again
I’ve been to almost every TX park except for ZDT’s, the reason is I didn’t know what it had other then switchback but it has a good amount and your review cleared stuff up. Thx so much! Great video
Truly unique family park. Great for kids of all ages! For $20/person, we spent 2 hours there and were completely satisfied. Don’t underestimate the frisbee ride. It made me a little dizzy. Switchback totally hauls.
I was able to get two rides on switchback last august at the end of the day in the last ten minutes of operation. Such an amazing coaster and well worth the drive from San Antonio and back.
After watching this review, you should do some more reviews on small parks like Conneaut Lake Park, Castles n' Coasters, Cliff's Amusement Park, Dixie Landin', Lakemont Park, Beech Bend and a bunch of other locations I haven't even thought of.
I've been trying to prioritize reviews I have video footage for since I just have photos of the smaller parks. And those smaller parks usually don't have much video footage for them which makes a review trickier. But there are some more smaller parks I plan to review.
Had no idea they didn't even bother with ticket redemption games here, might have to try that next time. Shoutout to the staff, I only bought one ride ticket for switchback and ended up riding it 4 times, and the Frisbee 8 times, and I still have the ticket lmao
Their next investment will most likely be for the water park. Just look at that unused space that could easily fit a children's play structure and lazy river!
They may be able to build something in the back parking lot since they expanded their lot to be over by the town water tower. But they don't have much room.
Excellent review. This video is the best walk-through of ZDT's on RUclips. Been to ZDT's over a dozen times, most recently on July 8, 2022. This is an underrated gem of a park + prettier than in some of the footage when it is sunny out. I've only visited on weekdays, when it usually feels like you've got the place to yourself + a few friends. Have never once waited for any rides or been here when a (dry) ride was down. Not sure if ZDT's still offers, but I bought the season pass for $100 on end-of-year special which gives a second pass at 50% off. This is a crazy bargain relative to what you get, provided you visit more than once.
I usually pair visiting this park with a road trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World San Antonio, Splashway, and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. ZDT's ride lineup obviously doesn't compare to the big corporate parks, but if you measure just by fun, and amount of rides-per-hour, the overall experience this park offers is much closer to the others than you'd expect, arguably even superior depending on the day.
For example on this past Friday, I visited Schlitterbahn New Braunfels (the self-described best water park in the world, lol) in the morning for a few hours and rode 5 slides total, one time each.
By 1 pm, the Schlitterbahn lines were 60-90 minutes for their most popular slides and the park felt claustrophobic so we left and headed to ZDT's. While ZDT's only has 3 water slides (plus a splash zone), we got over 30 rides in a couple hours at the water park section, which was much more fun overall than Schlitterbahn.
The video says the water coaster at ZDT's is the "smallest and least interesting water coaster I have ever seen." Yep! True! But it's also my favorite water coaster in the world because it's still a blast and I can ride it 10 times in a row with no line. Unless you hit a water coaster at certain parks right at opening (e.g. the one at Six Flags Fiesta Texas), it's hard to avoid large lines let alone get immediate re-rides on many water coasters. The other two slides at ZDT's are deceptively good, and you get to decide whether to use a raft or mat on the tube slide.
The staff at ZDT's is top-notch. Unlike many larger parks, they don't automatically assume their customers are idiots. There is no ride announcement lecturing and a complete absence of "safety theater" or angry, low status workers power-tripping. The staff here just do their jobs and ensure guest safety. That might sound unremarkable, but the more amusement parks you visit these days, the more you appreciate competence (and friendliness!) when you see it.
The Go Karts are wonderful. People praise the ones at Fun Spot, which deserve praise, but ZDT's has better karts & tracks, plus there is no line. I've ridden these for close to 45 minutes without getting off. Switchback is a surprisingly good wood coaster. My daughter ranks it above Phoenix, El Toro, Mystic Timbers, and Ghost Rider, which is nuts, but Switchback is still in my top 10 woodies. Plus no line! I've never tried the outdoor climbing wall/silo, but my wife & kids love it and it's a unique experience.
The downside of this park is the operating schedule. I wish it were open more (e.g. Tuesdays). They've got room for one more flat ride too. I worry about them financially, but would love to see this place acquire some of the run-down property surrounding it and expand. Some day word may get out on this park and the crowds will show, but for now it's not to be missed if you're in the San Antonio area.
I agree the lack of lines is nice, especially for the water coaster. It's easy to marathon things here.
This would be a fun home park. You could play at the arcade or do go karts, or ride switchback over and over. Man i wish this was near me
Absolutely!
@@CanobieCoaster I actually saw a couple of houses across the street from the park, I wonder who the lucky people who live there are LOL
Yeah that would be awesome
Wow they fit a water park and arcade in there too, that’s insane
They chose for breadth over depth.
@@CanobieCoaster yeah that’s true
I love your reviews, they are well spoken and interesting, hope you’ll do it big in 2021
Thank you!
ZDTs is probably the strangest park to ever exist. I went back when it was just the arcade with motion simulator and it was already a great place. Finding out a few years later that it got a Gravity Group coaster and other actual rides just blew my mind. I always wish I could stop on my way they Seguin to go again
Seeing this park get a coaster must have been weird.
This is one of the best little family outdoor FEC amusement parks ever.
Sure is!
I've never been but now I'd really like to check it out. Great review👍
Thanks! It's a great pit stop on a Texas trip.
I had no idea it also has things like go carts. I’m a lot more interested now
It has a unique lineup.
I’ve been to almost every TX park except for ZDT’s, the reason is I didn’t know what it had other then switchback but it has a good amount and your review cleared stuff up. Thx so much! Great video
You're welcome!
ZDT is the best, terrific ownership.
It seems well-run.
Truly unique family park. Great for kids of all ages! For $20/person, we spent 2 hours there and were completely satisfied. Don’t underestimate the frisbee ride. It made me a little dizzy. Switchback totally hauls.
Dizzy Toucan is definitely better than it looks.
I was able to get two rides on switchback last august at the end of the day in the last ten minutes of operation. Such an amazing coaster and well worth the drive from San Antonio and back.
Glad you squeezed it in.
After watching this review, you should do some more reviews on small parks like Conneaut Lake Park, Castles n' Coasters, Cliff's Amusement Park, Dixie Landin', Lakemont Park, Beech Bend and a bunch of other locations I haven't even thought of.
I've been trying to prioritize reviews I have video footage for since I just have photos of the smaller parks. And those smaller parks usually don't have much video footage for them which makes a review trickier. But there are some more smaller parks I plan to review.
im going today! so this was really helpful for me
thx
Enjoy!
I’m going for my birthday in a couple weeks. They are bulldog buddies so us TLU students get a 10% discount ❤
Have fun!
I have been here because I live in Texas it is worth it :)
Nice!
@@CanobieCoaster I just went today :)
Sounds lots of fun we're are from west Texas
Nice, the furthest west I've been in Texas is Amarillo.
Had no idea they didn't even bother with ticket redemption games here, might have to try that next time. Shoutout to the staff, I only bought one ride ticket for switchback and ended up riding it 4 times, and the Frisbee 8 times, and I still have the ticket lmao
That's awesome.
Their next investment will most likely be for the water park. Just look at that unused space that could easily fit a children's play structure and lazy river!
That would be great for their audience.
I've been here 3 times now, there is almost no wait on every ride and all arcade games don't require coins.
Nice!
I wish they would add a pool or lazy river
That would be nice.
I was here 12 times
Nice!
If you get an outdoor bracelet can you get unlimited rides on Switchback?
Yes
If you had to pick the best 5 coasters in Texas, what would they be??
I'll have a video on my top 25 Texas coasters next week!
@@CanobieCoaster 😃😃😃 You must be a mind reader!! 😂😉
Such a small park... literally
Yes!
Have you heard of the CP new coaster teaser for 2022?
I saw one of the Winter Chill Out videos. I couldn't tell if they were just joking around.
Seems there's not much space for expansion tho, or is there?
They may be able to build something in the back parking lot since they expanded their lot to be over by the town water tower. But they don't have much room.
There's some room behind the water park in an unused parking lot, but I bet if anything that will be a water park expansion
I went today July 1 2021
Nice!
I see Switchback lol
Me too
That is ridiculous that this place has Switchback and a water coaster, an FEC should have neither lol but i’m not complaining
Me neither.
I wanted to go there because it's my birthday
Good place to celebrate.
Went yesterday and it wasn’t worth the admission.
That's a bummer, I've enjoyed my visits there. Were they busy?