Originally Posted By SafariRob It looks like we will be taking our very first family trip to Knott's Berry Farm in November. Our three year-old is obsessed with Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang. The rest of the kids enjoy them as well. I know they have updated the log ride and mine train. I haven't been since the early 1990's and my wife hasn't been since the 1980's. I have already done a ton of research and came up with a few questions that hopefully the amazing LP community can answer. 1. Is the Knott's hotel worth it? Is it nice? They have package deals that seem very reasonable and say it's just a short walk from the park. On Google Maps, it looks like 2-3 blocks to the main entrance. 2. Do we need to go for two days? Kids ages range from 3-13. We are most-likely going the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, so I'm assuming it will be crowded with Christmas traffic. I want to make sure we allow enough time to see/do everything we want. 3. How crowded can we expect the park to be the weekend before Thanksgiving? 4. As I mentioned, it's been a LONG time since my wife or I went. There isn't much left that I remember. What are some of the "Must See" attractions? Obviously, we want to see the new Log Ride and Mine Train. 5. Does the Stagecoach really still operate daily? I was very surprised by this. There aren't many places that I know of where you can still ride a stagecoach. As I kid, I remember riding it and it being held up by bandits. Do they still do that? It seems like a very low-capacity attraction so I imagine the line must be very long...right? 6. Train Ride. Just like the stagecoach, bandits used to walk through the train and do a "stick-up". Do they still do that? I hope so! I want my kids to experience that. Great stuff. 7. Do they still do panning for gold? 8. Which shows are "Must See"? Do they still do the Ghost Town shootout? I loved that as a kid. 9. Independence Hall. I know it's still there, but do they still do a show inside? From what I recall as a kid, the lights dimmed and it was audio-only...but still neat. 10. Does anyone know what their policy is for guest with disabilities and service dogs? Thanks! I can't wait to go.
Originally Posted By phruby 1. Is the Knott's hotel worth it? Is it nice? They have package deals that seem very reasonable and say it's just a short walk from the park. On Google Maps, it looks like 2-3 blocks to the main entrance. It's ok but nicer than anything else in that area. If you want to stay near Knotts that would be the place. 2. Do we need to go for two days? Kids ages range from 3-13. We are most-likely going the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, so I'm assuming it will be crowded with Christmas traffic. I want to make sure we allow enough time to see/do everything we want. We typically just do Knotts in a day. It is never Disneyland crowed. 3. How crowded can we expect the park to be the weekend before Thanksgiving? Crowed but manageable. You can get alot done in the morning. 4. As I mentioned, it's been a LONG time since my wife or I went. There isn't much left that I remember. What are some of the "Must See" attractions? Obviously, we want to see the new Log Ride and Mine Train. Log ride and mine train. Ghost Rider is fun but a little rough. You could spend all day in camp snoopy with the kids. Go see Sad Eye Joe in jail. Let the guy outside know your kids names and Sad Eye Joe will greet them. Look in all the buildings in Ghost Town. Ride the Train and the Stagecoach. Do Jaguar and Excellerator. 5. Does the Stagecoach really still operate daily? I was very surprised by this. There aren't many places that I know of where you can still ride a stagecoach. As I kid, I remember riding it and it being held up by bandits. Do they still do that? It seems like a very low-capacity attraction so I imagine the line must be very long...right? Stagecoach is still there. It can get a long line so go early. They do still rob the stage coach. 6. Train Ride. Just like the stagecoach, bandits used to walk through the train and do a "stick-up". Do they still do that? I hope so! I want my kids to experience that. Great stuff. Still happens. 7. Do they still do panning for gold? Yup. Still there. 8. Which shows are "Must See"? Do they still do the Ghost Town shootout? I loved that as a kid. They still do the shootout. You need to see the stunt show and snoopy on ice. The Indiana show is good too. 9. Independence Hall. I know it's still there, but do they still do a show inside? From what I recall as a kid, the lights dimmed and it was audio-only...but still neat. Same as you remember it. Nothing new there and no one goes in there. 10. Does anyone know what their policy is for guest with disabilities and service dogs? Not sure. You might check the web site.
Originally Posted By oc_dean In 2007 I did a package deal that included the Halloween Haunt, Dinner, and a night in their hotel. It's not the Ritz .. nor is it a dive at all - it's on the moderate side. I thought it was fine. And about Ghost Rider ... 'a little rough'? Try a lot! I did it when it was new ... oh around 1997 .... it was fine. I went on for Haunt 2012 - I almost went to management afterward! It was so horrendously bad ... it really battered me up pretty hard. And I've done LOTS of coasters in my time. I thought Colossus at Magic Mountain could be rough .... Ghost Rider?? I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN! If you want to ride it that bad? You've been warned!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 What a shame. I did it when it was pretty new and loved it. But woodies have to be maintained.
Originally Posted By phruby I guess that is what makes the ride so scary and run. It feels like it will shake apart right under you.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 There's a difference between scary and fun (which it was new) and so ill-maintained and rough that it actually hurts to ride. I haven't been on it in years so I can't speak firsthand to which side of the line GR falls on. But I've definitely been on woodies that were once on the good side that weren't maintained and fell to.the bad side.
Originally Posted By oc_dean it's as though ... the trains do not sit firmly on it's track .. it would often ride on a crest of air .. banging HARD left to right .. and hit bottom really hard. It hurt. I don't know about other people .. but I don't go on coasters to get physically banged up. I expect them to glide on their tracks like the way Screamin' or Space Mountain do. Or even Batman or Riddler's Revenge, or Viper did .. when I've ridden those coasters in the past. If it's the same, has not received any rehab since I went on it in 2012 ... and people, and Knott's staff really think it's just normal, and fine .. then they are completely blind, stupid, and careless!
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips No...you are right...I have 2 teenagers that can ride anything...but, last July and this past April...they both complained
Originally Posted By SafariRob Note to Self: Skip the Ghost Rider unless I want to become one. -Me Got it. Thanks!
Originally Posted By SafariRob Seriously, though, thanks for all the great feedback. You sold me. We are definitely staying at the Knott's hotel. I think we are going to go for two days. Worse-case scenario is that we need two days. Best-case scenario is that we do everything twice (or three times)! Can't wait.
Originally Posted By CDF2 Wife and I went to Knott's last weekend after about 3 years. We found the log ride improvements to be much better than changes on the mine ride - both are still great family rides though. Don't forget Bigfoot Rapids - line can be a bit slow but ride is well worth the wait.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Do you see Big Foot on BFR? You can spoil it for me, I don't mind. Do you get insanely wet?
Originally Posted By phruby No Big Foot on the ride and you don't get insanely wet since they turned off the waterfall. You can see Big Foot in the waterfall feature outside of the Mystery Lodge. One of the rocks looks like him.
Originally Posted By SafariRob >>Is bigfoot rapids better than the rapids at DCA?<< I seriously doubt it. GRR is like the gold standard of white water rafting rides.
Originally Posted By phruby Big Foot Rapids is kind of oval shaped. There isn't any twists and turns to it and half of it boarders the walk way with Pony Express. I say the only real contender against GRR is Magic Mountain's Roaring Rapids. It's got bigger rafts and is completely hidden from everything. It's got a nice woodlands surrounding with some good waterfalls. Still no cool drops or props.
