Originally Posted By tashajilek Of course i like splash much better but the flume ride at knotts isnt all bad. I think the problem is when you compare knotts to disneyland it isnt fair. Knotts is still a pretty good park when compared to all other regular parks. We have a park called playland which knotts beats 100% but people are happy with it because thats all we have. Our flume ride has 2 drops and just the metal tracks that is it, no building no anamatronic's actually looks like you will fall off the side. Nothing is Disneyland, there are so many theme parks out there and knotts is actually pretty good in comparison i think people in SoCal might be a little spoiled but thats ok!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'm with trekkeruss. The Knott's ride was built 40 years or so ago. The fact that it can be compared at all to a ride that is 30 years younger is a testament to the ride itself. I'm a sucker for old rides though. As much as all of these new rollercoasters are big, fast, fun, etc you can give me tickets to Kennywood in Pittsburg any day and I'll be there. The Jack Rabbit, the Racer, the Thunderbolt. THOSE are rollercoasters. (And, their flume ride, while not in a "mountain", ain't bad either.)
Originally Posted By friarthe At Islands of Adventure in Orlando, they had what *looked* like a pretty cool Dudley-Dooright themed flume, but I couldn't tell if it was just decorations around a simple one-drop ride, or a full themed log flume. I didn't have the chance to ride for reasons relating to Universal's weird locker system. Anybody ever been on it?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I have not, but I just watched a video of it on YouTube. I wouldn't quite call Ripsaw Falls fully themed. IMO it looks good on the outside, but the inside (and the story) is a bit lacking.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I'm guessing that Timber Mountain means something totally different to locals than it does to us out towners. I find pretty much everything at Knott's rather corny, dull and ordinary, even Timber Mountain.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I find pretty much everything at Knott's rather corny, dull and ordinary, even Timber Mountain.>> I don't know if being an out-of-towner has anything to do with it. I just see Timber Mountain as an old classic. While I haven't been to KBF in years and years, I remember it quite well from when I was a kid, when the ride was brand-spankin' new. I still say it's cool and not corny. Same goes for the Calico Mine Ride, which to me is not to be compared to Big Thunder Mountain. It's more like the Jungle Cruise, complete with silly jokes. Luv 'em, Timber Mountain and Calico Mine.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I don't know if being an out-of-towner has anything to do with it. I just see Timber Mountain as an old classic." I suppose. For me when I think of "old classic" I think of The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz or The Matterhorn at Disneyland. Certainly not Timber Mountain at Knott's.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Certainly not Timber Mountain at Knott's.>> I'd guess your viewed is skewed because KBF itself isn't what it was in the "good old days." As I said before, I haven't been to Knott's in years and years, but at one time it was a worthy competitor of Disneyland. Now I think it's more a locals park than a world-class theme park.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I used to adore Timber Mountain and the Calico Mine train. To me, in addition to the train and stage coach, they are the reason to go to Knott's. Love them. As a ride, Splash is not worth it if it did not have the AA's. To me, that is what makes it very special. Log rides in Europe are poor, they are just troughs with little to no theming, so I do love Knott's version. As for Ripsaw Falls in IOA, it is ok, with a fun double dip drop, but the theming is like the rest of Toon Lagoon, ho hum, feels like a mall christmas display. Better than nothing, but not much.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz ""At Islands of Adventure in Orlando, they had what *looked* like a pretty cool Dudley-Dooright themed flume, but I couldn't tell if it was just decorations around a simple one-drop ride, or a full themed log flume. I didn't have the chance to ride for reasons relating to Universal's weird locker system. Anybody ever been on it?"" It is pretty cool looking from outside and the flume is a very fun flume ride with that last hill being much more thrilling than Splash Mountain. But the themeing inside is pretty minimalistic. They have rudimentary animatronics and bare minimum sets. You can still see the fireproofed walls and girders all over.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<I find pretty much everything at Knott's rather corny, dull and ordinary, even Timber Mountain.>> I'm fine with most of Knott's attractions that were installed prior to the 1980's. Most everything else could be set out curbside for trash day pickup.
Originally Posted By dizkid I went to knott's over the summer with my family. We went on both Calico and Timber Mountain rides. It was fascinating to me seeing these cool old rides, but also very sad. I think if you are remembering these rides from when they were newer, you would be shocked to see the level of disrepair they have fallen into. Beer cans thrown everywhere, gum all around, and disinterested bored operators. These rides either need a major refurb or should be gotten rid of. I should say that I loved the moment in the dark in Timber Mountain when you are dropped just a little bit, gave me such a start.
Originally Posted By dizkid I went to knott's over the summer with my family. We went on both Calico and Timber Mountain rides. It was fascinating to me seeing these cool old rides, but also very sad. I think if you are remembering these rides from when they were newer, you would be shocked to see the level of disrepair they have fallen into. Beer cans thrown everywhere, gum all around, and disinterested bored operators. These rides either need a major refurb or should be gotten rid of. I should say that I loved the moment in the dark in Timber Mountain when you are dropped just a little bit, gave me such a start.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<For me when I think of "old classic" I think of The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz. . .>> Now there is one seaside amusement park that could use a hefty budget in order to return it back to its glory days. First though, I'd start with the posterior cheek to cheek urnials crammed into the upstairs restroom. Yikes!
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<Beer cans thrown everywhere, gum all around, and disinterested bored operators.>> Beer cans thrown around everwhere? No, not even at Knott's. <<Disinterested bored operators.>> Sounds just like the CM's on the loading dock at BTMRR last Monday. Then try taking a Jungle Cruise ride late at night when the ride operator wants to clock out. You could just about water ski. It's something that happens at all parks, even the Grande Damme of parks.
Originally Posted By ibob Timber Mountain Log Ride (KBF) vs Splash Mountain vs Journey to Atlantis (Sea World) vs Jurasstic Park (Universal) ...
Originally Posted By friarthe I'm with davewasbaloo: the one thing that makes KBF worth visiting is the Log Ride and Mine Train duo. Corny and old, sure, but there's something magically creepy about those wooden figures sawing away. (I do like the coasters, but you can get that many places.) For Splash, the storyline & AA make it a highlight of Imagineering history, to me. Can't think of another ride where I *care* about the characters story. And what a finale! That showboat beats all. I'd put it up there with Pirates, HM, Indiana Jones, & Peter Pan.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>As I said before, I haven't been to Knott's in years and years, but at one time it was a worthy competitor of Disneyland. << I feel it's difficult to use the word - competitor as Walter Knott and Walt Disney were friends .. and looked to compliment each other, and recognize each other's park as unique to themselves, and not a competition against each other. If anything .... (talking about the older "Knotts" - not today's Cedar Fair coaster crazy era) ...... Knott's seemed to "follow up" Disneyland. In 1960 Calico Mine Trains were like a follow up .. to DL's Mine Train thru Rainbow Caverns from 1956. And I think Timber Mountain Log Ride in 1969 was Knott's "answer" to DL's PotC in 1967. But what's cool ... the reverse was done when the idea for Splash Mountain was created in 1984 .. following Timber Mtn. Log Ride that had a 15 year following by this point.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I feel it's difficult to use the word - competitor as Walter Knott and Walt Disney were friends .. and looked to compliment each other, and recognize each other's park as unique to themselves, and not a competition against each other.>> Yeah, competitor was a poor choice of words. What I meant is that both parks were great in those days; at least for my family, it was a must to do both parks. I have just as fond memories of KBF in the 60's and early 70's as I do of DL.
