1st time to Magic Mountain Saturday the 5th PLEASE ADVISE!

[goldies 5]

Hi! We are hitting this place for our teenage son on the way to DL. First time ever. Do we need to purchase those faster tickets or are regular tickets good enough? Is the parking lot safe as we will have everything in our car? I saw the thread about locker purchase. So the baby and I will watch family items. Will a 5 and 7 year old enjoy this place? What about crowd predictability? Sorry so many questions, I probably will have more that I am just not thinking about right now. I think I will by tickets online tomorrow. Is this the best way? Thank you.

 

[kidrericha]

Just beware that Magic Mountain is having it's Toys for Tots promotion this Saturday so figure on fairly heavy crowds. If you still wish to go, be sure to pickup a $15 toy rather than pay full admission.

 

[goldies 5]

Thanks! I saw somewhere about cheerleading as well. Maybe Sunday would be better?

 

[kidrericha]

Thanks! I saw somewhere about cheerleading as well. Maybe Sunday would be better?

If memory serves, the cheerleading competitions are going on Sunday, as well. It’s been like that since I was a teenager (20 years). I haven’t done toys for tots at Magic Mountain since I was in high school, so I am really not sure how bad it is now. I will say that even at 17, I would get annoyed with the masses of cheerleaders. They travel in packs and can be kind of obnoxious, as teenagers in groups usually do.

Here is my 2 cents. I don’t do Magic Mountain much these days. Like once every few years… maybe. I miss doing the thrill rides, but lines can be really long for the newer ones anyway. Plus, there is a seedier element there than when I was a kid. I wouldn’t fear for my kid’s safety, but it doesn’t mean she won’t hear or see things I’d rather her not. On the flipside, I feel I parent well enough that my child puts these things into the right perspective.
That said, I haven't been there in 3 years and there must be a reason for it.

If I might be so bold as to make a suggestion…. Knott’s Berry Farm is doing their Toys for Tots promo this weekend also. We have done this for the past few years and will be going again tomorrow. Same deal… $15 toy per person to get in. They have coasters also (not quite the selection Magic Mtn. does), but I think there will be more for the little ones to do there (log ride, mine train, etc.).
Also, there is the Knott’s marketplace just outside as well as the Liberty Hall replica. Overall, there’s an attempt at atmosphere there that Magic Mtn doesn’t try for. If you are willing to drive another hour and half, it might be something to think about.

Look, neither of these is Disney, so just be sure to temper your expectations. My suggestion is to visit their websites and look around. In regards to the toys for tots thing, check the “events” section on either site and it will explain all the details.

 

[goldies 5]

thank you so much for so much honest info. I love the Toys drive idea. We just have that one son who every time we drive by on the way to Dl really wants to go there. I was thinking about driving there from Anaheim on Sun. instead. Possibly buying 2 kids the Regular fast pass and the rest of us bringing toys. I really would rather skip it but I did promise him. Man, I didn't realize it was 1 1/2 hours away. I was hoping half of that.

 

[kidrericha]

thank you so much for so much honest info. I love the Toys drive idea. We just have that one son who every time we drive by on the way to Dl really wants to go there. I was thinking about driving there from Anaheim on Sun. instead. Possibly buying 2 kids the Regular fast pass and the rest of us bringing toys. I really would rather skip it but I did promise him. Man, I didn't realize it was 1 1/2 hours away. I was hoping half of that.

Eh, I'm highballing it. With decent traffic, it will be 45-60 min.

There is stuff for the smaller ones. They have a whole Looney Toons area.

 

[goldies 5]

Thanks! I feel a little better now. but like you said TRAFFIC!!!

 

[kidrericha]

Thanks! I feel a little better now. but like you said TRAFFIC!!!

What time are you hitting the road?

 

[moikturtle]

If you go to Magic Mountain on Sunday the drive back to Disneyland will be a breeze. I live down the street from Magic Mountain and most of the time when we go to Disneyland it's on Sundays and doesn't take long to get there at all. Whenever you do plan on going (but especially if it's on Saturday), here's a useful tip...DON'T take the 5 all the way to Disneyland from Valencia (where MM is). Instead, take the 5-South (toward Los Angeles) to the 210-East (toward Pasadena). Stay on the 210-East until you get to the Duarte area and then you're going to merge over to the 605-North. Right after you go through Santa Ana Springs you'll keep left in the fork merge back to the 5-South (toward Santa Ana). You'll take the 5-South for a little while and when the carpool lane starts get into it because Disneyland has a bridge you drive over to get to the gates that's attached to the carpool lane. The exit will be Disneyland Drive (I believe), but if you're in the carpool lane you'll be to the left and there will be signs pointing out where to go. We've found that this is seriously the best way to get there for us, largely because you completely bypass most of the heaviest traffic areas on the 5 and the 210 & 605 freeways are relatively mild in comparison. Good luck.

 

[goldies 5]

Thank you! Thank you! We will probably leave Anaheim around 9:00 am. The park opens at 10:30 is this about right? Do you know muh about those Regular fast passes? I just wonder if they are worth it or not? I really appreciate all the help kidrericha and moikturtle. You SC people are so wonderful and helpful!

 

[StageTek]

So how was the MM trip? Did you get the fast pases? Did you bring a toy?

 

[goldies 5]

Sorry to post so late, been very busy. Yes, we went on Sunday the 6th. We did bring toys. We got there right at 10:30 when they were opening. It was really beyond my expectations all the way around. First of all it was very clean, and the trees and forestry was pretty. You would just not expect the beautiful trees in there like that. The way the coasters kind of twist around them, nice. We did not upgrade to faster tickets. Some of the coasters had long waits so it be worth it to do so. My oldest son loved it here. My younger sons prefer Disneyland. There is plenty of thrill for teenagers here. We did enjoy our day. Thanks for all of the advice and info. it made things very nice for us.