Help with Knotts Disabled access/policy

[TeddiBarra]

I have read extensively the rider guide, at one point, two years ago I even called to the guest service number to inquire about their disabled access policies.

Here's my beef: twice, I've wanted to go to Knott's but had to decided against it both times, because all I can be told ahead of time, is that only the disabled person and ONE other can wait/enter in lines that aren't WC (on in my daughter's case, stroller) accessible. The situation: I was going to take my two girls (just turning 5) to Knotts while dad and big brother did a 2nd day at Universal. Surely, I thought, they won't disallow me being able to do attractions and/or expect one of my girls to wait in line alone while I waited with the other daughter. I called and explain the situation and the rep i spoke with explained that yes it was disabled + 1, and all she could say was we could talk to guest services when we got there, but she couldn't confirm "yes you can keep both littles with you".

Scenario 2: same as above, but add big brother into the situation (he's now 11). I will allow him to ride alone (while we wait at the exit) but I am very hestitant to let him ride w/his little sister especially on bigger/faster rides (this was brought home to me on our most recent DL trip where the train immediately behind DS's broke down on a VERY bad spot (uphill on the biggest mountain). I wouldn't feel ok with him handling potential evacuation by himself looking out for a little sister (esp. chloe, my dd w/mild cerebral palsy).

Has anyone had experience with the disabled access at Knott's? Are there any work arounds for this? We're thinking about going in December.

 

[dmked]

I don't have any advice, but we took our 5 y/o in March and there were not that many "big" rides she could even go on. Most of the rides she was tall enough for were in the little kids area. She rode the side winder one and I think that is all for the big rides. I don't think it is going to be as big as a problem as you think. Unless you have super tall kids My kids loved the kids area and the shows though!

 

[cmwade77]

Here are the policies at Knott's (as of the last time anyone I knew that needed assitance went):

1. You must provide proof of disability, either as a doctor's or a HC placard. A wheelchair or cane is not sufficient proof.
2. The person and one other will be allowed acces.
3. You must find a CM, get a return time and come back EXACTLY at that time, even one minute late is too late and you will have to get another return time.
4. In order to do this, you (the person needing assistance) must navigate stairs in many cases or wait 30-45 minutes to get the return time in the first place.

These are the official policies, they have been written about in the local news. Bottom line is I will not go as long as these policies are in place, as it would not be accesible for me. For accessibility, I would rank theme parks/major zoos in So. Cal in the following order (from most accesible to least accesible):

1. Universal Studios/Sea World
2. Disneyland/DCA
3. San Diego Zoo/Safari Park
4. Magic Mountain
5. Knott's Berry Farm

Magic Mountain requires proof of disability, which is a violation of ADA laws, which is why I rank it so low, but it is better than Knott's.

 

[TeddiBarra]

I found Universal Studios had a very easy and friendly system as does DLR. I have zero interest in going to MM... but glad to know the San Di zoo is pretty good too. We are looking at doing a night or two down into San Di at New Year's...

I really am disappointed that I couldn't be told ahead of time, that YES, single mom responsible for three little kids, YES, you can ride the rides together. How HARD is that? Their loss too, because twice I've decided not to do it.

There aren't alot of rides, but the sidewinder, the dragon swing, the mine train, the log ride are ones I am aware of that would be problematic. And within the next year to two years (my girls are 6 1/2 now and will be 7 at the time of our trip), we'll hit the 46" mark and that opens up even more rides to potential issues.

 

[reynmagsmom]

We had a very bad exp. at Knott's a few years ago with our disbaled son, we were told our wait for river rapids ride would be like 15 mins( the park was empty and no line for standby) we were ok with that but they ended up having us wait for over an hour in 100+ degree weather, i was furious and complained after many excuses as to why this happen we called our day at Knotts to an end with me in tears....was a really bad day....we only stayed for like 2 hours including the hour waiting which we never rode......I was contacted by the park manager after i fired an email off and he arranged free passes for my whole family for our next trip, we did go and found that things were handled way better than the last time we had been, and we were still all able to ride together with our disabled son, but will i go back i doubt it, the one bad exp i had really ruined Knott's for me, while our last trip was nowhere near the fiasco the other had been it just wasnt the same for me anymore and i had been going to knotts since i was a child, will i ever go back i really dont know right now, they could take a page from the disney book on how to deal with disabled guests never once did anyone at DL make us feel like second class citizens like knotts did!!

 

[disneylandkitkat]

legoland, san deigo wild animal park and zoo are all easy. Disneyland is alittle harder to me knotts is he hardest.