Knott's Berry Farm institutes chaperone policy for minors during weekends/Halloween days

[bcla]

Also applies to Knott's Soak City. Apparently they've been having issues with fights and during Fri-Sun and Knott's Scary Farm they'll require anyone 17 and under must be accompanied by someone 21. It doesn't sound like the "adult" has to be there all the time, but must be in the park and be available to prove that a minor has a chaperone. So I guess no parents bringing in a child then leaving Fri-Sat or during the Halloween events.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/07/...ds-weekend-chaperone-policy-may-add-weekdays/​

The consequences of a series of fights involving teenagers at Knott’s Berry Farm continue to reverberate as the Buena Park theme park has banned unaccompanied minors from Knott’s Scary Farm during the annual Halloween after-hours event.​

​

Knott’s has extended a new chaperone policy to all nights of Knott’s Scary Farm, according to the theme park’s website.​

​

Knott’s Scary Farm will also implement a bag policy that will prohibit any bags, purses, backpack or diaper bags in the park larger than 6.5 inches by 4.5 inches by 2 inches. All bags will be searched upon entry to Knott’s Scary Farm.​

I remember on the Disneyland forum where there was talk about how parents would get an annual passport (probably back when a Gold pass was less than $500/year) for kids for Disneyland where they'd stay all day. Then they instituted a policy where anyone under 14 couldn't enter without someone at least 14. That wasn't a chaperone requirement per se.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/park-rules/​

• Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a Theme Park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

This is the official code of conduct. I'm not sure how I could deal with a bag requirement that small, although that's only in place for the Halloween activities.

https://www.knotts.com/code-of-conduct​

As part of this commitment, we have added additional security protocols and operational policies. A new Chaperone Policy went into effect on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City in July. This policy will now be extended to all event nights of Knott’s Scary Farm. In addition, a bag policy will be implemented for Knott’s Scary Farm. Guests will not be permitted to bring bags larger than 6.5” x 4.5” x 2” into the park, including purses, backpacks, or diaper bags during Scary Farm operation. All bags will be searched prior to entry.​

​

Under the chaperone policy, all general park guests ages 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to the park. The chaperone must present a valid photo ID with date of birth. One chaperone may accompany no more than four guests ages 17 or younger per day.​

​

Chaperones must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests ages 17 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection.​

Other Cedar Fair parks don't seem to have a similar requirement, although they recommend that minors be accompanied by an adult, but don't require it.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/code-of-conduct​

https://www.canadaswonderland.com/code-of-conduct​

https://www.cagreatamerica.com/code-of-conduct​

Children/Teens - Notice to Parents & Guardians​

Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their minor children. Appropriate behavior and supervision are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and is always expected. We strongly recommend that minors (under 18) be accompanied by an adult. The park does not assume any responsibility or liability for unattended minors. Parents/guardians may be held legally liable for all acts of the children under their care.​

 

[FreeTime]

Sounds like a great idea. There have been a number of recent reports of youths taking over parks and causing other guests to have less than enjoyable times due to fighting, ill behavior, etc. It is sad though when you think about the well behaved kids now not being permitted to go with a group of friends because they may not be enough adults available. Concerning the bag size, for me it makes sense. I don’t like to schlep a bag around as it is. Having a smaller bag limits the size of weapons that may make it past security.

 

[disneychrista]

A few bad apples . . .

 

[barkley]

Also applies to Knott's Soak City. Apparently they've been having issues with fights and during Fri-Sun and Knott's Scary Farm they'll require anyone 17 and under must be accompanied by someone 21. It doesn't sound like the "adult" has to be there all the time, but must be in the park and be available to prove that a minor has a chaperone. So I guess no parents bringing in a child then leaving Fri-Sat or during the Halloween events.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/07/...ds-weekend-chaperone-policy-may-add-weekdays/​

The consequences of a series of fights involving teenagers at Knott’s Berry Farm continue to reverberate as the Buena Park theme park has banned unaccompanied minors from Knott’s Scary Farm during the annual Halloween after-hours event.​

​

Knott’s has extended a new chaperone policy to all nights of Knott’s Scary Farm, according to the theme park’s website.​

​

Knott’s Scary Farm will also implement a bag policy that will prohibit any bags, purses, backpack or diaper bags in the park larger than 6.5 inches by 4.5 inches by 2 inches. All bags will be searched upon entry to Knott’s Scary Farm.​

I remember on the Disneyland forum where there was talk about how parents would get an annual passport (probably back when a Gold pass was less than $500/year) for kids for Disneyland where they'd stay all day. Then they instituted a policy where anyone under 14 couldn't enter without someone at least 14. That wasn't a chaperone requirement per se.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/park-rules/​

• Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a Theme Park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

This is the official code of conduct. I'm not sure how I could deal with a bag requirement that small, although that's only in place for the Halloween activities.

https://www.knotts.com/code-of-conduct​

As part of this commitment, we have added additional security protocols and operational policies. A new Chaperone Policy went into effect on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City in July. This policy will now be extended to all event nights of Knott’s Scary Farm. In addition, a bag policy will be implemented for Knott’s Scary Farm. Guests will not be permitted to bring bags larger than 6.5” x 4.5” x 2” into the park, including purses, backpacks, or diaper bags during Scary Farm operation. All bags will be searched prior to entry.​

​

Under the chaperone policy, all general park guests ages 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to the park. The chaperone must present a valid photo ID with date of birth. One chaperone may accompany no more than four guests ages 17 or younger per day.​

​

Chaperones must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests ages 17 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection.​

Other Cedar Fair parks don't seem to have a similar requirement, although they recommend that minors be accompanied by an adult, but don't require it.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/code-of-conduct​

https://www.canadaswonderland.com/code-of-conduct​

https://www.cagreatamerica.com/code-of-conduct​

Children/Teens - Notice to Parents & Guardians​

Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their minor children. Appropriate behavior and supervision are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and is always expected. We strongly recommend that minors (under 18) be accompanied by an adult. The park does not assume any responsibility or liability for unattended minors. Parents/guardians may be held legally liable for all acts of the children under their care.​

i had to google search to see when disney put their policy into effect b/c i don't ever recall it being an issue with our kids (oldest was responsible enough that 12 on up could go into a park while we were at the resort/check in by cell periodically). so i find they began enforcing it in 2013 which was well after both mine turned 14. thing is -how do they really enforce something like this? it's not like they scan your pass when you leave so there's no tracking who drops off their kid and then reenters to retrieve them. heck, back in the stone age of the 60's and 70's i know i wasn't the only kid whose parent took them to disneyland and after doing a few rides together was left to wander the park on my own while they retreated via the monorail to the disneyland hotel (one and only hotel on site then) bar for a cocktail or cold beer.

 

[Smugpugmug]

It's not just theme parks doing this. Two malls near me have a policy where all minors must be accommodated by someone 21 or older at all times. I've seen teens be kicked out of the mall for not having an adult with them. There is another mall that doesn't have that rule and every time I go there, it feels like I'm in a high school. It's overrun by unsupervised groups of teens. I can certainly understand the rule to some extent. When I was a teen, I frequently hung out at my local mall and so did everyone else.

I wonder if Six Flags will announce something like this soon. The CEO of Six Flags recently called their parks "a cheap daycare for teenagers" and wants to attract "better" customers.

 

[Mysterian]

The CEO of Six Flags recently called their parks "a cheap daycare for teenagers"

That's being polite.

 

[MillauFr]

When I was a teen, I frequently hung out at my local mall and so did everyone else.

The only people at the mall by our house was teenagers and old people. They are now tearing it down and putting up one of those open air centers with high rise apartment buildings and offices. Shops and restaurants on the ground floor. I guess they wanted to change the demographics of the customers.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The only people at the mall by our house was teenagers and old people. They are now tearing it down and putting up one of those open air centers with high rise apartment buildings and offices. Shops and restaurants on the ground floor. I guess they wanted to change the demographics of the customers.

I definitely agree that demographics are changing. I find myself going to the mall way less because at most stores, they don't have what I want and the store ends up ordering it online to ship to my house. I can just do that at home lol At the malls near me that have restrictions on unsupervised teens, it's mostly old people and families with toddlers/babies. There is one of those open air centers near me as well and that is one of the malls that has a restriction on unsupervised teens.

 

[leahgoogle]

When I was a teen, I frequently hung out at my local mall and so did everyone else.

Yes! Those were the days....

 

[bcla]

i had to google search to see when disney put their policy into effect b/c i don't ever recall it being an issue with our kids (oldest was responsible enough that 12 on up could go into a park while we were at the resort/check in by cell periodically). so i find they began enforcing it in 2013 which was well after both mine turned 14. thing is -how do they really enforce something like this? it's not like they scan your pass when you leave so there's no tracking who drops off their kid and then reenters to retrieve them. heck, back in the stone age of the 60's and 70's i know i wasn't the only kid whose parent took them to disneyland and after doing a few rides together was left to wander the park on my own while they retreated via the monorail to the disneyland hotel (one and only hotel on site then) bar for a cocktail or cold beer.

Their published policy says that the "chaperone" must remain in the park and be available by phone to vouch for their presence. Obviously the idea is that maybe a park employee sees a group of unaccompanied minors and then seek to enforce the policy. But I'm not sure how they prove that the "adult" on the other end of a phone call is in the park unless they require that the "chaperone" check with a park employee after being contacted.

 

[bcla]

Sounds like a great idea. There have been a number of recent reports of youths taking over parks and causing other guests to have less than enjoyable times due to fighting, ill behavior, etc. It is sad though when you think about the well behaved kids now not being permitted to go with a group of friends because they may not be enough adults available. Concerning the bag size, for me it makes sense. I don’t like to schlep a bag around as it is. Having a smaller bag limits the size of weapons that may make it past security.

As a senior in HS we did our Disneyland Grad Nite trip with side trips to Knott's Berry Farm before and Magic Mountain on the way home to Northern California. We were at all three within a 24 hour period. We had some adult chaperones, but certainly not enough to achieve one per four minors. Now a good many of our seniors were 18 though. However, we were all allowed to just wander as we wanted as long as we got back in time to a specific location. This was before everyone had a cell phone. Our professional trip organizer had a bag phone.

The bag size is really small though. I don't believe my kid's lunch bag meets the size requirement. But it's only in place for Knott's Scary Farm. There is no way anyone would be able to visit a water park with that small a bag.

 

[sam_gordon]

Their published policy says that the "chaperone" must remain in the park and be available by phone to vouch for their presence. Obviously the idea is that maybe a park employee sees a group of unaccompanied minors and then seek to enforce the policy. But I'm not sure how they prove that the "adult" on the other end of a phone call is in the park unless they require that the "chaperone" check with a park employee after being contacted.

My guess is it would be a "secondary offense" (like a seatbelt check). Group of kids behaving? No issues. Group of kids misbehaving? "Let me call your parents". "Mrs Troublemaker, this is security, Johnny was misbehaving, can you come to the security office? You're at "Mondo ride"? OK, we'll see you in 10 minutes". And they hold the kids until the parent gets there. Then they decide whether the parent was actually in the park (short time to get there) or not (long time) and discipline accordingly.