Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[eandesmom]

UGH! I can totally see why you're frustrated! I'd be soo annoyed! Do they realize that things will be pretty much set in stone soon?!

Just think positive and know that things will all work out in the end and you'll have a fabulous trip!

It will be fabulous, that much I know!

I have told them it will be set in stone, and in reality the WWOHP is but I think for them since they travel standby, the "stone" part is a bit fuzzy. They seem to make a lot of their travel plans a few weeks out so no, we don't think they really get it. Or choose not to.

When The family goes Judy just leaves it all to me !! Then complains about itJust kidding !!!!Only thing she complained about was not having a preferred room !!! So next year it will be 60's preferred !!!
Now when her friend invited herself along I knew there would be trouble but thank goodness she went with someone else and they had major fights !!!Our planning was going like this
Me : We are staying at Pop
Her: Everone says AllStars is better and Mike wants to stay in Sports
Me We don't have to do everything together
Her Oh but together is sooooo much better !!
Always she ended by saying what ever I wanted but .......I was sooo glad when she didn't go !!Cuz her idea of doing everything TOGETHER meant doing what she wanted to do!!!!

Well they have dictated the resort choice and we can't really change to what I'd have picked if it were just the 6 of us now. So while we can tweak a few things there really isn't much room for changes. I get that they want to see Universal, so do we. Don't get that they can't just slide their dates to do it WITH us.

I can just picture the 2 of them alone over there for a day...it just sounds disastrous and would ruin their trip (and then ours!).

I just want it settled and it is very much NOT right now. Makes me a bit nutty.

 

[eandesmom]

After watching and enjoying the Fools Gold Stunt Show from the comfort and shade of our wagon (I found the name of it lol), and some stomach settling for one of our party, it finally was time for some rides!

First up. The Galloping Goose. We thought a train ride would be a great way to get the lay of the land and check out the park. We thought we were in line for the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad (or maybe it was the Calico, there are 2 and we didn’t go on either). The railroad didn’t appear to be running.

Instead, we got on this. We weren’t really sure what it was at first!

So we decided to read about it

Galloping Goose is the name popular name given to a series of seven railcars, (officially designated as "motors" by the railroad) built in the 1930s by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) and operated until the end of service on the line in the early 1950s.

Originally running steam locomotives on narrow gauge railways, the perpetually-struggling RGS developed the first of the "geese" as a way to stave off bankruptcy and keep its contract to run mail to towns in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. There was not enough passenger or cargo income to justify continuing the expensive steam train service at then-current levels, but it was believed that a downsized railway would return to profitability. The steam trains would transport heavy cargo and peak passenger loads but motors would handle the lighter loads.

Motors were not only less expensive to operate, but were also significantly lighter, thus reducing impact on the rails and roadbeds. This cost saving meant that the first Goose was paid off and making a profit within three weeks of going into service. RGS built more Geese, and operated them until the company abandoned their right-of-way lines in 1952.
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It was….cute. And slow. And surprisingly bouncy! But we did get a little tour of the park. It also made us a little antsy for a real ride! So we headed to….

The Timber Mountain Log ride! Just as fun as I remember it. Great theming, great ride, for me this will always be the original log ride. LOVED it! So did the kids. NO line meant I didn’t take any pics, rather lame I know!

Careen through the darkness of a twisting 2,100-foot waterway at speeds of 8 - 12 feet per second and plummet down a furious flume propelled by 24,000 gallons of water at your back.
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Having had a tame time so far we thought we’d take it up a notch and try….

The Boomerang!

The Boomerang roller coaster debuted at Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California in April 1990. This steel "shuttle coaster" takes riders upside down six times in under two minutes.
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In hindsight, we should have built up to it. That thing was intense! Eric freaking out in line (but ultimately going on it) and then most of us liking it but…not really wanting to go again. The sad part, for Jeff, is that his thrill ride buddy Eric got cold feet and then didn’t want to try the other major coasters in the park. Of which there are several and Eric had been talking them up for weeks.

We decided to let it go for now and just keep strolling. Next up was bumper cars. This was the first time Eric was tall enough to drive himself and I’ll admit, we all beat him up. He looks miserable doesn’t he? It had to be the longest bumper car ride in history, it kept going and going and going. Which was kind of cool!

Thankfully, it wasn’t cool out so next up was…Big Foot Rapids! This is well done, although the queue seems to go on forever and is very noticeable when it’s so empty in the park. The boys liked it so much, they went right back on it again which allowed me to get one of my favorite pics of the trip. We got medium soaked the first time, Evan got especially wet the 2nd!

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

A show seemed in order so we thought we’d head over to Camp Snoopy and see what Chuck and friends had to offer.

We were also looking for the Red Baron. In a big way. Jeff REALLY REALLY wanted a pin of snoopy being the red baron and we figured camp snoopy was a logical place to find one. The theme of the show was the peanuts gang playing a baseball game and well, it was pretty silly. Probably adorable if your kids were 2 or 3 though!

But…we did at least spot that dog!

No pin though. This is as close as we came to spotting the Red Baron

In camp snoopy we did find some fun rides. First, the Sierra Sidewinder. Jeff is not big on spinning, he is about as anti teacup as one can be.

A new twist on traditional roller coasters that not only offers speed, but spin! Each of the four cars will take riders through a series of nose-dives, banks, dips, and turns at a speed of 37 mph while continually rotating on its axis!
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I liked it, Jeff…not so much. The boys loved it and went on it not once, but twice in a row after our initial ride. Did I mention there were no lines?

We did a quick stroll through the area, checking out the other rides. It’s a nicely done kids area.

Fun “cave” area

And then boys had to ride the bus. They really wanted to go to camp. Fun to pretend you are still in preschool I guess.

And then go back to the Sierra Sidewinder! Jeff and I were ready to do something different so we decided to hit another show, this time, heading back to the Calico Saloon.

Belly up to the bar and have a cold sarsaparilla while Dakota Dan and the beautiful Miss Cameo Kate entertain you with music, mayhem and comedy.
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We bellied up, had some cold sarsaparilla and popcorn and enjoyed the show.

That Cameo Kate was something else. Poor thing, she’s been trying to get Dakota Dan to marry her for years and finally dumped his sorry you know what when he wouldn’t come through.

Which meant she was on the prowl.

And spotted Jeff.

Continued in next post.

 

[eandesmom]

That hussy!

In all fairness, I did get an offer from Dakota Dan but I turned him down flat. He decided to check in with Eric to see if Jeff was a good dad.

Thankfully the reconciled and decided to tie the knot. I mean Knott.

Now we’d dragged the kids away from Sidewinder a bit unwillingly to hit the saloon show with the promise of hitting the main attraction next.

Ghost Rider!

Looming 118 feet over historic Ghost Town, GhostRider is the single-largest attraction in park history and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. Brave riders enter a mysterious mine, only to be strapped into mining cars and sent along 4,533 feet of twisting, unforgiving timber.
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They don’t look so sure do they.

This rollercoaster was the BOMB! One of the best wooden roller coasters ever, we absolutely LOVED it! It’s rickety and clickety clackety and fast! LOVE it. Eric was a bit freaked out inline, again, and on the verge of freaking Evan out but they pulled it together and really enjoyed it.

Next we decided to hit the Calico Mine Ride. A train ride that takes you “into” a gold mine where you see the infamous “glory hole”. Think POTC but as a mine ride. It was well done and we enjoyed it a ton!

No real “mine” pictures but you do feel like you are going quite deep, Stalactites and Stalagmites and everything, watching the miners work, it was cool. Literally.

Jeff REALLY wanted another major thrill ride. He begged. He pleaded.

He bribed.

He wanted to go on the Xcellerator.

But he wasn’t getting any takers. Eric kept going “not yet” or “I’m not saying now but I’m not quite in my rollercoaster mood” or stuff like that. Finally he decided to put his foot down and say no.

He felt bad.

He tried to make Jeff feel better.

No Xcellerator for Jeff

So we decided to regroup. Not a thrill ride but very “Knott’s” to us was the Stagecoach. And we scored, getting to ride on the top front part of it. It was so much fun and what a great way to see the park!

Sitting on top waiting to go

Gee, I can’t imagine where he learned to make faces like that!

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

After our stagecoach ride, which was thankfully bandit free, our day was winding down. With 3 of us egging him on we convinced Jeff to hit the Xcellerator on his own. The boys wanted to swing so he decided to go for it.

I don’t know what it is about these swing rides but they did not want to get off!

Three times, at least I think! While we were waiting for Jeff I'd just let them stay on although I began to wonder if he'd gotten lost1 After the third ride, Jeff was finally done.

Turns out he rode it twice.

By this time it was about 5:30. Park closed at 6 and we were all honestly kind of done. There was a TON of rides we didn’t go on but we felt like we’d had a good day, done ones we really wanted to more than once and skipped ones we were meh about.

Between the big late breakfast, sarsaparilla, popcorn and candy, no one was starving and we were not ready to sit down and eat dinner quite yet. Jeff and I both kind of wanted to head to Paradise Pier and check in for our surprise with enough time for the boys to get some swimming in. And we wanted to try to hook up with Jordan.

What to do? I’d been dreaming about Mrs. Knott’s Fried Chicken for months!

Next, to Chicken, or Knott?

 

[jordanyosh]

Hey I'm back...I'll try and catch up over the next few days....

 

[jordanyosh]

Great Knotts update. I knew it wouldn't be crowded just for you guys...

I feel so bad about not hooking up with you again, but you know the story......thanks for being a true and great friend.

 

[MEK]

Cynthia -

Great updates. I love reading about other theme parks. They are all kind-of the same, yet each has its unique touches. Too bad for Jeff that no one would ride the accelerator (or whatever it is called) with him. I would have to opt out of that myself. That wooden coaster looks awesome! I love them - they are the best. Wow - no crowds! Amazing!

Now what's this about passing on the fried chicken???? Not possible!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a fun day at Knott's!!! Loved all your pictures -- the boys do look pretty unsure about the Ghost Mining ride. Poor Jeff not getting to ride the Xcelerator. Hopefully, the boys make it up to him at California Adventures.

You have to have eaten the fried chicken dinner!!! That's the part I have been looking forward to reading about!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

What?! No chicken?! Say it isn't so!!!

Man it sounds like you guys had a great day! I'm starting to regret that we didn't find time to fit in a visit to Knott's on our last trip to Cali in 08. I think the last time I went there was summer of 1990. I just don't remember that much. I'll have to dig out the pics.

 

[eandesmom]

Hey I'm back...I'll try and catch up over the next few days....

welcome back my friend!

Great Knotts update. I knew it wouldn't be crowded just for you guys...

I feel so bad about not hooking up with you again, but you know the story......thanks for being a true and great friend.

It was as uncrowded as anything I've seen, almost too empty but really nice at the same time. Amazing that after 5 and a half hours of power touring in an empty park we really could fell like we were done and leave!

We totally understood, under the circumstances I can't begin to tell you how much it meant that we got to see you at all!

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia -

Great updates. I love reading about other theme parks. They are all kind-off the same, yet it has its unique touches. Too bad for Jeff that no one would ride the accelerator (or whatever it is called) with him. I would have to opt out of that myself. That wooden coaster looks awesome! I love them - they are the best. Wow - no crowds! Amazing!

Now what's this about passing on the fried chicken???? No possible!

Jeff did ride, at the very end, by himself while the boys went on the swings. He rode it twice. He LOVED it, said it was one of his favorite roller coasters of all time. I'd probably put Ghost Rider as my favorite wooden one, there is one in Denver we love and it's been so long the only other good one I can think of is at Magic Mountain in CA but I truly can't recall how it compares. The boys were saying it was up there with their top favorite coasters for sure.

Fried Chicken. Well, it was only 5:30, we just don't eat that early (ever) so the idea of a full meal was very unappealing at that moment. It was a quandary to be sure.

What a fun day at Knott's!!! Loved all your pictures -- the boys do look pretty unsure about the Ghost Mining ride. Poor Jeff not getting to ride the Xcelerator. Hopefully, the boys make it up to him at California Adventures.

You have to have eaten the fried chicken dinner!!! That's the part I have been looking forward to reading about!

I know it was a mega update but I wanted to get on to the Disney stuff! Plus I've got PTR stuff happening as our trip is getting closer! So I thought I best get a move on on the DCA TR.

It was a really fun, relaxed and yet non-stop, day. Pretty much perfect. Jeff did get to ride, just by himself, which he often won't do. And loved it.

What?! No chicken?! Say it isn't so!!!

Man it sounds like you guys had a great day! I'm starting to regret that we didn't find time to fit in a visit to Knott's on our last trip to Cali in 08. I think the last time I went there was summer of 1990. I just don't remember that much. I'll have to dig out the pics.

Chicken? You'll have to wait and see. The sarsaparilla and popcorn were filling! We were really not hungry at all. We had a shopping appetite but not to eat.

It was a great day, very glad we went, it has just as much a fond place in my heart now as it ever did. It's not Disney but it was its own special thing.

 

[jordanyosh]

how's work by the way?

 

[winkers]

Knotts looks like a lot of fun! but my favorite part is the stagecoach!! I've always wanted to ride in one....I know, showing my nerdy side.

 

[jordanyosh]

Knotts looks like a lot of fun! but my favorite part is the stagecoach!! I've always wanted to ride in one....I know, showing my nerdy side.

I'm surprised they still have it.

 

[MEK]

Just for the record - I went and corrected all my typos from this morning. I was off today and apparently did not have enough caffeine in my system when I typed that comment! Sheesh!

Glad Jeff got to ride the xcelerator! (I keep changing its name).

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Great updates! Love all the photos.

Glad you were able to maximize your time and get done all you wished.

 

[eandesmom]

how's work by the way?

it is truly GREAT! I absolutely love it. Crazy busy, I'm behind in every aspect of my life but...happy



really happy

Knotts looks like a lot of fun! but my favorite part is the stagecoach!! I've always wanted to ride in one....I know, showing my nerdy side.

Not at all! Are you kidding? It was a highlight of the day!

I'm surprised they still have it.

I was so happy they did, it fits, it makes sense and it was just right!

 

[jordanyosh]

It's so nice to hear that you are enjoying your job so much

 

[eandesmom]

Just for the record - I went and corrected all my typos from this morning. I was off today and apparently did not have enough caffeine in my system when I typed that comment! Sheesh!

Glad Jeff got to ride the xcelerator! (I keep changing its name).

Hey, no worries, apparently I was entirely wrong! See this is what happens when you don't go on the ride, don't watch your DH go on the ride and am not involved in the guilt trip (or interested in riding)! It came up in the car today (talking about IOA coasters somehow led into it) and BOY was I set straight by two little boys.

Apparently the Xcellerator was down. It was the Silver Bullet that was in question. This guy. And it was the shoulder harness aspect that freaked Eric out, he no likey the idea of a feet free fly.

And Jeff whined because you couldn't see anything unless you were in front. Hence the reason he had to ride it twice. AND the E's corrected me. They rode the swings "at least" 4 times, maybe 5.



glad someone is paying attention.

Great updates! Love all the photos.

Glad you were able to maximize your time and get done all you wished.

It was a great day! And it's not over. It got BETTER!