Touring Knotts Berry Farm

[quiltymom]

We're going to Knotts this year instead of Disneyland. We haven't been in 7 years, so we're looking for advice as to how to tour the park.

My kids are 8 & 11 and love any and all roller coasters, which I can't & won't go on . Is there any order in which we should do the big rides?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Teki]

My main advice is eat out side the park. Theres plenty of resturants with in walking distance that are cheaper and better then what you'll find inside the park. Also invest in a kids cup, when we went refills were free (not sure if that is still the case). I went in a similar situation as you I hadnt been in forever and decided I wanted to ride some coasters on my b-day. My bf, best friend, little sister (who all dont ride coasters) and my little brother went with. My brother and I did all the coasters once or twice no lines, now October is technically off season for them, because most people go to Knotts Scarey farm at night. So Im not sure how bad crowding will be during your trip. All the coasters are great, but I think youll find that if you dont like roller coasters there wont be much at all for you to do.

Over all I was pretty dissapointed with Knotts this time. The feel of the park is that they were trying to build things bigger better faster with out taking into account any of there themeing. Every where you look theres rollercoaster parts, in fact thats the first thing you could see when you walk into the park. Also when we went I was bummed there werent any shows accept the little one in camp snoopy because they were all closed to be haunted houses. (I cant stand those things). So we missed snoopy on ice and the mellow drama. Also Im not sure how into the peanuts gang you are, but youll only see them in camp snoopy. Of course youll see merchandise everywhere, but youll only see characters and themeing for them in camp snoopy. The rest of the park is pretty disjointed.

Overall if coasters are what your looking for coasters are what your gonna get so have fun! and dont eat in the park its really expensive dried out chicken fingers and tiny burgers.

 

[spacemermaid]

Echoing what a previous poster said: don't bother with the food inside the park. Except for...

...their famous fried chicken! SO YUMMY! The boysenberry punch is also good, and something you can't get anywhere else.

If you'll be there on a weekend before the end of summer, they've got a great special going on. For $39, you can get admission + an all-you-can-eat meal that includes the famous fried chicken, plus bbq, side dishes, desserts (boysenberry pie!) and soft drinks. That's alot less than just the cost of admission regularly; here's a link to a coupon: http://www.knotts.com/bbqspecial/

Also, since you don't care for rollercoasters, there are other things to do. There's the Wild West stunt show (held in an outdoor theater made to look like a wagon camp, with covered wagons that you can sit in to watch the show). And the steam train that goes around the park. There's the "Ghost Town" section of the park, that's part of the original Knott's park. And Bigfoot Rapids, a GRR-type water ride that's fun on a hot summer day! Unfortunately, the Haunted Shack is gone now- that was a classic; don't know why they took it out.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Teki]

Echoing what a previous poster said: don't bother with the food inside the park. Except for...

...their famous fried chicken! SO YUMMY! The boysenberry punch is also good, and something you can't get anywhere else.

If you'll be there on a weekend before the end of summer, they've got a great special going on. For $39, you can get admission + an all-you-can-eat meal that includes the famous fried chicken, plus bbq, side dishes, desserts (boysenberry pie!) and soft drinks. That's alot less than just the cost of admission regularly; here's a link to a coupon: http://www.knotts.com/bbqspecial/

Also, since you don't care for rollercoasters, there are other things to do. There's the Wild West stunt show (held in an outdoor theater made to look like a wagon camp, with covered wagons that you can sit in to watch the show). And the steam train that goes around the park. There's the "Ghost Town" section of the park, that's part of the original Knott's park. And Bigfoot Rapids, a GRR-type water ride that's fun on a hot summer day! Unfortunately, the Haunted Shack is gone now- that was a classic; don't know why they took it out.

Have fun on your trip!

Yes Boysenberry Berry Pie is the BEST mmmm *drools*

The Haunted shack has been replaced by a roller coaster leg. However somewhere in that area surrounded by roller coaster bits, is the graveyard that was next to the haunted shack, its a classic to the head stones are hilarious and there's creepy noises and such.

 

[spacemermaid]

Yes Boysenberry Berry Pie is the BEST mmmm *drools*

The Haunted shack has been replaced by a roller coaster leg. However somewhere in that area surrounded by roller coaster bits, is the graveyard that was next to the haunted shack, its a classic to the head stones are hilarious and there's creepy noises and such.

The "Ghost Town Boot Hill" IS a classic...I hope they never take IT out! The best part is the "grave" with the heartbeat that you can feel when you stand on it!

 

[quiltymom]

Thanks for all of your replies. We used to go here every year when I was growing up, so I do miss the Haunted Shack (somehow I was always chosen to sit in that stupid chair!) and lots of the Ghost Town atmosphere. But I still love the place. We do have plans to eat a chicken dinner in the restaurant. It's a must do!

My nephews may also be coming along with us so they can get all roller-coastered out with the kids. Me, I'll just be happy riding the train and the stage coach and eating boysenberry treats.

Do they still serve boysenberry slushies? I kind of remember those.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The "Ghost Town Boot Hill" IS a classic...I hope they never take IT out! The best part is the "grave" with the heartbeat that you can feel when you stand on it!

We were there last Christmas season for Knotts Merry Farm, and were walking around the cemetery. There was a little girl and I told her to stand on that grave. You should have seen the look on her face - it was so cute. She had her mom stand on the grave, too.

I wish they hadn't gotten rid of the Haunted Shack.

 

[Spacepest]

Knott's Berry Farm...I always stuff myself everytime I visit. They have a fried chicken restaurant in the shopping center next door that you do not need a park admission to visit. It has delicious fried chicken and boysenberry pie. How good is it? My husband HATES fried chicken, but always tries to make sure we visit this place when we are down in Anaheim.

And don't forget...funnel cakes! They're served both inside the park and at the shopping center.

I'm sad to hear the cheesy Haunted Shack is there no more. (I'm still disappointed with the fact that they did away with Beary Tales years ago).

 

[scooter15]

The Haunted Shack was GREAT during The Haunt!!!!

I always found the best place to get funnel cakes was inside the park in Ghost Town. They make them FRESH there and its sooooo good.

 

[aspen37]

I haven't been to Knott's in a long time. I was planning on going next April. I'm so sad that they took out the Haunted Shack. We loved that as kids.

 

[quiltymom]

I did talk to someone about it when we were there a few weeks ago. I guess when they were adding stuff to the park, the condition of the haunted shack was terrible. It was full of wood rot, and it would've cost a bundle to rebuild it. That, and having to make it to ADA standards would've taken too much out of the attraction, so they just did away with it.

She did say that there still is a Haunted Shack out at the Calico Mine, if you're ever out that way. I haven't been there as a kid, and it's too far of a drive just to go for a few hours. It would be for pure nostalgia on my part, and the rest of my family would most likely deem me insane if I dragged them there...

We had a good time at Knotts - I'll write more later about it. But it was almost deserted. The longest line was 45 minutes, for the Sidewinder at the front of the park at around 11:00. By 3:00 the lines were about 15 minutes long, then by 5:00 you could basically walk on anything you wanted.

 

[aspen37]

I did talk to someone about it when we were there a few weeks ago. I guess when they were adding stuff to the park, the condition of the haunted shack was terrible. It was full of wood rot, and it would've cost a bundle to rebuild it. That, and having to make it to ADA standards would've taken too much out of the attraction, so they just did away with it.

She did say that there still is a Haunted Shack out at the Calico Mine, if you're ever out that way. I haven't been there as a kid, and it's too far of a drive just to go for a few hours. It would be for pure nostalgia on my part, and the rest of my family would most likely deem me insane if I dragged them there...

We had a good time at Knotts - I'll write more later about it. But it was almost deserted. The longest line was 45 minutes, for the Sidewinder at the front of the park at around 11:00. By 3:00 the lines were about 15 minutes long, then by 5:00 you could basically walk on anything you wanted.

When we were going to Bullhead City/Laughlin once we stopped at Calico. It was pretty cool. I don't remember much though. That was 26 years ago. Wow I'm starting to think I'm getting old.

I won't have a car when I'm out at DL next year. We are doing the ABD Backstage Magic Tour and since we were coming in a day early I thought it would be fun to go to Knott's. What would be the easiest way to get over to Knott's from DL. Does the trolly go over to Knott's?

 

[quiltymom]

I'm not sure, but it isn't too far away. I'm sure there would be some sort of shuttle going on between the two places. It seemed just about every attraction we went to this vacation was promoting another place. I think that all places are hurting this year with the economy.

 

[perlster]

What would be the easiest way to get over to Knott's from DL?

See MTA 460 PDF

 

[aspen37]

See MTA 460 PDF

Thanks!