We made it to Knott’s and had a wonderful day! The park was practically empty on Monday, which was both good and bad. Good – we could get on any ride. Bad – we couldn’t tell where the lines started!
Our first ride was The Jaguar, a relatively tame roller coaster. The entrance to this coaster was somewhere inside of this dark Mayan temple. We gave up the first time, taking one of the many exit doors. The kids were frightened just walking through there. After talking with a park employee, we were told to venture to the center of the pyramid to find the coaster. We did and we did! We got on the coaster, and had a wonderful time! So much so that we went on it again.
The Mexican Hat Dance was similar to Disney’s Tea Cups, lots of spinning. So much spinning that I refused to ride a 2nd time.
Tom needed a little excitement, and went on the Supreme Scream, dropping 252 feet at 50mph. Wow!
We had a lot of fun on the Dragon Swing! There was a group of boys opposite us on the far side of the swing who would yell, “Whoooaaaaa!” in deep, manly voices when their boat end was in the air. When it would swing our way, our little girls would yell, “Aahhhhhhh!” in their high-pitched girly voices. It was hilarious, everyone was laughing. At the end of the ride, the boys yelled, “Again! Again!”, and the operator started it up again with out any of us having to debark. Fabulous!
Time for another kiddie-coaster, the Coast Rider. There are similar rides at Legoland (LEGO® TECHNIC™ Coaster) and California Adventure (Goofy’s Sky School). Good fun! We nicknamed this one “the berry crusher” as it had an unfortunate side-effort on Tom.
While Tom tracked down bottled water (and possible an ice pack for his groin), the girls and I went on Surfside Gliders and Pacific Scrambler.
Time to get Tom’s heart racing again with the Boomerang coaster. “This scream machine turns you head-over-heels six times in less than 1 minute! And just when you think it’s safe to breathe, it starts all over again — BACKWARDS!” Okay, sure, there’s that! I do like how there is a nice assortment of kids/family rides and thrill rides.
Is anybody else hungry? It was noon, so we sat down to eat at Johnny Rocket’s. First time for us, and what delicious burgers they have! ::: slurp! ::: It was nice to relax after two hours of non-stop action.
After that big lunch, we needed a low-key ride such as Sky Cabin. We enjoyed the nice leisurely climb into the sky, took a few pics, got a lay of the land, and settled softly back down to earth.
Feeling that heatwave? Time to cool off at the Timber Mountain Log Ride. It’s a little dark in there, completely pitch black in parts, a bear growls at you, and you plummet 38′ at the end…. but well worth the cooling splashes on this hot day!
Did somebody say, “Shopping”?! Might have been me. LOL. First we posed by these vintage characters on benches (even my Mom has posed with them!) before venturing into the Ghost Town Candy Shop. With a name like Ghost Town, I should have been afraid… of the prices! The candy was about $3.25 per quarter lb, and the two lil’ bags my girls filled cost $26.00. Holy cow! What could I say? “There’s no way I’m paying $26.00 for two tiny bags of candy!” Yes, I could have said that, but I didn’t. The girls, with their own money, bought some stuffed animals and Tom bought them personalized plaques for their room.
As we left the ghost town, we ended up at the front gate! We had been all the way around, but there were still a few hours before closing time. I suggested we return to our truck to get rid of the bags and packages were were carrying before coming back in to ride a thrill coaster.
Ghost Rider. Look at that picture. Need I say more? I was scared senseless. I think we all were! Mega drops on that bumpity wooden coaster! May I add, the next day it was closed for refurbishment. That gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Think the Ghost Rider was nuts? Check out the Sidwinder, spinning 360 degrees while on a coaster track! I cannot make this up. My head didn’t know which way was up, and I didn’t opt to ride a 2nd time (although Tom and the girls did).
Two more crazy coasters for Tom to ride: Xcelerator which, yes, it does roll to the outside to complete that loop! And Silver Bullet, a typical “feet dangling” ride. Tom bought the photo of him on the Silver Bullet ride, but we lost it.
The girls rode The Jaguar, The Scrambler and The Glider one more time before we exited the park at 9 minutes ’til closing. What a day!
We stopped at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and got dinner to go. We dined in our hotel room, and promptly passed out. I vaguely recall hearing the girls say something about wanting to go swimming. Can you imagine? Swimming after 8 hours at an amusement park. I’m getting too old for this.
• Amusement Parks – yeah or nay?
Comment By: Angelia Sims
May 4th, 2014 at 5:06 am
Oh my goodness! That looks like sooo much fun! Having the park to yourselves is tremendous. That happened to us one time in Orlando after hurricane Charlie passed through. We were visiting Universal and went to Adventureland. I thought it was awesome! Of course exhausting running through all those lines. 🙂
Comment By: Jean
May 4th, 2014 at 8:16 am
That’s awesome, Angelia! Having the park to yourselves is quite the experience. And, yes, exhausting! Great to see you.
Comment By: Ron
May 4th, 2014 at 6:51 am
Okay, I’m looking at these photographs of all those rides and FREAKING OUT because I am SUCH a baby when it comes to roller coasters and anything that spins, so I would be such a DUD.
“Tom needed a little excitement, and went on the Supreme Scream, dropping 252 feet at 50mph. Wow!”
OH. MY. GOD.!!!! Bravo to Tom for being able to go that ride.
And speaking of Johnny Rockets, I LOVE that place! We have one here in Philly (on South Street) which I eat at sometimes. I love their burgers and fries!
Have a super Sunday, Jean!
P.S. Great photos!
Comment By: Jean
May 4th, 2014 at 8:17 am
I plan on being a bigger baby next time, Ron! My back & neck still feel a little screwy from all the jostling. You could NEVER be a dud! Yum, lucky you, eating at Johnny Rockets all the time! Their fries & burgers were so good! Happy Sunday to you too!
Comment By: Bijoux
May 4th, 2014 at 7:29 am
Oh how fun! We have Cedar Point here, which my son usually gets a season pass, but I only go once a year because I’m like Ron…..I stick with the train ride and the shows! Bahahaha!
Comment By: Jean
May 4th, 2014 at 8:19 am
LOL, cute Bijoux! We saw the Lucy show, and I hadn’t realized how self-centered she is. LOL! I’m gonna google Cedar Point. We love amusement parks.
Comment By: Jean
May 4th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Bijoux, Cedar Point’s website is exactly like Knott’s! I wonder if they are owned by the same company. ?
Comment By: Bijoux
May 4th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Yeah, that Lucy is a real b*tch! Haha.. And yes, I think both parks are owned by Cedar Fair.
Comment By: Ellesees.blogspot.com
May 5th, 2014 at 6:41 am
i’ve always wanted to visit there!
Comment By: Jean
May 7th, 2014 at 9:21 am
Hi Elle! I hope you do get to Knott’s! It’s a great destination.
Comment By: Rach @ This Italian Family
May 6th, 2014 at 8:43 am
I’ve never heard of this place, but it looks so fun!!
Comment By: Jean
May 7th, 2014 at 9:23 am
Knott’s started as a little roadside stand to sell the Knott’s family berries and preserves in the 1920’s. It’s grown into so much more. 🙂
Comment By: catherine gacad
May 7th, 2014 at 8:39 am
i would love to go to one day! i have never been.
Comment By: Jean
May 7th, 2014 at 9:24 am
Another place to add to your bucket list. 😀
Comment By: Sherri @ The Kitchen Prescription
May 8th, 2014 at 3:28 am
Jean,
It looks and sounds like you all had a great time. That was Knott’s Berry Farm correct? I remember visiting the park when I was 10 or 11 when we all piled 6 kids and two adults in the station wagon and went cross country from Ohio to Cali to visit my grandmother.
Brings back great memories. If that’s the same place, things sure have changed since I’ve been.
I’m not big on those spinner rides either. One and I’m done for the whole day, so I don’t even go on them anymore.
LOL @ the “berry crusher.”
This makes me want to take a trip to Orlando to visit The Magic Kingdom and near by parks again.
Thanks for sharing your adventures and photos.
Comment By: Jean
May 8th, 2014 at 9:44 am
Hi Sherri, yes, Knott’s Berry Farm. It has changed so much in the 25 years since I went. I think the only original part now is the ghost town area. That old ride with the dinosaurs inside was being repaired. Thing must be 100 years old.
I hope you get to the magic kingdom soon! There’s something so special about a day at an amusement park.
Comment By: Charlotte
May 15th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Awww, looks like you had such a great time with the kiddos!! I’ll be honest: roller coasters kind of freak me out but I’m a little jealous that your family got to meet Charlie Brown 😉 That’s pretty awesome.
Comment By: Jean
May 17th, 2014 at 10:14 am
Thanks, Charlotte! We weren’t sure which Peanuts characters we would meet, so seeing Charlie was very cool. I could pass on some of those coasters next time.