Knott's - Small TR - No pics

[TacAlert]

Went to Knotts today on the final day of Law Enforcement Salute plus final day for Toys for Tots.

Got to the park at 8:30am and there was already about 1000 people in line with toys. This line moved rather quickly and I got three tickets for my kids and then went to turnstile to get my two free admissions.

They opened the turnstiles at 9am and opened Ghostrider where we had a 10 minute wait.

After they opened the rest of the park at 10, this is where the day went downhill.

First off, they let too many people in on this promotion. By 11am, the waits for rides in Camp Snoopy were approaching 1 hour. There was barely room to get around. We decided to leave this area and go to eat at about 1130.

We ate at a hamburger/pizza place near the sky cabin. For a hamburger, fries, and a drink, the price was $15.50. My lunch bill came to almost $60 for the five of us. Our wait was minimal but the price of food haunted me for the rest of the day. I ate at this same place earlier in the year and the prices were not this high.

One smart thing Knotts does is give out reservation tickets to the Ice show. The show started at 1 and we got in at 1245 without waiting in line. The standby line went on forever and many people did not get in.

After leaving the show, we wanted to go on the log ride and the mine ride. Each had a wait of at least 90 minutes. This is when we made the determination to leave.

The park was PACKED and it was hard to even get out. To make matters worse, they had one turnstile open to get out of the park. Knotts even made you wait to leave. A group decided just to go through the re-entry turnstiles and a mob, including myself, followed.

I do not plan on returning here for a while. Definitely not on a Toys for Tots weekend. I would have rather gone on another weekend and paid the $15 admission for the rest of the people in my party.

With that many people getting in for free, I honestly think Knotts raised the price for food for this day. A hamburger alone was $7.50. For fries and a drink, just add $8.00.

As we were leaving at around 3:30 or so, people were still coming with toys and Knotts was still letting people in. They must realize after a while there is no room left.

I will give Knotts credit for the cleanliness of the park. Sometimes compared to MM for rides, this park was extremely clean considering the crowds.

Although our day was short, I know the toys are going to a good cause and the cost of those was worth it. However, Knotts needs to stop letting people in and not raise, if that's what they did, the price of the food to cover for it.

[elly]

i noticed the really high food prices as well during Haunt. Dustin and i went to the exact same food place you did, we got 2 orders of fries (expensive but perhaps the BEST theme park fries i've ever had) a soda and a milkshake and it was 19$. food there is VERY expensive for some reason

[OldSchoolMickey]

Thanks for the report.

We once again enjoyed Knott's this season due to their LE program. It is VERY much appreciated!

Yes, Knott's is VERY well kept up inside. And hey, we don't even mind the plain red and white trash cans!!! LOL

We've found their food inside to be very good and served at the right temperature. We've only had lunch there, since we go off-property for dinner after we leave it for the day.

We've never really paid much attention to the pricing. We have eaten at the restaurant that you described in the past. They have good hamburgers. The prices you quoted do sound a little high, even for a theme park...

We've enjoyed the BBQ place and Mrs. Knott's the past few years.

No one likes crowds, especially us, but I'd hate to see either promo discontinued. Sure, one is for a great cause, with the other being appreciated by members of LE and FF.

Kudos to Knott's!

[tamasurvivor]

I know Knotts on food can be expensive... like more than Disneyland in some cases! Yeah that place ran me almost 12.00 ordering Chili fries and a drink on my last normal Knotts trip that I took a while back... and during Haunt when people in our group dragged us to go do Johnny Rockets [still peeved over them doing it because my sister and I could have broken off and done Black Widows Cavern, Doll Factory, and Killer Clown Kollege all in the amount of time it took everyone to get their overpriced burgers and food] the prices were hella expensive for Johnny Rockets and totally not worth it... like they could not split our check and for the 6 of us there it ran over 125.00.. Knotts on food is expensive...

But I am even debating on taking a "normal" Knotts trip sometime in this year knowing full well food is going to be the nail in the coffin... not to derail the topic or anything... but as a bit of a question, how packed do you think Knotts will be in January? Like January 24th which would be a saturday? I dont live in Cali anymore but instinct from growing up in Cali tells me it shouldnt be too jam packed as most schools are still in session and even on weekends it shouldnt be too bad as its more offseason... can anyone fill me in with info? I wanna go take a short roadtrip on my Birthday weekend but am inclined more towards doing either Knotts or Universal [maybe Disneyland on the 23rd if we make it out for friday since thats my 22nd Birthday and I get in for free with the Celebrate promotion provided I register... I am debating it but I kinda want to do something different than Disney this time... yes I was just blasphemous by saying that on here]?

Back on topic... Knotts food is expensive... and Toys for Tots days are very crowded... I remember a long time ago KIIS fm and Rick Dees did this promotion on Cinco de Mayo called Cinco Dees Mayo where everyone got into Knotts for 5 cents and the park reached full capacity... there was traffic everywhere in buena park and people who were camped outside the park since 3 or 4am waiting to get in... anytime Knotts does a promotion... its going to be a Madhouse! Anyone else also remember that promotion for Presidents day where kids got in for 1 dollar, my parents took us one year and it was our last... again a big madhouse!

[Lane]

geez... i dont think i want to go to knotts anymore ;p Looks like my haunt incentive tickets will just have to go to waste..
Its very rare that knotts gets a full park during normal opertations, but then again, its their holiday thing. With all the people getting in for free they need to make money somehow and they know people need to eat.

[TacAlert]

The LE days are very much appreciated. I haven't taken advantage of it in the last 3 years, but if I ever go again during this special, it will be on a weekday when Toys for Tots is not there.

On a side note for people bringing toys, a hot wheel car is not a toy valued at $10 or more. Unfortunately the Marines look the other way and just hand out the tickets to get in.

[Darkbeer]

Lisa and I went to the park today, using our AP's.

Got to the park around Noon, first headed off to Independence Hall to feed the ducks. There were a LOT of them in the Lagoon, and they were hungry.

Then I checked out the wait for the Toys for Tots queue to trade your toy for a ticket. The queue snaked around the main entrance area, then all they way through the California Marketplace, the Employment Center and all the way back to the Knott's Resort Hotel.

Checked out the Camp Snoopy Peanuts Holiday show, J.T. (MasterElf here at MiceChat did a great job as always).

Then walked around and checked the length of the queue, amazing long for the most part, after walking around the parks checking things, had lunch at Ghost Town Grill. Many folks were waiting in long lines for fast food, the Ghost Town Grill had a short line. Lisa had a 10 ounce Rib Eye Steak with all the fixin's, I had a full rack of Ribs, both meals were AWESOME! (Some of the best, juiciest ribs I have had in a long time). With drinks, and our 10% AP discount, the bill came out to $44, and that was for table service, inside in a quiet area. (Yes, it sometimes knows the park well). (Also nice to have the AP's, we knew we weren't going to ride much, and ended up not riding anything).

Then caught the Parade (MasterElf was the Snow Fairy), the entire parade route was packed, but still found a spot with just a few minutes prior to the parade.

Then watched the Christmas Tree Lighting, one of my favorite things for Christmas. I love the fact that Knott's is not afraid to say "Christmas" and Jesus.

Then ended up doing some shopping, got a Chargers Christmas Stocking (And WOW!!! Chargers won, and Denver lost, can't wait for Sunday Night Football next week, basically a playoff game before the playoffs!).

Also ended up coming across a "Blue Light Special", where at Santa Headquarters, they announced large Christmas Themed Plush at just $5 each. Ended up with a Santa, Snowman and Penguin. These animals were originally $30 each, and 17.5 inches tall, and very soft and cuddly.

But we had a great time for what we wanted, and it was a busy weekend for us, yesterday we did Grinchmas at USH and then caught the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express show in Orange.

So three Christmas themed events in 2 days, and loved all 3 of them.

But if you are showing up for a Toys for Tots day at Knott's, you should expect very large crowds and not a "normal" day.

If you want to go on rides, wait until January and get in cheap with the Food Drive.

[CaraGoCeltica]

Originally Posted by Darkbeer

Lisa and I went to the park today, using our AP's.

Got to the park around Noon, first headed off to Independence Hall to feed the ducks. There were a LOT of them in the Lagoon, and they were hungry.

Then I checked out the wait for the Toys for Tots queue to trade your toy for a ticket. The queue snaked around the main entrance area, then all they way through the California Marketplace, the Employment Center and all the way back to the Knott's Resort Hotel.

Checked out the Camp Snoopy Peanuts Holiday show, J.T. (MasterElf here at MiceChat did a great job as always).

Then walked around and checked the length of the queue, amazing long for the most part, after walking around the parks checking things, had lunch at Ghost Town Grill. Many folks were waiting in long lines for fast food, the Ghost Town Grill had a short line. Lisa had a 10 ounce Rib Eye Steak with all the fixin's, I had a full rack of Ribs, both meals were AWESOME! (Some of the best, juiciest ribs I have had in a long time). With drinks, and our 10% AP discount, the bill came out to $44, and that was for table service, inside in a quiet area. (Yes, it sometimes knows the park well). (Also nice to have the AP's, we knew we weren't going to ride much, and ended up not riding anything).

Then caught the Parade (MasterElf was the Snow Fairy), the entire parade route was packed, but still found a spot with just a few minutes prior to the parade.

Then watched the Christmas Tree Lighting, one of my favorite things for Christmas. I love the fact that Knott's is not afraid to say "Christmas" and Jesus.

Then ended up doing some shopping, got a Chargers Christmas Stocking (And WOW!!! Chargers won, and Denver lost, can't wait for Sunday Night Football next week, basically a playoff game before the playoffs!).

Also ended up coming across a "Blue Light Special", where at Santa Headquarters, they announced large Christmas Themed Plush at just $5 each. Ended up with a Santa, Snowman and Penguin. These animals were originally $30 each, and 17.5 inches tall, and very soft and cuddly.

But we had a great time for what we wanted, and it was a busy weekend for us, yesterday we did Grinchmas at USH and then caught the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express show in Orange.

So three Christmas themed events in 2 days, and loved all 3 of them.

But if you are showing up for a Toys for Tots day at Knott's, you should expect very large crowds and not a "normal" day.

If you want to go on rides, wait until January and get in cheap with the Food Drive.

Wow! Two trip reports in one? Seems a little confusing who the original thread starter was. Thought for a moment it was the same poster just a double post.

[PirateChick]

I have an AP also and thought the madness would have died down at 5 on a Saturday evening but it was still packed and caused a lot of traffic on Beach. We decided it wasn't worth it and moved on. Every time Knotts decides to do a special on park admission it gets extremely crowded, to the point it isn't worth it to go.

As for the food, I have also noticed the steep increase in prices this past year. I have made it a point not to eat in the part anymore which is a pity because the food in there used to be good and the right price. I remember soon after they got rid of the Haunted Shack they used the area for a BBQ and you could get a single, good sized rib, for I *think* under $3. Now, as you pointed out, if you want a hamburger meal, it is going to cost over $15. The Ghost Town Grill price sounds like it is spot on for two people. After the discount you will still be paying $22 per person which might seem like a good deal for amusement park food to some people but not for me. If I want to pay $22 for steak and ribs I would go to Chris and Pitts, Tony Roma or even the TGI Fridays across the street.

[LLCMC]

Not saying I don't feel your pain (Knott's on a very busy day is pretty unpleasant), but you sort of have to expect it on a promotion like that. I try to stay away from theme parks during holidays and summer as it is, let alone when I know they're essentially giving away free admission. And if you don't avoid those days you really have to mentally prepare yourself for a very crowded day, otherwise stay home and go in January during the week and you will almost literally have the entire park to yourself (did this a couple years ago and it was RIDICULOUS how few people were in the park. And it wasn't rainy or anything!) And unless the Fire Marshall is telling them to, I wouldn't expect them to stop letting people in, especially if a charity is benefitting from every person who gets in that day.

[TacAlert]

I new about Toys for Toys yesterday (I brought toys). I just didn't expect that many people to be there.

[sir clinksalot]

Great TR TacAlert.

[brand42]

I went this past Sunday as well and needless to say, it was an utter debacle.

However, I did attend one of SFMM's Toys for Tots days 2 weeks ago and though there were good sized crowds, I think a lot of it was attributable to this Key Club Rally from the local schools and not necessarily the free admission with a toy. I still managed 8 rides that day without even staying for the whole day though I did use FP's.

[nursemelis374]

I went on Friday, December 19th and had a great time! We got there at opening and were able to do most of the rides with little or no wait early in the morning. We REALLY enjoyed A Christmas Carol in the Birdcage Theater, I was so happy to see it opened! It was one of the best Knott's trips I have ever had.

[techskip]

Tink, the kids and I all have AP's... and we COMPLETELY avoided Knott's because of the promo... we went on Sat. for a couple hours... I have to echo Darkbeer's comment about GhostTown Grill... it's quiet, cheap (realitivly speaking) and usually small lines. My personal favorite are the chili fries which are huge... and $6. If you get Boysenberry Punch it is also unlimited free refills (kid's meals come with a free drink and ice cream bar)...