Jim1013

^Yeah, that giant support in the middle of the Wagon Camp, they should just move it now, I don't think may people watch the show there anyway? They should just completely remodel the entrance plaza.

I just want to say that I love Knott's. When I was a kid I always pulled for Knott's over Disney because they were the underdog and I'm always for the underdog. As someone else noted, that is why it is upsetting to see easy mistakes. "To the collage of coaster track in Fiesta Village/Ghost Town/Camp Snoopy: I don't blame the management for clustering rides in this area. Land is not a factor they have to work with, and with SFMM so close of striking distance they have to market something." I respectfully disagree - there are maintenance buildings between Ghost Town/WWW and the hotel that could be relocated across the street. The administrative offices could be relocated as well, they are single-story and spread out. Yes it would be expensive, but it is the future they are investing in. Some of those admin offices could even be relocated across the street by the Independence Hall. There is one little red brick building in front of the IH that could easily be duplicated to accomodate those offices. CF is just taking the easiest, cheapest way out of the problem.

One more vote for Disney! Recent trip to Knotts had some surprises, the ride ops were friendly and trains dispatched as quickly as possible - except for Jaguar which was running only one train. Thumbs up for Knott's ride ops and maintenance crews, the bathrooms in the park were clean.

What I noticed at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant isn't even what goes on behind the scenes, but just bad business practices - missing stones, a worn-out rug, sweeping the floor after a table is cleared. They claim to serve 1.5 million chicken dinners per year: 1.5 mil * $14 per = enough to fix or replace what is worn-out or broken. CF management must realize when long-time patrons walk out for a TGI Fridays, something is wrong. I wonder if they have ever of focus groups?

Since you asked, if I were the manager of the restaurant, the first thing I would do is realize the are no excuses for filth in an eating establishment. I would pick up a mop, scrub brush, roll of paper towels or whatever is needed and clean it myself before I would let my customers see unclean conditions. Then I would speak with the Director of Park Services and explain that the Chicken Dinner restaurant has been a local landmark for 75 years or so, is a tradition for locals and visitors to the park and that allowing an institution to slide is the beginning of the end. The floor in room where we were seated in (which I now know is called the Garden Room), was indeed missing stones and grout. We were seated in the far corner across from the waterfall. The floor was covered with food and the stones were spotted and stained. This was Thursday evening at around 7:00 p.m. There was no wait to be seated and the room was about 40 percent occupied. I assume you work at the restaurant - if so, I would not be offended by someone else's observations - how are we to improve if we reject feedback? I noticed Disney had researchers roaming Disneyland soliciting comments from guests, apparently using feedback to improve on already stellar operations.

My first trip to Knott's in four years was Tuesday. I had high hopes because the last visit was kind of a disappointment. The park was not busy at all with the exception of tween school groups. Why do tween girls scream about *everything*? Although the crowds were light, it was the noisiest day at Knott's I can remember. On with my TR - photos to come. The Good: Silver Bullet ride is smooth, thrilling and fun. The only other inverted coasters I have been on are Batman at SFMM and the SLC at Elitch Gardens, both of which are much rougher than SB. Sierra Sidewinder is unique and fun, a re-ride for us. The ride ops were friendly and professional. Thirty year-old Monte still delivers the goods. Supreme Scream also delivers due the suspense of the slow ride up and the wait before the drop - the drop was ok, but the bounce back wasn't strong enough. I didn't see La Revolucion operate, don't know if it has a mild or wild program, but Fiesta Village offers a family-friendly area of rides that is a nice buffer between Camp Snoopy and the Boardwalk. The new bumper cars are nice improvement over the old ones. Although too short, Pony Express looks to be a winner for the family-tween set. The Ugly: The sad state of the TMLR - I have a feeling this classic is destined for demolition. I base this not only the laughably shoddy job of repairing the ride's caverns, but the general disregard for the ride. The scenes are no longer musty and nostalgic, they are embarrassing and decaying. Old effects aren't being fixed, they are being removed. And while I can understand tacky slobs can't be controlled, for the love of God clean up the gum stuck on the cave walls! Leaving it only encourages more idiots to do the same. Every day this section of the que should be cleaned. I didn't go on the Calico Mine Ride because I can imagine it is as bad or worse. Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant - this institution has always been simple and no-frills, so that is not my criticism. I was shocked at the level of filth and disrepair. We were seated in the back portion of the restaurant with stone floors - which were covered with spilled food and stains, both of which looked like they had been there for a long time. The floors were missing stones and the grout/cement was missing in several places. The walls by our table were dirty as well. My niece said the bathrooms were 'ghetto'. We walked out and went to the TGIF across the street. I dislike corporate chains, but at least it wasn't filthy dirty. On my way out I noticed the Snoopy entrance mat looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages. A gnarled mess of coaster tracks - IMO there are no more quaint areas left in the park, except for that one sliver of the Roaring 20's remaining by the Shultz Theater and the bumper cars. The spaghetti bowl of steel track for Sierra Sidewinder, Jaguar, Silver Bullet and Monte is just plain ugly. The rides themselves are great (excepting the rough, noisy and cramped Jaguar) it's their placement that makes them an eyesore. Silver Bullet just does not fit in its spot and dominates the view from the entrance plaza, Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, and Camp Snoopy. Cedar Fair is going to have to address the space issue they are confronted with by relocating the operations buildings between the park and the hotel. That is the only answer on how to place new rides without the complete destruction of sense of place within the park, a job already well underway. Soak City was closed but didn't look like anything special. On my walk back, I noticed a few of the lighting panels inside the tunnel were missing. Closing on a high note: I walked over to the Independence Hall to see how it was faring under CF management. Although it was closed for the evening, it appeared they taking good care of it. Color me surprised.

Flashback SLC The Worst: Flying Coaster at Elitch Gardens.

Pony Express looks like a work of art compared to this.

What was unfortunate for Old Chicago was the lack of sunlight, other than that rotunda in the middle it looks like a huge dark warehouse, but that was era and what was available at the time. Imagine the MOA Camp Snoopy/Nick Universe with the skylights all blacked out.

The moment when the Big Shot/Maliboomer reaches its highest initial point. If only Disney would get rid of those damn scream shields.

Just a few quick points: 1. With frequent promotional discounts it can't be all about the money - no one beats Disney when it comes to price gauging. 2. Let me tread lightly here, no offense to anyone - but the market is not the same as Kansas City or Dallas or Orlando or Hershey PA. Some of the roughest parts of LA are a few miles away. Getting to MM requires a car. 3. For some major blunders, see the Knott family. They axed the SBR and Bear-y Tales. They let SBR deteriorate, badly, at the end of the ride's life the paint was peeling off the theming and what was left just gradually disappeared rather than be replaced. They did build Mystery Lodge, Jaguar, and Windjammer. They waited years between new attractions. In the mid 80's, attendance was around 5 million, by the time CF took over it was near 3 million. 4. The decline may have started when Walter Knott died ('81). It was his vision that was responsible for Ghost Town, the stunning (and boring)Independence Hall, the log ride, the mine ride, Bear-y Tales, the first looping coaster in America (at the time), the Parachute Sky Jump, and the SBR. After his passing, the originality gradually declined. Just some thoughts - maybe wrong?

What about the tunnel!? I didn't know that. Excellent. I was thinking something along those lines, maybe a barn it could blow through with a few bales of hay and animatronic chickens clucking... Things inexpensive but fun. We all know they have garbage cans to buy.

The pics of the trains are awesome. I really wish CF could have sprung for more track, but it looks to be a fun little ride. A few theme elements might help, but that is never going to happen.

Why can't Knotts put in a hyper that would go down and around the hotel, I mean it is their property?

Going back a few years - I'd have to say the Knotts 90s strikeouts, count 'em: 3 in a row. Mystery Lodge (wait three years) Jaguar! Windjammer I hate a lot of what Cedar Fair has done, but the Knotts' had terrible taste in rides.

Flying Coaster - Elitch Gardens, feels like you have been assaulted. Flashback - MM, they should dispense Tylenol as you exit. Windjammer - Knott's, kept waiting for the fun to start - didn't happen. Grizzly - GA, see above.

I'd have to say the Flying Coaster at Elitch Gardens. It is unique so I was looking forward to it, but after I was on it I knew why it is rare. Just bizarre - the trains, the lift, everything. Gave new meaning to the word rough. I followed this torture with a ride on the Boomerang and the SLC. By then my head was screaming in pain, but my friends talked me into Half Pipe. When I got off that, I lost my lunch. They say it was elevation sickness, but I think it was the triple whammy of the Flying Coaster, Boomerang and the SLC, with Half Pipe as the knock-out punch.

Perhaps it was altitude sickness, or the Bloody Mary with breakfast, or maybe both? The SLC at Elitch Gardens in the Mile High City was so rough and disorienting and - damn it! is it over? The ride op had to ask me if I was o.k. I truly didn't know? So, brave, I ate lunch, waited until my stomach calmed, and proceeded to the 'Flying Coaster'. OMG. I was truly at a loss for words, other than a few expletives. Never in my life, nothing at Magic Mountain or Knotts or Disney's Land or World, made me VOMIT in public and make me think I would might lose consciousness like these two instruments of torture. Nothing! Trembling as I type.

I hardly ever post, but have to on this one. I rode Flashback last in 1999, unsuspecting of what was to come: a truly miserable ride experience. Noisy as ****, jerky, and yes, painful. Walking away from the monster, a friend of mine (who is African-American) said "Damn, they should call that the Mama-whupped-me-upside-the-head-ride!" It does kind of fit.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought EE was going to feature some new tech/design that was supposed to provide a smoother ride? My take based on the 'good' video: it does seem short. It does seem like BTM, albeit with a 'nice' sized drop. I expected... racing in and out of caverns, waterfalls, more... Matterhorn. Maybe I am wrong, but I think the theming of the track itself is a little too perfect, doesn't look weathered or worn, except for the section torn-up by the Yetti, a nice touch. The Yetti is spectacular. I really like the engine being in the rear of the train, so as not to spoil the view from the front seats like BTM. Just my observations.

Given that they had to shoehorn the ride into a scrap of a space, I'd have to say Indy at DLR. Actually, most Disney attractions are spectacular and in their own class. Except most of DCA, but that was intentional. I guess. Can't beat Mulholland Madness!

Come on, tell us a little more? Does it seem like a new, improved Ultra- Matterhorn? Any ice crystal caverns? Does the little village seem kind of retarted? The Yetti: is it brown or white?... Inquiring minds want to know.