ryder

If you're doing fastlanes, all day should be plenty of time for both parks. While Knott's is a small park, there's a lot to see and do if you include shows and food (you must have the chicken, which is really only sold outside the park at the Marketplace... sit down option is the classic Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and if you have the time, do it. If you're more pressed for time, the Chicken To Go will do as a substitute. As for the various SFMM Flash Pass levels, it really just depends on how badly you want to ride FT, X2, and WCR. X2 and FT still get pretty long, slow moving lines. WCR can get long, but shouldn't be too bad on the day you're going--most kids are still in school that day, so it should be relatively dead all day. One caveat: if X2 is in single train ops, I'd maybe get one, even on a slow day. Either that, or run to it first. Burbank airport is generally much easier, though it's a bit of a drive from their to Santa Monica... expect some traffic and parking issues. There's a parking garage, which isn't free, but it's really your best option. If you're already going to the pier, definitely also walk around the famous 3rd Street Promenade. Most of the well known gay bars will be in West Hollywood. While it's not necessarily LGBTQ, The Edison in downtown LA is a very unique experience... it's set in an old abandoned underground power plant, and they left a lot of the equipment still there. Note it does have a dress code last time I went. Also, if it's open by the time you arrive, Clifton's Criteria (also downtown) is another incredibility unique experience, complete with a literally "hidden" tiki bar (you have to push a certain mirrored wall to find it). It's great, but it's also been closed due to COVID for a while. Supposed to have reopened in October, but I still don't think it's open yet--might be by the time you arrive. Other gay landmarks, I suggest this site: https://www.laconservancy.org/explore-lgbtq-los-angeles Traffic is going to be inevitable, so I load up on podcasts to listen to to make the time pass. There's always a lot of unique and interesting happenings and events going on all the time. I recommend sites like welikela.com to find out current happenings. EatlerLA also gives a lot of unique food options.

Wasn't yesterday the day military got in free? If so, that would explain the massive crowds.

One word of note... the first week of January, most kids are still on Winter Break, and won't be returning to school until Jan 10. So if you go before then, it could be considerably more crowded, even on a weekday. EDIT: Just saw it was Jan 18/19, so you should be fine. The park should be pretty dead. But I would expect a few rides to be closed for refurbishment, and JL has been closed for a while, I suspect due to being indoors and Los Angeles regulations requiring masks indoors, and SFMM doesn't want to monitor that.

Not that I'd do something like that at any park, but it would be a lot easier and better at Knott's. A better quality and, mainly, variety of food. SF is mostly just burgers, pizza, and chicken tenders.

If you remember for GL, once inside the building there was a relatively (for SF, anyway) elaborate scene. And I seem to recall a lantern statue in a second room. After that, admittedly, it was just walls... but there was/is an opportunity for a bit of a theme or scene inside.

I don't think it's a big deal either. Ever since the Delta variant came into play, I always wear masks outdoors in crowded spaces. TBH, I still don't yet feel comfortable eating indoors, either. I either eat outdoors or take it home (or in the car if I'm traveling). Also, Orange County hasn't required it because they're run by insane people. And I don't think it's a safe assumption that everyone with proof of vaccination are being honest about it.

1) It's all still way cheaper than HHN, which is about $350-400 more for the same experience you're paying for at Knott's, and that has way less shows and rides to go on. Welcome to the SoCal haunt market. 2) Go earlier in the season when prices are cheaper 3) Rides go down all the time, often for extended periods. Think of all the times TTD was down at CP, or all those people who paid for a full price Disneyland admission just to ride Rise and/or Spiderman, only to have both go down all day or be unable to get into the virtual queue. There's no real compensation for any of these situations. I mean, at least this time, you know they'll be down in advance. If it's that much of a dealbreaker, maybe consider coming another year. 4) In terms of the Fastlane on mazes, you'll totally get your money's worth. We never waited more than 10 minutes for any maze on a busy Saturday night. 5) The Fastlane probably won't help much on the rides away... the FL line for Ghostrider when I went that same Saturday night for Haunt went from the exit of the ride all the way back to the Spurs restaurant. It had to be at least an hour wait or more. Similar stories for log ride and Calico Mine Train, they were also pretty long Fastlane lines. If you really want to do the rides, go to the park during the day early in the morning, and you likely won't need a Fastlane at all if you plan correctly.

^I echo everything from above. Early in the morning, front row, inside seat. It's still not perfect, but more tolerable.

It's right off the freeway, but if you're coming from downtown SLC, it's still about a 20-30 minute drive, so be aware. I was there over the summer, and didn't notice much down. Cannibal was running all day long, and once you got through the bag check portion of the line (right at the main entrance of the ride), it was only about a 15 minute wait. Line for Spider crawled. I did enjoy eating at the Biergarten, great atmosphere.

Not really, but about a week ago, one side launched, and then my side launched at the other side was coming down, so we passed each other midway. I was happy with that, figured that was as close as I'd ever get.

Tatsu has reopened, the park itself posted about it on their IG account.

^They'll do it just for you, have fun Also, Tatsu was testing all day today, and heard it was testing all day yesterday as well. It still has not opened, but it shouldn't be much longer

FYI, Superman is now running both backwards AND forward trains.

Nevermind... while someone in guest services did send out a communication saying indoor mazes were going to be closed, it was apparently in error. Looks like indoor mazes are back on

So, has anyone else hear that SFMM may not be opening any of their indoor mazes for FF due to rising Covid? Which, if true, would basically only leave Aftermath, scarezones, and possible shows.

I was at the park about a week ago, and Apocalypse is open again, but as far as I know, I think Tatsu is still down. I think everything else is open, though (thought not all rides open on time).

We were just there about a week ago. Jet Star II requires two riders per seat. We were to grown adults, and we barely fit in together. Three adults is pretty much going to be impossible. We were pleasantly surprised that for Cannibal, once you get past the main queue entrance (where someone will be screening to make sure you have no loose items and if so, put them in a locker--this process takes forever), the rest of the line moves really fast. Wait time with a full queue from the entrance line to boarding was about 15 minutes. Lines for Spider really crawled (no pun intended). Lines for Colossus/Fire Dragon really flies and rarely has a line. Really, nearly all their rides are generally not found in other parks, so hit as many as you can. Don't miss their two dark rides, and their unique collection of flat rides. Also, if you bring a Coke can, you get $9 each person's admission at the gate (up to 6 people for one can).

Y'all go ahead and impress the SFMM management with the width and breadth of your vast knowledge. I'm sure they'll be shocked and amazed and get on changing that sign that they've had for about 45 years now right away.

I think what we're saying is that we are not counting the looping coasters that existed and sent craploads of people to the hospital because the loop was improperly designed. So sure, it should maybe say, "World's first looping coaster that won't send you to the hospital", but that doesn't have the same ring.

^It’s the world’s first safe vertical loop (not counting vintage things like the Flic Flac in Victorian Times that gave people whiplash). So it’s more accurate accurate than not. Corkscrew, which is the first safe loop, is not vertical.

Why does Orlando have Beetlejuice, and Hollywood doesn’t? Seems like that’s big property that should be on both coasts.

I agree, there's no proof, hence the name "speculation map". This account does this every year, and it's always changing and is hit and miss. Although based on the rumors I'm recently hearing, this may end up being fairly accurate. Some properties that were planned (if to be believed, Halloween 3 and Beetlejuice) fell through and had to be replaced at the last minute. Personally, I feel it's a bit weak as well, but I'm a local, and remember that California essentially had all of Halloween canceled last year due to the pandemic... not a single haunt happened at all, so I'll take what I can get. But I agree, I wouldn't travel across the country for it.

There's a pretty strong rumor there may be one or possibly even two in SS29. I believe there's also two more in an area below the Curious George parking lot, sort of behind the tram maintenance area Additionally, most are suspecting TWD will return for HHN, and maybe even Terror Tram.

I cannon see how running 3 trains on GR would be of any help. Even with only trains, it always stacks. It wouldn't make a lick of difference in terms of capacity. Honestly, I think GR runs about as well as it can. Biggest holdups are Fastlane people and the guests themselves: not fitting in the seats, not putting away loose articles, etc. Also, gotta say my hearts go out to all the people in the park last night, both guests and employee. Looks traumatizing for no real good reason (at least inside the park).

I'm telling you, mobile ordering is the way to go for drink refills. The app allows for free refills (assuming you have the mugs), and it's never taken more more than 5 minutes, even with those crazy long food lines.