Knotts PTR 12/24

[KGA29]

Knotts Berry Farm: 12/24/07

 

Since we have GA Maxx Passes and we were going to be down in So. Cal for Christmas, we decided to visit Knotts for a day. We have been twice before on Christmas Eve and there have been very small crowds. But that was 3 & 4 years ago, so we were hoping that that trend had stayed the same.

 

We arrived around 9:50 and my parents got in the Guest Relations line, while my brother and I got in the entrance lines. They played the national anthem and the gates opened.

 

Christmas Tree outside of the park

 

We entered and first thing was me and my dad rode Ghostrider. We only waited 3 trains for the front seat. First time for me riding in the front seat. I thought it was great! It wasn't bumpy at all and the visuals were good. Here are some pics of Ghostie from outside of the park:

 

 

 

 

 

Then we walked over to Camp Snoopy so I could ride Sierra Sidewinder for the first time. The line was long, but moved pretty quickly. I got on the ride within 25 minutes. I thought that the ride was great! Very re-rideable and just overall a fun ride.

 

Funky little cars

 

Crazy Spinny fun

 

Next we all rode Jaguar which was ok, but they were only running one train. We noticed that all day the rides with the longest lines were the family rides and not the thrillers.

 

Then I rode Montezuma in the back with a one train wait. Such a great ride. Can't believe GA took theirs out. You get some good airtime in the back on the back spike.

 

Next up was Supreme Scream, where I waited only about 5 minutes. I love the view.

 

 

 

Time for Xcelerator. The line for the front was like 30 minutes, but every other row was a 2 train wait. I chose the second to last row. Wow. On the top hat, you get whipped up and out of your seat. Then the overbanks were intense.

 

 

We all rode Timber Moun...Uhhh Elf Mountain. It was the longest wait of the day at around 30 min. They weren't running both sides and the line moved sluggishly. The ride movement on this is fun. Fast-paced and pretty good drops. The scenery? Yay for creepy elves and their mountain!

 

Then we were hungry so we decided to eat at Coasters. Bad choice. The service was awful. There were two workers total for both the cash register and assembling the trays. The lady assembling the trays was slower than a snail. So they switched, which made it go faster. We only waited about 15 min for our food, but there were some who waited much longer. When we got our burgers, the cheese was all on one side because it had been sitting, tilted, under the hot lamp for too long. When we exited, they still had the same amount of workers, but the line was out the door. I felt sorry for those people in line.

 

 

Why couldn't you have opened sooner? It looked really nice.

 

Next, we all rode Calico Mine Ride, which surprisingly had a "long" wait of 3 or 4 trains. The ride is fun; a classic.

 

Then I waited a grand total of 2 trains for the front seat on Silver Bullet. Contrary to a lot of people, I love this ride. While not as intense as some compact B&M inverts (Top Gun, B:TR), it's still a great ride and it's big too.

The overbank, one of the best parts of the ride.

 

 

 

Here was the station. As you can see, I spent hours waiting.

 

Heading to the back of the park, I rode Riptide with a one cycle wait. The fountains weren't on wet mode, but that was ok because next I braved Perilous Plunge. It was my first time. I waited one boat for the front. It was an ok ride. The drop was fun, but not as fun as I had expected. Nevertheless, I got pretty drenched.

 

We all saw the 3:00 ice skating show: Snoopy's Cool Christmas. Although not having seen the show for several years and all of the changes since then, I thought that the current show was better than the one playing a few years back. I really liked the Snoopy on his house on the zipline.

 

Coming out of the show, I chose to take another Silver Bullet ride, while my family opted for some funnel cake. This time I waited one train for the back seat. Then one last Sierra Sidewinder ride before leaving. Here are some more SS pics:

 

Twisty goodness

 

Now some general photos:

 

 

And one last shot to wrap it up

 

Thanks for reading.

[Adrenaline_Rush]

Looks like you had a fun time. Silver Bullet and Ghostie look insanely awesome! Wish I could afford going to parks like this, oh well. Glad you had fun!

 

XD

 

On a side note...now Im craving Panda Express!

[christianscoasters]

I like small boys in tights.

 

Shouldn't have typed "X" and "D"

[DCody]

Cool TR! I am so gonna hit Knotts one of these upcoming weekend-- 2-train wait for Xcelerator?

[ebl]

Nice Photo TR. Thanks for being one to agree with me that Silver Bullet is a fun ride. It does lack the intensity of Top Gun and Batman, but it is in no way "wussy." I get some good airtime on it between the two corkscrews and in the overbanked turn.

 

I have yet to ride Perilous Plunge. I really have no desire to do so, either.

 

Eric

[knottslover77]

^Yeah, it's just a drop.

 

--Jay

[Mr Stratosphere]

Does anyone else think that Xcelerator is in desperate need of a new paint job?? It looks really faded in those pictures!!

[Jhcbiinoc]

Good TR, and good pics!

 

I was at Knott's the day before that and it was far more crowded, so it looks like you got a break as far as lines and crowds. I usually go Christmas Eve, but had to be home all day on Christmas Eve this year.

 

A few comments that came to mind-

 

-I still enjoy GhostRider, even though I have to ride the front seat. While the front is smooth, there still are a few rough moments, in my opinion. It is still a good coaster, and the only wooden coaster still in my Top 10.

 

-I have never understood the opinion some people have of Silver Bullet being a bad coaster. I actually prefer it to B:TR, mostly because it is very re-rideable. It does not have quite the intensity of other coasters I enjoy a great deal (X, Tatsu, etc) but it's a really fun ride. For some reason it reminds me of Scream at SFMM.

 

-Perilous Plunge: I think it's a great ride, mainly because of the drop which offers a sensation I have not been able to find on any other ride, but that's all there is to it. Add to that the fact that you get insultingly wet, and that's the reason I thought one ride on it was enough. I would ride again if I was at the park with someone else who wanted to ride it, and if I had brought an extra change of clothes (as I am glad I did the time I did ride it). The only ride I have never ridden at KBF is Riptide-one of these days I might. I'm really not too much on flat rides, preferring coasters, water rides that don't get you too wet, and dark rides, although I do enjoy La Revolucion, Screaming Swing and the Wave Swinger at Knott's.

 

-The fact that the big lines were for the family rides likely has a lot to do with the park's decision to add another new family coaster at the park next year

 

-In re Coasters: I have had both good and bad experiences dining there. Once I had the worst food experience I have ever had at KBF there, with ridiculously slow service, order completely incorrect and horrible food, the other with passable food but excellent service. These days I stick to Johnny Rockets, TGI Fridays, the Potato Cheese Soup at the Chowhouse or something from the Bakery in Ghost Town. I look forward to Panda Express, as well.

[Voyage_luvr]

Does anyone else think that Xcelerator is in desperate need of a new paint job?? It looks really faded in those pictures!!

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe it's just the way the light is hitting the tracks in the pictures, but if not, wow, it really needs a new paint job. It still looks like a fun ride though.

 

Nice TR.

[lil jimmy norton]

Nice PTR man. It is so fantastic that you guys live were parks are open all the time. And since I have no money, I can't really travel anywhere during the offseason to ride coasters.

[dino]

Cool TR. I just may have to hit Knotts next christmas eve now.

[FitchCoaster]

Great TR, it looks like you had lot's of fun! I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes Silver Bullet. It's a nice and relaxing ride.

 

I agree with Xcelerator needing a new paint job. The colors looks so washed out and ugly.