PhotoTR-Knott's Berry Farm and Disney's California Adventure

[arrowfanman]

Ok…I just got back from a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disney’s California Adventure, and I have a trip report for you guys. So lets start with the Knott’s Berry Farm half (I'll do DCA next post)...

 

Knott’s Berry Farm

 

This was the fourth time in my life that I had been to Knott’s. I don’t normally get to go. Its one of the few parks that I can still feel that childish feeling of anticipation as I near it, searching for the Knott’s skyline, wondering how much longer it will take. We wanted to turn this two-park trip into a vacation feeling trip, so even though I live 56 miles from Knott’s, we booked a room at the Knott’s resort hotel. Once we parked at the hotel, we walked right to the park.

 

As soon as I saw Silver Bullet’s cobra roll over the top of the park entrance, a HUGE smile came to my face. Silver Bullet would be my 50th coaster. I KNOW, I KNOW! Its not much at all! But I rarely get a chance to leave So Cal, so what you see is what I got! We got right into the park, and headed to Silver Bullet.

 

Silver Bullet

The line was in the switchback under the transfer track, and in all, only took about 35 minutes….that included waiting for the front too. The ride was a load of fun! It offered awesome views. Its true what they say about it having no force though. I mean, it has forces, but no “wow” feeling forces. Even when I was in line, I even said “boy…that looks kind of slow.” But I still thought it was fun. In the end, I was just glad to have ridden it.

 

After Silver Bullet, it was off to Xcelerator. I love Xcelerator. It is one of my all time favorites!

 

Xcelerator

We got in line for Xcelerator. The line wasn’t even 1/2 way down the ramp up to the station. My sister and I got in line for the front…I take that back. We got in line for the FRONT CAR.

 

In line for the front CAR.

 

I wish I had read the sign more carefully. The line probably took 35-40 minutes, and in the end, we got row 2. This was a huge disappointment for me. We waited all that time for row two, because Xcelerator loads by car, not by row.

 

Me in row...2.

 

It’s a stupid system. It’s a disappointment, because the back is better on Xcelerator, and I could have gotten that in a 15 minute wait.

 

Im the one with my hands up, in...row 2.

 

Me squinting after that amazing ride. I love it!

 

(sorry for the very noticible lack of pics/unnecessary pics. I only have what my dad took...lol)

 

After Xcelerator, I started getting hungry, but I decided to hold it off for a ride on Supreme Scream.

 

Supreme Scream

I personally love this ride. I always get off thinking “Hell yea! Lets do it again!” But I cant deny that I get awfully nervous as we slowly rise up. I keep thinking to myself “aren’t we at the top yet?” My sister was even more scared. But as soon as we finally drop, I am shouting “yea!!!” for the rest of the ride.

 

Lunch

For lunch, I had a Beef Colorado from one of the Mexican places. It didn’t cost much, and tasted very good for So Cal theme park food! Lol. And it was real beef! When I ordered a chicken burrito at SFMM, it tasted like Chicken noodle soup in a tortilla…lol.

 

Jaguar

The last time I was at Knott’s with my family, Jaguar was the new ride. Lol. We rode it after lunch. We didn’t want to do anything too big, on the account that we just ate, so it was perfect. Its nice and mellow as usual. I prefer Goldrusher though! Hell yea!

 

When we got off of Jaguar, I heard some lady shout to her friend, “guess who I just saw?!?…Snoop Dog!” Being at Knott’s, I assumed that she meant Snoopy the dog, as Knott’s is home to the Peanuts characters. But when I met up with my parents, they said “we just saw “Snoop Doggy Dog”. So Snoop Dog was there when we were. We headed to the Timber Mountain Log Ride, as it was getting hot out. When we were there, we saw Snoop Dog with some friends, and a few children. He just got of the ride, so we got a few pictures.

 

The other Snoopy.

 

We didn’t ride the log ride yet, as the line was too long, so we headed to the Calico Mine Ride.

 

Calico Mine Ride

This ride was a nice break in the day. It was air conditioned and had the Pirates of the Caribbean smell of stagnant water. So I was relaxed…lol. However, I don’t think it was very smart to put a small stream directly next to the queue, as I was unwillingly made part of a water fight.

Pre-water fight.

 

After the Calico Mine Ride, it was time for Ghostrider. I had never been on it. The two times I was there, the line was either too long, or it was my friends birthday, and he didn’t like the ride, so I didn’t complain on his birthday. He complained that it was too bumpy. Ghostrider was an…..interesting ride.

 

Ghostrider

I have never ever thought on a ride “This could quite possibly be the best ride I have ever been on” and “This could quite possibly be the worst ride I have ever been on” at the near same time. That is, until I rode Ghostrider. We waited about 40 minutes for the back, just like a friend of mine had suggested. I assumed it was for airtime and ejector hills. Boy he was right! We started accelerating before our car had even crested at the lift, and were flung over the drop. An AMAZING feeling. We experienced a lot of bumping at the bottom though. It seemed that, whenever we were on top of a hill, I was in heaven, and whenever we were in-between hills, I was in hell. That ride, in combination with me lugging a huge backpack around a lot of the day, contributed to hurting my back. I still feel it now, two days later. The ride also had too many laterals.

 

I would definitely ride it again…If someone said “lets go ride it”. But I wouldn’t suggest it…lol.

 

We then headed on. We rode Silver Bullet again. The line was in the station, and they had probably 8 ride ops in the station….yet it took a long time, especially for two train operation. I think this crew might pass up Dejavu’s crew for being the “crappiest crew of the week!”

 

Montezuma’s Revenge

After Silver Bullet, we went to Montezuma’s Revenge. This ride had a line in the station, and had 2 ride ops. One was in the booth, and one was single-handedly checking restraints. And yet, we got on WAY faster than on Silver Bullet. So I applaud that crew!

 

Boomerang

At the end of the day, we saw Boomerang with a short line so we rode it. With the exception of two not so painful but expected bumps, the ride was an excellent one. Yes, I dare say that.

 

We did a couple of other rides after and in-between what I have mentioned. We also did a TON of re-rides. Yet at the end of the day, I felt a sense of disappointment. Most all of the ride ops were lazy and slow, with the exception of a few who looked like they wanted to kill me. I had a few rude ride ops, and the only kind one was this really really nice lady who chatted with us at Xcelerator. Silver Bullet and Ghostrider didn’t live up to my hopes, my sister didn’t want to do some of the flats, and it was more crowded than I was used too. Oh well…there’s one thing that always cheers me up!:

 

 

Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant

Sure, we had to wait 40 minutes, but for 13 bucks, I got:

-A ton of biscuits

-1 salad

-1 soup

-3 pieces of tasty fried chicken (breast, thigh, leg)

-Good mashed potatoes

-Corn

and to wash it all down (included in the 13 bucks)

-An AWESOME piece of Boysenberry Pie with Vanilla Ice-cream on the top (Ice cream was free...even though I had to request it).

We left the restaurant feeling painfully full! I love that place. It’s a great deal, and has pretty good food too.

 

So that made the day better…lol.

 

California Adventure report coming up soon, so dont go away!

[J man]

We rode Silver Bullet again. The line was in the station, and they had probably 8 ride ops in the station….yet it took a long time, especially for two train operation. I think this crew might pass up Dejavu’s crew for being the “crappiest crew of the week!”

 

Hmm that's interesting. When I was there, there were only like 4 ride ops and they were running 3 trains. When we were waiting a ride op came over the speaker and said that they had dispached 16 trains in the last half hour! Needless to say we didn't have to wait for Silver Bullet very long.

[arrowfanman]

Silver Bullet only has 2 trains. But your right...earlier in the day, the line was moving much faster...I just got it at a crappy time.

[coasterdude5]

I love that pic of Xcelerater, all there is is sky and track! Great TR!

 

***600th Post***

[arrowfanman]

Thanks!

 

Well, here goes DCA:

(once again...sorry about the lack of/unnecessary amout of photos...my dad took them):

 

Ok…I know we are all just hearing about the accident on California Screamin’, but Jahan’s trip reports are supposed to be a happy occasion! So lets not bicker and argue about the incident. Lets all celebrate the second half of Jahan’s trip report!

 

Part 2

Disney’s California Adventure

 

Us at the entrance plaza fountain.

 

I was already really tired by time we woke up, but I was going to DCA, so who cares? You see, I rarely get to go to DCA (it really isn’t worth 56 bucks for a 4 person family to go often). We had a Katella McDonalds breakfast, and we were off. I navigated to the Mickey and Friends Parking. The tram lines weren’t very long, so I knew they day shouldn’t be too bad. We got into the park not long after opening, and immediately FastPassed Soarin’ Over California. We then made our way through the park to Grizzly River Rapids.

 

Grizzly River Rapids

The line was actually only posted as 20 minutes long, and took even less time than that. The ride is very slow at first. It takes awhile to get out of the station, and up the lift. But once it gets going, it can be really fun! I love how you don’t know whose gonna get the splash of the drop!

 

I didn’t really get wet though, and it was starting to heat up already. We then made our way all the way down to Paradise Pier. We then did Mulholland Madness.

 

Mulholland Madness

This ride may be just a mouse coaster hidden behind a zig zag wall, but its still a load of fun! We did it twice, because the line was only 5-10 minutes. I rarely get mouse coasters, and I wish SFMM traded Flashback out for one…lol. We then went to Maliboomer before using of Soarin’ Fastpasses

 

Maliboomer

I personally like the Maliboomer much more than Supreme Scream…sure, its WAY shorter, but you get way more air on the launched towers than the drop towers. (Not to mention, I feel less of that nerve-racking anticipation). So Maliboomer was way fun…In fact, we did it 3 or 4 more times during the day, because of low lines. Another thing I noticed, was that the announcer that told you how to buckle up (refers to himself AS Maliboomer) sounded a lot like Fry from Futurama…anyone know if its him?

 

Is this...Maliboomer?

Soarin’ Over California

We decided to use our FastPasses for Soarin’. I noticed that the CM taking the FP tickets was the same traffic control CM I was talking to in Frontierland on the day of the 50th, so I thought that was kind of cool. I was debating if I should ask to wait for row B1 (top middle seats [best seats in the house]), But we had waited so long, that I decided not to. To my luck, we ended up getting row B1 anyway, and it was the best ride I have ever had on Soarin! If I HAD to take Walt to DCA (assuming he was alive, and for some reason hadn’t’ been in the park), that would be the ride I would show him.

 

But after Soarin’, we went to the REAL reason I wanted to be at DCA:

Can you guess what it is?

 

Can you guess now?

 

What about now?

 

AHHA! We found you!

 

The Tower of Terror

[POSSIBLE SPOILERS]

Disney takes one extra step in their park design, which truly sets them apart: they build and use models…3d storyboarding. It was evident, because the Tower was specifically placed to look menacing from every point in the park, and it worked! We showed up to that AWESOME structure to get a FastPass, but we saw that the wait was 13 (ha!) minutes, and walked into the lobby. The lobby was so immersive, that I immediately felt like I was in a Disney park (Most of DCA doesn’t do that for me). We made our way into the pre-show room, and saw the clip. That was pretty cool, how they set the whole thing up. This room was ALSO very immerse. They literally have books and cups set up on a table you stand next to, and do-dads on the walls. I know they were all pinned down, but it looked as if they trusted us as GUESTS…very nice.

 

When the Pre-show was over, it was off to the broiler/loading room. Also very immersive. Buttons on the wall to press, employee check in/check out thing, all within reach. We finally got up, were assigned row 3.

 

Now THIS feels like Disney!

 

I was really excited. When we loaded our bellhop was kind of boring, but we didn’t know till we got another one later that did the whole spiel…that was cool. When it started, I was blown away. Sure, the ride is short, but while it lasts, it is the most amazing ride. The special effects are extraordinary! On the first floor, you’ll be looking at yourself in a mirror, and then your silhouette turns green and blue and distorted, and then you image disappears altogether. On the next floor you’re in a hallway, and then the hallway all of a sudden disappears, and your in space. AMAZING effects. After that you do a series of drop sequences, and then the ride is over. I couldn’t help but think “wow” when I got off. Sure the ride is short, but I personally believe that it is the most “Disney” of all of the DCA attractions. That’s why I love it.

[END OF SPOILERS]

 

Our photo...I made it small because it was blurry.

 

 

After the Tower, it was back to Paradise Pier to FastPass California Screamin’. When we got there, we saw an empty train sitting on the launch. ****! It had broken down. So instead we had lunch.

 

Lunch

We didn’t REALLY have a real lunch. We decided to have ice cream instead. I got a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Sandwich. Apart from being initially rock hard, it ended up being pretty good.

 

We then browsed the shops, and decided to ride Maliboomer again. When we were waiting for it, we saw California Screamin’ testing. By time we were off, it was up and running again. We FastPassed it. The good thing about Screamin’ is my parents wont ride it. Therefore, I could use their tickets to get 4 FP’s for my sister and I. Two rides for me! Besides that, the line was short, so we just went in the stand by, and got on in 20 minutes.

 

California Screamin’

You know another thing I like about Disney? They assign seats to get the line moving faster, but will give you your seat of choice upon request. So we got on the front seat in the matter of two trains. I forgot how much I love this ride! The launch isn’t intense, but the ride is STILL smooth (way smoother than Scream! [which is 1.5 years younger]). The ride provides a BUTTLOAD of airtime. I will definitely hop right back in line after it reopens…if it reopens…lol.

BTW...I the guy that says "get ready screamers!" sounds just like the Maliboomer guy, who sounds just like Fry! Is Fry the Screamin guy too?!?

 

Its Tough to Be a Bug

I had not seen the show before, so I thought “why not?” My sister didn’t really want to, but went along. The whole ride kind of had a “Slash Mountain feel” to it (just in how the rockwork was), so I felt pretty good about the environment. The show was ok. I would see it again if I felt like it.

 

The rest of the day was spent re-riding stuff. I know it doesn’t seem like we did much, but I enjoyed myself more than I did at Knott’s which is very surprising. But I will give you insight for our food and entertainment:

 

Dinner

For dinner we actually left the park, and went to the LaBrea Bakery, that sits behind the Soarin’ building. I just wanted a burger, and it was ok. This is one of those restaurants that are trying to be fancy when they don’t need to be! Lol. I just liked that I could hear the Indy Ball while we ate!!!

 

Block Party Bash

All and all, I wasn’t really impressed by this. I mean, I have never really cared for parades. I only saw a sliver of the show, but I was just expecting more out of it. I know the entertainers are working REALLY hard, but I just couldn’t get into the “celebration”.

 

Aladdin: The Musical

Us in front of Aladdin.

I didn’t know what to expect from a musical in a theme park, but we decided to do it anyway. By time we got in to the theatre, I was hungry. I over heard someone say the show was 48 minutes, and I was like “****”. So I didn’t start off in the best mood. But as the show progressed, it ended up being pretty good. My favorite character was the Genie. I don’t think he lived up to Robin Williams, but he did a pretty good job, and got pretty close. A lot of his jokes were very modern (referencing Tom Cruise and Katie Holms, or Napoleon Dynamite)…he did a pretty good job. Also the set design was VERY far out and VERY cool. I liked that a lot. But of course, what I like the most, was in the “Whole New World” sequence, Aladdin and Jasmine actually “fly” over the audience on the Magic Carpet. They are moving pretty fast, they are very high, they are moving all around smoothly, and yet keeping their balance and singing well. So that was cool. P.S. Every Arab country has 1/2 naked ladies bellydancing through the streets!

 

Disney’s Electrical Parade

I forget the last time I saw the Electrical, so we ran up and did that. It was a lot of fun, and I am glad I did that. It is the only parade I have really liked. It’s a lot of fun to just explore the different floats. My favorite float is the Dumbo float with the organ pipes on it, and how steam comes out of each pipe PERFECTLY with the music. That was cool. Its also cool to see the parades’ reflection on the Bay. That’s pretty cool too.

 

Well, that’s its for California Adventure! I had a lot of fun! I am going to SFMM this week, so if that trip is any good, I will post another TR for that! Thanks for readin!

 

Me, after a long TR!

[maliboomer]

Maliboomer

I personally like the Maliboomer much more than Supreme Scream

 

As you should *glares*. Great TR!

 

Edit: Now that I think about it, the guy on Ca Screamin does sound like Fry! Oh and was the soundtrack working?

[arrowfanman]

Of the 3 times I rode it, it worked only once. And even then, it only worked from the station to the launch, and on the lift hill. Thats either because the wind was so loud that I couldn't hear it, or because it only played during those parts.

[maliboomer]

Thats what usually all that happens, you hear it from the station to the 54321 then up the lift hill.

[Coasterkid20]

Great TR, I too just went to knott's a ferw weeks ago, and what I find funny in the last 4 years I've gone to knott's at least once a year, this time I went twice in the matter of like 4 months and at the Winter Coaster Solace it had been running basically the best I had ever ridden, and then just a few weeks ago there were 2 spots that had become so Horribly rough I was shocked. I was shocked that it had gone from being the best and smoothest in years to the worst and roughest in years. But in there defense knotts does run the CRAP out of that coaster, every time I've gone it has been open ALL day and 90% of the time running both trains.....

[SonOfBeastSucks]

Your DCA TR was EXCEPTIONAL! It sounds like I should of gone there instead of SFMM!

[maliboomer]

^Well duh!

[BiCoastal Kid]

^^What would have made you think any different? :shock:

[SonOfBeastSucks]

^Because I'm an idiot who eneded up not riding X, not liking Goliath all that well, who had a bad experence of RR and whose favorite ride in the park was an over-used clone built over a parking lot. Also, I thought DCA would be a waste of time because it was built on 55 small acres where a parking lot used to be. Now, I didn't get to experence it and may not be back for ten years!

[4718]

Heh, we went to Knott's on Thursday, did they have the General Lee out in front for you guys too? That was the beginning of a good trip for me.

 

BTW, you look oddly familiar.........hmmmmm.......