The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread

[Cole H]

I was driving there the other day and was thinking how cool the Windseeker will look from the freeway. The sky tower would be cool the keep if it was running right, but if I'm not mistaken, it got stuck two or three times this past year.

Imagine If WindSeeker got stuck half the way up

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

It would take alot of churro grease to pry it back down

[robbalvey]

Just posted some pretty kick ass Knott's WCB news:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1012091#p1012091

[robbalvey]

More WCB tickets have been released! Get them now! http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=22

[coasternut]

Some type of filming is going on this morning at Knotts. I went to the nearby McDonalds and noticed a crane with movie lights pointed towards Ghostrider on the east side of Beach. The train was running at 8:15 with people on it already abusing their bodies on this ride. It seems like something is always happening here in So Cal...

[R.C.]

Some type of filming is going on this morning at Knotts. I went to the nearby McDonalds and noticed a crane with movie lights pointed towards Ghostrider on the east side of Beach. The train was running at 8:15 with people on it already abusing their bodies on this ride. It seems like something is always happening here in So Cal...

 

Posted on the Knott's Berry Farm Twitter account earlier today:

Commercial Shoot Day 2: GhostRider Up 1st (@ Knott's Berry Farm)

 

@knottsbrryfarm

[rosscoe]

Spent last Wednesday at Knotts ( damn airline crewing, if they sent me out a few days later, I would have been at West Coast Bash! )

 

Arrived at the park ten minutes before opening, maybe a couple of hundred people waiting to get into the park, the day started with the American nation anthem ( and to the woman who made comment that I never looked at the flag, nor placed my hand on my heart. Um sweetheart I am not American and it's not my flag! )

 

I think apart from Ghostrider, all the parks other coasters where closed at opening. Some not coming online till after 11.00am. The first ride of the day was Calico Mine Ride, was rather disapointed when the Calico Glory Hole was not what I was hoping.

 

Hit Silver bullet next, walk on for the first four rides and than hit over 90 minutes waiting as the day went on.

 

The highlight and the major surpise was Ghostrider, had heard awful things about this coaster, but after waiting over 90 minutes to ride and Knotts finally working out that adding a second train would help things along ( something that was sadly lacking at Silver Bullet for the rest of the day ) I ended up in the front row and had smooth, fast, hell of a ride, the other six rides back seat, front and everywhere in between where just as good ( the airtime in the back was a nice surpise ) and this was my favorite coaster of the day.

 

Hit all the other coasters in the park during the rest of the day, most lines under 30 minutes ( bar Silver Bullet ).

 

Knotts was filming there new TV spot during the course of the day, this had been my first visit to the park since 1988.

 

Overall a fun day.

Ten minutes before opening

I love me some pretzel

One of the top ten log flumes

Scary chikdren singing aka the new Knotts ad

They just wouldn't stop, please someone make them go away!

[coasternut]

Spent last Wednesday at Knotts ( damn airline crewing, if they sent me out a few days later, I would have been at West Coast Bash! )

 

Arrived at the park ten minutes before opening, maybe a couple of hundred people waiting to get into the park, the day started with the American nation anthem ( and to the woman who made comment that I never looked at the flag, nor placed my hand on my heart. Um sweetheart I am not American and it's not my flag! )

 

I think apart from Ghostrider, all the parks other coasters where closed at opening. Some not coming online till after 11.00am. The first ride of the day was Calico Mine Ride, was rather disapointed when the Calico Glory Hole was not what I was hoping.

 

Hit Silver bullet next, walk on for the first four rides and than hit over 90 minutes waiting as the day went on.

 

The highlight and the major surpise was Ghostrider, had heard awful things about this coaster, but after waiting over 90 minutes to ride and Knotts finally working out that adding a second train would help things along ( something that was sadly lacking at Silver Bullet for the rest of the day ) I ended up in the front row and had smooth, fast, hell of a ride, the other six rides back seat, front and everywhere in between where just as good ( the airtime in the back was a nice surpise ) and this was my favorite coaster of the day.

 

Hit all the other coasters in the park during the rest of the day, most lines under 30 minutes ( bar Silver Bullet ).

 

Knotts was filming there new TV spot during the course of the day, this had been my first visit to the park since 1988.

 

Overall a fun day.

 

It's typical for Knotts on weekdays to open most of the park at 11. Normally, Ghostrider and Silver Bullet are the few that are open at 10. A fast SMOOTH ride on Ghostrider??? What kind of meds were you on? I was there on Thursday and it was typically rough. I'm glad you enjoyed. Silver Bullet train 2 is down for maintenance. You can see it from the loading platform. Nice pictures. My personal fav there is Xclerator.

[A113]

I am possibly going tomorrow, but I have news of possibility of rainfall.. does Knott's operate their rides in the Rain?

[SharkTums]

^Recent history has not been kind to Knott's in the rain. With an event there tomorrow though, I'm sure the park will do whatever it can.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I hope that with all this rain, Knott's had a decent amount of rides open. I know how much they try, but the weather....really came out of left field this weekend.

[fpsphil]

they tried to keep most of the rides open for us yesterday but after q and a pretty much everything was down. I still don't get why Silver bullet wasn't running in the rain since i've ridden Flight Deck at CGA in the pouring rain before without a problem. You would think that Silver Bullet wouldn't have a problem either but ohh well I guess. Still was an awesome day with no lines all morning.

[chadster]

I took Ghostrider in the rear on both trains this morning before the rains came, neither ride made me cringe, and actually it wasn't bad. After the rains, I took it in the front, somewhat smoother up front, but nothing drastic. I think I have to agree with the presentation yesterday, their testing indicated the ride was running smoother than in years past. I had already thought that before the presentation compared to October of last year. Sure, it's a little rough, but it's not Mean Streak rough or Texas Giant rough in it's later years. Call me crazy, but I enjoyed my rides on it the last few days The only exception being a middle car ride that I was bouncing around on, but that was mostly my own fault

[6flagsbrad]

Me and my friend were trying to take advantage of the free photo voucher on Ghostrider, but never got the chance to buy one. We ended up riding it about five times, and all five had my eyes closed. What luck. Great day with no lines and best theme park lunch I've ever had.

[BigDipper 80]

I'm always intrigued by the poor operations that everyone talks about at Knott's. Is Cedar Point just an exception to the rule and CF's other parks aren't as fantastic in the operations department, or is it the other way around and it's only Knott's that can't run its coasters at full capacity every day?

[Jhcbiinoc]

Major thanks to KBF for giving us one of the wettest and wildest ERT sessions I have ever been to last night. They had closed to the GP but went out of their way to keep the few rides they could operate in such a nasty rainstorm open for us and although it was wet and cold, it was a BLAST!

 

I think the reason for Silver Bullet not being able to run in that kind of rain would have something to do with the brake run being so out in the open and exposed, although I can't be certain. Believe me, as much as it was coming down, I think ERT on Bullet would have been extremely painful; the front row ride I had on Scream in the rain on Saturday at SFMM was pretty painful, to the point that I could have stayed on for a second and did not.

 

Different topic, in re Windseeker: I had seen this posted online but did not see it in any of the Windseeker construction-check out the ride seats for WIndseeker. Even though they are not the chairs on chains as the Star Flyer have they are VERY minimalist and open for being 300 feet in the air:

 

http://twitpic.com/49rtfx

 

I am now officially terrified of riding this when it opens. I'm not saying I won't, but I have not been this nervous about a ride in I cannot remember how long!

[PAL]

^Wow, those are deliciously open and exposed.

 

KBF was fantastic yesterday. The back stage tours - I don't see how a walk in the flume of an amusement classic could be topped. Xcellerator's innards were fascinating too, so complex. Say what you will about Intamin cables, it didn't look evil sitting calmly on its spool. Tons of thanks to Knott's for the gracious hospitality, and to TPR for another amazing WCB.

[jray21]

I will be doing a full report soon, but I wanted to let all the people who missed the Knott's day know that they missed one of the absolute best "Bash" days ever! And that's with me only riding 2 coasters the entire day!!!! Ghostrider was definitely running a lot better! Still a little rough, but definitely better than in the past. Xcelerator was still incredible, even after all of these years. As a previous member posted, it really was like there was ERT all day. Xcelerator had about a two train wait.

 

The tours were absolutely incredible! I hope that next year we can walk through the closed attraction, "Great Moments with Jeff Johnson... and Family." The food was really really good (although I was really looking forward to another specialty funnel cake *hint* next year *hint), and the unlimited berry soda at lunch was worth the entire cost of the the event. The T-shirts were amazing as well, and it was super incredibly cool for them to do that for us. The free photo and group photo discount were also an awesome surprise. You could really tell that Knott's tried very hard to put on the best bash and I really think it was! I know that financially they probably took a huge hit that day (there was barely anyone there and pretty much everything was running, including the kids area) but I have already told my family and friends that they have to go visit Knott's the next time they are there. So everyone who was there (and of course everyone on TPR) should seriously tell EVERYONE how awesome Knott's was so that they will do this again next year! In fact, I already talked my sister to pass on one day at Disney for Knott's during Haunt. She doesn't like being scared too much, so hopefully there will be someone there to yell in her ear and freak her out, "KILL YOURSELF!" (inside joke for us in the Q&A session) Speaking of the Q&A session, it was hilarious! It was like a theme park celebrity roast, who's line is it anyway, stand up comedy, and a serious chat about theme parks all rolled into one! Although, I didn't like how Jeff avoided the question (i won't reveal who asked it *Cough* Diabetes *Cough*) about why is he so short. I am also somewhat vertically challenged and would have loved to receive some fellow shorty support . THANKS KNOTT'S, and of course, THANK YOU TPR for an absolutely incredible day!

 

Me and my friend were trying to take advantage of the free photo voucher on Ghostrider, but never got the chance to buy one. We ended up riding it about five times, and all five had my eyes closed. What luck. Great day with no lines and best theme park lunch I've ever had.

 

In our picture everyone was covering their face with their hoods so you couldn't really tell who was who!

 

This might seem really out of place... but does anyone know what's going on with Perilous Plnuge? We drove by the other day to see it all white. Now I know they've primed the ride before- before painting, but I don't recall the ENTIRE LIFT with its handrails being painted too.

 

And also... Sweet Mercy, that drop looked dirty.

 

According to the Q&A session yesterday, it is just going through a re-furb and will open up again.

 

I took Ghostrider in the rear on both trains this morning before the rains came

[Chrisrad]

I will also have a full report coming, but I just wanted to add a few things. Yes, Ghostrider did seem A LOT smoother than in the past. I rode on rows 2 and 4 and was actually wondering where the really bad rough spots went; yes, it was jerky, and jostled me around a bit, bit it was definitely re-rideable.

 

The lunch was awesome - I was seriously hoping for fried chicken all morning; my wishes were answered, and then exceeded.

 

The tours were amazing. I must admit, I only rode a few rides yesterday - with the Q & A, lunch, tours, etc., I was beyond satisfied, and have a better understanding of Knott's and its history.

 

Thank you TPR and Knott's for such an incredible experience.

 

I apologize for some of my questions at Q & A - they had to do with Chickens and Pony Express.

[coasternut]

^KBF was fantastic yesterday. The back stage tours - I don't see how a walk in the flume of an amusement classic could be topped. Xcellerator's innards were fascinating too, so complex. Say what you will about Intamin cables, it didn't look evil sitting calmly on its spool. Tons of thanks to Knott's for the gracious hospitality, and to TPR for another amazing WCB.

 

I do not enjoy the rain at all, but the tour of Xcelerator sounded amazing! I would've given anything to see the "innards." I wonder if it wasn't raining if you would've gotten such a complete tour like you did???

[Chrisrad]

^KBF was fantastic yesterday. The back stage tours - I don't see how a walk in the flume of an amusement classic could be topped. Xcellerator's innards were fascinating too, so complex. Say what you will about Intamin cables, it didn't look evil sitting calmly on its spool. Tons of thanks to Knott's for the gracious hospitality, and to TPR for another amazing WCB.

 

I do not enjoy the rain at all, but the tour of Xcelerator sounded amazing! I would've given anything to see the "innards." I wonder if it wasn't raining if you would've gotten such a complete tour like you did???

 

The rain didn't really start until after the Q & A was over; yes, there was some sprinkling and wetness earlier in the day, but no downpour until at least 5 pm.

 

The tour guides were all awesome. The one from Xcelerator allowed us to ask as many questions as possible - he didn't hesitate to answer them, or rush us.

 

Random fact - an Xcelerator cable is $17,000, plus shipping and installation.

[fatdaddy]

^KBF was fantastic yesterday. The back stage tours - I don't see how a walk in the flume of an amusement classic could be topped. Xcellerator's innards were fascinating too, so complex. Say what you will about Intamin cables, it didn't look evil sitting calmly on its spool. Tons of thanks to Knott's for the gracious hospitality, and to TPR for another amazing WCB.

 

I do not enjoy the rain at all, but the tour of Xcelerator sounded amazing! I would've given anything to see the "innards." I wonder if it wasn't raining if you would've gotten such a complete tour like you did???

 

As Robb has said many times, the rain didn't dampen (pun not intended) anyones spirits. The rain actually made the crowds lighter, and although the rides closed off and on, I got quite a few rides in. I'm pretty sure the tours were arranged before hand, and were awesome. You could tell that Knott's took some pride in putting things together for us, they really went all out. The rain didn't really start pouring until after Q and A, at which time I notice catawampus got a lot of visitors. I mean it seemed like everyone was really into the event and no matter what mother nature threw at us we found a way to have fun.

 

I gotta say that the surprise early ERT in the rain was amazing. We were just getting ready to leave, when Robb gave us the ERT schedule. Then "just one ride" on Sidewinder turned into three rides, and somehow ended on the Log Ride about an hour later. I was cold, tired and wet, but wouldn't have missed it for anything.

[gdoggy1678]

Here is a short video i made of the behind the scene tour of Xcelerator!

For me this was the highlight of the whole event and was truly awesome! The smell of the hydraulic room alone would have been worth it!

[Mechanic]

Thank you Knott's and TPR for providing such a great day on Sunday. With the weather we had, this day could have easily been a ho-hum washout, but TPR and the staff at Knott's both went WAY above and beyond the call to show us an awesome time. Days like this make me proud to be a TPR member. I know the parks involved in WCB really appreciate the enthusiasts of TPR and I just want them to know how much I appreciate them as well. You guys, and gals, simply amazed me with the level of service provided. I come into these events with high expectations based on how great past events have been and I'm never disappointed. In fact, somehow, and I honestly have no idea how you manage to do it, you outdo yourselves with each new opportunity. You can count on me attending every WCB event and also visiting your park any time I'm in the area, as well as recommending your park to all my friends and family.

[gdoggy1678]

Here is a video of the tour of inside the the Timber mountain log ride.