Knoebels Discussion Thread

[PCW_Nut]

Speaking as someone who has only been there once I will say this. Don't plan too much. Go, have fun, try everything, and just enjoy. Its such an amazing park and environment going in with too much of a game plan in my eyes would ruin in a bit.

 

As for dogs, I know for sure the boat ride allows dogs.

 

In regards to food, eat everything. The corn nuggets were amazing as is the pizza. Try to find some White Birch Beer too as that was pretty good.

 

Aside from that, just go and enjoy. It is easily my new favorite park.

[larrygator]

I have seen dogs on the train and boat ride, not sure what other rides can accommodate a well behaved dog.

 

Please note, much of Knoebels is unpaved. Not sure what type of chair your dad has, I've seen all types of chairs manuevering around Knoebels.

 

Food wise - I hate to even recommend anything since everyone has different tastes. I love the snacks at Totem Treats (Corn Nuggets and Cheese on a Stick) along with the Fried Pierogies. Other people love Cesari's pizza, better than typical amusement park pizza, but not great if you are a pizza afficianado. However, at the International Food Court you will find the most food variety (even Tacos made with gyro meat). If you get to the park before it opens you can even get breakfast food in the International Food Court (good French Toast).

 

As far as planning your day just walk around to take in the rides as you see them, you really don't need a game plan if you spend the whole day there. If the line is short for the Bumper Cars, I like riding them over and over.

 

If rain is in the forecast, although many rides will run only Black Diamond, Haunted Mansion, Grand Carousel and Cosmotron are under cover. The Fascination Parlor is a great place to take a break and play a few games.

[PAL]

I enjoyed the pork chop on a stick. Fresh, well seasoned and delicious and only a couple of bucks - maybe three. The frozen sweet tea was another winner. There's a lot of tasty stuff at the park.

[coasterfreak101]

^At the same place, there's also caramel apple pork chop on a stick. Only $4, and pretty good!

[Rai Fox]

Really, don't worry too much about planning. I don't think you can possibly go to Knoebels and not have an amazing day. You're going to have fun. You're going to want to get on every one of the rides that you've never been on before, you're going to want to try every snack that catches your eye, or your nose. I've never seen crowds bad enough that the park took any real planning; you'll be able to get on everything you want. There's plenty there to spread the crowds out, and the park staff keeps lines moving incredibly quickly, especially on the major rides.

 

As far as dogs, yes, it's true. There are dogs all over the park! I've never seen another park anywhere that I can say that about. That's the one thing to keep in mind though; LOTS of dogs. Your dog won't be the only one there. If he/she doesn't react well to other dogs, the park isn't going to appreciate a dogfight in the middle of a path (I've seen it happen before), and obviously it will need to be well behaved around a lot of strangers. If it is the type of dog to like being around a lot of other animals and people though, it'll have almost as good a time there as you will.

[alilstronger]

I never plan when I go to the park. I always just pick a ride and move around from ride to ride from there. Everything about this park is awesome!! I love that is the one of the ONLY parks I ever been to with fresh brewed iced tea!!! No corporate parks ever have it.

[molemaster43]

Make sure you hit Flume. Flume is a great log flume that doesn't get you too wet. If you want to get soaked, ride Sklooosh.

[ginzo]

As far as dogs, yes, it's true. There are dogs all over the park! I've never seen another park anywhere that I can say that about. That's the one thing to keep in mind though; LOTS of dogs. Your dog won't be the only one there. If he/she doesn't react well to other dogs, the park isn't going to appreciate a dogfight in the middle of a path (I've seen it happen before), and obviously it will need to be well behaved around a lot of strangers. If it is the type of dog to like being around a lot of other animals and people though, it'll have almost as good a time there as you will.

 

Another thing to consider is that some dogs dislike loud noises. We saw a boxer at Knoebels last Saturday that didn't seem to be having a good time because of the noise from the rides.

[Athletekim]

This past year my mom and I tried to limit our time to 3 hours at Knoebels so we can drive back to the hotel in the dark but we ended up staying much longer! You can't really plan on what to do when you go to Knoebels I just drift around the park and if I see something that I want to ride I go and ride it.

 

Food wise my family and I always love to eat at the International Food Court because of all the variety. Knoebels has so many other food stands too that really anywhere you eat you will get amazing food! If I could one day I would just go and try every piece of food there is. At the end of the night I always get a sundae from Old Mill Ice Cream stand! Best Sundaes ever and not that expensive and really fill you up.

 

I have never waited for a ride more than 15 minutes besides the Skooters.

 

Have a great time!

[masportster]

Also my dad is Handicapped and I want to know how accessible it will be for him and his wheel chair, and will it be enjoyable for him? Lastly i've been told you can bring your dog and even bring it on some of the rides is this true? Please give me as much advice as possible!

 

The park is wheelchair accessible, however most of the park has small crushed stone covering the ground, which may be a little more tiring than going on a paved surface.

 

As far as dogs, yes, dogs are welcome in the park and on some rides....no extra charge!! If your dog is fine around other dogs, there won't be any issues. I have seen some people bring dogs that did not interact with other dogs well at all.

 

We take our dogs all the time. They have been on the Antique Cars, Pioneer Train, Old Smokey Train, the Motorboats, the Carousel (bench seat) and once we took them through the Haunted Mansion!!! That was more for our enjoyment! They kind of just took it all in.

 

We'll be up for the Phall Phunfest next weekend. Keeps getting better every year!!

[GayCoasterGuy]

^I'm going to PPP for the first time! Very excited about it. It's a hike from Chicago, but from what I've heard - it's worth it. I hope the weather is good and dry!

 

I've only been to Knoebel's twice (1997 and 2011) and couldn't get enough of the place in one day. I'm gonna stay for Saturday and Sunday this time. From what I can tell, the park is open until 5pm on Sunday - with no PPP stuff going on after that. I'll take what I can get!

[Rastuso]

Yeah, my first PPP ever too. Tempted to bring our dog, but I don't know. Really looking forward to more Phoenix rides, and reaching for the brass ring some more.

 

-R

[masportster]

PPP is a blast and it is worth it! Hope you have a safe trip from Chicago. We're fortunate to only be a little over an hour and half from there.

 

The weather is a crap shoot this time of year. We have had weather ranging from the mid 40's and rain to mid 70's and beautiful the whole weekend. Will you be camping? That's a whole nuther experience in itself. Alot of the campsites are decorated.

 

They park will be open Saturday during the day for a separate ride pass, then later on, PPP opens up.

 

Don't miss

- Antique Cars

- Pioneer Train

- Halloween Costume Contest (some creative costumes)

- Bonfire at the Campground (Dick Knoebel usually hangs out at this and there are free hot dogs and marshmallows)

 

The park will be open Sunday too...usually starts shutting down around 5 - 6pm.

[GayCoasterGuy]

The weather is a crap shoot this time of year. We have had weather ranging from the mid 40's and rain to mid 70's and beautiful the whole weekend. Will you be camping?

 

No camping for me, I need a nice hotel bed and tv these days. My boyscout days are way behind me. I'm really looking forward to the day, I don't think I can go wrong with Knoebel's - whatever the weather may be.

 

I'm thinking of getting to the park nice and early on Saturday - maybe 9 or 10am, to get close parking (easier to go back for a jacket or hat later!) and get in to get nice sit-down brunch! I'd much rather sleep in and get to the park in the afternoon (as I'm used to doing at my home park SFGreat America) but I think it's a best bet to secure the whole day for the park!

[Jim S.]

[RaptorBoyASU]

I've been going to PPP since 2006 (with a few years that I missed). From what I've noticed, the crowd is becoming less and less enthusiASSt. Probably because it's not really a quiet event anymore. The covered bridge festival crowd keeps the park quite busy. You know how the enthusiASSes are. If they're not being coddled by management, they quit participating.

 

There are still a few around, but far less than there was the first 2 years I went.

[GayCoasterGuy]

You know how the enthusiASSes are. If they're not being coddled by management, they quit participating.

 

I think a few people will always do that (poor behavior, arrogant, etc.). They don't represent the whole group. Stereotyping is unfortunately rampant and even encouraged in our society. Just my 2 cents. I'm an "enthusiast" and I've never done any of that stuff. "A few bad apples" really do not spoil the whole bunch, unless you want them to.

 

Looks like I'm cancelling my trip. My friend from here (Chicago) can't make it and my friend from NJ I was going to meet up with at PPP had a bad car accident and can't make it either. Guess I'll save the money for the next trip! Bummed, I was really looking forward to PPP; maybe next year

[Ccron10]

I'm still going. If anyone wants to meet up, just drop me a PM.

[GayCoasterGuy]

I'm going, too I un-cancelled the trip. Can't wait for my first PPP. I have a nice stock pile of clothes, hats, gloves, coats and rain gear in my car.

[sspaz1000]

I had a great time at PPP yesterday. Most of the day it was crowded but not too crowded. Most of the crowds were over by the Covered Bridge festival. I did make my way over to the Covered Bridge side for a later lunch of awesome cheese fries and chocolate covered pineapple.

 

The only ride I didn't get on during the night was the Antique Cars. (I went on during the day, so I could see all the stuff they had set up) but planned poorly after eating and hitting up some of the other rides towards the front, and got back too late to get in line for the cars.

 

The Phoenix was running amazing as usual, and I won't even complain too much about Twister either. (I'm pretty sure I was more irritated with the girl who decided to help herself to the seat as I putting my purse aside and deciding she was having her hands up the whole time and kept elbowing me in the head. (I really should have thrown my body into hers to make her stop, lol.)

 

Also anyone else know if the Black Diamond, got some additional scenes in it? Some of the stuff on the ride yesterday looked different from when I was there in April. And it just didn't look like stuff they added in for Halloween either.

 

It's also a great time on the bumper cars when a day later you find bruises on your hands

 

People may complain about PPP no matter what, but I still find it enjoyable.

[A.J.]

Anyone who is within a reasonable driving distance of Knoebels and didn't go to to Phunfest really missed out, in my opinion. Phoenix was running very, very aggressively and it was a complete blast - and being less crowded than last year (from 6 to 10, anyway) was icing on the cake.

 

As for Black Diamond, I'm always finding new things along the ride depending on where I sit and/or look. Still really well-put together, still really loud.

 

EDIT: Though there hasn't really been much activity with the Flying Turns, three sections of transfer track have been built on the new sliding brackets. Next time!

Edited October 7, 2012 by A.J.

[Jim S.]

The only thing wrong with PPP last night was the Flyer ops. The previous two years had been pretty good, so I was surprised in a bad way.

 

This is twice now that I've seen people say that they thought there was new stuff in Black Diamond. I'm disappointed in myself for not using my free ticket now. I'd like to check it out, but I don't know if I want to pay $2.50. I wonder if it was really new stuff, or if they just changed the lighting. Last year, I thought that the lighting didn't do justice to a lot of the scenes. Anybody who thought they saw something new, I'd like to hear what it was so I can see if I remember it. When I rode it last year for the second time, the last day of the season before the snowstorm, I saw things that I didn't notice at last year's PPP.

[GayCoasterGuy]

(I'm pretty sure I was more irritated with the girl who decided to help herself to the seat as I putting my purse aside and deciding she was having her hands up the whole time and kept elbowing me in the head. (I really should have thrown my body into hers to make her stop, lol.)

 

Yikes! Some guy jumped in Twister with me and said (as we were going up the lift) "I'll try not to hit you in the head" and my first thought was "I'll try not to punch you in the mouth," but I didn't say it of course. This was my first PPP, had an incredibly great time! Good to see friends from all over and many new friends. Rode Antique cars twice last night (Saturday), and had many many rides on both Twister and Phoenix. Phoenix's first drop feels *great* with the new track. Got 4 rides on Black Diamond... everything was great, weather was cold but no rain until 5 minutes before the park shut down today (Sunday) - which was just perfect for those last few rides on Phoenix. I head back on my trek to Chicago tomorrow, but I don't wanna leave. There is too much awesomeness to absorb at Knoebel's.

[sspaz1000]

The only thing wrong with PPP last night was the Flyer ops. The previous two years had been pretty good, so I was surprised in a bad way.

 

This is twice now that I've seen people say that they thought there was new stuff in Black Diamond. I'm disappointed in myself for not using my free ticket now. I'd like to check it out, but I don't know if I want to pay $2.50. I wonder if it was really new stuff, or if they just changed the lighting. Last year, I thought that the lighting didn't do justice to a lot of the scenes. Anybody who thought they saw something new, I'd like to hear what it was so I can see if I remember it. When I rode it last year for the second time, the last day of the season before the snowstorm, I saw things that I didn't notice at last year's PPP.

 

I don't remember, what it was exactly, but it there just seemed to be new bits and pieces throughout the entire ride so it was hard to pinpoint. Each time I've ridden it, it's been different. (When it opened at last years PPP, the week after that, in april this year, and this years PPP).

 

When the group I was with got on the flyers (I don't ride as they would make me sick) a higher up had gone to the flyers ride op telling him to knock it off with the slowing down/stopping the ride when people snapped.

[RaptorBoyASU]

Had an amazing PPP, but we decided already that we will do the afternoon ride session on Sunday next year instead. The park was PACKED on Saturday afternoon, yet dead on Sunday when we went back to get our Haunted Mansion ride we missed on Sat night. However, once PPP actually started on Saturday, the crowds were smaller than in years past, and much smaller than the afternoon crowds. I got 3 Phoenix rides in the last 12 minutes the park was open.

 

Phoenix was like a bat out of hell this year. More airtime than I've ever had on it before. Thank god they redid that first drop....goodbye pothole. I have bruises on my thighs today from the evening rides. Twister was running great in the green train, but no so good in the red train. I probably had my best Twister ride ever in the front seat of the green train about 9pm. INSANE! I never knew there was that much air time on twister. Flyers ran great all day, we missed the op that was stopping the ride due to too much snapping. They were running them so fast that I didn't even try to snap, and ended up getting both bottom and top snaps.

 

The weather looked like it was going to be not so great on the drive up Friday, but by the time the rides started on Saturday, it was a beautiful (though chilly day). And best of all, I got my tubs of Pumpkin Rice Pudding (and Banana Cream), my jar of Sassafras Apple Butter, and my jug of fresh pressed cider.