Help Planning Trip To SFMM LA

Hi,

My wife and I have scraped together enough money for a trip to LA in the late fall. The one thing we can't stretch to is a rental car as it has cost more than we had budgeted already and I'm not that confident at driving round LA either.

Question is how easy/expensive would it be to get public or private transport to 6 Flags from a hotel in Hollywood. Same question regarding Knott's Berry really.

We did Orlando/Tampa last year and have booked a trip back there next year but the West Coast parks sound like another league. We also have plans to do Alton Towers and Blackpool back here this month so it could be quite a intense end to 2001 if it is practical to get about in LA without a car.

Cheers for any help anyone can offer,

Andy
UK based Coaster Fan.

Andy I'm going in November I live in cleveland, OH and I'm renting a car from Payless for 3 days and the total for (3) days is 60 buck you might wont to try them - when are you going? payless # is 1-800-729-5377

ALL CLEAR

Well the plan is mid-November to mid-December, we're not sure how busy it's going to be over Thanksgiving but that looks like an opportunity when the park is open mid-week rather than just the weekends.

Is there a website for Payless? International calls are barred from my office. Are you saying public transport is a 'no-go' ?

Cheers,

Andy

Here's who I am renting from for my trip in October. I don't know how good they are, but their prices are great.
http://www.foxrentacar.com/

For a three day rental (I guessed dates of 11/22-11/25 for you) in a compact car, it would be $53.70 +tax.

Another good place to check for rates (hotel and car rental) is http://www.orbitz.com

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"It's Deja Vu all over again." - Yogi Berra

Yes, trust me, you do NOT want to go through LA without a car. Public transportation is VERY hard to find/very expensive. Worst public transportation in the world. If I were you, I would just find the cheapest rental car available, and just go with that. You'd save money anyway...

OK I'm sold on the car issue even though I'm not looking forward to negotiating the Parking lot then the streets of LA after a 13 hour flight!

How busy is the park likely to be in the Nov-Dec period, including Thanksgiving?

Just in case you want another angle, I took a taxi from Woodland Hills (north of Malibu, west of Hollywood) to SFMM and it cost about $60 one-way.  Probably would be less from Hollywood.  This is a good option if you a) want to go further into debt, and b) are a little concerned about driving in a city that has 1,000,000 interstate intersecting in it and where motorcycles can drive in between the cars....<gulp!>

Andy, If you've never been out there you should know that SFMM is actually about 10 miles north of LA, outside of the city. Hollywood is very far north part of LA and only about 10-15 minute drive to SFMM. There is very little traffic worries once you are north of hollywood. Getting to Knotts is a different story. Knotts is in Buena Park, right next to Anaheim in the heart of metro LA, about 45min -1 1/2hr from SFMM depending on traffic. You could easily meet gridlock on this drive depending on day/time. Still, there is NO public transpo to get you to & from either that wont cost more than a car rental. If you need to scrape some cash off the budget, seek cheaper lodging. Also, if you dont have a season pass already from SFWoA or Cedar Point, make sure you seek discounts & coupons for admissions. There are usually brochures at the car rental places and hotels. PS Cedar Point Season Passes are valid at Knotts (Cedar Fair LLP) as well as SFWoA at SFMM if you didnt already know.
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My other car is a Giovanola!

Rent with Enterprise rent a car-there great! they have cars for $9.99 a day for weekends(fri-mon) and you can pick your type of car from luxery to sports. On average $19.99 would get you a 2001pontiac grand am and any othercar in that class. I would highly reccomend them. There every where out here in california. The # in 1-800-RENT -A CAR. Good luck and have fun!  

Andy:
Your best bet is renting a car, like the others have suggested, for a trip to SFMM.  There is no public transportation directly to the park from L.A. or from anywhere in Southern California.  Local transit in Santa Clarita/Valencia might get you close, but that's about it.  As for Knott's, it is very easy to get to via public transportation.  The 460 bus line from downtown L.A. will take you practically to the front of the park and it costs less than $5.00 each way - no worry about driving there on your own.  This bus also continues on and ends its route at Disneyland/California Adventure.
Back to SFMM, late November (during Thanksgiving week) they are open from Wednesday through Sunday and then weekends until the week before Christmas when they are open every day during the holidays until Dec. 31st except Christmas.  The first two weekends of December they have traditionally had a "Toys for Tots" or similar toy drive to boost attendance during their slow season.  If you take an unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more you get into the park for free.  Not bad considering the one-day pass costs $42.99. A friend and I usually go at least one of the Sundays during that time -- walk-ons on a majority of the rides (except Goliath, Riddler's Revenge, Deja Vu, and X, which should be open by then).  It you need more info on the Southern California area, feel free to ask - I am a native and do know my way around L.A., car or no car.*** This post was edited by MMCoasterBear on 9/4/2001. ****** This post was edited by MMCoasterBear on 9/4/2001. ***

*** This post was edited by MMCoasterBear on 9/4/2001. ***

make sure you know when SFMM is going to be open during your stay...im sure youve thought about that, but here is the calender of the park's operating days in the winter to help you out.. http://www.sixflags.com/parks/magicmountain/ParkInfo/index.asp?date=11/4/2001
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"Ahh Beer. My one weakness. My Achilles heel, if you will" - Homer Simpson
"Whoooa, that's hot. There isn't a man alive who wouldn't get turned on by that. Well, goodbye!" - Homer Simpson

Also, just so you know...yes LA driving is INSANE!  Little things that some people don't know (but really should)

The meters....they limit the flow of traffic onto the incoming highway...yes it can back up, but yes many freeways are slow always (10 E and W).  ALSO....some freeways have meters when merging into another freeway (105-110)  BE AWARE....they can back up for miles on end.

Radio station.....find one never turn it off.  I prefer KFWB News 980 (trafic every 5 min on the 6's and 1's)...its ALL NEWS all the time :)  980 AM.  Another one is ESPN Radio 1100 they have traffic after SportsCenter which is every 20 min.

Carpool lane...if you have 2+ people in your car it is the way to go.  The lane is always seperated by at least a double line ... all the way to a concrete barrier.  Just pay attention and look for the sign with your exit to get out of it...unless there is a carpool only exit which rocks totally.  Remember, drive defensive....and the best investment you will ever has is a LA map and then one that expands out more.  There are plenty of freeway's to use as an alternate.

 

Now....to get to SFMM....depending where your hotel is in Hollywood you probably want to take the 101 North til' you hit the 5 North ... then its maybe 10 miles 20 at most. 

To KBF - 101 south to 5 south to Beach Blvd. then follow signs :)

 

Hope this helped!

I did use Fox Rent-a-Car while I was there, and I think I got a 12.99/day deal, plus look on their website for a free upgrade coupon to print out. I didn't have any trouble, they recently were bought by Payless, whom I've used in Orlando.

I will say this, if you can do LA driving, then you can tackle any driving.

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ULTIMATECOASTER.com - In Search of the "Ultimate" Thrill
http://www.ultimatecoaster.com/

When going through LA/ Buena Park, stay away from 405 as much as possible us Interstate 5! Crowds will not be bad. SFMM last year was open Thanksgiving, the Friday after, and the weekend and I heard the crowds were a little less than a sumer weekday so it isn't too bad. Juat follow this plan.

If you can get to the park by opening do it! It will save you hours! Now that X and Deja Vu are open I don't think this plan will work as good but I have no modified it.

If you get to the park in time for opening of the gates take the first left and RUN to Deja Vu. Then after that go up the hill to Samuri Summit. Then Ride S:TE. Now back down the hill agian to the back of the park and do Riddler's Revenge, B:TR Collosus, and Goliath, Flashback in order. Every ride except Goliath and possibly Riddler's Revenge should be a walk on. Then go to the other side of the park and do Reveloution, X and Viper. Then later in the day you can find time for Ninja, Gold Rusher and Pysclone. This plan should really work!

Also for food, there is a huge shooping center full of great resturaunts. I know its 2 exits down on the Interstate 5 freeway but I am not shure north or south, plus there is a few good resturaunts with in walking distance of SFMM! HAVE FUN!

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SFMM line cutters are the braviest in the world.

I just want to thank everyone that contributed help here. Invaluable stuff and the wife and I are overwhelmed!

Thanks a million... I am contacting some rental agencies now.

Cheers,

Andy