Knott's 12-19-09

Decided that while I was in California again that Knott’s would be one of my planned stops. Tom Tom and I made the trip solo from San Diego. Sporting a CP t-shirt and happily wearing shorts I was off! You know I am so glad I learned how to drive in NYC or the drivers here would scare me to death! I can NOT believe how fast they drive. I do believe the posted speed limits are nothing but a suggestion. The cool thing is that they are very courteous (totally unlike the aforementioned NYers) even going 75-80mph! Even leaving very early naturally hit a couple of traffic jams, but with the beautiful scenery to look at, who cares? :)

Arrived safely at Knott’s (thanks Tom Tom) before thinking WTH was I thinking going to a park on a Saturday?? Place looked PACKED. Handed the parking attendant my CF platinum pass, he just wrote down the number and handed the pass back. Knott’s was having a toys for tots thing going on where if you brought a toy valued of at least 15.00 you got in for free. Well-not only did tons of people take advantage of this but they actually even had a store open so you could buy the toys there---gee thanks-way to bring in more people! j/k

Went to guest relations and got my ticket-they had me sign their log and made a copy of my pass.

Off to the rides I went when gates opened. Thanks to hints from CB’ers I went to Ghost Town 1st--Ghost Rider was ride 1:
Wow---awesome woodie-totally loved it! Great turns, hills, and seemed a long ride too. No wonder people like this ride! I was pissed when I saw my on ride photo cause the idiot behind me was obviously taping the whole thing with his cell phone. Didn’t even try to hide his phone. Jerk :(

Next trucked over to : Silver Bullet
The wait there was 30 minutes. They don’t allow any glasses on the ride (even with a strap) which sucked for me because without mine I am totally blind. All I have to say about this ride is holy crap!! It was without a doubt, no ifs buts or maybes, the BEST B&M invert I have EVER been on!! I grayed out on the 1 helix (could even tell the hill it was steeper than Raptor’s) the rest of the action was absolutely non-stop excitement. There was NO head banging at all (not even on the reverse cobra roll) it was smooth as glass. I was breathless by the time we were done and totally in love!!! That ride knocked Raptor off my favorite invert list big time! I so loved it! :)

Since I was so impressed by those 2, I’m not going into full details about any of the other rides but will mention what else I did.

Pony Express-maybe because I actually own and ride real horses it was hard to appreciate this ride. The wait was the longest I had all day and the ride time short so I could have easily passed on this ride and suffered no regret.

Xcelerator-closed-knew that-no shock there but would have loved to ride it to see if I hated it as much as I do TTD. It would have interesting to experience the extra substance with the ride.

Sky Cabin-OMG why have one of these things if you cant take pictures cause the glass is tinted so dark? Shocked me when the ride op said you could stand if you wanted to. Man on Space Spiral, they have a stroke if you even TRY to stand.

Boomerang: If you’ve been on one you’ve been on all of them. Still reminded me of Head Spin (?) at GL and made me a bit sad :(

Calico Railroad: REAL train-so real in fact we got robbed! ;)

Sierra Sidewinder: Do not know how I kept from hurling-way fun but I don’t do spinney stuff real well so glad didn’t eat! Fun!!!

Montezooma’s Revenge: Short line so got on pretty fun.

Stagecoach: I would rather ride my 2 horses then be pulled around my 4 of them. However had NO idea about this and couldn’t understand why I was smelling horses when I was on line for SB. Then saw why!! :)

Calico Mine Ride: skipped ‘em-too long lines.

Water rides: It was definitely warm but no thanks!

HUGE line for Snoopys Christmas Show on Ice. You couldn’t get into it unless you had gotten a pass when you 1 walked in. Apparently popular attraction.

I didn’t plan on staying at park till closing so I just made sure I did the stuff I really wanted to do plus took time for tons of pictures. I have to say that this park had TONS and TONS of little shops and merchants, I loved that! Just when I thought I had seen all the shops/stands I would come across another one I didn’t see before. Many of them sported handmade items and tons of country crafts stuff which is one of my weaknesses.
The stores I went into were amazing. I was disappointed I didn’t have time (and extra $) to really shop, even missing out on California Marketplace goodies :(

I loved the entire western theme that was Knott’s.

Happily despite the park really being crowded, the ride ops were pushing guests through fairly quickly. Saw stacking on Ghost Rider and Silver Bullet but have to admit idk if it was real stacking or that is just the ride cycle.
Sadly I didn’t get to try the famous chicken but have decided while I am in California for almost another 2 weeks I may head back there again for 1 more visit. Then I will definitely hit up the rides/attractions, couldn’t get to this time!

Knott’s had the CF “feel” about it, ride ops saying the usual, always smiling, park was super clean, stores were in my opinion way more interesting then any other CF park I’ve been to that just has the usual boring stuff. I also loved that the ride ops dressed themed to the ride they were on. Why CP has never done that is so beyond me, I think it’s awesome! I am so sure the awesome California weather has something to do with it but all the employees I saw or dealt with were all super nice. Who could blame them?? :)
All in all a very fun trip, well worth the 2 hour drive and the $150.00 in souvenirs I bought too!

I think about Silver Bullet and still think OMG!!! **sigh** I am SOOOO in love! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

edit thanks to microsoft works jacking up the whole thing! :)

You know I am so glad I learned how to drive in NYC or the drivers here would scare me to death! I can NOT believe how fast they drive. I do believe the posted speed limits are nothing but a suggestion. The cool thing is that they are very courteous (totally unlike the aforementioned NYers) even going 75-80mph! Even leaving very early naturally hit a couple of traffic jams, but with the beautiful scenery to look at, who cares? :)

I had kinda the same feeling when I was driving a semi through Cali. LA area traffic and roads make Boston's look downright tame, and Boston' ain't exactly driver-friendly either.

Glad you had a great time at Knott's. GhostRider and Silver Bullet are my two favorites rides there. They always stack a little bit, but it is usually for a very short amount of time. Pony Express is the worst coaster I have ever been on so no surprise that you weren't impressed by it. Loose article policies at Knott's are unreasonable in my opinion. At SFMM on Monday I was allowed to ride every coaster I went on with a jacket tied around my waist and not a word from any of the ride ops. Other than that KBF is a great park. I have always found the park to be clean, and the employees to be very friendly and helpful. I basically agree with the rest of your post.

^I couldnt help but notice your signature-did you lose your Mom? I am so sorry! :(

I wear my glasses on Raptor, Talon, BTRs, no problem I could not believe they said no at Knotts. Looks like if I plan another trip (next week?) Id better wear my contacts if I want to actually SEE the ride when Im riding! :)

I did forget to mention one other thing. Since I wore a CP shirt one of the employees in the store asked me when they were getting the Devil Drop. I said "you mean Demon Drop?" he said yes. Pretty funny when Knott's is waiting on a ride which is heading to Dorney. Guess someone better let them know! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

Yes, my mom passed away on 9/27/09. Thank you for the kind words.

I have seen people bring glasses and caps and have jackets and sweatshirts around their waist on every coaster at MM. I think KBF is way too strict. To use the most extreme example, why am I allowed to ride X2 with a jacket around my waist but on the Pony Express it is not allowed? What does KBF think will happen?

I guess they better let the employees know that Demon Drop is headed elsewhere.

I think I've finally gotten the 'no glasses' mystery figured out.

It's the earthquakes. That has to be it.

You see, southern California is subject to much more seismic activity than most other parks. Apparently, they're afraid that a tremor will shake your Foster Grants straight off your face, glasses straps be damned.....

SFMMAddict said:
Yes, my mom passed away on 9/27/09. Thank you for the kind words.

I have seen people bring glasses and caps and have jackets and sweatshirts around their waist on every coaster at MM. I think KBF is way too strict. To use the most extreme example, why am I allowed to ride X2 with a jacket around my waist but on the Pony Express it is not allowed? What does KBF think will happen?

You are so very welcome...I know what its like to lose a Mom-your Mom was young too :(

I wore my glasses on every single ride at SFMM even X2. Youd think if they'd worry about losing something it would be on that ride! :)
Its hard to imagine what Knott's is thinking...maybe Ensign Smith is right, it has something to do with the earthquakes!! :)

And btw...I have officially adjusted to CST-I am so screwed when I go back home and into EST again!!! :(

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

Silver Bullet? Really? I couldn't find anything on that ride that screamed intense at all. Even the first drop is so spread out.

Don't get me wrong, I still liked the ride.

Monte and Xcellerator have my vote in the intense department at Knott's.

Thanks Jo, I appreciate that. I'm sorry that you know what it's like and she was too young.

Overall I am happy with the customer service at both parks, but KBF could really learn something by paying attention to SFMM's loose article policies. On Monday a guy sitting next to me wore his glasses on Tatsu, and isn't it funny, at the end of the ride he still had them.

I agree with you about the Silver Bullet too. It is non-stop action, perfectly smooth and the helix is intense. I have never grayed out on it, but you can definitely feel the G's and it always makes my eyes water.

Hey SFMMAddict, very sorry for your loss. I just went through a scary moment with my mother as she just had open by-pass surgery. I waited in a room for 3 hours not knowing if she would still be around or not.

Glad you are being strong and doing what you like to do which I would assume is coaster riding along with your father.

SFMMAddict said:
Overall I am happy with the customer service at both parks, but KBF could really learn something by paying attention to SFMM's loose article policies.

Wow that is like the 1st time I've ever heard someone suggest that CF (or maybe just Knott's in this instance) could learn something from Six Flags!

^ Chitown:
I have ridden alot of B&M suspended inverts-since Raptor is one of my favs I compare any inverts to it. Raptor is intense but there is also a couple of spots (the reverse cobra roll) where if you dont have your face out or plastered back, you are going to get slapped HARD on both sides. There is also this long track of nadda, after the corkscrew on way to last corkscrew and helix. Also the stop on the main brake can easily rip your head off. It is apparent to me that B&M designed their coasters after Raptor differently to avoid the head slapping and so on....to make it a more comfortable, yet intense ride.
I know to compare any newer B&M to Raptor isn't fair since Raptor is 15, but I still I found SB to be a pain free, intense, exciting, non-stop blast! If I lived in Cali you can bet SB would be my new Raptor! :)

That would, of course, include getting a SB and Knott's tattoo to go with my Raptor and CP tats! ;)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

We're going to have to start calling you LuvBullet.... ;)

Chitown, that must have been a terrible 3 hour wait. I am glad your mom made it. My dad went to SFMM and KBF with me in Oct, but did not go to SFMM in Nov or Dec and did not go to KBF in Dec. He only wants to go to each park 1-2 times a year, now that he can go again. He still likes to ride but is not coaster addicted to the extent that I still am.

Knotts could actually learn quite a view things from SFMM ( at least Sfmm past 2006 era)

Nice TR LuvRaptor.

I also agree with you about Silver Bullet being a better inverted coaster than Raptor. There are a few design quirks that detract away from Raptor being a great ride. Particular the exit out of the spiral and into the final break run...I can't get over how painful that transition is.

And I'm not sure I'm the only one that feels this way...but Raptor and some of the older B&M inverted coasters have a really bizarre and often times uncomfortable "snap" in the apex of their inversions...particularly the corkscrews and cobra rolls. With Silver Bullet and I'm sure the other newer installations, have a more fluid motion transitioning in and out of elements.

The only thing I personally feel Raptor has bested on Silver Bullet is the first drop, but that's still relative.

kRaXLeRidAh said:
Nice TR LuvRaptor.

And I'm not sure I'm the only one that feels this way...but Raptor and some of the older B&M inverted coasters have a really bizarre and often times uncomfortable "snap" in the apex of their inversions...particularly the corkscrews and cobra rolls. With Silver Bullet and I'm sure the other newer installations, have a more fluid motion transitioning in and out of elements.
The only thing I personally feel Raptor has bested on Silver Bullet is the first drop, but that's still relative.

I think you meant "slap" not snap! ;)
Coming out of the reverse cobra roll on Raptor you get hit hard on both sides of your head if you dont sit way back or pull your head all the way out. I know B&M started making their reverse cobra rolls longer to eliminate the slapping (or snapping as you put it ;)) The main brake on Raptor sucks too, especially if their is a train in the transfer brake. I know its not a fair comparison to compare any B&M invert to Raptor only cause Raptor is so old. The one thing I found rather amazing was the Batmans I rode at SFGrtAdv and SFMM they were smoother than Raptor also, yet around the same age. It could be because there are about the same amount of elements (except I think they both have a 2nd helix?) in a smaller space. Talon is very smooth as is Fire and Ice. I hate to turn on my Raptor but Silver Bullet REALLY knocked my socks off!
You mentioned you thought Raptor had a better 1st drop-funny cause SBs 1st drop and helix seemed way more intense to me. As a matter of fact it felt like the dive was lower than Raptor's and actually tickled my tummy. I was shocked!
In love mind you, but still shocked! ;)

The only time Raptor ever gets my tummy is the 1st ride of the day in the 1st car. Then it's done.

Makes me jealous some of the best coasters I've ever ridden (Silver Bullet, California Screamin, Goliath, Terminator Salvation) are like 2500 miles away from me. That is so unfair!!! :(

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)

Silver Bullet is my #2 invert, right behind Afterburn. I loved everything about it.

Ghostrider is a lot of fun too, especially at nite.

Oh, and Xcel is FAR better than TTD. The launch is way more intense, and the ride overall is more fun.