Knotts or Magic Mountain

Hi Everybody... I'm in the works of planning a bit of a family trip to California for the first time with the realization that I cannot drag my family into all the parks out there. I figured that Disneyland was pretty much a given, but I can't decide whether I should go to Knotts Berry Farm or Magic Mountain on another day. From recent trip reports, neither of them have really gotten too great of reviews. I really want to hit a lot of the rides at Magic Mountain, but I'm not sure how confident I could be that the rides will actually be open when I'm there.

On another note, I read some comments that Ghost Rider is not as good as it used to be. Would you agree with this?

After seeing Colossus and Revolution on so many shows, I've been dying to ride them both for years. I've pretty much accepted that neither are the rides they used to be, but are they still worth visiting a park for?

Thanks Everyone!

Rich

Got $15 to park? ;)

We all know Six Flags is a rip off. I'm talking strictly attractions. It's not often that I'm in California, so the experience is more valuable to me than the parking fee.

Rich

It depends on what month you are visiting. The best choice for MM is to arrive after Tatsu is complete. The construction of it has closed a few attractions that otherwise might be open. It also depends on the age of your family members. Knott's has a better kids area, and SFMM coaster collection is unmatched in S. California but with those come height restrictions.

Last time I was on Ghostrider, it was fun, but it certainly can deliver a rough ride.

Both Revolution and Colossus communicate really well in the visual domain when it comes to TV shows and film, but the actual ride experience is certainly not the most exciting SFMM has to offer.

I still think SFMM is definitely worth visiting if you are into steel monsters. (Colossus is very loud and not extremely exciting, and Psyclone, the other woodie, is really a terrible ride).

Knotts is great as well and has some winners with Xcelerator and Silver Bullet, but the coaster lineup at SFMM is still quite unique - and I think they made some smart decisions recently.
(raising the parking fee is NOT one of them) *** Edited 1/20/2006 6:54:07 PM UTC by superman***

I think Revolution is closed during Tatsu construction. I guess it depends on how much you want to pay. ;)

If you are going with the family, I'd probably pick Knott's. SFMM doesn't have a lot to offer beyond the coasters. Knott's is more well-rounded for a family trip.

As janfrederick said above, Revolution will be closed until Tatsu opens.

Ghostrider is still a great ride, but not perhaps as smooth as it once was. Its always been very intense and forceful, so when it gets a little more rough, it seems magnified. Its still very good and will probably fall into most people's top 10.

Colossus? It looks MUCH better than it rides. Having just been on it the other week, let me assure you of that. With the lapbars that fall straight down to your legs, any moment of airtime is like being punched (Magnum-like?).

Are you going to DCA? At this point, the park is getting better and better and is deserving of a day's visit.

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Neuski said:
Got $15 to park? ;)

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Magic Mountain online ticket: $30
Magic Mountain parking fee: $15
Magic Mountain total: $45

Knott's Berry Farm online ticket: $35
Knott's Berry Farm parking fee: $9
Knott's Berry Farm total: $44

Guess it doesn't make much of a difference anyways - other than, of course, we're all here to bash Six Flags into the ground even if it means not looking at the entire situation.

Wait for Tatsu and Revolution to be open if you want to do SFMM. Revolution is my favorite coaster there. I'd be VERY disappointed if it was closed on my visit.

Personally I'd pick Knott's anyway, but for me, one great woodie is reason enough to pick a park over another one without a great woodie.

If it were just yourself going to the coaster credits, I'd say SFMM if only for X. Forget Revolution and Collossus, the real reason to visit SFMM is X. You either hate it or love it, I myself still think it's one of the most intense and mind blowing coaster experiences on the planet.

But with a family, I'd have to choose KBF. You still get some kick arse coasters with Xcel, GR and Monte. The rest are fun, but the all around offerings and park experience for families at KBF is without question superior to SFMM. And yeah GR isn't what it used to be, but still whoops ass.

Also hope you planned 2 days just for DL if you've never been. Everything there is so amazing, you should definitely take 2 days to make sure you see and enjoy it all at a reasonable pace. I'd personally skip DCA for 2 at DL, you won't regret it, and won't be missing much.

I'm glad you're going to Disneyland.

I would STRONGLY reccomend 2 days there. Withboth parks it's hard to do everything in one day.

Guess it doesn't make much of a difference anyways - other than, of course, we're all here to bash Six Flags into the ground even if it means not looking at the entire situation.

Exactly how is it bashing if it's true?

Snyder and Shapiro have already admitted the parks have major problems and are trying to fix them [albeit with spaghetti-type "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" ideas]. While the improvements may be taking place the truth is that up until now spending a day at many of their parks, including SFMM, was about as much fun as going to the dentist and having your wisdom teeth pulled.

FYI Ninja, Orient Express, and Roaring Rapids are also closed due to Tatsu's construction.

RICH - you didn't say what time of year you're planning the trip for. That alone makes a huge difference. Before April SFMM is only open weekends; the other parks daily. And, because all the parks are open all year you'll have to contend with more "off-season" ride closures due to maintenance before April 1.

If Disney is a given and you want convenience and/or are pressed for time then Knotts is the most obvious choice as it is only 5 miles away. SFMM is a 60 mile drive -- depending on traffic situations that's at least an hour and could be up to three hours during peak hours.

Knotts offers a well-rounded family experience with something to do for everyone from small kids to grandparents. SFMM is a thrill-seekers paradise with mostly coasters, a few flats and water rides, and a nice but small kiddie area.

I suggest you confer with your family to ask what kind of experience they want, check each park's website to see what they offer, and make the best decision for everyone involved.

mOOSH

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about as much fun as going to the dentist and having your wisdom teeth pulled.

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Hmmm. Is that with or without the laughing gas? ;)

Well, with 2 days at DL you get the option of hopping. One day hop over to DCA for a few hours in the afternoon, and spend the rest of your day at the Magic Kingdom.

I'll take one day there over 7 days at Knotts and SFMM :)

I've yet to go ride X....I was in Socal last year and passed on it...same deal this coming year. I'll probably ride the 4D in Japan first :)

Personally I preferred Magic Mountain better but I went to Knott's and Magic Mountain to ride the rides. I found that Magic Mountain had a much better collection that Knott's. The only two rides that I liked at Knott's were Silver Bullet and Xcelerator. The only ride I didn't enjoy at Magic Mountain was Psyclone. Then again four rides weren't open (hmmm!)

Magic Mountain, hands down. I went to both parks last week, and the selection of rides was far superior to Knotts. All the big guys were open (X, Deja, Superman, Goliath, etc) and almost all were on two trains, despite walk-ons at everything except X/empty stations. The staff was also great. Knotts has two good rides - Xcelerator and Silver Bullet. On a day without crowds you'll be bored with the place in a few hours.

I'm a SoCal local and no joke, am a 40 minute drive (average) North and South of Magic Mountain and Knott's in the San Bernadino Valley. I visit both parks regularly and hold annual/play passes to both. I can tell you if you're visiting just for the rides, then your choice should easily be Magic Mountain. People will tell you there's less to do there with families when compared to Knott's. That could not be more FALSE.

People tend to assume Magic Mountain has less family-oriented attractions than Knott's only because the 16 (soon to be 17) rollercoasters tend to stand out more than everything else at the park.

Magic Mountain's Bugs Bunny World is on par with Knott's Camp Snoopy - and Magic Mountain has a lot more family-oriented rides than Knott's - something people usually tend to mislead you with. Magic Mountain has more non-water park flume/water rides than Knott's - and a slew of old fashioned, classic-style flat-rides and attractions. Sure, Knott's may have three or four modern flat-rides, a giant shoot-the-chute, and a monster S&S tower, but besides that and its 6 coasters (one of which is a kid's coaster, another a Vekoma Boomerang and another an oversized Zierer Tivoli) - there's really not much it offers. Atmosphere? Knott's no longer has any. Ride operator friendliness? Nowadays, you'll find these at Magic Mountain more than at Knott's - I kid you not. Unfortunately.

Peabody... I'm doing the same as you! I'm going back to southern California in April and I'm skipping both Knott's and SFMM! I'll instead do DCA, DL and USH (which I love).

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Mamoosh said:
Exactly how is it bashing if it's true?

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Because it was a blantant attempt of taking a shot at Six Flags whenever given the opprotunity. The smilie gave it away. Whether its one thing or another, if something can possibly be used against Six Flags, it will be by the enthusiast crowd, and its tiring. Yes, it is $15 for parking and yes it is expensive, but you have to look at the whole scenario to determine if it matters (or in this case is trivial). With just one person Magic Mountain is more expensive, but if you bring more than one person (like a family, kinda like the one this topic regards ;)) then Magic Mountain is actually cheaper. So, does $15 parking mean anything? NO, other than it presents an opprotunity to bash Six Flags because no other park prices parking as high. I hate naiveness.

Knotts is actually only a few miles from Disneyland. I understand that MM is about an hours drive away.