SFMM and Knott's questions

Well this coming January I will be in Pasadena for 7 or 8 days, and I'd love to hit SFMM and KBF but I just have a few questions for anyone with experience at these parks.

First of all, I know KBF is open 364 days a year, but does anyone know if SFMM is open on weekdays during the winter months? If not should I just plan on going on a Sunday?

Are these parks generally less busy than the summer months? Just wondering because I know summer never really ends in this part of the country ;)

Can I expect SFMM to run X in January? Or do they only bother in the summer...

If I have 3 days total, which park should I spend two days at?

Any other suggestions for a California newbie?

Thanks.

MM will be open only on the weekends during the winter months. KBF is open as you say 364 days a year.

I find both parks to be far less busy during the winter than during the summer. Also, MM can get a bit chilly as it's in a rather windy valley. X running? Flip a coin. Flashback running? No chance (and no loss). But I've ridden X in January before.

Spend two days at KBF.

Other suggestions for a California newbie... do you enjoy CDs? Then a visit to Aron's (1150 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323-469-4700) is a must. Best selection of used CDs I've seen.

Might want to squeeze in a trip to Universal City as well... there are some pretty interesting things to see there and the Citywalk has many really good restaraunts (but be aware they will be TOURIST priced.)

-Esch

If it were me....and knowing what I know now...I'd do one day at KBF/Adventure City, one day at DL/DCA, and one day at SFMM. SFMM is weekend-only ops throughout the offseason.

USH was an awesome surprise for a non-movie person, and LegoLand was a sweet place....but they can wait for your NEXT trip to SoCal... LOL!

X should be open during your visit. It's the one ride that park goers expect to be open, so the park will not intentionally not run it just 'cause it's in the off-season. But if by some reason some maintenance issue comes up and is beyond the park's control, then don't assume I'm gauranteeing you a 100% chance of it operating on the day you visit - although I am confident it will be - as its reliability has gone up drastically since its 2002 opening.

And do NOT spend two days at Knott's Berry Farm - this is coming from a local who's had out of town visitors. A whole day at Knott's is MORE THAN ENOUGH to get everything you want to ride in, even more than twice if you wanted to for all of the attractions - considering it will be the non-summer season when you visit. Your will most likely feel bored the second day at the park. I would rather recommend you spend two days at Magic Mountain than at Knott's. But if possible, visit Disney's California Adventure/Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood on the third day. *** Edited 8/9/2005 1:34:06 AM UTC by kRaXLeRidAh***

Knott's is excellent, but I would spend 2 days at SFMM just because it is a very large park and the coasters closed on your first day might be open on the second day, if that makes sense. I got everything in at Knott's on a Monday in late July in 10 hours, which included 9 rides on Xcelerator.

Another local chimes in....

...is SFMM is open on weekdays during the winter months? If not should I just plan on going on a Sunday?

Weekends only, Sunday will be the less busy day of the weekend.

Are these parks generally less busy than the summer months?

Yes, although because parks are open year-round you will find numerous rides closed for off-season maintenance at ALL parks.

Can I expect SFMM to run X in January?

Yes, unless its closed for off-season maintenance, as mentioned above.

If I have 3 days total, which park should I spend two days at?

Neither. At that time of year you will be able to hit all of Knotts in a single day and most [if not all] of SFMM. A second day at either park would be superfluous.

Any other suggestions for a California newbie?

Yes.

1] Plan for lots of traffic, even on weekends. Whatever drive time Yahoo Maps or Mapquest tells you, double it! Better to be early than REALLY late.

2] If you're interested in other parks you can visit on your third day: Disneyland & DCA would be my first choice; you also have in no particular order Pacific Ocean Park, Adventureland, Castle Park, Scandia, Legoland, Belmont Park, Universal Studios.

Summer in Cali all year long? Somebody forgot to tell California that on the Sunday I was at SFMM ;).

I say listen to moosh, the local. Also, I was a first time visitor this past march, so I can help as well, as I just went through what you are going to.

1) Listen to Moosh.

2) Plan for lots of traffic, even if we didn't get in any. We got lucky and never traveled during rush hour.

3) If you're spending 3 days at a park, Disneyland and DCA are outstanding, no doubt, and I would have no problem recomending either (or both if you get a 1 day park hopper. Just spend most of the day @ Disneyland, as it will be more crowded, and go to DCA for like the last 2-3 hours it is open. Disney was open later for us depending on when you go), but consider Universal Studios Hollywood. I regret not doing more of the 'Hollywood Experience'. Moosh is a lifesaver for taking us down to Hollywood Blvd. our first nite. USH was definitly able to give me the feel that I did *something* Hollywood. The Backlot tour was great, Mummy was fun, I just really liked it there. Disney obviously has more coasters, and I actually prefer DCA over most of the parks I went to in Cali, but USH is worth a trip. Just a thought (and do the all you can eat for $20-ish bucks).

The Mountain does close completely for a month or two (no weekends) February/March I think, or it has done so in the past.

Adventureland is a bit of a drive from SoCal, Adventure City is a much more easily reached destination. ;) It is just a few minutes south of Knott's on Beach Blvd.

Traffic is strange on weekends, you never know when you're going to run into a jam.

Mike - you absolutely sure about that? SFMM was open weekends and holidays Jan-March this year and has been every year I can recall. In fact the last few years I've renewed my pass in early February.

Maybe it was a few years ago, I do remember them being closed on weekends in the past. Maybe it has been more than five years ago, I wasn't certain. Maybe it is a false memory, but it is in my head for some reason.

False memory there, Mikey ;)