Six Flags Magic Mountain or Knotts Berry Farms
Jennifer Gentry said:
My SF and CP passes will work for both parks, so I'm all set.
I'd call Knott's ahead of time just to check on the procedure for getting in with your pass, especially if you have a voucher that you have not processed yet. Granted this was before the advent of the new CF pass system, but a few years ago it took me an hour to get into Knott's because they didn't know how to let someone in with a CP pass. The supervisors there couldn't figure out why nobody was answering the phone at CP when they called to ask about the procedure. It was January 2nd at 7 PM eastern time....
Anyway, the point of my story, a quick phone call could save you a lot of grief when you get to the gate.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
^^Or you'll get lucky like I did, and they'll just let you in by showing them your Platinum Pass that says Kings Island on it! ;)
Which was preceded by the guy asking me where KI was, and when I said Ohio, he paused and asked "...is that in the Midwest?" Gotta love it! :)
I would definitely say go to Magic Mountain. The operations and staff are light years better than what it used to be plus, with Tatsu and X2 it really is an awesome place. I had the same decision to make last year, having been to both previous times, Knott's just didn't have anything special to draw me back. I felt that Ghostrider was very overrated.
Oh, yeah, there is that pass issue with Knott's...
I had a Kings Island pass, and the procedure was terribly complicated, but it only took a few seconds...they photocopied my pass, had me sign a register, did some other paperwork in the office, and ultimately they issued me a comp ticket to use at the gate. But with only one service window open, and five people ahead of me with terribly complicated problems, it took an hour to get into the park once. I concluded that the people working the GR window at the front gate had NO authority to do ANYTHING, as everything they did required several phone calls to track down the people who had the authority to make things happen.
Last time I went it was nothing like that, but then there wasn't anybody else waiting at the window, either.
At Magic Mountain, your Six Flags pass just scans.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
In March we went to Southern Cal to visit my cousin. I am from Ohio and this was a first time trip to the area (27 new coaster credits!!) As a first time visitor this is what I found:
Knotts: I have been to 5 other CF parks and this one would be bottom of the list. It isn't a bad park but the day I was there it wasn't great. Lots of line jumping and security was ignoring it. Kind of on the grubby side, not well kept at all. The front entrance once you get in the park is the ugliest of the 35 parks I have been to. The elevated stage-coast was cool. Excelerator was very cool, it has the intensity of TTD or KK but more fun. Pony Express is a fun family coaster but Motocoaster at Darien Lake is much better. The rest of the coasters were OK to lame. The Boysenberry pie is fantastic!
MM: I was really impressed. After hearing all of the horror stories over the last few years this park was amazing. Clean, well run, friendly staff. X^2 was very cool, Tatsu was one of the best rides of my life, Goliath was very good. Not a lot of flat rides but if you love coasters this is a great park.
Disneyland and California Adventure: Very expensive (2 or 3 day hopper at a sale price was $150.00). Disneyland was totally amazing! CA has lots of construction, when it is done it will be a good park, right now not so much.
If you do Knotts on Friday, and are a Back to the Future movie fan, then there is a place you have to go. Not far from Knotts (maybe 15 minutes) is a DeLorean Motor Car restoration shop. They open at 8 AM on Friday so you could stop before the park opens. The day we went there was around 15 DMCs in various stages of restoration/repair. They also turn the cars into replicas of the movie cars. They have a small sales area where you can buy your own Flux Capacitor and other cool stuff. The tech working that day (his name was Dan) took us into the shop for a tour. Of all the things we did that week this was the coolest. The people there are so nice and very knowledgeable about the DMC company and the BTTF movies.
If you can only do one park do MM. If you have time do both since you are there.
Lastly make sure you hit In-N-Out Burgers... the greatest burgers in the USA!
Have fun!
Zakkster said:
Excelerator was very cool, it has the intensity of TTD or KK but more fun.
Ya mean, like, Storm Runner!! ;)
Zakkster said:
Pony Express is a fun family coaster but Motocoaster at Darien Lake is much better.
Having never been on PE, but having ridden Moto...YIKES!! Pony Express must suck! (this coming from a CF fanboy too!)
I agree with CP Chris regarding a phone call to Knotts.
Last time I went there with a Cedar Point pass (which was quite a few years back) the procedure was as follows:
GO to the Customer Service Window. Do not go to the ticket booth or turnstyles, they'll just send you to the Customer Service Window.
Once at the window, show your pass. They have you sign a register and then print you an admission ticket for entry.
The procedure was the same when I had a Knotts pass and tried using it at Geauga Lake.
BUT, I believe I have read recently that all Cedar Fair parks are up to date with their technology and you can just present your pass at the gate, they swipe it, and you're in! But I'd still call to make sure of that.
As for SFMM, just go to the main gate, they'll swipe your pass, and tell you to "Have a Six Flags Day!!!!!"
I've traded in my 2002 Arrow X4D for a Gravity Group Out n Back. 
My other car is now a Voyage!
tigellinus said:
Ya mean, like, Storm Runner!! ;)
I love Storm Runner.
Won't be long until, "Now get ready...here we go!" :)
"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins." --- Benjamin Franklin
tigellinus, PE is fun as a family coaster, just a bit better then a kiddie. The track is basically just an oval, and it is a very short ride. Moto at least has multiple levels and crosses over back and forth. No big thrills with either but if I had to pick between the two I would pick Moto.
I'd call Knott's ahead of time just to check on the procedure for getting in with your pass, especially if you have a voucher that you have not processed yet. Granted this was before the advent of the new CF pass system, but a few years ago it took me an hour to get into Knott's because they didn't know how to let someone in with a CP pass. The supervisors there couldn't figure out why nobody was answering the phone at CP when they called to ask about the procedure. It was January 2nd at 7 PM eastern time....
Anyway, the point of my story, a quick phone call could save you a lot of grief when you get to the gate.
I went and got my Platinum Pass processed this week at Dorney Park. I asked about the procedure this year and I was told that all parks will be able to scan the bar code on my pass and my picture will come up. There isn't a photo on the passes this year.
You must be logged in to post
