What my priorities should be in So Cal...

Hey guys, I am visiting the LA parks at the end of spring break and I have 2 days. I plan on visiting MM and KBF for one day each. I am a SF and CF PAss holder so money isn't really an issue once I am there. My question has to do with concern over what kind of operations I am going to find at both parks. Should i expect GADV operations our of MM or should I expect SFNE operations? I asume that Knotts should be run fairly well and i need not worry about getting on Ghostrider and Xcelerator. What should my plan of attack be at Magic Mountain to get everything big ridden in one day? Being that i go to SFGADV like, ever day, I need not ride scream or Batman if riding them means missing something new and different. Thanks!

Don't expect SFGAd operations :) It wasn't like that when I was there last. I'll let the locals fill you in on the plan of attack....I was there at a not so busy time.

Other than crowds you shouldn't have any problems at Knotts. It is a well-run park.

SFMM will be crowded, too, but you won't ride everything in one day because the chances of everything will be open is probably zero. Coasters with the worst hourly throughput are X, Deja Vu, and Superman.

I suggest figuring our which of the 16 coasters are those you are most interested in riding and concentrate on those. If you have time for the rest, consider it a bonus. Normally I'd suggest heading to X first but today X didn't open until close to noon. In the 2 hours between park opening and X opening one could have easily ridden Goliath, Scream, Colossus, Riddler, Gold Rusher, Deja Vu, and Psyclone [and probably Viper and Revolution as well].

Good luck....you'll need it.

All i really want from Magic Mountain is a ride on X Goliath, Riddler, and superman. Deja Vu would be nice but I am not really looking forward to it just cause it is a Koma. I really want to ride everything but X is my main focus? Any ideas on wait times for Ghostrider and Xcelerator at Knotts?

I've been to Knott's twice in the past two months and it does run smoothly; for the most part. Just because the sign up front says a ride is not operating, it may be operating by the end of the day.

Case in Point:
Trip 1: My first trip to Knott's. Couldn't wait to ride Ghostrider. Upon approaching the park there is a sign that says: All rides are open EXCEPT Perilous Plunge (not warm enough anyway) and Ghostrider. My heart sank. I almost left. I came to my senses and entered the park. At about 3pm, Ghostrider was testing, and by 5pm, it was open. Got a daylight ride and a night ride in before leaving. I highly recommend a night ride. It's almost a different experience. One word of warning: The rear of the train is a little bumpy.

Trip 2: This time Xcellerator was closed for the day. But, by 6pm, it was open! Woo-hoo! Hats off to Knott's for working extra hard to get rides back up and working, even if it means only being able to open it for the evening!

Wait times for Xcellerator and Ghostrider vary. Xcellerator should be short. Anything from 2 to 20 minute wait should be the norm. For Ghostrider I would expect 45 minutes. Ignore any "Wait Time" signs at Knott's; they really don't use them.

Dark Horse ride: Timber Mountain Log Ride. Doesn't have a huge hill or blazing speed, but it's one of the best 4-person log flumes ever built. Excellent ride, especially for it's age. Be sure to ride it.

All i really want from Magic Mountain is a ride on X, Goliath, Riddler, and Superman.

X, Goliath, and Riddler should be no problem. Superman has been closed for some time now and it may not be open on your visit.

I really want to ride everything but X is my main focus?

Assuming X is open the day you visit you should be able to ride it without problem. However even with moderate crowds the wait is usually in excess of 90 minutes.

X, along with Deja Vu and Superman, have the worst capacity in the park. That's where you'll find your slowest moving lines.

Any ideas on wait times for Ghostrider and Xcelerator at Knotts?

Again, depends on the crowds. Ghostrider almost always has a longer wait time than Xcelerator. But you won't have any problem riding both multiple times.

If you go on Deja Vu with that attitude, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Aside from the downtime and problems that plague the ride, the experience is one that many argue is Vekoma's best. If you don't mind a slow paced line, you'll probably be happy you rode it.

DejaVu just a Vekoma? Yeah, just a Vekoma and a bag full of bang. If you make the effort to ride this thing (especially now that it is in operation again), you will not hate yourself like you will if you didn't. That's a promise.

Sorry Kraxle, every time i get on one i get off with a heache, or a backache, or in the case of Batwing, Sunburn. If i don't get to ride X the first day i might skio Knotts just to ride it, I can't decide. I really wanna get on the thing and i have already done Dragster so Xcelerator isn't as big of a deal. I really wanna get on Ghostie though. Ah 2 days not enough!

I think i am getting fastlane at Magic Mountain... *** Edited 3/29/2004 8:01:42 PM UTC by arlok2***

IIRC neither X nor Deja Vu are included on the Fastlane program.

What??? no X or Deja in fastlane, that is total crap, GARRRG.

Yep, what happens is that the fast lane line becomes just as long as the regular line.

MM does have LoQ right? And should I get it?

MM does not offer LoQ.

You're over-worrying about your visit.

Priority: Have fun! That's what amusement parks are all about right? :)

DON'T SKIP KNOTTS!

I made my first visit to this park 3 weeks ago, and I absolutely loved it. It still has the traditional park feel that SFMM totally lacks. Ghostrider was incredible (especially in the back, but still good in the front). Perilous Plunge was not scheduled to open that day, yed did, and was great. Timber Mountain Log Ride was probably the best flume I've been on next to Dudley Do-Right's. Oh, and don't miss the classics like Calico Mine Train. The shows were pretty good too (yes, there's time to ride all the rides and watch some shows).

We got 4 rides on Ghostrider while we were there, and the longest wait was 20 minutes. We hit it first thing (heard it was the best way to do it) and then again 2 more times around 4 (no line at all). Lines for everything else in the park were always under 15 minutes.

I had so much fun at the park I plan to buy a season pass as soon as I move to LA here in May.

SFMM is definitely a park you should make a priority list for. I've yet to get to do everything I wanted to there, either because of ride closures or really long lines. X is not to be missed. Goliath and Viper are my next two favorites there.

Have fun and don't worry about cramming everything in, you lose the feel of the parks when you do that.

-- Kyle

P.S. Don't miss the Knott's Chicken Dinner Resteraunt outside the front gate. The food was fantastic, especially the chicken noodle soup and the biscuits.

I think that the only reason that I am spazzing is because I got screwed over with riding Dragster last summer. However, Unlike Cdar Point, there is no way i can get back to Magic Mountain again this year. I just am a tad worried that X is gonna crap out on me.

You pays your money, you takes your chances. I used to say this about Dragster, too, but if you plan an entire trip around X, you should wait until you've heard that X runs reliably. Until then, either decide you'll have fun whether or not X is open, or plan a visit to a park you know will meet your expectations.

The trip is already planned and the two parks are a side trip. i wish i could just go to Southern California any time but i can't. This is my only chance for a couple years. I really want X to be open.

Well....all you can do is keep your fingers crossed. It's completely out of your hands [and our hands, too].