amusement parks
 

i was wanting to receive input about the following parks: disneyland, universal studios, six flags magic mountain & knott's berry farm. i would like to know all the positives & negatives. thanx!!

Ditto Epcot Center and Bush Gardens, Williamsburg.

Why?

If you have never been, then Disneyland is the top choice.

Lots of thrill rides at Magic Mtn.

I haven't been to Knotts in a few years. I used to like it when the kids were younger because we could ride all the rides we wanted to (some of them twice) and be out by 2 PM. When I was a kid, we would go to Knotts as much for the chicken dinner as for the few rides they had then. Last time I went and had the chicken - a major disappointment.

the reason i asked is because i'm planning on taking a trip to los angeles next summer in july. i'll be turning 21. i plan on attending with 3-4 other people. everyone wil be 21 except for one person who will be 20. i planned on going to some amusement parks because i have alot of thrillseekers coming along. with that being said, i was wanting some feedback on the parks that caught my attention.
P.S. i know that disneyland is more for kids, but i'm a big kid @ heart.

If I were 21 I would;t find amusement parks "thrilling". (I don;t get roller coasters as thrilling - just nausea making.)

Really do something different - do another part of the world - rain forests in Costa Rica or something. Or stay in CA and go skydiving or mountain climbing.

Disneyland/California adventure is very large and can keep you busy for several days if you really want to see it all. There is a mix of thrill rides, fun rides, shows, and shopping

Magic Mountain is mostly roller coasters.

Knotts Berry Farm has a bunch of roller coasters- some thilling some tame. They have the whole "western theme" going on, which is kind of fun. It isn't very big.

Universal is good for the movie connections, backstage tour, and the rides, but we found they don't handle the crowds very well.

Magic Mountain will give you the most thrills and, if you've never been there, you should go to Disneyland so you'll know what it's all about.

If you really love movies, the tour of the Warner Brothers studio is worth your while, and it is entertaining. If you prefer theme parks to studios, Universal Studios will fill the bill for you.

Have fun. HTTY

thanx for the info. i have one more question. how are the lines?

Magic Mountain is fine..PROVIDED that ALL of the rides are open and running. Frankly, for sheer variety of experiences of all those you've mentioned I'd still go to Disney and I've been to all of them and more than once.

When my son's college friends come down to LA, they make a point of going to Disneyland -- college students ARE kids at heart and especially the girls, they all love Disneyland. Boys not so much so.

HOWEVER, turning 21, you may want to drink. No alcoholic beverages are served anywhere inside Disneyland other than at Club 33 and if you're not a member or aren't going with a member, you can't get in. This may or may not be a negative to you, just saying.

Guys and girls generally have different ideas on what's best. Biggest thrill rides from most to least are as follows:
1. Magic Mountain
2. Knotts Berry Farm
3. Disneyland
4. Universal

Guys' favorites generally follow the above list, in that order.

Girls' favorites are generally as follows:
1. Disneyland
2. Universal
3. Knotts Berry Farm
4. Magic Mountain

All of them have lines. Some, like Universal and Disneyland have various cut to the front of the line passes (at Universal for an additional charge).

BTW, happy upcoming birthday!

thanx for the info

Hello...alcohol is served inside California Adventure part of Disneyland Resort.

Thanx for the feedback. I decided to go to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Magic Mountain. Unfortunately, the size of my group is down to three people. I'll be going with my BF and my male best friend. Therefore, I'll be the only girl going on the trip. It sucks, but i've gotten over it. If you guys have any other tips, I love to hear it. Thanx!!

Begin referring you yourself as a woman

If I were 21 I would want to do somethng a lot more thriling that go to an amusement park.

Either go for real physical thrills: sky diving,mountain climbimg etc

Or go someplace that is thrillingly different - visit Costa Rica, the Andes, or Turkey or Mongolia

IMHO amusement parks aren;t "thrilling" for those more than about 12

nytraveler - Yeah, we get that you aren't a fan of amusement parks :)

Hmmm. Getting to be a tough crowd, especially to a young person (more of which this forum needs)!

I humbly disagree with anyone telling you where YOU should go or telling you what YOU should enjoy, even with the caveat that if he/she "were 21" those suggestions would fit their own bill. à chacun son goût.

missambitious, I agree with your choices of what YOU want to do for your 21st. I will admit to enjoying amusement parks myself, as do people all over the world -- if not, there would not be so many to enjoy!

When I turned 21, I was living and traveling in Europe, and made it a point on that wonderful summer's day to spend my 21st riding the wooden roller coaster in Tivoli Gardens, in Copenhagen. A little history involved: the gardens opened in 1843 and the roller coaster opened in 1914.

I love wooden roller coasters! So, for my 50th b.day, I was back in Copenhagen with my husband and son, back at Tivoli Gardens for the rides, the fireworks, and the light show in the evening. We spent the day going to Bakken, located in a deer park (Dyrehaven) just outside of Copenhagen. Bakken is an amusement park that opened around 1583, with a wonderful wooden roller coaster from 1932. Great Punch & Judy shows as well (fun for kids of all ages!).

Birthdays, especially the 21st, are the perfect time to celebrate and laugh and have lots of fun!

Tip: Try to get to all these places at opening, and hit the most popular attractions FIRST!

Wow nytraveler up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

On the California Adventure side..Ca Screamin (loop coaster), Tower of Terror and the Grizzly River Rapids. Don't miss Ca Soaring Imax type ride. All have Fastpass, although if you go early to TOT there isn't much of a wait.

On the Disney side first get a Fastpass Space Mountain, it tends to run out and break down. So do that early in your day. Get a second FP and do it again later. Then FP for Indiana Jones. Unfortunately no FP for Matterhorn usually just skip it. Big Thunder would be the third FP often not much of a line.

Your Fastpasses on each side do not count against each other. Often we can do all the thrill rides in one day on both sides.

Magic Mountain much better for thrillrides but overall experience better at Disney.

There is a nice bar at California Adventure behind the Little Mermaid buffet (only weekends) as well as a beer truck in the Pacific Wharf area. Many of the Cal Adventure restaurants serve alcohol.

I appreciate the POSITIVE advice that I've received. Honestly, I just wanna feel like a kid when I go to Disneyland. The guys that are coming along are bigger thrillseekers than me. However, I'm going to try some of the bigger rides @ Magic Mountain.

@nytraveler
Yes, I would like to go Costa Rica, but that's not on my agenda right now. I also don't care for negative feedback.

@surferchic
You've been a big help in the forums. If you have any other advice for the trip, I would love to know them.

@mlgb
I doubt that I'll be drinking at Disneyland, but I do need some info on the nightlife. Got any info?

Missambitous - it is very ambitious to go to all those parks..and a lot of money on your trip. I would say that getting a park hopper pass (currently 101 for a day) and get to DL early and go to both parks (DL and California Adventure) the fun rides:

Soaring over California, Hollywood Tower of Terror, California Screamin', Toy Story - Toy Story often gets lines that go over one hour so I would hit it first if possible (all these are in California Adventure) California Adventure is under a major construction overhaul making it hard to get around at times...

In DL - Indiana Jones (get a fast pass), Space Mountain (also get a fast pass), Buzz Light Year, Big Thunder Mountain...Mattahorn...and I am sure I will think of more :)

It might be really fun for your group, since you have a car, to head down on an evening, check into a hotel, hang out at Down Town Disney area, and get up early and head into the parks, at the end of the day- head south to San Diego, check into a hotel - and go to the zoo the next day, - and hang out in the gas lamp that night - and you can head back to LA the next day... or just stay down in San Diego (I love it there!) your guy friends might enjoy going to see a Padre game - it is a fabulous ball park - one of our favorites :)

Tip on pricing:

If you head over to UCLA when their ticket office if open, you can get UCLA student discount tickets to all of the three amusement parks mentioned. You do NOT have to be a UCLA student to get these tickets. AND they can be used when you want to use them. The prices are as follows:
Disneyland -- 1 day Park Hopper: $93
Disneyland -- 1 day 1 park: $73
Magic Mountain -- $27
Universal -- 1 day $55
Universal -- front of the line pass $129

Or you can spend a little more by going to the websites and buying tickets online:

Magic Mountain special ($34.99)
http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountai...ets/index.aspx

Universal (FOTL pass cheaper online than UCLA):
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/tickets.html

Disneyland
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/

The advantage of getting tickets either through UCLA or online is you may get a better deal AND you don't have to wait in line to buy tickets once you get there.

I have never been on Toy Story..lines are crazy!

Depending on when you are going, check the amusement park websites, especially on the weekends Disney has entertainment (live bands and dance clubs) inside the parks. Watch out for grad nights if going in June.

Downtown Disney is more low key, there is House of Blues and ESPN zone.

For other types of entertainment, get copies of LA Weekly and OC Weekly or view them online.

If you're here in summer,,,http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/

I agree with the assessments of Disneyland appealing to the kid-at-heart......just walking through the gates onto Main Street still excites me a little like seeing Santa at the mall... :)

I found California Adventure to be more suited for the thrillseeker, while Disneyland can't be topped for animation.

>I just wanna feel like a kid when I go to Disneyland.<

Get a pair of Mickey Mouse ears. It helps. :)

Gosh I forgot nearly the most important thing..go to Town Hall or the equivalent in Cal Adventure, get a birthday button. Then go to the Tortilla factory in Cal Adventure and they'll give you a package of fresh tortillas!

I heard about the lines @ Toy Story. I did read a book that provided some itineraries on how to navigate Disneyland. I can't remember the title though. That's how I originally began planning this trip, but I wanted to get opinions outside of books.

@surfergirl
I'll make sure to check out that UCLA discount.

@mlgb
I'm gonna check out LA Weekly. I also plan on going on to Disneyland during the weekday.

@tenthumbs
I'm definitely getting some Mickey Mouse ears.

Btw, I need some second opinions on the dining @ Disneyland. I've been getting some serious mixed reviews. As a matter of fact, I'm open to all dining tips for these amusement parks. I really appreciate your help :)

What kind of food and what kind of money?

I sort of like the BBQ lunch in Disney that is all you can eat, and they'll let you take the leftovers with you.

Everything is pretty good there except the ribs have that baked first flavor.

Rancho del Zocalo maybe for fast serve Mexican.

On the Cal Adventure side if you want a sit down meal I think Wine Country Trattoria is good. Also look into buying a package that gets you the good seating for World of Color.

If you are going on a weekday look at the schedule as some days can be very short, and not all entertainment plays every week. I think Billy Hill and the Hillbillies are worth switching the schedule around to catch, as well as Aladdin.

Well mlgb, you answered one of my questions. I wanted an opinion on Wine Country Trattoria. I recently found out about their World of Color package, so I definitely appreciate the feedback. I'm certainly looking forward to the Aladdin show. Jasmine is my fave Disney princess.

I have a couple other restaurants that I was interested in. They are Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, Blue Bayou, Ariel's Grotto & ESPN Zone. Any thoughts?

We had lunch at the Wine Country Trattoria in October. I found the food to be fairly good and surprisingly moderately priced, considering we were in a theme park. We had dinner at the ESPN zone. We got a pager (that only works INSIDE their establishment) and waited an hour to be seated. The hamburgers we had were good, but I found them to be pretty pricey, more in tune with what one would expect from a theme park eatery.

The wait to see the World of Color was tedious, but I found the wait worth it. The show was spectacular.

The Aladdin show is amazing! I have seen it so many times - and was sad when I heard they were canceling and then I guess they extended it. Be sure to arrive early enough to get in line for good seats. Well worth the wait.

I kind of feel sorry for those who can't enjoy theme or amusement parks or who don't find them thrilling. (I wonder if those who put them down have even been to a "modern" one which is a far cry from the old tacky amusement parks). While I've bungy jumped in New Zealand, hiked through gorges in Europe, trekked across glaciers, ridden an elephant through Thai Rainforests, and rafted some wild rivers for a starter, nothing is any more fun that spending a day with friends at a really good theme park packed with various adventures plus some fun entertainment. And I am about 53 years past being 12!!!! I hope I never get old.

Patrick -- Nope, not you!

As Peter Pan sang, "if growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow uuu-up! Not me!

The Matterhorn is more fun at night than during the day, and if you could be on the ride as the fireworks go off, it's that much more fun!

Having said that, it may conflict with World of Color (which I haven't seen) or Fantasmic (which I have seen) -- both on opposite sides of the two parks! The schedule should be up soon.

Redd Rocketts Pizza..well most people don't like it, but if you get a fresh piece I think it's okay. They also have salads and pastas. Not bad, really.

Blue Bayou is expensive even at lunch and the food often arrives cold since they carry it from a distance (and it's chilly inside the room). But it's very pretty. If you wanted to try the Monte Cristo sandwich you can now get that at Cafe Orleans nearby. Haven't done Ariel's. There are a few snacks that are crowd favorites, ie the corndog, Dole Whip from Tiki Room, and smoked turkey leg.

The following website is a good one for looking over menus as well as ratings. There is also a star rating under Restaurants at a Glance, which I think is pretty much accurate.

http://allears.net/dlr/din/dining.htm

Surfergirl, or as the tshirt my partner, Lee, used to wear said, "Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional."

mlgb, thanx for the link. I'm going to look this over.

Patrick, I was thinking about you the other day and wondering why you never post anymore But, then I reminded myself that the only forum I visit regularly is the Lounge, and that you may still be here but just not THERE. And that's completely understandable. : )

I'm not a big fan of wild rides because I get motion-sick so easily, but I certainly don't begrudge anyone enjoying amusement parks, whatever their age.

vickib2, you're right. I rarely visit the lounge. I think I ended up here today because of older thread I had posted up which showed up in "my" threads and that brought me here.

"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional."

I love it :)