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?