have read several negative reviews of this park. I am planning on visiting the park in late May while on vacation in San Diego. I have boys ages 12 and 8 that would like it I think. Is it maintained as far as atmosphere?? Will there be lots of school field trips around the 29th of May?? What about Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner?? Is it worth a visit?? How much is it for the chicken dinner?? THanks for any help you can offer. I have memories from 20 years ago and would like to visit again, but not waste my time.

I vote for Go. I think Knott's is better than 20 years ago. More and faster rides. I think anywhere has the possibility of being more crowded around Memorial Day. I would chance it. I haven't been to the Chicken Dinner in about 3-4 years but it was still good then. I don't remember the cost.

I went to Knott's Berry Farm as a young adult and had fun. It is a standard amusement park (not a theme park like Disney) but I remember the grounds being clean and going on some good rides. My favorite in San Diego was definately SeaWorld. Have a great trip!!

knott's is definitely worth a trip! The chicken dinner place is fine, not gourmet, but fine. I'm sure you can do a search for prices.

My kids have always liked Knott's better than Disney. It will be crowded on the holiday weekend, but you should be fine during the following week. There will be field trips, high school grad events, etc., but that shouldn't significantly impact your visit.

If it is a hot day, there is also Knott's Soak City Waterpark next door.

There's lots of info at www.knotts.com

My first and only visit to Knott's was about three years ago. I was lucky to be there on a day where it wasn't crowded and all the rides were running. I thought it was a clean, beautiful, well-maintained park. Unless something signifigant has changed since then, your boys will LOVE it.

I can't comment on the chicken dinners, but a friend in the area tells me there's usually a line. I enjoyed shopping in the gift shop for jellies and syrups and other souvenirs.

THanks to everyone for your opinion of Knotts. I had read some disappointing reviews and was getting discouraged. I have been to the website and totally understand it is not Disney. Just thought the western theme might be fun for the kids and a day trip from San Diego. We are going to go to SeaWorld and perhaps the zoo or Wild Animal Park as well. Hope to do some hiking and exploring as well. THank you again.

Oh I just read they are doing a lot of construction during the off season and several of the rides are down. Does anyone know anything about that or when it might be completed?? Although our kids are out of school, I understand the end of May is still off season in CA. Thanks.

We took our company (including several children) in September...It was a nice break from the crowded Disney parks. One of our employees had emailed the park for some reason and ended up with a super discount for all of us.

They've got all the super big coasters, but also fun things like a real stage coach with horses and crafts for the little kids,a nd of course the panning for gold.

We all agree that it was worth the visit and a lot of fun. We snacked our way thru the park...fresh corn on the cob, pickles, elephant ears, etc, so never made it to the chicken dinners!

After we left the park, we went to dinner at Medieval Times, I think it's called? Someone had treated us all to this dinner show. Your boys might really like this as well...lots of big horses and guys doing stuff with bows and arrows and spears.

Knotts is a lot less crowded than Disneyland and kids will still have fun. It's a different experience with different rides (shorter lines so you get to ride more), smaller area (less walking), lots of arcade games, live gunfight performances. Don't bother with the chicken dinner.

Knott's can actually lay claim to being the first "theme park". Walter Knott salvaged ghost town buildings from all over the west. He assembled them into a park to entertain guests waiting for Cordelia's chicken dinners.

mommybryant, if you are worried about park construction and rides being down, call the park's guest services number and just ask. That's the best thing you can do.

You can also post a message in the rec.roller-coaster newsgroup throuh Google. That's where all the theme park and ride gurus hang out. They can probably give you the best unbiased info.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...coaster?lnk=li

I have always liked Knotts. We have been with our kids and gotten there at opening and ridden all the rides (some more than once) by 3 PM. That was before Cedar Fair bought it. I think they have added more thrill rides in the past 3-4 years.

Two times ago, we ate the chicken dinner and I was very disappointed. Not much better than a standard cafeteria chicken dinner. And when I was a kid, our family used to go there 50 years ago just for the dinner.

Xrae, Thanks for your advice about the construction. I will give them a call to see what they say about it. I appreciate all the other comments as well and am looking forward to a visit. Nice to go to a theme park and get to ride without all the long waits at Disney or Six Flags