The Twist My Arm Trip-Spring Break 2005-COMPLETE 11/9 About This Page:

[DebiDebiDebi]

Great Update! Can't wait to read what you thought of Knott's Berry Farm...we had a blast there!

[Tink and co.]

Day 5—Knott’s Berry Farm

We were up and ready pretty quickly, even though we were all getting tired. I checked out over the phone and put the suitcases in the car. Then we visited the convenience store for water bottles, and you guessed it—powdered sugar donuts and chocolate milk. We bought a big box of donuts and shared them with Katie and Leah, using the trunk of the car for a table. Only the finest of dining for us![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] We were on the road shortly and found Knott’s Berry Farm with no trouble at all. They had us park way over on one side and we had to walk about 10 miles to the entrance. Where is a Disney tram when you need it…

I needed some cash for the day, so I used the ATM near the entrance, and then we got in line for tickets. Janet and Penny were ahead of me in line, and Penny handed me her AAA card, and said, “use it. She didn’t even look at it.” I was nervous, but I did as I was told, and the lady didn’t even ask me to pass it into her little booth. She just glanced at it through the glass. I saved $5 off my ticket, and the kids were only $14.95 a piece. Wow! That’s a great price, and Zoie was still considered a kid! Well, we found out later, you get what you pay for…more on that in a minute.

We go through the gate and then security. Where I’m treated like a criminal because I have markers in my bag. I was asked what they were for. I almost laughed out loud. They’re for drawing. I brought them for character autographs (The Peanuts Gang lives at Knotts.) The guy tells me “our characters don’t give autographs. No markers allowed!” Hey, guy, these just cost me $10.95 at my local Costco! Well, he confiscated my markers and made a rude comment about taggers. Now, I clue in! Okay, well, I’m an elementary school teacher, not a tagger. I had no idea markers were used for criminal activity. Next thing you know, he’s going to frisk me for glue sticks (actually, I had a couple in my bag, for airplane crafts...). Apparently, this overweight 30-something mother of three didn’t seem too dangerous to him, so he put my markers in a little drawer and said I could retrieve them on the way out. Whew…I thought it was going to get ugly. Never try to separate an elementary school teacher from her new Sharpies. I was afraid I was going to get arrested. I could understand if I was a teenager or carrying spray paint or something. Sorry, enough about that…

Janet wanted to ride the big wooden roller coaster (can’t remember the name at the moment) so we headed there first where the line didn’t appear to be to long. We discovered that there was no such thing as a “kid switch” so I wouldn’t be riding much of anything. Jack and I pulled up a rock and studied the map while everyone else lined up for their ride. The line wound up being about an hour long…not sure where it went to, but it was a long wait. Everyone loved the ride. The coaster goes out over the entry road and everything. We decided to head to the river raft ride next, so we could all go on something, and it had about a 30 minute wait, but the ride was kind of lame. It was short (like Kali River Rapids), but absolutely no theming.

After that, the kids wanted to ride the Wilderness Scrambler, but after a watching for a while, Jack didn’t want to ride, so he and I got on line for the bumper cars. When everyone else was done there, the kids joined us in line, where we waited for another 30 minutes or so. It wouldn’t have taken as long except there was a group of about 50 seven and eight year olds (I’d guess second graders.) unsupervised in line! The guy running the ride was trying to keep them all from climbing around like monkeys while running the ride alone. I felt bad for him. Apparently, the kids were there with a rec department group, and they are just turned loose in the park without an adult.

It was lunch time, but the map didn’t list any places to eat, so we decided to eat at the next place we saw, since there seemed to be an eatery around every corner. The place had chicken strips and hot wings. So, the kids got chicken strips kids meals, and I got hot wings. Just let me say the wings were the hottest $%#^&&n wings I’ve ever had. It hurt to eat them. The kids’ meal came with a 32 ounce sports bottle of soda, and Jack and Hallie had Cherry Pepsi and Zoie tried Boysenberry soda. My kids aren’t used to caffeine or that much sugar, so I feared the results would be interesting…While eating we had a great view of the water “drop” ride (think Splash on stilts with no theming). It looked really fun, but nobody wanted to get wet since we had a plane to catch later in the day. There was also a really cool ride that flipped you over and over into a jet of water, so you’d hang up side down with your head getting wet. No one wanted to try that one! It was fun to watch. There was also a roller coaster that went up to a point and came straight down again! And many, many others…more than I can remember, for sure. It was roller coaster heaven. After lunch, we decided to ride the classic log ride. It was a really fun ride, and I bought our picture, although I’m not sure why. I have a really silly look on my face (what’s new?!), and the front of my shirt is all wet! Yep, sort of like the Mickey hands, Sorcerer’s hat, you know!

At this point, we didn’t have a whole lot of time left, so we divided up with Janet taking the big girls, Penny taking the little girls (They weren’t tall enough for several of the big coasters.), and Jack and I made a bee-line for Camp Snoopy. Jack rode the semi-truck things, and then we waited 45 minutes for the Snoopy Bounce House. The things we do for our children! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Then we rode the little train that went out around a dumpster (that smelled real nice…) and back. Jack said, “Where’s the stuff to look at?” I then explained theming too him. He said, “I get it, that’s why the bathroom was like camping!” I couldn’t stop laughing, yes, the restroom facilities were only slightly better than an old western outhouse!

After the train, we rode a little steamship around in a circle twice in murky green water. The same girl drove us around on the train and then ran over to the boat and was our captain too and then back to the train. Poor thing! Jack said, “boy I’d like a Mickey Bar (I’m very easily swayed by this.), but of course we couldn’t have a Mickey Bar so we went in search of ice cream. We waited in line for about 45 minutes for our ice cream cone, and they only had Rocky Road when we got to the front of the line. Good thing we like that! There were only about 8 people in front of us, so I’m not sure why it took so long[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] It was at about this point where we saw our first band of saggy pants foul-mouthed teenagers. There were about 30 of them traveling together, and their language was worse than any movie or anything I’ve ever seen…I was a little scared. Too bad the security guy confiscated my markers. I could have whipped one out and…
The crowd increasingly turned from families on vacation to marauding bands of teenagers and it was only 4:00 in the afternoon. I had heard it was not a place to be at night. We decided to hit the road and look for somewhere to eat dinner, and then head to the airport. I asked at the security desk for my markers back, and they unlocked them and gave them too me. I could have easily walked right back into the crowd with them and used them, but I controlled myself and found the exit gate.

We followed Penny, Janet, and the girls out of the parking lot and we drove a little ways until we found a gas station with a little Mexican diner next to it. The perfect place for dinner. The grown ups had carnitas and coronas, and the kids had quesadillas, tacos, and burritos. We dined outside and watched the setting California sun. The perfect almost end to our vacation. I got gas when we were done, so the rental car was full for return. I think I bought $5.00 worth! Then we were off to the John Wayne Airport where we returned the rental car and checked in with ease. There were hardly any people in the airport, so we found an out of the way spot where the kids played with their bouncy balls (purchased from a machine at the restaurant) until it was time to board the plane. Then it was an uneventful hour flight home. We saw several kids from our school on the plane with their families. They were returning from Hawaii, though.

All and all, we had a great time on our trip. It was a challenge traveling with the tagalongs, but I’d travel with Janet and her family again without even a thought! If I went to Knott’s again, I’d go before Disneyland, so we weren’t constantly comparing. It’s like apples and oranges, and I (and Jack) really like theming (guess that’s why I’m a Disney Freak). Janet, Zoie, and Leah raved on and on about the Silver Bullet roller coaster, wish I could have ridden it. I sure missed Fastpass, and having the wait times posted at the beginning of the queue. We’d get in line thinking it looked short, and then…I’d say it’s a must do for roller coaster enthusiasts. I also think the spring break crowd was part of it. Off season would probably be better. None of the kids wanted to go again on our November trip, and they suggested an extra day at Disneyland or more time shopping at Downtown Disney instead! Guess we’re all Disney Dorks (I had to borrow that Melanie![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])

[Colexis Mom]

What a great report [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Boy, Knotts sounded quite interesting! Thanks for sharing your trip with us, job well done [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[snoozy]

Excellent report. I haven't been to Knotts since I was 19 back in the 70's. I know it has changed a lot. On our next trip we are going to Knotts and decided to go the second day of our trip. Knotts has always been a lot different then Disneyland. The way I remember it, it was always themed around the old west. Anyways can't wait to buy some Knotts jelly. I'm really glad you had a good time except for the tagalongs. I will be waiting for your next TR coming up soon. Have a great time.

[DrDolphin]

Great report!!!

[MKBaughan]

The fried Chicken restaurant outside the park is pretty good... that's as far as I got....

[lauren-roxy]

I am so glad that you finished your trip report!! You are a hilarious writer!!! I never knew that markers were a no-no. Thanks for sharing your report!!

[DawnDenise]

Thanks for sharing your report with us. I read it from beginning to end and really enjoyed it!! Looking forward to your next adventure. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]