Disneyland? Magic Mountain? Knotts? Universal?

snowleopard

snowleopard

Well-known member
The misses and I will be in LA in a week. We're down there on a fun vacation and will be hitting up Magic Mountain on a weekend day, then have four days to split between Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and/or Universal Studios. I've been to all in years past, and liked them all. Disneyland first, but also MM for the rides. The other two are okay and if we miss one, will be fine with it. Since I know a lot of DVXUser members are from the LA area, I thought I'd ask some questions.

• Have you been to any of these parks in the last year or two?
• If so, what are your favorite rides?
• Have you been to both Disneyland, and California Adventure? Is it best to try one each day, or both in one day, or..?
• Some people think since Cedar purchased Knott's, it's not what it used to be. More bare asphalt, less theme to it, poor customer service. Thoughts?
• I'm not worried about weather, and get the impression crowds will be between moderate, and light. But what do you think?
• I recall a reasonable amount of Universal being partly indoors or covered, in the event we get a wet day. Am I right?
• Most of the food in the parks is crap. Anyone know of any healthy places to eat within reasonable distance to any of these parks?
• Any other tips other than the obvious (make sure they are open, get there early, if you can park outside the park, better, etc.)?
• Anyone cool want to join us?! We're theme park and roller coaster junkies!

:Drogar-Happy(DBG):
 
There is a wonderful home-style Japanese restaurant called Daichan - just excellent, if you dig Japanese food. 11288 Ventura Boulevard, a short distance north (west) of Universal Studios, between Vineland and Tujunga.
 
This is a great thread. I shot a documentary on roller coasters and amusement parks. Of course, Disney, having invented the "theme" idea for amusement parks, has the market cornered on that concept. Magic Mountain is best during the winter - it gets so darn hot in Valencia during the other months. Universal is not great on roller coasters, but really does deliver the "Hollywood" feeling. Not only do I send out-of-town relatives there, but I often go myself. Knott's is a mess - it is dirty and their wooden coaster is AWFUL (although they excel at their food and during Halloween).
 
If you're interested in a less touristy 'behind-the-scenes'-type deal, contact the Visitors' Centers at Warner Brothers and Sony - they offer small-group individually-guided tours for a fee.
 
cyclone said:
Knott's is a mess - it is dirty and their wooden coaster is AWFUL (although they excel at their food and during Halloween).
Click to expand...

Man, I went on that coaster a few years ago and my neck still hasn't recovered. It's brutal!...You definitely need two days to do both California Adventure and Disneyland properly.
 
If Knott's Berry Farm is run down and dirty, it's most likely not because of Cedar Fair. They run some of the best parks on the planet, including the #1. I did a tour of Cedar Fair parks this year, and the worst ones were recent acquisitions (mostly from Paramount) which had been ground into the dirt previous to the acquisition.

I suspect those who say it isn't what it was before Cedar Fair bought it are saying so more out of it not being the park they went to when they were kids, or grew up with. Which is perfectly understandable.
 
I wouldn't pass up Disneyland Resort. Everything said about Knotts and Magic Mountain is right - the latter has some fantastic coasters, but it isn't as friendly to the younger set. Universal is a world-class park now and the new backlot is gorgeous. In all the years I spent at Warners, I never went on the tour, but I've heard it is a lot of fun if you're an insider. Don't forget a diversion to one of the beaches - Manhattan is nice if you want to grab some fantastic food in close proximity to the water. If you prefer the David Duchovney down-and-out beach experience, don't pass up Venice Beach. Conversely, a really scenic beach, if you're looking for that, would be El Matador in LA or Crystal Cove in the OC.
 
Great responses, many thanks guys.

We'll probably skip Knotts and go to either Universal, or I'll look into the Warner Tour, which sounds appealing to me. Though there's only two of us.

Thanks David for clarifying that about Knotts and Cedar. It did seem odd to me, as Cedar Point in Ohio is frequently rated the #1 or #2 theme park in the US. Maybe in another few years, if the depression ends, Cedar can help bring Knotts back to it's glory.

Was at MM about 10 years ago in summer. It was very hot. It briefly showered in the afternoon, so we thought it would cool things off, instead it made the weather like Houston. I couldn't believe how hot it was there.

I think Disneyland Resort is too rich for my blood.

Any more feedback on restaurants, favorite rides, other tips appreciated. All ideas and suggestions welcome.

:)
 
Loved going to the Sunday brunch at Knotts behind the Chicken Resturant... we used to do it all the time... sometimes a wait.. but like 20 minutes compared to an hour at the Chicken place... and guess what they have the same great fried chicken in there as well as other goodies...
 
Ca Del Sole is another very nice restaurant close by the Universal lot - 4100 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake, CA 91602.

The area around the main Warner lot isn't the greatest for restaurants. Probably the best bet is Morton's Steakhouse, 3400 West Olive Avenue.
 
The SmokeHouse (4420 West Lakeside Drive Burbank, CA 91505-4016, 818-845-3731) is a kind of traditional place for studio lunches, etc, very near Warner Burbank (just up the street, really)...
[TABLE="class: ts intrlu, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Just wanted to let everyone know I'm back home from visiting, and to thank you all for your input. Disneyland was as wonderful as ever, and that's where we had the most fun. If you haven't seen Fantasmic, or seen World of Color at California Adventure, you owe it to yourself to do so. Even the most jaded person would find wonder and amazement in this. Just an incredible spectacle.

My favorite ride was the Tower of Terror. Mostly because I'm a huge Twilight Zone fan, but it also had an amazing design to it that really added to the ambiance, and it was a thrilling ride. Soaring over California was great, and the classics of Disneyland were as great as ever. The parks were also not very crowded.

SixFlags MM was good. X2 was a thrilling ride, scary. We liked Goliath (big fast rollercoaster) and Superman probably most though. Revolution is still fun, but getting a little long in the tooth and rickety. Amazing to think I remember when it opened and how amazing it seems, and how you see these monster coasters all around the park that dwarf it.

I wanted to do the Warner tour, but my other half wanted Universal, so we went there. I found it nice and clean, but kind of disappointing. Looks like it might be a fun place to work though, the park or the studio itself. Always wondered what working for the actual studio would be like. Probably not as exciting as you'd think.
 
Universal is a nice lot to work on. Good facilities, tolerable parking, plenty of decent places nearby, for lunch (well, if Ventura Blvd fits your definition of 'nearby'). Universal/Warner/Warner Ranch/Disney form a sort of 'Burbank Cluster' that was very convenient, to my old place in Silverlake (now in Pasadena, from where nothing is convenient...)
 
Yes, I can now very conveniently drag my ass out of bed at oh-dark-thirty, in order to freeze it off, down the street...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top