Have you ever wondered why knotts berry farm has to use coupons to advertise? Have you ever wondered why the first two theme parks in Orange county, there creaters names have started with Walter? (Walter E Disney, Walter Knotts)

does anyone know if the two talk at all or had interaction?

They Did, walt Disney would sometimes in the early days of the park would go to knotts berry farm and eat some of mrs knotts chicken with mrs Disney.... and some times he would stop by on the way back from the aligator farm in buena park.

While I'm sure Knotts is a lovely place, it doesn't belong in the DLR forum so I've moved it to the lounge :)

Originally posted by mrKnottsemployee
and some times he would stop by on the way back from the aligator farm in buena park.

Really!? I had no idea there was an aligator farm in Buena Park. Interesting. :)

yea Buena park used to have a aligator farm, and Walt Disney used to rent out aligators to use them in adventure land.

Back when Disneyland and Knott's both closed two days each week for maintenance, the two parks' management made sure they were not closed on the same days. Disneyland, I believe, was closed Monday and Tuesday and Knott's was closed Wednesday and Thursday.

I believe I have read of Walt and Lillian Disney frequenting Mrs. Knott's restaurant, as well.

Originally posted by mrKnottsemployee
yea Buena park used to have a aligator farm, and Walt Disney used to rent out aligators to use them in adventure land.

I remember visiting the alligator farm on one family vacation to southern California. I didn't know that they rented alligators to Disney. Pretty neat.

Have you ever wondered why knotts berry farm has to use coupons to advertise?Not in the slightest.
There was a time, about thirty years ago, when Knotts was mainly just a place where locals (mainly from Los Angeles and Orange counties) could spend a quiet weekend riding a restored vintage narrow gauge train (or occasionally a restored "Galloping Goose" class railbus), and a stagecoach, and watch a blacksmith hammer out horseshoes, and pan for gold. Then dine on what was, and hopefully still is, some of the best fried chicken available anywhere at any price. It was a patriotic place, with an exact replica of Independence Hall, complete with an exact (to the shape of the crack) replica of the Liberty Bell. It was a place where you could throw small fish to a pool full of sea lions.

It was a place where admission was cheap, and even after ticket books were introduced, it was a place where a single ticket book could last a family of three or four for two or three visits. It was a place where, if you didn't want to enter the gated theme park, you could still ride a miniature (gasoline-powered) train, or a small sidewheel steamboat, or rent a rowboat for an hour or two, or ride the merry-go-round.

It was a place that didn't try to compete with Disneyland.

Then it started trying to compete with Disneyland, and the prices went up. Unfortunately, except for offering a free ice show with every paid admission, and eventually also a fireworks show, the value went down. It's been many years since I've been to Knotts. With my pass, Disneyland is more value for less money. Heck, DCA, even though it's still in its infancy, after a difficult birth, has more value for less money.

In the spring, you can get a Knott's pass on sale for a little over 50 bucks. Special events like Haunt excluded of course.

IMO, Knott's well worth the money. It offers CA's best wooden coaster, Ghostrider, plenty of things for kids to do in Camp Snoopy, and the food is not outrageously overpriced yet still pretty good. They recently repainted some of thier rides, so the place looks better than it has in recent years. Knott's also hosts the single best Halloween event in LA with the Halloween Haunt.

But at least one person who works for Knott's thinks that Disneyland opened on July 18, 1955...

I have to say I love Knott's Berry Farm.

I know there are a lot of negative opinions. I have some myself, but, I can deal with them.

I don't like it to be over crowded, but, I can't stand Disneyland crowded, either.

I prefer to go to either place during the week.

While they all are theme parks, you cannot compare Knott's, DL, Universal, Magic Mountain, ect. They all have different personalities. Disney is magical. Knott's is historic and western. Universal is movies, and MM is exciting rollercoasters.

To me it's like comparing apples and oranges. Sure they are both fruit, but the sure taste different. And a person can have preferences, but that doesn't make one better than the other. I think Knott's is just as good a value as DL, but I still preferer DL.

Now back to the original question, yes, I have read that Walt did speak with Walter about running a theme park (Knott's WAS the first theme park here). I also heard that Walter and his family was there on opening day of DL. As I recal there is a letter between the two Walts, I think it's in the Walt Disney story at DL.

And Mrknottsemployee, the family name is Knott, not Knotts. It is Knott's berry farm. Shame on you!;)

I love Knott's and prefer it over DCA any day! Knott's has a much better kids area than DCA in Camp Snoopy. Better rides than DCA in GhostRider, Xcelerator and many more. A better variety of shows, from the ice show, to the Wild West Stunt show, to the Mystery Lodge, to Peanut's Playhouse shows, and the current Xtreme sports show, that is more entertainment than what is offered at DCA (Just individual tricks). Ghost Town is still a classic, and the park is just plain fun.

If you haven't been in awhile, the price to get in is reasonable, and is worth checking out again, you might be presently surprised with what you find!

I too love Knott's. When we were kids we always did Knott's on our "Disneyland Vacation" and I try to continue that. Although we didn't hit it this year, but we did eat there the day after DL's 48th. My kids love the Snoopy land and I LOVE Ghostrider! Awesome awesome woodie!

Mmmmmmmmmm boysenberry pie, boysenberry jelly, boysenberry iceenow see what you started! LOL :p

I wonder, a Boysenberry cocktail, what would be good:fez:

I wonder, a Boysenberry cocktail, what would be good

I bet they could come up with one at the Uva Bar!;)

Here you go Darkbeer................................

Boysenberry Kiss

6 tbsp. Vodka
2 tbsp. Chambord, (Blackberry Liquer)
2 tsp. Fresh squeezed lemon juice
Crushed ice
Whole boysenberry for garnish
Lemon peel twist for garnish

Place the vodka, Chambord, lemon juice and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake to combine. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass, drop in a boysenberry and rest a lemon twist on the rim of the glass.

;)

hbquikcomjamesl yes mrs. knott's famous chicken dinner is still the best. we were just there a few weeks ago had to try it and see if it was. mmmmm never had better. 12.95 a dinner includes chicken noodle soup or ruhbarb and salad befor dinner (kids meal is jello) three pieces chicken potatoes corn and dessert. too much food. but its yummy.

So, I'm the only person on this planet who doesn't think Knott's chicken dinners are the be-all and end-all? I've had it before, and I think it's ok, but I've never thought it was worth all the praise that I've heard heaped on it. I actually think the fried chicken at a few places at DL are just as good, if not better.

Oh, wait, I'm not the only person. I just remembered having this conversation with a friend on Sunday, and she agreed with me. So there are at least two of us.

We went with a group of friends on Sunday. It's been four years since I was last there. There was some fun stuff, and there was some bad stuff, but the more I go to non-Disney places, the more I appreciate Disney. Hopefully, I'll have the TR written and posted sometime...

I dont like Knott's chicken dinners either :)

I like Plaza Inn's Chicken just as well. But there is something about eating at Mrs Knott's that makes it good. And the Boysenberry Pie of course!

May family goes to knotts whenever we have our cousins from England in. I wish the price wasn't so high. They are looking at DLR's precedent. It would be much nicer if they had a lower admission. Because although it's very fun, it isn't *quite* as Diverse as Disneyland.

Full Price is $43 for adults, $33 for kids 3 thru 11,

though there are many discount offers....

http://www.knotts.com/hot/index.asp

So you can get in for $25 for adults, $11 for kids

Originally posted by cstephens
So, I'm the only person on this planet who doesn't think Knott's chicken dinners are the be-all and end-all? I've had it before, and I think it's ok, but I've never thought it was worth all the praise that I've heard heaped on it.

I agree. Good but not great.