All things Knotts Berry Farm

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

That's not going to prevent a lawsuit. If they were sold the pass with the promise that they could use it on Saturdays, and now they can not, that's a problem for Knott's. It's not all that different from the shadow block-out dates that got Disneyland sued.

Knott's is perfectly within their right to change the rules midway thru the contract, but they should offer refunds automatically for those now unable to use the pass. Of course it could just be that they are assuming those teens won't bother to sue, and will hopefully re-up and re-new next year when Knott's quietly discontinues the chaperone policy.

A lawsuit like this one which is a standard contract suit should be easier for Cedar Fair lawyers to defend then god forbid someone getting severely injured or worse in a melee at the park that was planned in advance by unruly teens via social media and had the footprint online to demonstrate intentionality.

If the park had not got a handle on this and these types of breakdowns had continued there would likely have been suits by individuals placed in harms way at the park, if not security guards for unsafe work environment, etc.

Is Knott’s refusing to offer pro-rated refunds to individuals who raise objections to this policy? I haven’t seen evidence of that but I would think they’d have no objection to doing so anyway as it’s a relatively small price to pay.

 

[el_super]

If the park had not got a handle on this and these types of breakdowns had continued there would likely have been suits by individuals placed in harms way at the park, if not security guards for unsafe work environment, etc.

They couldn't possibly defend changing the terms of the Season Pass based on the idea that they were being negligent with their security and opening their guests up to physical assault. You're probably right that between the two, they'd rather defend the Season Pass changes, but boy is that a tough place to be in.

Is Knott’s refusing to offer pro-rated refunds to individuals who raise objections to this policy? I haven’t seen evidence of that but I would think they’d have no objection to doing so anyway as it’s a relatively small price to pay.

So far, just based on social media reports, it's been a mixed bag. Some have received refunds and others have been given the endless runaround of "I'm not authorized to do that."

It still seems as though they are trying to hedge here and say that people can still use the passes to riot Mon-Thurs though, so no refund is neccessary.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

So far, just based on social media reports, it's been a mixed bag. Some have received refunds and others have been given the endless runaround of "I'm not authorized to do that."

It still seems as though they are trying to hedge here and say that people can still use the passes to riot Mon-Thurs though, so no refund is neccessary.

Yeah, there should be a means to easily either provide a pro-rated refund or issue a stop-payment for monthly payment on season passes that are on the monthly plan. I agree there but hopefully more consistent training is implemented soon.

In terms of Monday thru Thursday I don’t think it’s as big a deal since there should be lower attendance across the board once school starts next month.

The easiest way to handle this honestly would have just been to have a consistent policy that said when the park is open past 7 pm this policy is in place which would also include Scary Farm. But by including Friday thru Sunday plus “random weekdays” (as is the current stated policy) this does give the park some discretion to enforce this policy in tandem with BPPD should they choose turn the policy on on a random weekday based on social media chatter.

 

[CaptinEO]

I agree but you also didn’t have social media proliferating a platform for racketeering among underage youth then. The park has a duty to protect its guests of all ages in these instances.

Even a world without social media has created things like the 92 Six Flags riot amd the 1970s Hippie takeover of Disneyland. People have always found ways to organize.

 

[Phroobar]

Sometimes we just don't cater to the .001% when it puts 99.999% in danger.

 

[TP2000]

I applaud Knott's Berry Farm for doing the right thing here.

Knott's management is protecting their brand, protecting their private property, protecting their employees, and protecting their good customers. There's no way sane way to defend the alternative to all that.

I have plans to visit Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant in September and buy a few jars of Cordelia's boysenberry preserves to use in dessert crepes. I may buy a ticket to the park now, just to wander around, maybe ride the train, see the Mystery Lodge show I enjoyed first at the World's Fair, and buy a handmade candle or a silly geode or something.

Knott's Berry Farm management is solidly on the right side of this business decision to not allow in unsupervised local teens.

 

[Phroobar]

I applaud Knott's Berry Farm for doing the right thing here.

Knott's management is protecting their brand, protecting their private property, protecting their employees, and protecting their good customers. There's no way sane way to defend the alternative to all that.

I have plans to visit Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant in September and buy a few jars of Cordelia's boysenberry preserves to use in dessert crepes. I may buy a ticket to the park now, just to wander around, maybe ride the train, see the Mystery Lodge show I enjoyed first at the World's Fair, and buy a handmade candle or a silly geode or something.

Knott's Berry Farm management is solidly on the right side of this business decision to not allow in unsupervised local teens.

Unfortunately the Mystery Lodge has been closed for the last three years.

 

[el_super]

Sometimes we just don't cater to the .001% when it puts 99.999% in danger.

Yeah but only on Fridays and Saturdays and sometimes Sunday.

 

[D.Silentu]

Does anyone know if Mrs. Knott's Restaurant still serves breakfast? Information on that seems a bit vague.

 

[TP2000]

Unfortunately the Mystery Lodge has been closed for the last three years.

Seriously? Still?

Well, I guess I'll forego a trip into the park and just go have chicken dumplings at Mrs. Knott's, then pick up a few jars of raspberry preserves, then send a very sternly worded letter to Governor Newsom on my feelings on how he has managed this state since March, 2020.

I've been meaning to do that last part since I decided to move to Utah. After all the taxes I've paid, I'm owed at least that parting shot. I image Mrs. Cordelia Knott, as a one-time small business owner trying to keep her family afloat in difficult times, would agree with me.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Seriously? Still?

Well, I guess I'll forego a trip into the park and just go have chicken dumplings at Mrs. Knott's, then pick up a few jars of raspberry preserves, then send a very sternly worded letter to Governor Newsom on my feelings on how he has managed this state since March, 2020.

I've been meaning to do that last part since I decided to move to Utah. After all the taxes I've paid, I'm owed at least that parting shot. I image Mrs. Cordelia Knott, as a one-time small business owner trying to keep her family afloat in difficult times, would agree with me.

It closed pre-2020.

 

[Phroobar]

It closed pre-2020.

According to @Darkbeer it was suppose to be the entrance to the new gigi coaster they were planning for the backstage. That thank goodness isn't happening anymore. They do have it open during Scary Farm as a ghostbusters type show. Basically an 80s Steve Jobs type guy tries to reverse Global Cooling by unleashing a demon via human sacrifice. It was a pretty decent show using the pepper's ghost illusions.

 

[CaptinEO]

According to @Darkbeer it was suppose to be the entrance to the new gigi coaster they were planning for the backstage. That thank goodness isn't happening anymore. They do have it open during Scary Farm as a ghostbusters type show. Basically an 80s Steve Jobs type guy tries to reverse Global Cooling by unleashing a demon via human sacrifice. It was a pretty decent show using the pepper's ghost illusions.

Wow that sounds very entertaining, they should keep it open year round.

I really dislike when themeparks close something but just leave it there in plain sight, it seems like such a waste.

 

[CaptinEO]

Seriously? Still?

Well, I guess I'll forego a trip into the park and just go have chicken dumplings at Mrs. Knott's, then pick up a few jars of raspberry preserves, then send a very sternly worded letter to Governor Newsom on my feelings on how he has managed this state since March, 2020.

I've been meaning to do that last part since I decided to move to Utah. After all the taxes I've paid, I'm owed at least that parting shot. I image Mrs. Cordelia Knott, as a one-time small business owner trying to keep her family afloat in difficult times, would agree with me.

Knotts Marketplace is great and they validate parking too when you eat at the restaurant. In fact the last 4 times I went to Knotts I never entered the themepark and had a great time.

 

[Dapale]

 

[el_super]

Track switch misalignment. Seems strange for the middle of the afternoon since that switch wouldn't be used in normal operation.

 

[Phroobar]

I hope it is back up soon.

 

[Phroobar]

Wow that sounds very entertaining, they should keep it open year round.

I really dislike when themeparks close something but just leave it there in plain sight, it seems like such a waste.

This is the Invitation to Terror: Presented by Futuretronics.

 

[Too Many Hats]

Oh no! I must've hit the track switch!

 

[Ismael Flores]

You can get a lot of good attendance/wait time data on the internet. thrill-data is a good source that shows the drop in Knott's attendance year over year:

View attachment 655864

And of course the changes in average wait time for the last couple weekends:

View attachment 655868


Saturday (23) looks like it was a little busier, but the friday and sunday were trailling lower. Interesting to note from this the uptick in attendance on Monday and Tuesday.


There were also lots of reports from people online indicating that the park was basically empty, especially the friday the policy went into effect:







Again though: if it were really a problem, why not extend the chaperone rule to all days of the week? Why are unescorted/underaged teens running rampant OK on a Tuesday instead of a Sunday?

It seems obvious to me they are overcorrecting here. They want to present an image of a family friendly park, but they still can't give up letting those teens come in on those Season Passes. Knott's is betting that the drop in attendance is being caused by the bad reputation they have received and not because their revenue depends on the underaged teens they are now trying to kick out of the park.




That's not going to prevent a lawsuit. If they were sold the pass with the promise that they could use it on Saturdays, and now they can not, that's a problem for Knott's. It's not all that different from the shadow block-out dates that got Disneyland sued.

Knott's is perfectly within their right to change the rules midway thru the contract, but they should offer refunds automatically for those now unable to use the pass. Of course it could just be that they are assuming those teens won't bother to sue, and will hopefully re-up and re-new next year when Knott's quietly discontinues the chaperone policy.

Never have seen the issue during the week, most likely because they are school days. I am sure while schools are out it could be a problem but never saw it that way.
Friday evenings and weekends were really bad