Is Knott's Berry Farm worth it?

[Disneyland1084]

I'm in the planning phase for a summer 2026 trip. By then my DS will be almost 7. Instead of our usual 3 days at DL, I was thinking 2 at DL, and one day at Knott's. I figure by then my DS will be tall enough to go on all the rides. I'm 45, and haven't been to Knott's since I was 9. I remember loving it. But a lot can change. It's not just about me anymore. Are there any Dis adults that love Knott's, or do you only go for your children? FYI, I'm not talking about Knott's Scary Farm. I won't be going THERE anytime in the near future. So, who likes Knott's Berry Farm? Likes and dislikes please.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am probably not representative, but I think Knott's is great. They have a solid lineup of coasters, a fair amount of nostalgic charm, and when Disneyland kicked Billy Hill and the Hillbillies to the curb, they moved down the street to here.

https://www.knotts.com/entertainment/krazy-kirk-and-the-hillbillies

Also, Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner is not to be missed.
https://www.mashed.com/490593/the-untold-truth-of-mrs-knotts-chicken-dinner-restaurant/

That said, I am a roller coaster fan, and not just a theme park fan. The more hardcore DISers would probably tell you that three days is too short to spend one of them at KBF--and I might agree with them!

 

[NVDISFamily]

I do worry that you might be trying to fit a lot into those days but TLDR - Knotts is great.

Is it Disney level quality, no. Food is hit or miss and they very very much cater to the locals with the pass/food plan so they kind of on purpose make the service meh and the lines long. If you want that "free" meal you have paid for, you are going to wait an hour of your day.

Rides are good to great. Not as well themed as Disney, but some greater thrills and even some very fun flat rides. My daughter loves the swings at Knotts vs DCA and she was so happy a year or two ago when she was finally tall enough to ride them. She and my son also loves the Dragon Swing, Jaguar, and more.

I found this thread I wrote up about a trip where we stayed a few days at the Knotts hotel. Speaking of which, if you know how to hunt, I've seen rooms at the Knotts hotel for a great price.....

https://www.disboards.com/threads/our-california-welcome-home-trip-plus-a-detour-to-knotts.3917243/

 

[NVDISFamily]

Also, Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner is not to be missed.
https://www.mashed.com/490593/the-untold-truth-of-mrs-knotts-chicken-dinner-restaurant/

I 2nd this recommendation. The quality and amount of food is amazing. Also, the bakery next door is a great spot to grab some treats or if you are on the run the chicken to go is great

The gourmet stuffed churros in Ghost Town are awesome.

It's also just fun to know that Walt and Walter were friends and shared some of the designs and inspirations on things.

 

[irlandaise]

I think Knott's would be a charming place to take a 7-year-old. There's the whole Peanuts area (Camp Snoopy), a bunch of rides that will be fine for a kid, fun shows (indoors and out), and even some educational experiences in the Old West section. And yes, fried chicken at Mrs. Knott's restaurant!

I went there for one day during a DL trip several years ago and really enjoyed it even though I'm not a roller coaster person. I even got my photo taken with Snoopy.

As others have mentioned, I do suggest that you try to plan for a four-day trip so you can still have three days at Disneyland.

 

[LAS2AMS]

We love Knott’s and have had AP for many years. Beyond Camp Snoopy (which was overhauled this year), there are very few non-thrill rides, so the park generally attracts fewer smaller children than DLR.

The entertainment program is top notch — most people don’t know this, but DLR outsources most of its audition, selection and rehearsing to a third party, and that third party is also utilized by Knott’s. The end result is that if you heard a recording, you wouldn’t know if the carolers were at Knott’s or DLR. Be aware that they’ve heavily reduced the entertainment program in recent years, so that it’s offered only when the park is busy (in other words, weekends, summer and holidays/ holiday periods).

During its themed events, Knott’s is more elaborately themed than DLR, if you can believe that. Not too surprising - they did it first. IMO, Merry Farms is worth the price of the AP alone.

That said… in the summer, we generally go to the adjacent water park only. Lines are ridiculously long - 3+ hours for top coasters. In September or colder months, you can walk right into these rides with no wait.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Is it Disney level quality, no. Food is hit or miss and they very very much cater to the locals with the pass/food plan so they kind of on purpose make the service meh and the lines long. If you want that "free" meal you have paid for, you are going to wait an hour of your day.

They don’t cater to locals. The meal plan is offered at all Cedar Fair and now Six Flag parks. Because there’s a huge population nearby Knott’s, and the meal plan is such a great deal, there has been a tremendous amount of “abuse” — e.g. mom entering the park to get dinner for the family. Knott’s now requires that you must be scanned into the park to redeem your meal, although some cashiers don’t always follow that.

I agree food is hit-or-miss, but mostly hits. Comparable food is better at KBF than DLR. Portions also tend to be much larger than DLR - the salads are use premium fresh produce and can comfortably feed four.

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

One thing to keep in mind is that the Knott's Berry Fair under Cedar Fair is very different than the Knott's you went to during your childhood. The park is now a mish-mash of the old Knotts with a lot of thrill rides that were installed after the park was acquired by Cedar Fair. Ghost Rider is probably my favorite ride there but you could easily wait 2-3 hours for it on a busy summer day. If your family loves thrill rides, it's definitely worth a visit, otherwise I wouldn't prioritize it.

Another recommendation for Mrs. Knott's chicken here. I haven't been back in a few years but I have heard they have stepped up their food game somewhat in recent years.

Crowd-wise Knott's did develop a reputation as a daycare for riff raff that would get caught "accidentally" engaging in gang activities, bad enough that they had to put in a chaperone policy at night to curb that. No idea how effective it's been. They have also had issues with break-ins at the parking lots so if you plan to drive and park there keep in mind the parking lots are unattended and open unlike Disney lots.