No other park offers a Christmas celebration quite like Knott’s Berry Merry Farm. Their particular mix of down-home charm, mouthwatering munchies, and live entertainment remains a unique Southern California gem that must be experienced. Today we share what’s happening down on the farm, including the Christmas Crafts Village, The Birdcage Theatre presentations of The Gift of the Magi and A Christmas Carol, (all of which you can get into for FREE during the week). That’s not to mention the all-new Merry Christmas Snoopy Ice Show in the Charles Schultz Theatre, the nightly Tree lighting, the wonderful Christmas on Engine 41. Of course we also share news that Starbucks has landed in Knott’s and we look at the latest from the Voyage to the Iron Reef. We hope you got some good deals today on Black Friday, but now it’s time for Knott’s Berry Farm fun.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2014: Triotech and Cedar Fair Entertainment
Knott's News: Wow, Rob Decker is such a suit with the way he refers to the new attraction as "The Product". I wonder why we haven't seen a single interview with Laura Hanneman and the creative team she's leading on this project? I've only seen Trio-Tech and Cedar Fair executives getting interviewed.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
IAAPA ’14: Voyage to the Iron Reef details surface
New artwork was shown off featuring the ride’s steampunk style mashed up with the familiar architecture of Knott’s Berry Farm. Triotech creative director Eric Marradi said introducing this new attraction’s style into the park was to intentionally make it different from all others by bringing the steampunk niche style to the forefront.
Marradi added that Voyage to the Iron Reef combines elements of dark rides, roller coasters, video games, and movies all in one. It will be a balance of 3D images projected onto large screens, produced by Triotech, and real life scenic elements produced by Knott’s Berry Farm. The goal is to seamlessly blend these elements to create a whole experience.
It certainly won’t be the first ride to attempt this feat, Triotech’s biggest challenge. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Studios Florida has successfully done it since the ’90s and Universal’s Transformers: The Ride 3D has more recently enhanced that concept. Marradi says he would be “very proud” if guests compare Voyage to the Iron Reef to those successful attractions, but emphasizes that the upcoming ride will also integrate interactive elements, which those Universal attractions don’t have.
Read the rest at InsideTheMagic
Knott's News: Spider-Man is my all-time favorite dark ride, despite some of the new changes being for the worst, so these are some damn lofty goals. That said, it's nice to hear a confirmation on physical sets being used in this attraction. I have a hunch the surprise ending may have something to do with that, like an animatronic Kraken or something, even though any large set would make switching out the dark ride for Halloween a little more complicated. I've also heard that we'll have a pre-show in the queue on the bottom floor (I don't expect much, as what Trio-Tech came up with for Guardian was lame but I hope Knott's team will surprise me).
Marradi added that Voyage to the Iron Reef combines elements of dark rides, roller coasters, video games, and movies all in one. It will be a balance of 3D images projected onto large screens, produced by Triotech, and real life scenic elements produced by Knott’s Berry Farm. The goal is to seamlessly blend these elements to create a whole experience.
It certainly won’t be the first ride to attempt this feat, Triotech’s biggest challenge. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Studios Florida has successfully done it since the ’90s and Universal’s Transformers: The Ride 3D has more recently enhanced that concept. Marradi says he would be “very proud” if guests compare Voyage to the Iron Reef to those successful attractions, but emphasizes that the upcoming ride will also integrate interactive elements, which those Universal attractions don’t have.
Read the rest at InsideTheMagic
Knott's News: Spider-Man is my all-time favorite dark ride, despite some of the new changes being for the worst, so these are some damn lofty goals. That said, it's nice to hear a confirmation on physical sets being used in this attraction. I have a hunch the surprise ending may have something to do with that, like an animatronic Kraken or something, even though any large set would make switching out the dark ride for Halloween a little more complicated. I've also heard that we'll have a pre-show in the queue on the bottom floor (I don't expect much, as what Trio-Tech came up with for Guardian was lame but I hope Knott's team will surprise me).
Triotech & Cedar Fair Talk Voyage To The Iron Reef at IAAPA 2014
Knott's News: Well, higher resolution screens is major a plus, and the ride vehicles sound like a step up, although it seems like they did little at all to improve the capacity over Guardian. In all honesty, I really just want to see what the show building looks like.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Celebrate Marion Knott Montapert
[...]As their parents aged, the Knott children and grandchildren headed various management positions with Marion leading as the director of design, planning, and entertainment. Her attentions focused more and more on the amusement aspects of the Farm and, under her direction, a new themed area, Fiesta Village, was added to the growing Ghost Town in 1969. In 1974, sensing the public’s growing desire for bigger and faster thrills, she began shopping for the world’s most unusual thrill rides and gave the world its first Corkscrew roller coaster and later a 20-story Sky Jump. A subsequent revamping of Fiesta Village in 1978 added the ultimate shuttle loop ride, Montezooma’s Revenge to Knott’s array of thrill rides.
Of Knott’s she says, “We’re different from Disneyland or any of the other theme parks. While those other parks are based on a fantasy or future theme, we’re based on nostalgia, on history.” Marion was a stickler for following the Farm’s nostalgia rule, was proud of the park’s penchant for detail and noted that the rides themselves are bound to the park by heritage. Knott’s 1881 locomotive, for example, was transported to Knott’s Ghost Town from Denver, Colorado and represents an original piece of American history saved by the Knott family.
Of Knott’s she says, “We’re different from Disneyland or any of the other theme parks. While those other parks are based on a fantasy or future theme, we’re based on nostalgia, on history.” Marion was a stickler for following the Farm’s nostalgia rule, was proud of the park’s penchant for detail and noted that the rides themselves are bound to the park by heritage. Knott’s 1881 locomotive, for example, was transported to Knott’s Ghost Town from Denver, Colorado and represents an original piece of American history saved by the Knott family.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Marion Knott, 92, helped design her family's theme park
Marion Knott, the youngest daughter of Knott’s Berry Farm founders Walter and Cordelia Knott who oversaw the park’s expansion into an enclosed theme park with roller coasters, has died. She was 92.
Marion Knott died quietly in her sleep Thursday at her Newport Beach home, her family announced Tuesday. She had been the last surviving child of the Knotts.
“I do think she was one of kind,” said her son, Darrel Anderson. “And we were blessed to have her with us for as many years as we did.”
Read the rest at OCRegister
Marion Knott died quietly in her sleep Thursday at her Newport Beach home, her family announced Tuesday. She had been the last surviving child of the Knotts.
“I do think she was one of kind,” said her son, Darrel Anderson. “And we were blessed to have her with us for as many years as we did.”
Read the rest at OCRegister
Monday, November 17, 2014
Sneak peek: 'Peanuts' [movie] spiced with classic Schulz themes
When The Peanuts Movie arrives in theaters next year, producer Paul Feig promises that Charlie Brown won't twerk, wear a baseball cap backwards or try to "break the Internet" a la Kim Kardashian.
"I don't think his butt's big enough," Feig says with a laugh.
In fact, there won't be a focus on the old-fashioned or the modern when the late Charles M. Schulz's characters including Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus and Peppermint Patty come to life in the 3-D computer-animated film (out Nov. 6, 2015). Instead, director Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift) and the filmmakers focus on the timeless quality of 50-plus years of beloved comic strips and TV specials.
Knott's News: If Knott's is smart, they'll have some kind of tie-in with this movie. Maybe a new dark ride in time for the home release during the first half of 2016. Synergy!
"I don't think his butt's big enough," Feig says with a laugh.
In fact, there won't be a focus on the old-fashioned or the modern when the late Charles M. Schulz's characters including Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus and Peppermint Patty come to life in the 3-D computer-animated film (out Nov. 6, 2015). Instead, director Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift) and the filmmakers focus on the timeless quality of 50-plus years of beloved comic strips and TV specials.
See it all at USAToday
Knott's News: If Knott's is smart, they'll have some kind of tie-in with this movie. Maybe a new dark ride in time for the home release during the first half of 2016. Synergy!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Voyage to The Iron Reef – Knott’s Berry Farm
The good, the bad, and the “eh?” So first and foremost… you all know how much I love Knott’s Berry Farm. Love it like cookies. The place is my boysenberry jam. I love its history, I love its people, I love the rides. It’s a classic in every sense. And they have the Catawampus which automatically means it’s my favorite place on earth. So there’s that. But even as much as you might love your best friend, you might occasionally have an argument. You still love ‘em, but you disagree with their choices. That’s me today… but I’ll also admit what’s done is done and nothing’s going to change it at this point.
Read the rest at WestCoaster
Knott's News: I agree. We'll just have to wait and see but if this thing has the same pathetic $10mil budget that Guardian had, then I expect a disaster. Hopefully they have enough budget to give the whole ride and area a Jules Vern look, with a detailed queue to tell the story, and lots of sets between screens. Unfortunately, they don't really say much in the way of the physical sets, which leads me to believe they won't be heavily utilized, whereas Six Flags hyped up the sets and animatronics on their new Justice League dark rides.
Read the rest at WestCoaster
Knott's News: I agree. We'll just have to wait and see but if this thing has the same pathetic $10mil budget that Guardian had, then I expect a disaster. Hopefully they have enough budget to give the whole ride and area a Jules Vern look, with a detailed queue to tell the story, and lots of sets between screens. Unfortunately, they don't really say much in the way of the physical sets, which leads me to believe they won't be heavily utilized, whereas Six Flags hyped up the sets and animatronics on their new Justice League dark rides.
Knotts Berry Farm Announces 4D Voyage to the Iron Reef
The news is out. That construction in the old Berry Tales/Kingdom of the Dinosaurs building at Knott’s Berry Farm is for a 4D dark-ride called Voyage To The Iron Reef, which will Submerge Guests Under The Boardwalk In An Interactive Media-Based adventure to save the theme park.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Knott's News: My gut reaction is a negative one, based solely on how mediocre the Wonder Mountain's Guardian video game ride is and by how much I wanted a dark ride attraction with detailed sets / animatronics (it wasn't nice of them to tease us with Bear-y Tales / Kingdom of the Dinosaurs on their Facebook). It says they tossed around reviving Bear-y Tales or Kingdom of the Dinosaurs but one must wonder how much their final decision to go with Trio-Tech - as opposed to a dark ride of equal quality to it's predecessors - was influenced by top management at Cedar Fair's excitement for the budget technology's quick returns. We'll have to trust Knott's knows what they're doing but I can't help expressing disappointment with this announcement, going from an 8-min dark ride experience to a 4-min video game. I've honestly got more faith in Six Flags' new Justice League dark ride, so hopefully more comes out about this attraction to renew faith.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
IAAPA Press Events Tuesday, Nov. 18
2:30 - 3 p.m.
Triotech and Cedar Fair Entertainment
Booth: 1062
Confidential announcement.
Knott's News: I'll be disappointed if this is Knott's 2015 announcement. Hold tight.
Triotech and Cedar Fair Entertainment
Booth: 1062
Confidential announcement.
Knott's News: I'll be disappointed if this is Knott's 2015 announcement. Hold tight.
Cedar Fair Reports Record Third-Quarter Revenues
Two of our largest parks - Kings Island and Knott's Berry Farm - will deliver record profitability and in spite of a challenging year weather-wise, our flagship park, Cedar Point, will have its second best year ever.
"Guests have responded extremely well to our new rides, attractions and live entertainment this year bringing our in-park guest spending to record levels," continued Ouimet. "While remaining committed to investing in the guest experience puts moderate pressure on our 2014 operating margins, we believe our efforts in this area will manifest themselves in the form of increased attendance, price elasticity, length-of-stay and in-park spending over the long term. This has certainly been the case at Knott's Berry Farm, where this program has been actively applied over the past three years."
Read the rest at Cedar Fair
"Guests have responded extremely well to our new rides, attractions and live entertainment this year bringing our in-park guest spending to record levels," continued Ouimet. "While remaining committed to investing in the guest experience puts moderate pressure on our 2014 operating margins, we believe our efforts in this area will manifest themselves in the form of increased attendance, price elasticity, length-of-stay and in-park spending over the long term. This has certainly been the case at Knott's Berry Farm, where this program has been actively applied over the past three years."
Read the rest at Cedar Fair
Friday, November 7, 2014
Knott's Merry Farm Passholder Preview Event!
Knott’s Merry Farm will be open just for 2014 Season Pass Holders on Nov. 21st from 7pm - 11pm. Enjoy the full park plus see our seasonal shows: Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, Snoopy's Merriest Tree Lighting, Lucy's Wish List, and more.
You’ll receive other exclusive offers and specials including:
The debut of the 2014 Christmas Pin from the Pin Trading Collection (Pin is available for purchase. Limited quantities available.)
20% discount on the all-natural Cordelia's orginal recipe Berry Market line of Preserves (available inside Santa's Christmas Cabin)
A free keepsake ornament for the first 1,500 families (limit 1 ornament per family)
Food specials & more!
A valid 2014 Knott's Regular, Gold, or Platinum Pass required for entry. One entry per pass. Passes are non-transferrable.
You’ll receive other exclusive offers and specials including:
The debut of the 2014 Christmas Pin from the Pin Trading Collection (Pin is available for purchase. Limited quantities available.)
20% discount on the all-natural Cordelia's orginal recipe Berry Market line of Preserves (available inside Santa's Christmas Cabin)
A free keepsake ornament for the first 1,500 families (limit 1 ornament per family)
Food specials & more!
A valid 2014 Knott's Regular, Gold, or Platinum Pass required for entry. One entry per pass. Passes are non-transferrable.
Knotts Berry Farm Goes From Scary to Merry
The scariest time of year has suddenly become the merriest at Knott’s Berry Farm. Yes, all of the monsters have gone home for the season and now Santa’s elves are getting everything ready for a fun-filled Christmas time hoedown with all of the trimmings. Today we fill you in on all the work that is being done to get ready for Christmas at Knott’s along with what is planned for Thanksgiving. Then, of course, we have the usual pictures from around the resort including the refurbishment of Bigfoot Rapids and the removal of some trees near the Timber Mountain Log Ride. Another burning question is this; What are they doing up in the old Kingdom of the Dinosaurs spot? We bring you the pics here. Let’s get started.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
From the Haunted Mansion to Knott’s Scary Farm: 11 Haunt Podcasts from Halloween 2014
Knott’s Scary Farm is STILL the “King of Haunts.”
From a ship that transforms into a theme park to the theme park that started the haunt industry; Knott’s Scary Farm has become an annual tradition for MiceChat.com and is the official home park of The Season Pass Podcast. Jeff Tucker joins the team to dissect the bold and new direction Halloween Haunt seized for 2014, and as always, set-up a stunning list of interviews for the show, which includes, the Mistress of the Dark herself, ELVIRA! It’s time to put two hours aside and take a long spooky listen to Knott’s Haunt 2014.
Hear it all at MiceChat
From a ship that transforms into a theme park to the theme park that started the haunt industry; Knott’s Scary Farm has become an annual tradition for MiceChat.com and is the official home park of The Season Pass Podcast. Jeff Tucker joins the team to dissect the bold and new direction Halloween Haunt seized for 2014, and as always, set-up a stunning list of interviews for the show, which includes, the Mistress of the Dark herself, ELVIRA! It’s time to put two hours aside and take a long spooky listen to Knott’s Haunt 2014.
Hear it all at MiceChat
Monday, November 3, 2014
Charleston Circle: A Look Back as We Move Forward
In anticipation of Knott's 2015 announcements, I've decided to do a quick look back at the Charleston Circle and Memory Lane area of the Roaring 20s section of the park, as it may very well be getting a facelift soon. I'm using information and images I've gathered from a quick Google search and have no resources of my own (not even the Knott's Preserved book, which I've unfortunately never read), so please forgive the lack of specifics like dates and modern-day pictures for comparison. I'd also appreciate it if those more privy on the history of Knott's would let me know if I'm getting anything wrong. Thank you!
Coming from Ghost Town and entering in Charleston Circle...
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