TR:Los Angeles

This is my first trip report here.I just got back to Toronto from a week in
L.A. I had not been to L.A. in over 20 years so I was really looking
forward to the parks. I skipped Disneyland because I've been to the Magic
Kingdom in Florida enough. The first outing was California Adventure. Not
much there for the price but I did enjoy the California Screamer and got to
ride it 5 times with little or no line up. I also enjoyed the Soaring Over
California attraction. The crowds were very light. Next up was Knott's.
Unfortunately Ghost Rider is down for maintenance between Labour Day and
Haunt but I had a good time anyway. We were almost the only people in the
park. We rode Excellerator 6 times without going around to line up again.
There was no one waiting so we just kept switching seats.
I loved it, the best ride I went on in LA. Next was Universal, basically
the same as Florida except for Backdraft which was ok. Finally on Friday it
was Magic Mountain. Being from Canada I understand why northern parks close
in the fall but why on earth would Magic Mountain only be open on weekends
in September when it is 80 degrees and sunny. Staffing I guess but it seems
odd. Rode everything that was open. Psyclone, Flashback, and Deja Vu were
closed on the Friday I went. Scream was ok. Goliath too but I have to say
this park is not what I thought it would be. Cedar Point has nothing to
worry about. One strange thing that has never happened to me before. I was
a little dehydrated and had had nothing to drink before walking around in
the heat and riding rides. On the third ride (Goliath) near the end with
the circles everything went black for about 15 seconds. I thought I was
going to black out. I put it down to dehydration and drank lot's of fluids.
Then went on the rest of the rides all day with no problem. Has this ever
happened to anyone else? X was up and running and we had to wait 2 hours to
get on. They were only running one car and it takes forever to load. In my
opinion not worth the wait. I prefer speed, hills, and airtime. The funny
thing was I remember Knott's and Magic Mountain from 20 years ago as being
great experiences but now when I see all the rides that are there now that
were not there 20 years ago I have to think what was so special then? The
parks must have been empty.

Don

"David Parker" <parker3882@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:Tm5cb.34242$Lnr1.32587@news01.bloor.is.net.ca ble.rogers.com...

> Next was Universal, basically
> the same as Florida...

To the tourist, perhaps, but USH is a movie studio first and a theme park
second. The real Universal Studios of hot sets, power meetings, and backlot
celebrity sightings, is something you the tourist never sees.

> Of all the parks you visited in LA, which one would you say is worth
> going to. All of them
>
> Best park for coasters is "?" Magic Mountain
> Best park for rides in general is "?" Magic Mountain
> Best park for value is "?" Knott's
> Number one LA area park is "?" Magic Mountain
>
> I'm in BC and plan to go south to CA next year.
>
Magic Mountain wins on shere quantity but I think Knott's has more ambience.