Thursday, June 13, 2013

Vacation!! Day 3!

While all of our favorite Arizona people were enjoying record heats we were "suffering" in the beautiful coastal weather.  Thankfully we had a day of outdoor fun planned! 


We took the kids to Knott's Berry Farm!! 
We found these AMAZING deals online for tickets! (They were less than $30 a ticket!!) So we got together with friends from the team and spent the day riding coasters with the kids! Here is a brief overview of our 8 hours spent at the park: 


When we got in the park there was a gigantic wood roller coaster staring us down. All the kids immediately wanted to go on it. So we did. 
The Ghost Rider
 http://www.coastergallery.com/ga/kbf17.html

Dan and Krissi stayed back with the younger kids that were not tall enough to ride and myself and the other adults and most of the kids got in line. and then we waited. and waited. and waited. and when we finally got to the front of the line they sent us upstairs to board the coaster and we found ourselves waiting in another line. and waiting. and waiting. Finally it was time to ride! (Thank you cell phones for me being able to call Dan and tell him to take the kids on some rides while they wait!) Once we finally got to board the coaster we ended up going at different times since the line was huge! Ethan and his friend Bryce rode at the same time as Ryleigh & I so I couldn't get a picture of them, but Spencer and Zac took the coaster after us so I got a picture of them pre-ride. (hah! They look so hopeful! I wish I would have thought to get a post-ride picture!!) 
Spencer & Zac

Ryleigh & I - before take off! 

 Okay, I don't know if it is because I am older or because it was a wooden coaster or I am just getting weak but OH.MY.GOSH. I had to take Advil after the ride! I think I had whiplash!!! Don't get me wrong, it was AWESOME! But my neck hurt, my head hurt, my heart was racing and I still loved it!

After the Ghost Rider we met up with Dan, Krissi & the littles over in the family area of the park. Even though the boys claimed that they "loved" the Ghost Rider they were more than happy to ride on the family rides over and over again. They were in no hurry to get on a big coaster anytime soon.


Addison, Ethan & Bryce on the Pacific Scrambler

Nate & Spencer 
 Dan was in line with Olivia to ride the Surf Rider when we got there, so of course I didn't want to take away his fun so I stayed back and took pictures of them. If you know Dan he HATES rides that go in circles, so this was right up his alley! ;)  The look of joy on Olivia's face was worth it though!

Dan & Olivia




Then Dan and Stephanie (one of our friends) took the kids over to the Coast Rider. A "family" roller coaster that allows you to be in a single car. Olivia was tall enough to ride this ride. Unfortunately she was on the inside seat, next to Dan, and in the back row so I could never get a good picture of her face but she said that it was not fun because it made her tummy feel funny.

Ashton, Spencer, Olivia (somewhere) & Dan

Addison, Stephanie & Ethan
While they were riding that ride Ryleigh and I went and got in line for the Boomerang with some of the others from our group. The boys were not interested in this ride, "not because it's scary but because they were just getting hungry...".  The line was SO LONG and it was in a nice shaded area, unfortunately the shade only provided a muggy, smelly atmosphere. Finally we got on the ride! 

The Boomerang
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/photo.cfm?id=1026&park=1

This ride did me in! It was so fun at first but then as the ride is getting finished you get the privilege of doing the whole think again BACKWARDS! Once I did a loop backwards I was done! I was so nauseous and I had this cold clammy sweat going on. It was awful! It probably took me a good 2 hours before I started feeling semi-normal again. bleck! Ryleigh loved it though.

After we had lunch and watched the little kids on a few more little rides the group opted for a nice relaxing train ride around the park. I waited behind with the stroller and a sleeping baby (Jace) and enjoyed the shade and I got to people watch (one of my favorite activities). 

Nate & Spencer 

Ryleigh's phone (it's practically a family member in of itself!), Dan & Olivia

Stephanie (pink shirt), Ben & Krissi, Nate (orange shirt), Ryleigh, Dan, Olivia

Spencer
All the adults LOVED the train ride! They said it was nice and relaxing and breezy. Olivia said it was freaky because of the bandits! (Apparently bandits come and try to hi-jack the train at some point)

Then we headed over to the Log Ride! Okay, this ride was my favorite! It was cool and breezy and slow moving. It was AWESOME! It got a little freaky when you are inside the mountain, only because the puppets (mine workers) are icky looking, but it was so much fun. Plus I felt like it lasted a long time. 

The Log Ride
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/photo.cfm?id=1026&park=1

Me & Olivia in the front seat of the Log Ride

Dan & Ryleigh in the back (I tried to get all 4 of us in one shot, but my arms aren't long enough!)
Finally all the school groups started to go home and the lines got considerably shorter so everyone went over to the Silver Bullet. This is one of the main, if not THE main attraction at the park! It is the type of coaster where your feet dangle. Dan wanted to go on this ride pretty bad, and since he was so good to ride with Olivia all day I opted to stay behind for this one and let him go with the kids. The boys didn't have any interest in going on this one either. Of course, they were not "scared" they just wanted to wait with me.... or so they claimed... {insert evil laugh} 

The Silver Bullet
http://www.coaster-net.com/ride-gallery/66-silver-bullet/

Until Dan said: "No, your going on this ride with me....." (Let the flood gates open!) 

Eventually, after many tears they reluctantly made the climb with Dan to the top and went on the coaster. 
That's Ryleigh in the white shoes & white capri's , Dan is next to her

Can you see Ryleigh's white capri's & shoes at the top?

That's Spencer in the black shirt. He looks a little freaked out is all. 

Spencer (Ethan was next to him)

There's Ethan! Looking right at me! 

Ryleigh, Dan, Ethan & Spencer

The Silver Bullet
http://lastheplace.com/2006/10/06/knotts-berry-farm-thrilling-southern-california-for-80-years/
After the ride Ethan says it was "Awesome! I'm glad I went on it! It was totally my favorite ride!" Spencer says "It was....pretty okay. But I do admit, it was pretty cool." (Which is Spencer terms for "it was totally awesome but I don't want to admit I was wrong!")

Before we left we found this little section of the park that is completely geared toward kids Olivia's age and smaller. They get to ride the rides by themselves!! Why didn't we see this section sooner!!! ugh! We let her ride a few rides in this section and then we headed home... and had the best night sleep of the whole vacation. 

Olivia on some ride.. it bounced her up and down. She loved it , which was good because she was needing redemption from this incident

On our way out the kids wanted a picture of themselves as a Pink's Hot Dog! 

1 comment:

Susan Sorensen said...

Wow!! Knott's Berry Farm was one big adventure!! Glad you all had fun. We went there when our kids were like 9,6,and 3. It was pretty good then - I'm glad it's still going strong.