You Disney people have it easy...

[ViperBorg]

All right, here's a poll.

How many of you had a gang brawl break out in your park?

We had one, I'll tell the story later, just wondering on statistics.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

That probably why we all like Disney!!


no worries...be happy!


RUM!!

[glendalais]

It's happened at DL. Last year during Grad Nites, one broke out in front of my location which ended with one of our CMs being knocked out cold, and Security flooding the area. This was before I hired in, so I'm going on what I've heard. Your mileage might vary.

Now, are we KBF? Not by a longshot, but it does happen.

EDIT: *proceds to hide post from GP's virgin eyes* :p:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It's happened at DL. Last year during Grad Nites, one broke out in front of my location which ended with one of our CMs being knocked out cold, and Security flooding the area. This was before I hired in, so I'm going on what I've heard. Your mileage might vary.

There were also a few shooting and knife incidents during the 80s inside the park between Samoan and Tongan gangs. I read it in one of those (unofficial, of course) guides to Disney history.

Now, are we KBF? Not by a longshot, but it does happen.

EDIT: *proceds to hide post from GP's virgin eyes* :p:

OH Noooooooo! SAY it Ain't so!!!!!

(shows you that they are REALLY good and downplaying the bad stuff)

Hmm, "You got to...Accentuate the positive...Eliminate the negative...."

[Sarah Magdalene]

Well, In Downtown Disney Westside there was almost a scuffle when security would not let in the group of teens into the area. I asked what was going on, as it almost looked like a stand-off near the parking area, and the cop laughingly said, "Ah, just kids being young and stupid!" It was pretty funny.

[Theme Park Where]

Had a stabbing in the parking garage at Universal - and a shooting at Wet n' Wild (both non-fatal). Aren't kids fun?!

[Sarah Magdalene]

Had a stabbing in the parking garage at Universal - and a shooting at Wet n' Wild (both non-fatal). Aren't kids fun?!

Oh yeah ... delightful!

[hhsrat]

what about a fist fight while in line for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party?

[Big Wallaby]

what about a fist fight while in line for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party?Just a couple of kids in line, having a spat.

Wait, I was looking at the age of their maturity, not their physical age...

[Natural Selection Fan]

Grad Night... LAUSD So. Central schools.... oh, the humanity.

[LittleDollClaudia]

It was a regular thing over at Knott's. If Disney is the yuppie park, then Knott's is the ghetto park.

Can't tell you how many times I would see two sets of guys making eyes at each other as they walked through. They would do that head nod and watch out if the others didn't return it.

Whoo, especially during Haunt. Security had their work cut out for them.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It was a regular thing over at Knott's. If Disney is the yuppie park, then Knott's is the ghetto park.

Can't tell you how many times I would see two sets of guys making eyes at each other as they walked through. They would do that head nod and watch out if the others didn't return it.

Whoo, especially during Haunt. Security had their work cut out for them.

Sounds like a "blast"

I hope the LAPD at least sends some people?

[felinefan]

Yeah, every summer and during other high attendance days at Knott's, Buena Park Police would supplement the Knott's security. Not that security was that great to begin with....

Yep, for sure, Knott's a the ultimate ghetto park.

[Princess Susi]

Yeah, every summer and during other high attendance days at Knott's, Buena Park Police would supplement the Knott's security. Not that security was that great to begin with....

Yep, for sure, Knott's a the ultimate ghetto park.

Worse than Six Flags? I know the Six Flags Park here is no longer a Six Flags. But it had a lot of shootings and gang activity. It is downtown Denver! It used to be called Elitches, years ago, and Six Flags bought it and called it Six Flags Elitches. Then just last year, they sold it and it is now not a Six Flags anymore, it is back to being Elitches and they are trying to dress it up an make it a *Disneylike* Park. They have shows and characters and all that, but it cannot compete. I know I have heard alot of the Six Flags Parks have problems with violence and gang activity.

And Knotts Berry Farm in the early days was a real destination, just like Disney. In fact many families did both Parks when they came to So Cal, that was a given, you went to both! I don't remember going because I was really, really young, probably an infant when my parents took my older sisiter and brother to Knotts. Always brought home jellies and jams from there. It was a clean park and had few problems from what my parents described. I don't know when that all changed. I know I hear alot of bad things about Knotts Park now. When did the deterioration of Knotts begin? :(

It is certainly NOT the same Park at all. Do they even have anything to do with the Knotts family and Jams and Jellies anymore? Can you still buy them there? Or is it *just another theme park*?
sues

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I think you can still get the stuff. Another poster on a thread said that the store is still in operation!!

[mechurchlady]

yes you can buy them in the park. They still keep up the Knott's family appearance even if it is so not Knott's.

http://www.cfmarketplaces.com/acb/stores/6/index.aspx

http://www.knotts.com/camplace/shop.shtml

[Pinkisweet]

Worse than Six Flags? I know the Six Flags Park here is no longer a Six Flags. But it had a lot of shootings and gang activity. It is downtown Denver! It used to be called Elitches, years ago, and Six Flags bought it and called it Six Flags Elitches. Then just last year, they sold it and it is now not a Six Flags anymore, it is back to being Elitches and they are trying to dress it up an make it a *Disneylike* Park. They have shows and characters and all that, but it cannot compete. I know I have heard alot of the Six Flags Parks have problems with violence and gang activity.

And Knotts Berry Farm in the early days was a real destination, just like Disney. In fact many families did both Parks when they came to So Cal, that was a given, you went to both! I don't remember going because I was really, really young, probably an infant when my parents took my older sisiter and brother to Knotts. Always brought home jellies and jams from there. It was a clean park and had few problems from what my parents described. I don't know when that all changed. I know I hear alot of bad things about Knotts Park now. When did the deterioration of Knotts begin? :(

It is certainly NOT the same Park at all. Do they even have anything to do with the Knotts family and Jams and Jellies anymore? Can you still buy them there? Or is it *just another theme park*?
sues

You couldnt be any more correct about Six Flags. That place is so run down. I went 2 years ago, for free with a couple of buddies of mine and it was terrible! The place was missing its "magic", and half of their tvs that I remember that used to play their cartoons we're missing or off. I was nausated with the bathrooms there as well, overall, I would never go back, I was disappointed.

Last time I went before that was around 2000, and it was so much better and kept up.

[felinefan]

Yes, you can still buy the jellies and jams there, but most supermarkets are selling them as well, so you don't need to go there to get them. The jellies are made by Conagra Foods, so I think they just use the name.

As a former Knott's employee, I'd say things started going downhill in the early 90's when Cedar Fair bought Knott's out; by then Walter and Cordelia Knott were gone, and their children, 3 daughters and a son (only one daughter, Marion, is still alive) couldn't keep it up. Several of the rides are falling apart, literally, due to lack of maintenence. The current management is trying to squeeze more money out of the park for themselves, and they're too dense to understand why things are falling down around them.

The cyclone fence out front was put up in the mid-60s to keep the hippies from sleeping in the park; of course, the neighborhood has changed for the worse as well. I think word is going around that Knott's has the worst security, so people bring in knives, guns, etc.. Once I was on the Calico Railroad as a conductor, and a guy was acting up; when the Bandits came through, this guy pulled a knife on them. We called security over the 2-way in the baggage car, and the guy was taken into custody. His wife tried to disown him--"I'm not with him!"-- but he, his wife and son were taken in; I think he went to jail. The wife and son were likely questioned and released.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I'll say it again, thats just sad!!

too bad a company with investment capital dosn't go in and buy, the restore it as much as possible!

and institute Disney type standards for operation!

I'd go again!!

[LittleDollClaudia]

But that is the problem. A big company DID take over and the only time the park is truly busy is in October. Instead of focusing on the family aspect, they have built more and more coasters in its place.

Not that I am against that, but I miss the days going to Knott's for relaxation, not have an unruly crowd of brats acting like animals.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

But that is the problem. A big company DID take over and the only time the park is truly busy is in October. Instead of focusing on the family aspect, they have built more and more coasters in its place.

Not that I am against that, but I miss the days going to Knott's for relaxation, not have an unruly crowd of brats acting like animals.

Well, thats what I mean, take it over and restore it back as much as possible, and make it family friendly again!!

[AlpineDL]

I didn't work that day, but on 4/20 a couple years ago at the local Six Flags level park, management and security decided to just close and evacuate the whole park with the PD mid-afternoon cause there was just so much gang crap happening constantly.

[svickersart]

The problem with Knotts is first the area its in has gotten bad where Disney has a bit of a buffer. Second they went with the big thrill rides which attract the teens a bit more since they think DL is for the younger kids. This is one issue with Six flags also, big coasters draws the non family crowd, they are also not destination parks so they rely heavily on locals attending and if your in a bad area then that means bad people. They also lower the prices on AP's, the six flags nearest us is offering a season pass for $65.00 US and also giving you 5 free day passes to give to friends so now the park is instant and cheap babysitter. You can get an AP for Knotts for around $125.00 and even have it include Great America in Santa Clara, various water parks and Gilroy Gardens for a little more. I dont even want to go to SF in Valencia and I'm skiddish about Vallejo since I'm familier with the area. I think to start cutting down on the ghetto rep they all need to raise the prices instead of practically giving admission away, keep out the gangster kids and have fewer people in the parks, thus shorter lines, but they figure fill the park and make the money off concessions.

Steve

[hobie16]

I think to start cutting down on the ghetto rep they all need to raise the prices instead of practically giving admission away, keep out the gangster kids and have fewer people in the parks, thus shorter lines, but they figure fill the park and make the money off concessions.
That's what Maui is trying to do but for different reasons. They want the few high end visitors that spend big bucks vs. the masses that spend less but clog up the roads and beaches.

[felinefan]

Actually, the busy times at Knott's are on weekends year-round; during Spring Break; from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; then a bit of a breather until Haunt in October; then in November there's the special promotion for fire, police, veterans and current military as well as paramedics and other First Responders. Then it's busy again in December for the Christmas Crafts Sale. It's dead in January through February/March, with Tuesdays-Thursdays being the deadest.