Knott’s Berry Farm vs. Disneyland (Which is Best?)

With so much to do in Southern California, travelers need to choose wisely when planning their vacation days. Here’s a look at Knott’s Berry Farm vs. Disneyland so you can choose the best theme park for your family. This detailed guide compares roller coasters, rides for young children, themed areas, live shows, and more!

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Rides for Little Kids

Located just 7 miles apart in Orange County, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm offer an abundance of rides suited to all levels.

Camp Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park boasts 14 rides for wee ones, like Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer swings, Timberline Twister kiddie coaster, and Flying Ace airplanes.

Meanwhile, Disneyland’s offerings for young children in Anaheim include the rides and attractions in Fantasyland and Mickey’s Toontown. Additionally, there are rides suited for parents to ride with their young children throughout both Disney parks, like the old-school Jungle Cruise. See our picks for the best Disneyland rides and attractions for babies and toddlers.

Rides for Tweens and Teens

Teens, like my daughter, may not get all that excited about seeing Mickey Mouse or getting their photo taken with Snow White. But Disney California Adventure Park does offer Incredicoaster, which tops out at a zippy 55 miles per hour. And, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was always sure to elicit screams and has remained just as thrilling for parkgoers now that it has re-opened as Guardians of the Galaxy.

The roller coasters at Disneyland proper are more about theming than sheer speed. But Space Mountain, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad remain hits. If thrills are what you’re after, then be sure to read our picks for the scariest rides at Disneyland.

Whereas Disney’s focus is on themed attractions and characters, Knott’s Berry Farm is more about carnival rides and games. The theme park does offer live entertainment, mostly starring Peanuts characters (Snoopy and Friends) and Old West characters.

The big hit for adventure seekers, though, are the plentiful thrill rides at Knott’s Berry Farm. There are several roller coasters, including Xcelerator, which reaches a rip-roaring 82 miles per hour!

Dining Options

When comparing Knott’s Berry Farm vs. Disneyland, both parks offer the usual carnie-type food. There are several differences, however, that set the parks apart.

Knott’s, being a smaller park, offers simple fare once you’re in the gates. The offerings are predictable, but the carne asada is worth the calories (found in Fiesta Village). It features fries topped with shredded beef, sour cream, and guacamole. For sweets, consider the churro, funnel cake sundae, or a boysenberry soft serve cone.

The best dining option at Knott’s, however, is found outside the park gates in the California Marketplace at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Here you can tuck into their famous full chicken dinner.

It’s comprised of four pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, hot biscuits and jam, plus pie! You also get a choice of either chicken noodle soup or stewed cherry rhubarb, plus cabbage or corn. Our family of three split this entree and had enough leftovers to take home!

Read reviews and make reservations at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant now.

Disneyland does dining well with several restaurants, carts, and takeaway stands. It’s a good idea to book any sit-down Disney meals in advance. Reservations are accepted up to 90 days in advance.

Interestingly, no alcohol is served at Disneyland but you can find it in California Adventure Park and in Downtown Disney. Foodies do well dining at California Adventure Park, with a few sit-down dining options including the swanky Carthay Circle Restaurant. 

Character dining is one of the biggest Disney draws and shouldn’t be ignored. During my daughter’s princess phase, the highlight of her year was lunch with Disney princesses and other characters. Discover which Disney character meal is best for your family.

Visitor Experience

It’s tough to compare apples to oranges, or Mickey to Snoopy, as the case may be. My family recently visited Knott’s Berry Farm on a sunny weekend and I wouldn’t describe it as crowded. Then we hit Disneyland on a rainy weekday and it was packed.

To do Disney properly, you need to budget at least three days. (We only had one). Meanwhile, Knott’s Berry Farm can be fully experienced in a day.

Knott’s Berry Farm is a lovely theme park with a fun historical village called Ghost Town that features old-time shops, artisans making crafts, and a real one-room schoolhouse. Knott’s is more affordably priced than Disney and if rides are what you’re after, you’ll find plenty of them at all thrill levels.

Disneyland takes it up a notch with daily parades, nightly fireworks, princess makeovers, and an arsenal of characters roaming through the parks to interact with guests. Plus, Disney’s live entertainment is top-notch. California Adventure’s Frozen Live at the Hyperion will impress even the most critical Broadway theatre fans.

Disneyland vs. Knott’s Berry Farm: The Verdict

I had such fond memories of visiting Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park as a child that I wanted to recreate the experience for my daughter. For our family, it was well worth visiting both. It’s not that one is any better than the other. They’re each special in their own way and worthy of a visit when touring SoCal. 

Save Money on Your Orange County Vacation

Use discount code TravelMamas to get $10 off any two-night or longer Southern California package (hotel and two-ticket minimum) when you book through our trusted partner, Get Away Today. 

Just want tickets? Buy discounted Disneyland Park tickets now! Save up to $22 per ticket when you buy discount Knott’s Berry Farm tickets here.

Keep This Analysis of Knott’s Berry Farm vs. Disneyland

Planning a trip to Southern California? For future reference, be sure to save this comparison of Disneyland vs. Knott’s Berry Farm. Simply pin the image below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

A Note from The Saucy Travel Mama: Thank you to Visit Anaheim and Visit California for hosting my trip. As always, my opinions are my own. 

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