We have AP to Knott's and personally haven't had a problem there. Yes, teenagers can be a problem but if you've read any of the threads about Grad Nites at DLR they can be a problem there too.
I love KBF for what it is. No it's not Disney but it's a special place. Yes, the rides can be slow load.
Couple of annoying things about KBF. Parking is $15 and is good for one entry. No in and out.
Sodas are very expensive there-about $1 more than Disney. However,
unlike Disney they offer refillable mugs and refills are free the day you buy. You could bring in empty cups to share drinks if you want-like a Disney mug
We get Knott's chicken almost every time we go but we get it from the To-Go shop located right next to Mrs. Knott's. Same food. Less $$ A tip I got years ago from an employee was to ask for the chicken hot from the kitchen. I do this everytime. Then you can eat it at a table by Pinks or cross under Beach Blvd and there are picnic tables located there. You'll even get visited by some of the chickens still on property.
I have ridden the refurbished Log Ride. To me the characters are a little scary looking-they have a lot of white to their eyes but it still resembles the original ride.
And rides that are still there, basically unchanged are-Calico Mine Train, Happy Sombreros, Stagecoach, Train, Skycabin, Montezoomas
The Wheeler Dealer bumper cars are still there and you can actually bump the other cars.
Not as old but there for a long time is Ghost Rider, Boomerang (I actually find this ride too painful), Bigfoot Rapids,
And the newer rides-Xcelerator (best ride ever!), Silver Bullet, Jaguar, La Revolucion, Supreme Scream, Pony Express, Sierra Sidewinder, and Coast Rider are good.
Windseeker is good but still closed.
And there's still the Ghost Town area with all the original buildings-Calico Saloon, Jail-yes you can still "talk" to the prisoner, Graveyard with the grave with the heartbeat. They still over the Wild West Show and Indian Dancing.
The Scrambler that was taken out years ago is now back as the Pacific Scrambler in the new Boardwalk area.
And for the little ones Camp Snoopy is great! Took my 4.5 y/o DNephew there last week for the first time and he loved it! We got there at opening and rode almost all the rides in CS in the first couple hours. Had lunch, then headed over to Soak City.
They are currently refurbishing the mission models that have been gone for awhile. You can see the one they are working on in Ghost Town, by the BBQ place.
I have taken my DD there since she was 3 or 4 (she's now 13) and as mentioned I took my 4.5 y/o nephew recently. Even given the fact that the last 2 times we have been there (late May, early June) there have been tons of school kids there (field trips) I have never felt unsafe.
I would plan on getting there by 9:30 to park. That'll get you to the gates before opening. I would buy my tix online. The tix lines can get long in the summer. Be aware the APH can enter the park at 9:30 in the summer. So if you see guests going in the park that's way.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Right now tix to KBF are $37.99 online, 3 day advance purchase required for adults.Jr. and Sr. (over 61) are $29.99 The AP at KBF is $88 which is why you do get a lot of teenagers there. That's good until 12/31. vs. Disney where the cheapest AP is now $279 with 189 blockout days (inc. all summer).
