Daddy REALLY wanted to ride the Ghostrider at Knott's again.  Last time we were there, about 4 years ago, he got to ride it once, and decided it was simply the best wooden roller coaster he'd ever ridden.   Unfortunately, the line grew really long really fast, and he decided not to wait to ride it again.  He'd regretted it ever since.  For four long years he's waited for another ride.  He vowed to ride it at least twice, no matter how long the line grew.

It took about 15 minutes to get through the line the first time, and the Ghostrider was as good as I'd remembered it.  The line looked huge by the time he got back in line.  This second, and last, wait was 50 minutes... but it was worth it.

In the opposite corner of the park is a huge new steel coaster called the Xcelerator.  I was able to get on it in less than five minutes, and I even got a back seat  (Back seats, while not as cool as the front seat, give you a very different ride.  On many coasters, the maximum Gs are in the back seat).   I've never felt anything like Xcelerator.  After shooting to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds, you go straight up over 150 feet, creep over the top, then straight down.  Maximum adrenalin.  I was told the ride hits 4Gs - the same force used to launch jets off an aircraft carrier.   I only had time for one ride on Xcelerator before I needed to meet the rest of the family.  It took several minutes for adrenalin rush to subside.

Hint:  you can buy adult tickets for Knott's at Ralphs for $26.95, instead of paying over $40 at the gate.  There are several Ralphs between Disneyland and Knott's.