Really fun ride at Knotts except for two things yesterday: 1. no cover by roof or trees while waiting for 30 minutes in line. 2, the ride is too short compared to other rides, only a couple minutes it feels like. That being said, the Pony Express is a fun concept ride, set up like you are a horse jockey in a race. You even sit forward on the ride with your knees and back braced within the seat. It's medium fast and feels good after a water ride because you feel the wind in your face. Recommend! read more

One of my top five rides at Knotts Berry Farm. December, it's Knotts Merry Farm. Cubby wall- for all of your loose items. We usually try to ride it each day that we're there, except it was down on tuesday morning. There have been times, when there was no line, so we went back in line, to ride it again. But not on this trip. Sunday night, we rode it, in the dark, which seemed even more thrilling. It's a quick ride. But man, is it fun! read more

I haven't been back to Knottsberry farm in over 10 years. It was my husband's first time at the park on a Thursday! After riding the bumper cars, we found the Pony Express. We noticed it reminded us of Hagrids Motorbike ride in Orlando, so we just had to try it out! The Pony Express at Knott's Berry Farm is a Western themed motorbike coaster that puts riders in the saddle of a fiberglass horse and launches you across a short but thrilling track. Opened in 2008, it was the first of its kind in the U.S! You can't take any bags or large items on this ride, but there are cubbies to hold your items as you ride the Pony Express! The ride takes off with a flywheel launch that shoots you from 0 to 38 mph in a very short amount of time. But here's the catch, the entire ride only lasts 36 seconds. Blink, and it's over. If you sneeze at the launch, by the time you open your eyes again you're already back in the station! I couldn't believe how short the ride was. Luckily, we didn't have to wait as there wasn't any other individuals waiting to ride this on a Thursday afternoon in early September. This is one of the more unique rides in Ghost Town at Knottsberry farm. We could have stayed on and rode it again since there wasn't any people waiting for it, but if there is a line and the wait time is longer than 30 minutes, I'd recommend coming back later in the day or wait until early morning to ride this. read more

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This usually has very long wait time only for a 30 second ride and this ride also breaks down frequently

Sketchy ride!!!! So we decided to jump on the pony express. Mostly because there was no wait time during Scary Farm. We jumped in line and were the next group to go. The people right before us were on the pony express and then we suddenly heard an employee yell "code blue!" Uhhhhh cold blue?!??!?! What does that mean? In the medical field that's not a good code lol What does that mean for the park? We looked over and the roller coaster was stopped in the middle of the ride. Those poor people before us got stuck on the ride and it broke down. Then they announced to everyone that the ride was closed and they didn't know when it would be back up and running. How scary! And sucky for the people that were stuck on the ride when it broke down. We skipped the pony express. read more

This ride is over pretty quickly and I imagine it's like riding a motorcycle? You're on a horse, haunched forward and you're locked in behind your calves and around your waist. It's not one of my go-to rides but it's definitely something to try if it's your first time here, however the bigger coasters would take priority over this one. read more

My friend and I were at Knott's this past Sunday. She loves extreme rides. I'm a baby in a grown up body so I go for the tamer and more gentler rides LOL. We first attempted Ghostrider, but it was a no go due to its extreme nature... thank goodness we got out of the line before any damage could be done LOL. Now that my friend knows the level of thrill that I can handle, we moved forward with care... Here is Pony Express. It's not a little pony though, more like a stallion LOL. There was no straps whatsoever so how do we stay on the horse you ask. Well, they have a padded backing that is pressed against your back throughout the ride. Now that I look back, I don't think that's really safe... what if backing gets loose... they need to add that strap for extra protection! I mean they have a strap for a ride that's going itsy bitsy slow. Why wouldn't they have it for a ride that's going 33 miles per hour (just guessing speed). Anyway, ride wasn't that bad. The slow motion towards the top of ride was okay, but once the ride headed downswing, then the thrill began. All I can say is that I survived. Have fun! read more

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Wanna know what this reminds me of? The old Soapbox Racers ride from yesteryears. Attending Knott's Scary Farm, I tried my best to fit in as many mazes & rides I possibly could. Pony Express was one ride that I haven't been on. It seemed interesting enough. A coaster with seats shaped like horses, with riders leaning forward, clutching handlebars to mimic reins on a horse, and where back & leg supports lock into place to keep the riders secure. At a standstill, the coaster shoots off, going through various banked turns providing those lateral G's. The ride had good speed throughout the brief, though memorable, 36 seconds. Will it satisfy the adrenaline junkies? No. However, as a middle of the road ride, I find it quite enjoyable. So, if you're a scaredy cat or not into more intense amusement park rides, Pony Express is a nice wade from the shallow towards the deeper end of the excitement pool. I had an absolute blast riding it & will keep the Pony Express on my must ride list whenever I visit Knott's Berry/Scary Farm. Highly recommend! read more

Pony Express - Amusement Parks Near Me - Buena Park, California

One of my least favorite coasters out there as it could be so much more than what it is a 30 second launch coaster with unique horse style seats. Pony Express is usually on my skip list on any given day on the boysenberry farm as it's not worth the wait for something that really isn't all that enjoyable. Before today it's been a few years since I've ridden this coaster and after today I'm sure it might be just as long because there are better things to do in the park besides this little launch! Pony Express might not be that enjoyable for me but I'm sure a handful of kids like it because of it's slow speed and short track making it a great ride for all ages! The coaster car it self is a model of a horse that you sit on the back with a back restraint that comes up to push you forward as if your about to take off on a galloping horse. Basically it's a launch you turn around go back past the station get your picture taken then go through a wooden tunnel that goes over Bigfoot Rapids and then your done with all 30 seconds of it! Overall a fun ride for kids but kinda boring if your more into the other coasters in the park either way it's just one more thing to do on any given Knott's day! read more

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If this ride was 4x as long it would be my favorite ride at Knotts hands down. It's smooth, fun, and despite how akward the seating is, once you get going, you feel like you are flying. If only it didn't last 1 minute! If the line is shortish here, it is worth it. read more

HORSIN' AROUND Howdy partner! It's time to saddle up and ride one of the most unique roller coasters in the U.S. As the first Zamperla 'Motocoaster' installed in the western hemisphere, riders will be treated to an enjoyable - albeit brief - outing in the Ghost Town area of Knotts Berry Farm. The ride uses a flywheel cable launch to propel a train full of 16 riders from 0-38mph in a little under 3 seconds. The theme is intended to replicate the old timey Pony Express package delivery system. Station attendants wear cowboy hats to reinforce the idea that you're about to be traveling cross-country on horseback, and the platform looks like something you'd see in Dodge City circa 1869! However, this is one of the shortest full-circuit roller coasters I've ever ridden, which is a little disappointing given the ~45 minute wait. There's only 1,300ft of track and total ride duration of a mere 36 seconds! Not much in the way of airtime but a banked turn through a covered tunnel provides some nice lateral G's. The restraint system used on this launched attraction is one of the most innovative you'll ever see. In addition to ankle brackets that snap into place (like those found on B&M flying coasters) there's also a back brace that locks behind you. If I'm being honest, the sensation of being forced to lean forward during the ride is so refreshingly distinctive, it is 100% worth trying once. You truly do feel as if you're galloping along on a gallant steed, and that is well worth the potentially lengthy queue time. Fun fact: this is Tina Belcher's all-time favorite roller coaster (if you don't know who that is, obviously you're not DVRing Bob's Burgers, and shame on you). Eric S's KBF coaster ranking: 4th out of 8! read more

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I was fortunate to have ahead of the line privilege courtesy of a fabulous Yelp Elite event so this review is based on no line waiting. I've ridden horses and motorcycles. This definitely feels more like a motorcycle ride, yet you feel totally safe as you are sitting on a bike in a motorcycle position but then they push a back piece up against you, securing you firmly in place. I admit I never rode my Honda Rebel fast like this...which is why I'm probably still alive! So once strapped in, (and I'm scared of the big coasters) I felt like I could finally let my hair down and not have to worry about traffic while accelerating at mach speed out the gate. So you can see it's a bit of the pony and the chopper combined in one super fun 30 second ride. Crystal L summed it up well...."best 30 seconds at Knotts Berry Farm!" But I do wish it was at least a full minute! read more

Ok now this coaster was mind boggling when we got to the ride. I was like how the heck do you sit on this well it's like you are sitting on a horse literally then I was like how the heck do they strap you in if this is a coaster so then I think oh it's a slow type coaster wrong this sucker was quick as well all I have to say is it's an experience and a first time try I could go either way come back and ride this or not. I still thought this was a strange coaster lol read more

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Centuries ago, we didn't have automobiles or airplanes delivering our letters. I guess no one uses these media these days with the replacement of e-mails. We had ponies, trains, and telegraphs to send messages. OK, I wasn't there a long time ago, but we learned about the most infamous messenger service, the Pony Express. However, you won't learn much when you ride the Pony Express at Knott's Berry Farm. OK, this review will be relatively simple. There is no theme besides Pony Express being in GhostTown portion of the park near Bigfoot Rapids. In less than a minute, the ride shoots you out on the track and ends its adventure back in the station. Is that all?! Well, you are not just riding any ordinary roller coaster car. You'll be riding in a motorcycle type roller coaster. Ahem...I mean a Pony type roller coaster. You'll be sitting in a horse and locked in place by restraint system that holds your back. As I mentioned, it ends in under one minute. People can be waiting for many hours to ride and Pony Express can only be running one train. It is a bit disappointing that I foresee Pony Express heading into the archives as Knott's exhausted rides. Using a Fast Lane Pass for this ride is useless, but if you have the money for it, Go for it! I'd say wait for Xcelerator versus because that is much more enjoyable than Pony Express. You get a great view and more hang time. Pony Express is a good ride for the first timers, but after coming back many times, it seems wrong to have it. i would not be surprised if it disappears into history like the actual Pony Express. There was no history to read on the walls in the queue. Just television monitors playing music videos. Such a waste, but I do hope some renovation or some upgrades. Smoke and some sound effects to make your experience more enjoyable. Yelp...My passion is not to write my reviews, but to share my experiences with you. Take that journey and share your story. read more

The best 30 seconds at Knott's Berry Farm... It's not super comfortable - unless you ride motorcycles regularly. You can't take a bag or any other items with you. There are cubbies to store your items. And you'll be in line way way longer than the ride lasts. But it's fun. Fast and fun. I wouldn't say it's worth a line longer than 15 minutes... but if you catch a short line, this will surprise and delight you. For like 30 seconds. read more

Fun short kid ride. Pretty fun and easy to ride but very very very short like this review. I'd go again.

As far as it goes over all a good ride. Just short that's all. The take off Is fun and the bank under the wood cover is fun if you sit on the side closer to the loading gate. But because the ride time I think is well under a minute it's not worth more than a ten minute wait. read more

Pony Express - Amusement Parks Near Me - Buena Park, California

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Do you remember the coin operated mechanical horses that were found out in front of your local grocery store or Wal-Mart when you were a kid? You know, the ones you BEGGED your mom to put some quarters in so that you could straddle them and bounce up and down joyfully for 3 minutes pretending that you were a professional rodeo rider on the back of the champion bucking bronco? You don't? You missed out on one of the highlights of my childhood. Here's a picture to refresh your memory http://carouselworkshop.com/xcart/images/P/Mr.Wonderful%20aa.jpg Nowadays, the closest you can come are the spring animals at children's playground. https://www.schooloutfitters.com/resource/images/v20160104/sports_play/spl-361-502.jpg Well, the Pony Express roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park is a souped up adult version of these childhood standards. I'm SERIOUS, not joking. Just compare this photo below to those above and i dare you to suggest that whoever designed this ride was NOT taking a walk down memory lane when they came up with this idea. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pony-express-buena-park?select=awkICn16hl2tCiXeG4GTtw Yes, assuming that you meet the height requirements of being 48" or taller, you will stand in a long line just to straddle your very own fiberglass horsie that doesn't look substantially different from the ones at Walmart. Instead of the safety restraint bar being locked down over your lap, it is locked behind your back which will force you to lean forward in your best imitation of a jockey ready to ride at Hialeah Park. On the day we rode this ride the line was 28 minutes long, but they were only running one car instead of the usual two, so that may or may not be a longer wait than usual. My riding companion (8 years old) and I gussied up to our mounts, grateful we'd left all our nonessential gear with his mother as other riders were forced to leave their purses and backpacks off to the side to await their return. There were a few moments of tense anticipations then out of nowhere an initial acceleration that went from zero to lightspeed in nanoseconds. The rest of the ride (it lasts a total of a minute, I timed the three groups in front of us start to finish) is not bad, it twists and turns, it's just too short. One fun note, when my companion and I reached the end of the ride, arms outstretched above us in wild abandon, it came to a sudden stop throwing us forward in a motion that felt unnervingly like the "whip" part of the Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae). Well, you guessed it, we finished the last slow entrance into the loading area doing a fairly decent job of the Whip Nae Nae dance complete with off-key singing and hand motions. http://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-hillary-clinton-whip-l41lPnsw4tL9W8O76 (for the sake of full and complete disclosure the above gif is not ACTUALLY of my friend and I, but you get the idea) Does it truly deserve the rating of 4 - High Thrill Attraction at Knotts Berry Farm? Not in my opinion, but the extra star is for the fact that a rider only has to be 48" tall to ride and does not necessarily need an adult companion to do so. My rating? 2stars for me, but 3 stars for the family with whom I was visiting the park. And the trip was for the benefit of the kids so we went with their excitement factor. read more

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You can seriously review individual rides at the park? That's nuts. But whatever. Of all the rides we tried this weekend, this one was by far the most disappointing. We had high hopes after watching it go by several times as we waited in line for the nearby Rapids ride, intrigued by the cool seated position this coaster uses. When we got in line it was nearly outside of the roped-off area- we again took this as a good sign. The line moved quite slowly- ride itself has two cars featuring 8 pairs of horses only allowing for 16 people at a time to go on the ride itself. Still figured the line would move a bit faster than it actually did, easily spent over an hour in this particular line and it wasn't as long as others are in the park. When we finally approached the ride we understood why the line was so slow- once riders disembark from the previous round, new riders have a bit of trouble getting seated before the leg bars and back brace mechanism activate- and even after ours was turned on, staff turned it on and off a few times due to placement/seating difficulties with people on the ride itself. Finally, we were off! "Ready to launch!" was heard over the loudspeaker before we started moving. Tension was high, I was wondering what I'd gotten myself into. And 45 seconds later it was over. Easily the longest line and shortest ride in the entire park. I named my pony Flash, because the ride was over in a flash. My riding partner named his Lame, for obvious reasons. Very disappointing, would not have wasted my time on this ride had I known how short the actual experience was. read more

Disclaimer: I only have experienced this ride once during a Yelp Elite event where one of the perks was no line waiting. Therefore I have no frame of reference for the line on a regular day. Being raised in SoCal part of my childhood was experiencing the four major theme parks in the area. While the days of doing a full-day tour of thrill rides (a la Magic Mountain) are long gone, I don't mind doing a few rides over the course of my day. As a frame of reference my favorite ride at Knotts is GhostRider - according to the official website stats it's around 2 minutes with a max speed of 56mph, max height of 118ft and track length of 4,533 ft. The Pony Express is the antithesis of GhostRider: 35 seconds, max speed 38mph and track length 1,300ft. You can see why this is my least favorite ride at Knotts and one of my least favorite rides at all 4 parks. Your ride position is a bit awkward because you are positioned as if you are riding on a horse. It took longer to prep for the actual ride than the ride itself. This is one of the newer rides at Knotts. Think of it as a thrill-ride "lite". Good for the kids who meet height requirement yet are too scared of GhostRider yet an absolute bore for people who love a good thrill. The fact that I say that "It's a Small World" at Disneyland is more entertaining than this ride says a lot about how I feel for this particular attraction. read more

You feel like your are riding a horse on this ride as the launch is fun, but the ride itself is too short as it is done in a minute, but then again they only have so much track to work with. The restraints can hurt your back as some people heard complain, so do not lean to far, but then then if you lean more forward, the restraint moves and does not lock. The line does move slow for some reason. It is a good family ride to go on. read more

It's like my Pa said, "If you can straddle a horse and hold on, you can definitely hold on to a gal!" And like most if my relationships this will last longer ...about 20 seconds of sheer joy. They strap you in and hold on...so, it's a lot like my other relationships. No leather though...any hoo. Just hold on and have the ride of your life for 20 seconds or you can always tell the horse that you've been riding her sister. Then just wait!!! read more

This ride has a surprisingly long line. The only fun part is the initial acceleration. That is a bit of a thrill. The rest of the ride is short and dull. This is more for the kiddies! Also, the harness keeps you in from behind so it puts a lot of pressure on your back. read more

Great ride. I was disappointed in the fact that the ride are allowing children under height requirements in the rides in the park. The ride didn't have that problem and I think that is because of the way you need to sit. It is like riding a motorcycle do your legs need to be long enough to reach. I would recommend the ride. It is fast moving. Not long. read more

Not worth the wait. Located in Ghost Town near the Big Foot Rapids. We waited in line for at least 30 minutes and the ride was about 30 seconds long. The appeal is that you look like you're riding a pony and the initial burst of speed. I'll stick with Montezooma's Revenge or Xcelerator to get my thrills. read more

I really enjoyed this ride, since it's a style that I haven't been on before ~ it was pretty fun and I think my BF, brother, and nephew enjoyed it also! No crazy flips or deep falls, but the ride could've gone a wee bit faster in my opinion! read more

In the words of Incrediblecoasters "THIS IS THE BEST COASTER EVER!!!!!!!" so let's get onto this review! After trying our best to not get stapled (WARNING DO NOT LEAN FORWARDS ON THE HORSE! YOUR DAY WILL BE RUINED IF YOU DO!) We roll forwards into the launchpad. As we stair at the launch, we start thinking "I have a bad feeling about this!" We then launch forwards. And this has got to be the absolute WORST launch ever. Not only is it not comfortable thanks to the stupid restrains, but it's FORCELSS! Good god, this coaster has a TERRIBLE launch. Congratulations Pony Express! No other coaster I've ridden has a launch as sucky as this! We then head into a dumb turnaround as we get SLAMMED into the horse, and no this does not mean laterals, it just means PAIN! We then drop into an airtimeless hill before going into a banked turn into a tunnel. For me I'm just excited for the ride to end, for my friend Ben, he's having the time of his life. We then hit the brake run. And this part turns this from a stupid and pointless ride into one of the worst things ever. Why? Well you are FLUNG into the horse which really presses on your immune system. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but I felt like I was going to throw up every single time I came across this section (Yes I have to ride this piece of crap every time I go to Knott's because god forbid Ben would understand that not all coasters are good. And no Ben doesn't like this either, he hates this ride as well. He just wants me to suffer. I really want to throw him into the lair of the witch on Voyage to the Iron Reef because GOD DAMNIT, BEN IS EVIL.) And yeah Pony Express is just a pointless ride with one of the worst elements on ANY coaster that I've ridden. Hopefully you don't know anyone like Ben that forces you to ride this because yeah, this ride SUCKS. I'd skip this coaster by all means because it's just a bad ride with almost no redeeming qualities. Oh wait, What the hell am I even talking about???? "PONY EXPRESS IS THE BEST RIDE EVER!!!!!!!" (For those who don't understand the Incrediblecoasters reference, it's a joke, and my review is completely true.) Final Score: 5/100 Opened May 22, 2008 Manufacturer: Zamperla Last Ridden: March 1, 2019 read more

Ever want to know what it is like to ride a motorcycle but to scared to hit the traffic? This is the closest you will come while being uncomfortable at the same time. The ride is short and quick and will wake you up for the walk back to the main rides, but the line for it gives it a sense of being worth more than it is. 15minutes would be my limit to wait in a line for this guy. Safe for the little ones and the big ones, but if you don't like being trapped in place by your back you might want to move along lil'pony... read more

This ride is extremely enjoyable. Especially if you ride it in a certain way. Yes, you can heighten the experience yourself. The line is usually 30 - 60 minutes long so arrive early and hit this one first. Most people rush off to Silver Bullet so there shouldn't be much of a wait at 10'ish in the morning. The far majority of the line is outdoors/uncovered so expect to bake on hot days. The position you must sit in can be awkward at first. It's not a very natural position. But it definitely lends to the experience. You are pretty much fully exposed, straddled on a fiberglass horse that has no back legs. As others have mentioned, before departure, a padded restraint slowly rises in a clockwise motion and rests snuggly against your back. You slowly move onto the launch pad and wait a few seconds for the second best part of this ride, the blast off. The launch is exhilarating, inclining up and to your left. Followed by a couple dips and a quick right under a covered old west like structure. Pretty awesome. Now, the best part. Before blast off, fully lean forward and go hands free, arms out like a bird, not like superman. Also, you must lean into the turns, including the final right, which necessitates a sharper lean. It really does feel like you're flying. It's very satisfying riding it this way and, if you can do it, I feel you may have the same experience. The worst part, much too short. But worth it. read more

This one's really fast! It's the most fun in the front row so you feel like you're winning the race lol and the wind in your hair is nice, too. The line at this attraction isn't as long as some of the other big rides get, so that's a relief. Choose your pony and saddle up for one of the fastest pony rides you'll ever experience. We like to ride at night when the lights are all twinkling and the air is crisp. Not so intense that you can't bring the kids, my 8 year old cousin rode 3 times in a row! Be advised that they will ask you to take your glasses off for this one and they take a ride photo near the end. All and all, a very cute and fun ride. read more

It is a ok coaster. The open air seating while leaning forward on a "horse" is a Great idea but the actual implementation is lacking. The ride is actually fairly mild and is well suited for coaster novices (or cowards). The BIG drawback is this ride is really really really short. Well under 1 minute. read more

Horrible Slow Service Awayls Breaks Down Fix that we were there for 1 Hour on the ride Because it shut down

This ride is actually too short and 1 out of 15 people actually brake their back. Ask the workers about this