Valleyfair Amusement Park

Fun Place for the Whole Family!

by me gusta tortugas at Citysearch

I've been coming here literally since birth. My parents went here as kids and I know the place better than my own house.

I feel that the prices are very fair considering the amount of entertainment provided in the cost. You get all of the rides (excluding Challenge Park) and waterpark for only $40, without coupons.

Pepsi products have $10 off coupons on all of the Pepsi and Mountain Dew cans each year.

The food is only expensive if you've never been to a fair or amusement park ever and don't know the realities of the prices.

And if you know what you're doing, you can get to all of the rides with very little wait within a few hours.

There are a few downsides, for example, some of the employees need some lessons in the English language and counting change, but unless you've never dealt with anyone with poor English, you'll manage just fine. And like any other place, many other visitors to the park will be rude or obnoxious. The worst I've experienced was a group of teens behind us cursing and literally pushing and shoving us, apparently thinking that will make the line go faster. It won't.

But besides that, the park is always a favorite for the whole family and I highly recommend checking it out.

Also, a lot of the reviews reflect negative experiences that are HIGHLY unlikely and while I am not denying that they may have happened, they certainly are not ritual events. To the person who was angry that they did not get a refund, Valleyfair's signs by the entrance clearly state that no refunds are given in the event that rides have to be shut down. I've never experienced that because I never go when it is lightning or there is a tornado, which are the reasons that Valleyfair closes early. It literally says 'NO REFUNDS' everywhere at the entrance, so don't be surprised. But like I said, don't go on crappy days, unless it is just rain (the rides stay open during rain). Rainy days there are the most fun, because there are no crowds and there is never any wait at all.

And with the guard sniffing the water...I have no idea what that was, but I highly doubt that the guy was a real security guard...

If you do want to bring in your own beverages, be discreet. Valleyfair sells Pepsi and Aquafina products in 20oz. bottles, so buy some for $0.99 at Target or Holiday or whatever and you can just say that you bought it from a Valleyfair vendor. They don't check bags, so just put them in there.

For food, stuff is usually hard to bring in because they sell like burgers and funnel cakes and stuff, but they have candy bar vending machines by Thunder Canyon, so bring in Reese's, Kit Kats, and Hershey Bars, and you can say you got them from the machines.

Or you can get stamped for readmission, as others have said, and eat in the cute little picnic area by the parking lot, then continue your fun after lunch.

Otherwise, the diner across from the arcade by the Extreme Swing has really good burgers and shakes. But remember your order number, because they don't have it written on your receipt.

And Canterbury is like right there also, and Mall of America is close by in Bloomington, so you can have a day of fun for your whole family!

Now that you have some relatively useful knowledge of Valleyfair, once again, I think that this place is definately Minnesota's best kept secret!

And to you people who had bad experiences, please go back and try it again, you're missing out if you are resistant because of some ramdomly weird incidents.

Have fun and God bless!

Security guard embarrassed me in front of my kids.

by claycodc at Citysearch

Here's what happened. Sitting on a bench at Valleyfair today with wife and kids, relaxing on a hot day drinking water. Some punk security guard, out of the blue, approaches me says " Sir, I'll need to smell what's in your bottle." I told him "NO, I don't want a stranger's nose in my water bottle." He told me unless I let him smell my water, I'd have to dump it out--otherwise they would carry me out of the park and he called for back-up on his little walkie-talkie. Now, the last thing I wanted was to get hauled off by the cops, right in front of my children for something so absurd. So I let the little wierdo rent-a-cop smell my water. And he left. Sad thing, this scene that Valleyfair caused was on my son's birthday. That's why we were family was there. We lft right after, never to return. Unless you want to be humiliated for no reason in front of your kids, STAY AWAY FROM VALLEYFAIR!

• Pros: close to cities
• Cons: capricious security guards--ruins the whole day

Great fun for the kids, but...

by outtathisworld66 at Citysearch

The kids love the rides, big plus.

The food is very expensive, don't expect $5 footlongs form their subway. You can either buy a $3.50 bottle of water or pop or drink from their communal water fountain of germs, because heaven forbid they catch you with outside beverages they actually will confiscate it from you or escort you to the front gate. Great way to stay hydrated!!

When ordering something you may find yourself repeating: huh, pardon, what, excuse me I didn't get that; a lot of the time due to their exchange employees that can barely speak English. They also have great difficulty counting change.

Beware of the front gate if you are heavy, they expect you to squeeze through the tight turn-style, an embarrassing moment for heavy set people, but when you go into customer service they tell you to go through the handicap entrance when you go over there you are pointed to the turn-style, we have actually had an employee take a season pass from us because the person refused to use the turn-style, which we were told the employees can not do and was told he would not work the front gates again, only to go back the next week and guess who was their and pulled the same stuff again to be told we wouldn't see him again at the front gate , well that time we didn't see him the rest of the summer, but come valleyscare guess who!! He pulled the same crap, this time we went as high up as we could as were told he would no longer be employed at the park, we were also told from now on heavyset people will automatically have the choice to go through the turn-style of handicap/stroller entrance. That was two seasons ago, last season are overweight companions had no trouble they were directed to the larger entrance and everything was great!! This year however they are starting again and we must raise a stink again.

• Pros: kids have fun
• Cons: Expensive, Hard to understand employees, heavy people beware

Want discount tickets?

by elizabethm at Citysearch

The park has wonderful rides, and the water and kiddie park is fun. They usually add a new fun ride each year. However, the park is too expensive PERIOD. I remember way back then when it was affordable.

Here are ways you can get discount tickets for 2009:

If you know someone who works for Postal Service they can order you as many tickets as you want (25$ each)before july 31st. Or they can lend you their postal badge to bring and show the admissions for 25, but only for July. You can also go to cubs for 31$. Regions hospital sells it for $28 at the gift shop. Postal credit union bank in north st. paul sells for $25 but you must pay in cash if you're not a member. I usually go to PCU and if they have no more, regions hospital it is. DQ and Tacojohns (or tacobells?) give it to you for 7 dollars off. Pepsi cans have discounts on it too for 7 dollars.

Lastly, Go search on craigslist. A few years ago, I bought some from a person selling them for 20. Hope this helps :]

• Pros: Rides, waterpark
• Cons: parking, admission AND food pricings!

Overall Good time

by Reese1603 at Citysearch

I agree with most people here - prices are expensive but it is overall a really good time. I can maybe make it there once a year - due to prices, but I know a lot of places sell discounted tickets like right now Cub foods sells $7 dollar off tickets.

most of the time the lines aren't bad. Good advice: Go during a weekday (not close to a holiday), and save all the bigger rides for later in the day or very early in the morning. Bring a lunch with you - they can stamp your hand to get back into the park so you can eat outside on the picnic tables in the shade. Food is expensive, but some places you can find relatively cheap (for amusement parks, anyways) but its to be expected.

good hint: Go up to any stand and ask for a cup of icewater.....I think its a rule there that they have to give it to you for free. great way to stay hydrated!

• Pros: great rides, good time in the sun, people are friendly
• Cons: pricey for the size of the park, crowded on weekends/holidays, parking costs a lot (suggest riding in a group van)