08/17/09

Want discount tickets?

by elizabethm

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!

07/28/08

Overall Good time

by Reese1603

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)

08/04/07

Valley Fair Rocks!!!

by random_sample

Valley Fair is a great value.

Sure it is expensive to get in, but all amusement parks are pricey.

If you want to play, ya gotta pay!

Discount tickets can be found if you look around.

If you want to see a rip off go to Six Flags Great America in Chicago. There is a putrid smell of sewage throughout the park, and the bathrooms are truly a disaster, not just messy.

On our most recent visit to Valley Fair, we were able to go on about 15 rides in a 6 hour stretch. The lines are not a problem at all. If you tried to go more than a handful of rides at a different park, it would be tough. Valley Fair is a nice secret.

Seems most people there are from Minnesota, that is fine, let's not tell everyone how well maintained is or how clean it is.

Oh yeah one more thing....Renegade is a great wooden coaster, and Steel Venom is outrageous.

• Pros: Great rides, relatively clean
• Cons: no "YOU ARE HERE" stickers on park maps

06/20/07

Avoid it all together!

by riverjewel

This park is expensive to get into and the service is awful, which anyone can understand. Any place ran by 16yr olds who just need a summer job can relate.

Everything inside the park is expensive and the bathrooms are usually dirty.

Another down side is there are no refunds at all, ever. The 2nd and last time we went to valleyfair (2yrs ago) we literally were sold the tickets walked in and where told all the rides had closed down due to weather, we were never compensated. 200$ gone. This was the last time me or my family ever went to Valleyfair we would not recommend it at all.

There are some other parks and water pool/parks in the twin cities I would recommend trying before going to Valley Fair.

• Pros: outside
• Cons: young staff, no refunds, and very expensive once in and to get in

06/11/07

Rides are awesome-great value -- but food and other services are EXPENSIVE

by bradhanson

ValleyFair is incredible in providing fantastic rides-- with new ones all the time. The roller coasters provide a lot of variety and compare very well to other parks across the country. The water rides get you wet (as expected) and there are a lot of rides for the little kids too.. I brought family with adults, teens and grandkids. something for everyone.

BEWARE OF THE FOOD PRICES however. What spoiled an otherwise incredible day was the food and services. I wouldn't mind paying these high prices if it was good quality and generous. I purchased a root beer float in a '16 ounce cup'. Yeah a 16 ounce cup - filled only half full with root beer. At the price, top it off or just use a smaller cup. The guy before me in line got a large cone and a small cone. They were about the same amount of ice cream., when asked the server pointed out the different size of cone to hold it. Ordered lunch for the group. The order of fries was nominal but the price was preimium. The cheese pizza was sized well, but for the price, it could have been hot and cheezy.-- all crust. They said they were serving a grilled buffalo chicken sandwich-- but it wasn't grilled chickin it was deep-fried.. They should be accurate in serving what they have posted.

Then to go to the water park and get gouged for a locker rental. Sure the water park is included-- but they find ways to extract signficant change for the rest.

Recommendation: Bring a picnic with you and enjoy it in the parking lot or picnic area and \then pick up maybe some cheese curds or cotton candy in the park.

If you buy beverages- buy the refillable if you are going to be there for the day. You proabably will come out ahead..

• Pros: The rides - especially variety of roller coasters and water rides
• Cons: food value, extra charges, lines

06/08/07

Great fun for whole family.

by sammy_h13

Valleyfair is a great place for whole family to go and hang out, not exactly cheap though. The prices go up about every year, but easy to find discounts on tickets. i have been going to Valleyfair every year since i was about 6, and it never gets old. About every 1-2 years they install a new ride, so every year theres always something new to do. And since the waterpark is free, there is a place to go and cool down if you get too hot. And if you forget your swimsuit and you need a towel or your shoes break or you forgot your sunglasses there are little shops where you can buy stuff like that. The food is exspensive, but you can bring food to grill or a premade picnic and you can go and eat it in the Picnic Cove or whatever its called. And there are fun rides, for big and little thrill seekers. There is even a Kids ride area for the little ones who aren't quite tall enough yet. Ther are games galore and many other things to do. Valleyfair is a great family place.

• Pros: Many fun rides, a waterpark, little shops where you can buy the little things you forget, and picnic area if you dont want to buy the food they have there, kiddie area.
• Cons: Exspensive to get in(but ther are always many discounts on the tickets), food costs quite a bit,you have to pay for parking, long lines.

If you've got the stomach for it, this place is the cure for the summertime blues.

by Contributor

In Short
Opened in 1976, Valleyfair is located on 90 acres in the Minnesota River Valley, and features more than 75 rides, shows and attractions. Besides Wild Thing swooping and winding around the park, coasters include the twisty Corkscrew and the U-shaped Steel Venom, plus the more traditional Excalibur. Power Tower, a 275-foot thrill ride, yanks passengers up nearly 27 stories at speeds up to 50 mph. Youngsters enjoy tamer rides in Half Pint Park and KidWorks.

07/15/06

fun, yummy food, waterpark included

by bepher9

I love ValleyFair! Not only have a visited the park since I was a kid, but I also worked there one summer! The price to get in is NOT bad. There are so many coupons available from eateries such as Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. They also USED to run a promo where you brought in a Pepsi product can and you received $10 off! They also do a food drive in the fall and if you bring in a non-perishable food item, you receive a dollar amount off! There have been 3 new rides added in the past 4 years (since 2002). You USED to be able to come and go from the park, so if you want to pack a lunch and eat at the picnic cove its much cheaper. they don't allow outside food or drink in, which is understandable. i recommend the tacos. they have a great taco stand near the high roller rollercoaster (the white coaster). they also have yummy chicken on the patio. the waterpark is super fun and included in the price. Yes, you pay for parking but you also pay for parking at baseball/football/basketball games...so i say quit complaining. :) I recently went to Busch Gardens and it cost $8 to park and over $50 to enter. Valleyfair is cheap and very fun!!!!

• Pros: parking, friendly staff, safe
• Cons: weekends tend to be busiest

08/23/05

Valleyfair is fun and CHEAP!!

by gators01

Why are the reviews are knocking Valleyfair because price? It's probably the cheapest park of its size anywhere. I just returned from Orlando. Admission at Adventure Island and Busch Gardens is $50-$60. Food at Valleyfair is expensive, but so are other parks. I'm 22, from MN, and go to Valleyfair every year. I will take my future children there because of great rides for kids and adults. Valleyfair boasts a 200 ft coaster and the 275 ft power tower. There are other coasters including the intense Steel Venom, water rides, and small rides as well. An awesome waterpark is included in admission that rivals the best. Lines usually are NOT that long at Valleyfair compared to other famous parks. No matter what your age or who you're with, you're gauranteed excellent times at an AFFORDABLE price. Families of four get a discount at the gate.

• Pros: Cheap price, great rides, fun for all ages
• Cons: only open during summ, no more cons, just go

08/15/05

valleyfair

by willowwood

it was a nice place to be. it was fun.

• Pros: good staff, lots of room
• Cons: money, parking