My kids might be back in school but summer is far from over. In fact, Knott’s Berry Farm recently announced that they have extended their waterpark operating season through early October! Our family loved our visit to Knott’s earlier this summer. Keep reading for all the best tips for Knott’s Soak City so you can have the most splash-tastic day ever! What? It’s totally a word. Some links contain affiliates, all opinions are my own.

3 tips for Knott’s Soak City

the early bird catches the worm, er, wave

I know this is always my tip for every theme park, but get there early! In our family’s experience, the first two hours at theme parks are vastly different than the rest of the day. Geting there at opening ensures you can get a great spot for the day. Then you can get on some of the best rides without waiting too long in lines. Save the lazy river and wave pool for later in the afternoon when it’s busier and lines are longer!

I also recommend getting in line for food earlier than you might need to. There are really only two restaurants for the entire park, and lines get very long. Get in line for food an hour or two after park opening (typically 11:00 or noon, depending on the opening time.) That way you’ll avoid the long lines and your kids can snack on food when then come back for check-ins between rides.

plan your spot carefully

There are lots of different areas to stake your claim for the day, so to speak. If your have young kids you’ll probably want to pick a spot near Beach House or Gremmie Lagoon. These areas are perfect for your littlest guppies. They’re also only a short walk across a bridge from each other. We picked a spot near the Laguna Storm Watch Tower because I knew we’d have a sleeping baby most of the day and there was less foot traffic over there for peace and quiet for us. Here is a map of Knott’s Soak City Waterpark for reference.

| Read: 3 Things Not to Miss this Summer at Knott’s Berry Farm |

b.y.o.s.–I’m talking bring your own shade!

That brings us to the next of our tips for Knott’s Soak City–bring your own shade! If you’re there early enough you can definitely snag a spot in the shade. However, I was very pleasantly surprised at how many grassy areas there were. These were perfect for people to set up their own umbrellas. So if you’re afraid you won’t get there at opening, or if you’d rather lounge on grass than chairs, bring your own shade with you.

look for ways to save money on your visit

There are several ways you can save on your ticket to Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. First of all, you can purchase a ride and slide ticket. This grants you same day admission to the theme park and the waterpark. If you think you’d like to visit more than one day, you can also purchase a Gold or Prestige Pass. These passes give you a year of unlimited visits to both Knott’s and Soak City. Of course, you can always save on your tickets through Get Away Today with the code LITTLEDOVE by clicking here!

| Read: The Ultimate California Theme Park Bucket List |

You can also save money with a dining and drink plan. These plans work not only at Knott’s Berry Farm, but also at Soak City Waterpark. These can be a significant savings for you while dining in the parks. The All Day Dining Plan, for example, gives you an entrée and a side at any of the participating dining locations in the parks every 90 minutes! You can check out more food and drink options by clicking here.

a few more tips for Knott’s Soak City:

• You can bring your own Coast Guard certified lifejacket, which is what we opted to do. However, there are also plenty of lifejackets available that are free to use. Also keep in mind that some rides and attractions will require them for guests under a certain height–regardless of swimming ability.
• Don’t forget that your season pass dining and drink plans work at both the theme park and Knott’s Soak City! There are drink refill stations throughout the park, as well as refill only lines at the eating establishments to keep you well hydrated. Coming from another Cedar Fair Park? You dining plans and drink bottles work at all of them!

Have you ever been to Knott’s Soak City Waterpark? Click here for 2023 operating hours! If you’re waterpark fans like we are, you might also like these posts about Schlitterbahn, another Cedar Fair waterpark!

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