Valleyfair Amusement Park - (952) 445-6500

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!

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.

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 :]