Walter Knott Theater — Attraction in Buena Park

The Charles M Schulz Theater is the big indoor entertainment venue at Knott's Berry Farm. It's located by the bumper cars and accessible via a big ramp with a holding area at the top; the ramp opens about an hour before each show and the holding area opens up about 10 minutes before the theater doors open. Seating starts about half an hour before each show to allow the vendors lots of time to sell various light-up toys.

Strollers can go up the ramp, but must be left outside. For those with wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility issues, there is access at ground level under the ramp. You'll need a Magical Blue Accessibility Card from Guest Services to use these doors; if you need to stay on your mobility device there are accessible areas with one "companion seat" per space. If you're more ambulatory, you can choose to sit anywhere you can get to.

The theater DOES have bathrooms off the first level, but they ARE NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE - they're down a short flight of steps. The theater was built before full accessibilty was a requirement.

The theater space itself is HUGE - upper tiers rise to a third-floor-plus level with side areas equal in size to the center section. The floor level is very generous as well.

During the winter Snoopy on Ice show, the place gets packed to the gills at every show. "Beach Blanket Beagle," the summer live stage show, is surprisingly poorly attended - the upper side wings have been empty the last two summers. Are people just unaware? Shoot, if nothing else, from pre-show through the show (close to an hour) you can sit in air-conditioned comfort. People aren't. Go figure. I hope Knott's doesn't decide the Beach Blanket Beagle is unloved; it's just underpromoted. The ice show has been the same since I was a kid (a loooong time ago) and EVERYBODY knows it's there.

Knott's people - how about focusing MORE on the Beagle during the summer events?

The main complaint my group has about the theater has nothing to do with the facility itself; the carpet may be a little rundown, but you don't notice it except at the downstairs entry because, hello, it's DARK.

I understand first hand (theater/dance mom of many years) the logistical difficulties of setting multiple shows in a year, especially with restaging the beach and its water features to Christmas and ice, but my friend desperately wants to see MORE shows at the Schulz in the off-season - there's about a four month theater hiatus there, though Knott's does mount a GREAT festival show outside (don't get me started on seating for that, though.) When I worked at the park during college and pre-Cedar Fair, the theater hosted a HUGE inspirational music jubilee on New Year's Eve as well as other events. I saw a DeBarge concert there once (tells you my age!)

Still...The only bad things I've encountered at the Charles M Schulz (inaccessible bathrooms aside) have had to do with patron behavior. I always wait til it clears to leave because some people are like bats leaving hell; last summer I had to use a wheelchair and some teenage girl went tearing out and JUMPED OVER ME, landing on me and dislocating the knee on the side that WASN'T broken (fortunately or not, I come apart easily and was able to handle it without first aid.) I may have loudly said a no-no word or two then. The ushers can gently DIRECT people to and from the seats; unfortunately nobody can CORRECT them. Nobody appeared to notice me getting tackled, not even leaping girl herself.

But most people, once they're situated, behave DURING the shows. Flash photography isn't allowed - distracting and potentially dangerous for skaters and dancers - and people respect that. For the most part, kids are well-behaved; if someone needs to go out, an adult takes them out. If someone just needs to go potty, they can go (if they can get down and up the steps) and come back in.

All in all, it really IS an enjoyable venue. I would just love to see more events (like concerts?) in the off season. And way, way too bad about the stairs to those very...

We saw Snoopy on Ice. The show was great! I think they are a little unorganized with their seating though. They allow priority seating in first, then ada, then everyone else. I understand that people pay for priority seating but ada should really be seated first. It takes longer for people in wheelchairs, on canes or other disabilities to get in & get to a seat. I've had trouble both times. The priority seating just means you go in first but then you have kids running around & it's difficult for ada to get to a seat without being knocked over. Then they let in general seating before ada has even had a chance to sit! Once we were seated, everything went well. The exit procedure was very smooth & people were able to get out quickly & safely. I've never had a problem with the shows or exiting. But getting to a seat has always been a struggle. There is plenty of seats & you can see the stage from anywhere...

My first went on the Walter Knott theater to watch the Snoopy's night before Christmas. The theater is huge and looks very nice. I didn't know what is the show above but blown away when I saw the show was on ice. It's like Disney on ice but I would call it Snoopy on ice but much more. There were some acrobats and the ice-skating, music, dancing are spectacular. This is like a paid show worth another to ticket purchase. It's a good deal to include within the ticket. It's a must see show if available during your visit to Knott's. So far I feel the best, very high production entertainment show happens in the theme park that doesn't cost extra. Definitely worth waiting in line early to...