Valleyfair — Attraction in Shakopee

This is a biased rating because I used to travel the country visiting amusement parks and riding rollercoasters. I'll try to be even and fair. I took my neighbor kids because I wanted to see what valleyfair! had morphed into since I hadn't been there in 10 years, I'll start with the positives: -They kids had fun, I did too -There weren't a lot of people there so that meant we didn't have to wait long to ride the rides. 10-15 minutes max. -they built up the park by adding more rides(mostly kiddy rides) and removing some of the less popular rides. -they improved some of the rollercoasters so that they ride better and lessened the braking to provide more speed. Ex: high roller used to be so so slow with so much braking(unless that's my perception after visiting other parks much larger than vf). I actually enjoyed riding the rides I hadn't wasted time on in the years of my rollercoaster days. As I said, we had fun.

The negatives: -I fully understand that the park has to pay for their rides and upgrades, but, C'mon!, $25 to park, but, $40 admission fee for 60% of the rides? However, They haven't upgraded the type of ride that all parks know they must have to get people in the door or to come back again again and again, rollercoasters!! They appear to be so focused on making this a kiddy/family park that they are pushing away the thrill seekers around the world who are willing to spend big money on airfare, road trips, hotels, souvenirs, food and drink etc. Those people are repeat visitors who love big rides. -They discontinued their share of the billion dollar Halloween business in "ValleyScare!" In favor of the kiddy/family park version. This is a huge waste of an opportunity that most other parks are taking advantage of. -There is not a cheap "game of chance"(what parent wants to spend big dollars for their kids to learn to play a game that the kids don't even stand a chance at winning?), -Every game is $5 or more to play. -Their food portions are small and the price is huge(that's why so many families bring coolers with food in their vehicles or have pizzas or door dash delivered to them). Pricing your food at more affordable levels gives customers a reason to buy your food). -Lack of aesthetic landscaping(colorful flowers and theming), this park is blah. More Kings Island please. There is Halloween theming all over, though.

Conclusion: Please let me be clear, I WANT a park that I can be proud to call my park, to be able to brag about and not make excuses for, and to scream from the rooftops how great their thrill rides are. I realize that I've been ruined by all the parks out there that actually "get it". It's surprising to me that Cedarfair doesn't get it since they have their flagship park, Cedarpoint, which has 18 world class rollercoasters and averages 3-4 million visitors per year. If building up Valleyfair causes them fear that they are leeching business from CP, they shouldn't be, Six Flags(Great America)is already doing it with their emphasis on adding more coasters over the last ten years to 16 or 17. Building up Valleyfair will actually leech business from Six Flags and provide a rectangle of CF parks to road trip; VF to Worlds of Fun to Kings Island to CP to Michigan s Adventure and then throw in any other parks along the way. That is a recipe for success as long as you build up every park with great coasters. I suggest an inverted first, then a bigger RMC like, El Toro, and then work your way up. Give thrill seekers a reason to come here. I warned you about my being biased.

For families with little kids, your kids will have fun and you will need lots of money. For thrill seekers, Renegade, WildThing, Steel Venom is all you got. My advice is to drive the 6 hours to Six Flags.

Decide for yourself, but you should give Valleyfair at least one chance to earn your next visit. For Valleyfair, don't we deserve better here in Minnesota? Please give us...

We traveled from South Dakota to visit , met up with friends to all go to valleyfair .. my 14 year old hadn't been on a real rollercoaster so I decided he needed to.. and we accomplished that for sure .. park seemed fairly clean for a heavily trafficked amusement park, I can't notate anything gross or that stuck out in my head as being so.. the security and staff that we encountered were good, of course you have a few who you could tell had things they'd rather be doing that working, but that's to be expected everywhere.. we attended on August 13th , opening until just before close (Tuesday) now for the note worthy disappointments.. I'm not sure if it's just wind down time and they're lower on staff or what, but several of the rides didn't open today, I'd advise you check the website, I did find after the fact that some thing are closed for the season, most the water involving rides , not open.. I will notate it's still 80 degrees all week here, only 1 was, and because it was the only one, the line was long .. we waited at least an hour+, most disappointing thing was it seems all the things that we had top on our list, didn't open , no lazy river , no family tube rides in the water, none of that .. with the exception of the falls one? Can't think of exact name right now.. so my husband, who's in his 50's had essentially nothing to do today but hang out at the wave pool , and watch the younger group members ride rides . He's had a heart attack and cannot/ will not do rollercoasters .. the ticket prices, I didn't feel reflected the huge amount of rides/ things being closed.. I paid $50+ for a drink and ride band ... Which also was a bummer, some of the pop machines had no ice, weren't functional and you'd have to be given a new cup each time because it's a paper fountain cup.. word to the wise , just pay the $20 for the hard straw cup when you arrive.. they give you no lids or straws for the paper ones , the pop machines are inundated with wasps , so if your one of those people who doesn't do well with bees/ wasps.. plan on having someone in your group to visit the machines for you ..but better yet, bring your empty water bottle yourself to fill with water. Try to mentally note the times you ride the coasters that take your picture, or wear something colorful so they can find your photos at the end of the day because a few times we had no one at the picture kiosks after the rollercoasters to show you your photos.. I paid $35 for digital pictures of all 3 coasters, I thought that was reasonable. We rented a cabana , ( $145ish) it came stocked with some bottles of water, and has its own personal butler I guess you'd call it , to bring you items you could order off a place card, a person pan ( think book it ) pizza with 2 bread sticks ( $17.49) + tip.. food tasted good though. We also needed to rent a power chair, easy process, it even has a canopy ($65) for the day , I also thought that was reasonable. Parking was $25 for regular or $35 for premium,Prepare yourself for walking of course if your able, because it's very large, and you must go a long ways around somethings to get somewhere in particular. Lots of the shops were also closed, but they had sufficient other ones open randomly throughout. Lines at almost everything else as far as rides weren't to much of a wait.. under an hour. All and all we had a good time, but I don't believe I'll come back .. I think I'll travel to a closer park to home, like Elitch in Denver and make sure to examine what is open for sure or not before I make any plans .. because for us middle aged folk, the water stuff was our go to, and this place just didn't deliver in that area. Buy your tickets online, they are cheaper, just don't do the drinks unless it specifies the hard cup , the coke and wrist band deal is what I described earlier.. just pay the dollar or 2 extra and buy the plastic cup...

It's an amusement park that feels like Cedar Point & Six Flags kind of forgot about, so it feels lacking in many ways, since there are multiple empty stages that don't ever seem to be in use.

The busiest time we've visited has been for their valley scare, where we've learned that omitted from the website, they do not allow reentry after 5pm. Which means if you want to do spooky stuff you can't expect to come in after 5pm for their event that start at 7pm. You'll have to arrive 2 hours earlier at the latest.

I'd recommend a season pass if you plan on going twice in a year, then you're probably good to not buy one again. I know I don't think I'll get one next year.

Edit: an update on this review, we contacted the company and they confirmed that the rule is that no one can leave and reenter the park after 5pm except for 1 person in a party for medical reasons.

After staying for an extended time to experience the "darker" parts of Valley Scare we purchased a $17 "No boo" necklace for our kid, and multiple times were told despite paying for this item, the people still might scare if they don't see it. This did happen and usually apologies were given, but there was one man on the "Blood on the Boundary waters" section saw the No Boo necklace and proceeded to make threats to my child stating "that necklace only protects you here, and won't protect you when I'm knocking on your window later." While I can understand a bit of light-hearted prodding, what the hell is the point in doing that to a child let alone one that is wearing a necklace to not be scared? My kid was honestly more annoyed he was still talking than scared, but if that's how he treats kids, and it's only a matter of time before he genuinely alarms someone.

I will state that unlike any other of the other visits with the season pass this time many stages actually had shows and show times during valley scare, and applaud those doing those jobs as entertainers.

As an aside for pricing, this place is pricey and compared to Disneyland in California you will actually spend more on this park in Minnesota for things like food and souvenirs. (Granted, Disneyland might have more souvenirs you are willing to pay to take home.) Which means if you have been to other places, you do feel like you aren't getting your money's worth.

But I can't recommend this place for being worthy of more than a 1 year season pass at most. And I only recommend that, because with a season pass you get free parking and once you do ticket+parking you are already close to the price for a season...