It's been a while since I've been to a pumpkin patch as my son is now 10 and it doesn't interest him like it used to...but now that we have a baby in our midst, we get to enjoy all of those fun things all over again! I've been to several pumpkin patches around the Valley over the years and MacDonald's Ranch is just as good as anybody else's patch. What they do have over the others is more exposure to the animals at the ranch as well as a fun hayride. The hayride leads out to a staged pumpkin patch area rather than an actual patch, but it is a different experience versus other places I've been. There is a petting zoo and random animals walking around the ranch, as well as pony rides/horseback rides too.
There was plenty of parking and it was very crowded today when we went, but not so terrible that it sucked the fun out of our trip.
I just wish for once that it wouldn't be 90 freaking degrees every year that I go to a pumpkin patch but such is the nature of the beast in AZ. Of course that is of no consequence to this review as only God can control that.
All in all, it was worth the trip and the $8 price of admission each. Had we just gone with our baby, it wouldn't have been worth it so consider bringing at least 3 years old and up to really get your money's worth.