When to visit CP, KW, PKI, SFO, SFGAm, SFDL, SFNE

Hello,
I'm planning a trip (probably two) to Ohio and nearby areas in May and/or June, primarily to ride roller coasters. So when are the best days to avoid crowds at these parks: Cedar Point, Kennywood, Kings Island, SFO, SF Great America, Darien Lake, Knoebels, and SFNE? I realize, of course, that weekdays are generally (but not always) better than weekends, but are there certain days of the week or certain weeks during May and June that have proven in the past to draw the fewest people? I probably won't be able to cover all these parks in one trip because, for example, Cedar Point generally opens by mid-May while PKI and many others don't begin weekday operation until after Memorial Day. Not all of these parks have their 2001 schedules available yet, but I'm seeking advice from those of you who live in the area and have past experience visiting these parks at different times.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Merle Beghtel
San Jose, California

I can only offer advice on Kennywood and CP.

Kennywood at that time of year has a lot of school picnics. Not a real big park so this does affect the park alot - you may want to look into this. I also don't think kennywood is open on the weekends till the middle of may. the weekends at kennywood in may aren't that crowded.

I took a trip to CP the first week on june last year. went there on a friday. rode every single coaster and a good portion of the other rides. the only ride with a long wait (over 20 minutes) was millenium force. I would recommend that time of year to anyone.

have a good trip

Any park that you can visit on a school day is likely to yield smaller crowds.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I found that going to SFO in late october was the best... no lines for anything we walked on everything... the forcast was rain that might have helped. For Cedar Point May Weekdays and October Sundays...

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Relic said:
"I found that going to SFO in late october was the best... no lines for anything we walked on everything..."

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Same here. Although beware of the cold. It was bitter when we were there, which was October 30th.

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

I went to SFGAm on a wednesday in June, and lines were great. About 30 minutes for Raging Bull, and 20, 10, or walkons for almost everything. I suggest you go then.

Visit PKI on any day of the week, except saturdays and sundays. Try and avoid mondays and fridays as well, any day that school is in would create leee lines for all rides. Also visit the park when it is raining(rides run in the rain and there is no wait!)

I went to PKI on the last Thursday of July. Didn't really have to wait, except for Face/Off. SOB was 15 minutes, but I wouldn't recommend it.
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"God gave me a wake up call," RelientK-"Wake Up Call"

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Lynch said:
"Although beware of the cold. It was bitter when we were there, which was October 30th."

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Was it? I seem to remember it being a nice 85 that day.

Oh, that's right, I was in Hawaii that day. ;)

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Jeff (who would do anything to have breakfast on my balcony overlooking the ocean again on Kauai tomorrow morning)
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

That was October. This is January. Now the only thing you can do is pack a lunch and go sit in the snow by the Rock Hall. ;)

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

Avoid SFO on weekends.

The best time to vist six flags great america is
anytime in may and during the weekdays in june until school lets out. If possible do not go near the place in july and august. In August after school starts don't go on the weekends.

I had season passes to SFNE and went around 15 times. Generally mon-thursday during summer are best. We found Thursdays to be a particularly good day for some odd reason. Just avoid the days where season pass holders get to bring a friend for free if they do them again this year. 2-1/2 hr wait for SROS. *** This post was edited by CPark on 1/17/2001. ***

If you visit PKI on a weekday, you probobly won't have any lines about 15 minutes except for The Beast and Son of Beast. Face/Off had a big drop in riders from 99 to 2000. Lines dropped from 1 hour to 30 min. So I expect another drop this year. Oh yeah, sometimes Drop Zone can be an hour. It's worth it though. SOB is a lot better than people say. Very lacking in airtime though.