CP or Kennywood?

Hi,
Planning on going to a frightfest this year at either CP or Kennywood. i live in cleveland so either place isn't too far. I've been to Geauga Flags/Six Lakes for their frightfest more than i can count. Which do you think is better as far as being less crowded and number of rides working? Any info would be appreciated...
Thanks!

Well CP's completely open Saturdays and Sundays, but their "haunted" stuff is a little more low-key. Not nightmarish-frightening, but like spooky, make ya laugh afterwards type stuff (a whole lot more up MY alley!). Saturdays can get hella-crowded, but Sundays are dead (although they're not open late, so you don't get to do the houses and walk-throughs in the dark)

Kennywood not only can get very crowded, but is a little more "terror" than "spooky", from what I hear. I've never been there myself, but have heard some horror stories relating to the crowd sizes - and not all rides are running either.

I went to Kennywoods frightfest last year on a Saturday night and it was packed. All of my other trips to Kennywood have also been on Saturdays, during peak summer time, and it was never that crowded. It also didn't help that a large chunk of the park, near Thunderbolt was closed. Except for Thunderbolt, I think all of the other ride were working.

Of course, CP had one monster crowd weekend last October also. People were reporting that the parking lot was completely full on Saturday.

At Kennywood, I've seen near-empty "I hope the park isn't regretting this" Fright Nights, and I've seen packed-to-the-gills "I hope the park isn't regretting THIS" Fright Nights...

Overall, I think Fright Nights has been a big success for Kennywood (perhaps kpjp can shed more light on that, perhaps he can't share such information). I know I love it. As for which I'd rather do, that's easy -- I can go to Kennywood, stay till they close, and crash in my own bed 6 miles away (as the crow flies).

That might be a slightly biased opinion...

Thanks for the help! It's appreciated.

I would reccomend Friday nights for fright nights at Kennywood. High school football seems to lighten the crowds somewhat. I went on a Saturday last year that wasn't too bad, and two years ago a Friday that was not too crowded.

Yup, I've generally found that Saturdays are FAR more crowded than Fridays.

I've never been to Kennywood, but I've been to CP's Hallo-weekends 5 times now and it really isn't scary or anything. They do a good job and theming the park a little. I'm not into the Halloween thing though. I go on the second to last Sunday in October to get the light crowds to ride the coasters for the last time that season. MF and WT aren't really the best in the middle of Fall in the Midwest but can't complan.

Kennywood wins HANDS DOWN for Halloween events compared to CP for me.

CP is great for the little ones/families/people who don't liked to be scared. CP toned down their EVENT a lot not to long ago. To much white light everywhere.

Kennywood, on the other hand, enhanced theirs. It's amazing how many lights they change out to give the park it's feel. Everything changes to orange, green, and purple. The whole park just takes over an erry feel, where CP just feels like CP...only a little colder.

If you want rides, rides and more rides, then CP is the place to be. Kennywood usually only opens about half of their rides...though this year they are suppose to open more.

On the other hand, CP is also open all day. Kennywood doesn't open until 7PM. Kennywood is also A LOT cheaper...especially with the Blockbuster deal.

Kennywood's haunted attractions win hands down in the "Neat-O" and "Scarry" factor. Kennywood's haunted houses also take longer to go through compared to CP's 3...maybe 4 minutes haunted attractions ;)

Last year, SFWoA was better than Kennywood. This year they toned down what GL has done. So, Friday will see how Kennywood compares to the rest. Either way, every park is awesome this time of year no matter what is going on. But if you had to choose CP or Kennywood. Go with Kennywood.

---

where CP just feels like CP

---

Nothing wrong with being "just" CP. The fall atmosphere at the park is very nice. The lighting is good - dark and foggy in many spots. It may seem like there's a lot of white light, but let's not forget the park is huge ... can't turn off all the lights.

I think they do a good job by not forgetting that they're an amusement park first, Halloween attraction second.

I think that's the exact difference in the parks, Gemini.

CP is an amusement park that does a little themeing to put on a Halloween event.

From the start, however, Kennywood set out to put on the best Halloween attraction in the Pittsburgh area. Phantom Fright Nights just happens to be located at Kennywood.

In comparison, the other big Fright Night in the 'burgh has a couple haunted mazes, and 3 or 4 carnie rides. They charge only five bucks less than Kennywood, but also rip you off for parking.

Kennywood isn't advertising this as "come to Kennywood and check out our Halloween themeing." Rather, it's "Come to Phantom Fright Nights... located at Kennywood."

Catch my drift?

Neither is a bad strategy, they're just different.

I have never been to Kennywood for Halloween, but I have been to CP. Im not too in to the Halloween stuff (except of course the fact that it keeps most parks open a month longer) but when I went last year on a Sunday I had a fantastic time, not because of the Halloween stuff but the crowds. There was 10-15 min wait for TTD and MF and no lines for anything else. It was an amazing day, I highly suggest trying it this year. As an added bonus CP has a $10 coupon for Sundays as well.

looks like CP's gonna be a go this Sunday 10/03/2004...
man, am i psyched... haven't been there in a long time... TTD, here we come...
Thanks for the coupon idea...

According to Kennywood's website, PhPhNs doesn't open until 7 PM, (till 1 AM whoa) so it truly is a night event. And they don't recommend it for anyone under the age of 13. So it sounds like they're trying to be frightening, not just a bit spooky.

I was at Kennywood last year for the Halloween event. I was really impressed. No, every ride wasn't open but they did such an excellent job at theming the place that it felt like a completely new experience to me. It wasn't necessarily "scary", but the whole place definitely has a spooky feel to it. I am sure some younger kids would get a little spooked by it, especially when you are walking through a really foggy patch and some guy fires up a chainsaw. Good effect, especially in the entrance tunnel.

Well last year I went to Fright Fest easily over 20 times, I went only one sunday. That sunday I got on every coaster (excluding jr gemini) within two hours. Dragster longest was up to first que. MF was walk on. Very good day indeed. But we did not go another Sunday due to school the next day.

This year Kennywood has open Lost Kennywood. Which is a new *haunted midway* The park has opened the Wave Swinger and the Exterminator!

The Wave Swinger will be awesome at night!:) I myself did take a stroll through the new midway, and it has some good props along the midway. The midway will also have people scaring at you.

So this year...

ALL the coasters will be open!

King Kahuna, Volcano, Aero 360, PIRATE, Bayern Kurve, Wave Swinger, Kangaroo, Swing Around, Paratrooper, and the Turtle.

I think I got all the rides.

Then you have 7 haunted attractions.

Sounds like PFN are an awesome event, but that mention of the chainsaw in the fog seals the deal for me - no way no how am I goin' anywhere near West Mifflin until next spring ...

--Brett, resident scared-easily whore

Has anyone been to both Knott's Haunt and Phantom Fright Nights? I'm interested to see how they compare. I've heard great things from both events.