Effects on Kennywood's Exterminator

This is something that's been in the back of my mind since my trip to Kennywood, so I thought I would finally get around to asking the experts.

At the beginning of last June, my husband and I took a trip (our first) to visit Kennywood and some other parks in the area. I was especially looking forward to riding Exterminator, since I love dark rides. I enjoyed the ride -- a lot -- but I came away a little disappointed. The ride didn't seem to have as many effects as I had anticipated. I had been led to believe by the warning sign outside the ride that scary stuff was going to happen, but not much seemed to happen at all.

Here's all the effects I can remember seeing (it did happen kind of fast, and it's possible that I was facing the wrong way and missed stuff):

At the beginning of the ride, there was an exterminator taking aim at a pair of glowing red eyes. He said, "Look out, there's a big one!" (or something similar). I expected to get blasted with air or water or something, but nothing happened. After that, I saw only two more effects: a trick mirror (but it was too dark for it to really be effective), and an electricity arc. I was particularly surprised not to see the promised giant rats in evidence. Most of the ride was just dark. The ride's logo had led me to expect fog, but none was in evidence.

After I got home, I looked up some reports about Exterminator on the Internet and saw references to various things that I hadn't seen, such as a giant rat arm coming down over the car (I'm sure that between me and my husband SOMEONE would've noticed something like that during our two rides!) and fog and lighting effects. Also, I read that the mirror is supposed to reflect a scene of broken track or something, but as I said it was rather dim and didn't seem to work well from my perspective.

So, I guess my question is, has some of the theming been removed from Exterminator, or was it just having a bad day for my visit? I loved Kennywood and would like to visit again next year, and I'd like to know whether I'll get to see Exterminator at its best.

Here's what happened last time this was brought up :)

I cringed when I saw this title, but I can't help but reply CR.

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Carousel Rabbit said:
I was particularly surprised not to see the promised giant rats in evidence.

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It took me a while to get this one as well, but the cars, shaped as rats, are the rats. After my first time through I was looking for them too. doh!

Oops -- I didn't realize I was bringing up a controversial topic. Thanks for the pointer. I had attempted to do a search, but for some reason didn't get any results.

I'm glad to note from the previous (somewhat chaotic) thread that the effects are variable and that I may see them on my next visit, coaster gods willing. :)

No problem at all. Maybe you'll get some additional insight with this thread.

That last one was a doozy though :)

Heh, rock, I forgot about that topic! I was on FI-YAH in that one! Hehe ...

Good day on the 'Buzz ;)

All the effects were broke during PFN:)

I don't believe that they were 'broke', just turned off to give a little darker and different experience for Phantom Fright Nights. Besides, some of the rats 'escaped' into Gor(k)y Park! VERMIN was having a heck of time trying to get them!

Gor(k)y Park was really cool. They did a good job of establishing atmosphere. If more of the park could take on that feel PFN could hold its own with any park at Halloween (more roaming scares wouldn't hurt either)

While it's a ton of fun, PFN still has a bit of a "small park doing Halloween" thing. Gor(k)y Park showed the potential, I think.

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Brother Dave said:
I don't believe that they were 'broke', just turned off to give a little darker and different experience for Phantom Fright Nights. Besides, some of the rats 'escaped' into Gor(k)y Park! VERMIN was having a heck of time trying to get them!

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Yeah, they weren't "broke."

I actually like the ride better being totally pitch black.

I think it would be cool (during PFN) to add a few strobe lights where you spin:)

Kinda wish Booberry would come back and make a cameo...oh yah, he hates our guts now and we should be sorry for scaring away such a cool guy. ;)

Carousel Rabbit, you are the rats. Your riding in them. I think...

Also, I wish they would just make it a full fledged dark ride and not just a spinning mouse in a dark building.
*** Edited 11/17/2004 9:22:55 PM UTC by eightdotthree***

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KpExpress said:

I think it would be cool (during PFN) to add a few strobe lights where you spin

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That ain't a half bad idea you got there... we were afraid with all of the lights off it'd become a puke-a-rama, that's why the boiler lights were left on. Some strobes placed throughout with everything else may be okay, though.

Or just strobes as you approach every other hairpin and smoke at the bottom of the larger drops there so you couldnt see the bottom.

It needs something and doesnt feel as fast, furious and fun as it did before this season. Could be cause I have ridden it a lot too.

Really, KPJB? Don't people get sick from dizziness because what would normally be a stationary point of reference appears to be moving? Ever notice how ice skaters and ballerinas keep from getting dizzy when they spin? I would think if people had nothing to focus on they would feel less dizzy.

Perhaps someone who gets dizzy can comment?

mOOSH

I can see how it would be quite disorienting.

Could also cause seizures too ya know. ;)

I say they pass out the ergot when you get in line and then remove all the effects. ;)

I don't know about the dizzy idea, but I'll comment anyway. When dancers "spot" (focus on one object while they spin or turn), it's more to keep them in one place and not wobbling all around like a top. It also gives them a point of reference so when they're done spinning, they're know which direction they're supposed to be facing. Wouldn't want to bow with your backside to the audience.

Interesting thing, I know a few people who dance, and the ones who can spin around 20- or 30-some times in a row or spin all around the stage (kind of like a planet revolving and rotating simultaneously) no trouble have the worst problems getting dizzy or queasy on rides. Maybe it is because they're trained to look for a stationary point of reference, and like Mamoosh says, it ain't there.

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Mamoosh said:
Really, KPJB? Don't people get sick from dizziness because what would normally be a stationary point of reference appears to be moving?

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Hey, you don't have to convince me... it was my idea to do it in the dark. "Others" came up with the pukefest thought.

--kpjb, who says "Let 'em puke, then."

ROFL!

The strobe light idea sounds like a good idea, though, the older I get, the more 'sensitive' I am to a strobing effect. Makes me more susceptable to feeling 'dizzy'. Adding a strobe might make it MORE a pukefest! *** Edited 11/18/2004 1:14:35 PM UTC by Brother Dave***