FR (Food Report): Knoebels opening day, 4/24/04

My brother and I drove from Pittsburgh to Knoebel's for opening day and the two-for-one ride all day handstamp. I missed PPP last year due to illness, so this was my first trip back since opening day 2003, and Matt's since PPP 2002. We were therefore quite eager to ride some coasters, and eat some food oddities.

We hit the road at 8am, and arrived at the park just a few minutes after noon.

Hungty, we went to Totem Treats before even getting our hands stamped, for our first cheese-on-a-stick of the season. We also both had birth beer to drink. Two thumbs up.

Later in the afternoon, hunger drove us over to the International food gazebo over by the Roundup, where I had sweet potato fries and rice pudding (never seen THAT at a park before!), and Matt found yet another unusual Knoebel's item -- "Cornnachos". Take deep-fried corn sticks (corn dog batter, perhaps? Some cornmeal batter shaped into french fry-like sticks, fried) and top them off with typical nacho toppings (cheese, jalapenos). Delicious.

On our way out of the park at 6pm, we stopped at Cesari's to order a pizza to go. I like their pizza, and we discovered it travels very well -- if anything, it's even BETTER cold (of course, I'm a fan of cold pizza, but Matt is not and he also raved about how good the cold pizza was).

Oh yeah, we rode some coasters and flatrides in there, too. It was interesting to note that rumors to the contrary, Knoebel's did NOT add seatbelts to Phoenix or Twister. Twister seemed a tad rough, and Phoenix squealed around one turn, but both rides are still plenty fun and worth the trip.

Nice TR, I've never heard that rumor about seatbelts being added. And about Phoenix squealing, I won't worry until it starts sounding like the CI Cyclone. :)

Food Reports! Genius! We definitely need more of these this season.

It was good to see you Greg even though it was only for about 30 seconds or so.

I didn't really find Twister rough but more rumbly Especially on the lower turn by the road. Twister just doesn't do much for me anymore. It's a good ride but there is alot better woodies out there and one is only a few hundred feet away.

You gotta love the sweet potato fries. I do think you need to get a little melted butter with them to help the brown sugar stick.

Knoebels does have some awsome food at a super cheap price. I still think they need to get the baked corn like at Kennywood though.

I'm still undecied on who has better fresh cut fried Kennywood or Knoebels. That may be one question that will never be answered.

Rice pudding (yummmm), birch beer, Cesari's....I need a food trip! ;)

Sweet potato fries? Never had 'em, but PPP is just around the end of the season...

I imagine that PTC has alleviated themselves of considerable legal responsibility with the *memo*, but Knoebel's "goes against the grain"....(see: return springs on Twister)...oh, and I absolutely LOVE Phoenix...:)

And don't forget the Yuengling Brewery just down the road a bit..............;-)

Mmmm.....sweet potato fries? Now THAT sounds awesome. :-P The only thing I remember having at Knoebels was the barbecue sandwiches......

-Tina

<-----who looks forward to PPP.........

You gotta love Yuenglings Black and Tan! The Lager is good but the B&T rocks! :) Only if Knoebels sold Yuengling products! I could just imangine how crazy the bumper cars would be then! On second thought I guess it is good Knoebels doesn't sell beer! :)

Sweet potato fries are fabulous. You could get them at the old Boathouse at Cedar Point, but with the rebranding of that restaurant, probably no more.

Coasterpunk,

I prefer the Lager but a good B&T will work every now and then. ;-)

Hmmm.........DUI on bumper cars......interesting.

-Tina

*** Edited 4/26/2004 1:04:39 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Wouldn't that be BUI...."bumping under the influence"...;)

---

GregLeg said:
My brother and I drove from Pittsburgh to Knoebel's for opening day and the two-for-one ride all day handstamp. We were therefore quite eager to ride some coasters, and eat some food oddities.

Oh yeah, we rode some coasters and flatrides in there, too. It was interesting to note that rumors to the contrary, Knoebel's did NOT add seatbelts to Phoenix or Twister. Twister seemed a tad rough, and Phoenix squealed around one turn, but both rides are still plenty fun and worth the trip.

---

I find it truly sad that NOBODY has complained that only 1 train was running on either of the signature rides at Knoebels on opening day!, nobody even mentioned it!

WTF!?!?!?!?!?!

Can you say double standard?

Tell me something. When have you ever waited longer than 15 minutes for a ride on Phoenix? Longer than 20 for twister? I haven't, and those times were with 1 train operation. Twister is really the only coaster that needs 2 train operation, Phoenix can get by with 1.

Sam, readily I'll agree with you that they COULD have put both trains on both coasters. However, as MarimbaGuy said, even at that we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything. At a more mainstream park, the result would have been a much longer line. Double standard? Perhaps, but the same can be said for where people are going in the first place.

Actually though Sam I don't think Knoebels ever runs two trains on the woodies when they have handstamps. I think out of all my many many visits over the years I can only remember them running two trains on a handstamp day one time. I guess they figure with handstamps it doesn't matter how many times you ride since they aren't getting the $1.60 for every rider. When it's pay per ride weekends during the busy season when the park is open all week you can bet 2 trains will be running getting everyones $1.60.

The lines on Saturday for the Phoenix ranged from a one or two train wait for middle seats to the line going down to the ticket collector.

Twister ranged from in the station to down the ramp later in the day.

I'm sure if they did add the two trains on Saturday that the line would have been walk on in a few minutes and the trains would have been leaving the station half full or half empty depending on how you look at it.

Even worse than the coasters running 1 train each was the Tilt A Whirl running 5 cars! I heard they weren't finished being rehabbed yet.

Also did the trains for the Pioneer train look to be a car or two shorter than last season?

For me it all depends on the crowd at the park. If it's a place like Cedar Point or Great Adventure where you know they will have a big crowd you expect them to be running more than one train. In my opening day visits to Knoebels I found the crowds to be on the light side. Also to ride everything for $10 including the Woodies is worth a 1 train operation. Paying $30 to $50 I expect a park to be running at a higher capicity.

*** Edited 4/26/2004 7:13:26 PM UTC by coasterpunk***

A Tilt A Whirl running 5 cars? Oy, something new for enthusiasts to complain about... What's next? 1 car operation on the Skooters? Geez. ;)

Or one bumper boat? Oh the horror!!!!! ;-)

-Tina

---

GregLeg said:
Sam, readily I'll agree with you that they COULD have put both trains on both coasters. However, as MarimbaGuy said, even at that we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything. At a more mainstream park, the result would have been a much longer line. Double standard? Perhaps, but the same can be said for where people are going in the first place.

---

I still don't understand why some parks get the living CRAP bashed out of them for 1 train operations, but when the beloved "K" does it, everyone's "OKAY WITH IT"

My comments are not to be taken as a negative comment about the park or park operations, they are not meant that way.

My comments are directed at those who frequently complain about the operations at one park, and overlook the "same" operation at another, it's a double standard!

Fair is fair folks

Remember this weekend before you begin complaining about other parks.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that Knoebels moves crowds faster with one-train operation than most parks do with two? ;)

Sam....I agree that all parks should face the same level of scrutiny, but let's be honest....if a park like SFGAdv had a wooden coaster as good as Phoenix, the line would be WELL over an hour with one train ops...and Heaven forbid they didn't get the best crew in the park.

Sure, there's often a double-standard....but then again, 20 minutes is twentyt minutes, and I don't complain about a line THAT short regardless....when lines get over an hour and there's a spare train suitting idle, trust me, I'll say something about it...;)

Hmmm...Alcohol, Cheese on a stick, sweet potato(e) fries;), and other unpronouncable food? Okay, you talked me into it, PPP for me:)