Idlewild Park (7/23) & Kennywood (7/30)
Associated parks:
None
After a dry spell of a few weeks without getting my amusement park / rollercoaster fix, I decided it was time to satisfy the cravings!!
Since my brother and his family were in town, we decided to take all the kids in our family (all 18 of them!!) to Idlewild last week and Kennywood this week.
IDLEWILD:
Oh, to be a kid again!! The last time I visited this park, I was about 5 years old. It was somewhat strange to walk through most parts of the park only to see that nothing has changed a bit! This park is almost entirely in the woods on the foothills of the Laurel Mountains (about 1 hour east of Pittsburgh)
Among the first rides to hit was the Wild Mouse. This was pretty much what I expected a wild mouse-type coaster built in the 80's to be. Quick hairpin turns, fast and sudden drops, and packed with fun! The park's only other coaster is the Rollo Coaster. Very old mild woodie, with a surprising amount of airtime to it!
The rest of the park is pretty much devoted to children. There is the old Story Book Forest, which until Kennywood Entertainment Co. bought Idlewild, was a separate park. What a delight to accompany my neice and nephew (both aged 3 and 4) and to see them experience their favorite fairy tales live! Adjacent to Story Book Forest, is the section called Hootin Holler, which is an old west theme. The only attraction I experienced here was Confusion Hill, which was an interactive funhouse, which, as a result of a mine explosion (so the innkeeper tells us), now sits on a 20 degree angle. It was fun and disorienting to see folks standing on an angle as they negotiated their way around.
Another area of the park dedicated to the children is Mister Rogers Neighborhood, which took us on a ride on the Trolley through the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Racoon Lagoon is another section nearby that offers rides for the littlest guests.
As the day started to warm up, the kids were getting 渀砀椀漀甀猀 琀漀 栀攀愀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀漀 䠀㈀伀栀栀栀 娀漀渀攀 愀渀搀 䐀爀⸀ 䠀礀搀爀漀✀猀 匀漀愀欀 娀漀渀攀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 眀愀琀攀爀瀀愀爀欀 眀椀琀栀 愀戀漀甀琀 ㌀ 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 瘀愀爀椀愀琀椀漀渀猀 漀昀 眀愀琀攀爀猀氀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 愀 猀攀瀀愀爀愀琀攀 猀眀椀洀洀椀渀最 瀀漀漀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀 氀愀爀最攀 戀甀挀欀攀琀 琀栀愀琀 搀甀洀瀀猀 眀愀琀攀爀 漀渀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 最甀攀猀琀猀℀ 䈀攀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 䤀✀洀 渀漀琀 愀 栀甀最攀 昀愀渀 漀昀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 眀攀琀Ⰰ 䤀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 樀甀猀琀 瀀氀愀礀 挀栀愀瀀攀爀漀渀攀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 搀愀礀 眀愀猀 昀甀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀椀挀攀 琀漀 爀攀氀椀瘀攀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 洀礀 挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀℀ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀氀礀 爀攀挀漀洀洀攀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀欀 琀漀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀椀琀栀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀⸀ 䤀昀 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 猀攀攀欀椀渀最 琀栀爀椀氀氀猀Ⰰ 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 礀漀甀✀氀氀 眀愀渀琀 琀漀 栀攀愀搀 戀愀挀欀 眀攀猀琀 琀漀⸀⸀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䬀䔀一一夀圀伀伀䐀㨀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䴀礀 搀愀搀✀猀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 愀渀渀甀愀氀 瀀椀挀渀椀挀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 眀愀猀 瘀漀氀甀渀琀攀攀爀攀搀 琀漀 愀猀猀椀猀琀 眀椀琀栀 猀攀琀琀椀渀最 甀瀀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 眀愀猀 最漀漀搀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 攀渀琀攀爀 瘀椀愀 琀栀攀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀 攀渀琀爀愀渀挀攀⸀ 䬀渀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀 爀攀挀攀渀琀 琀栀爀攀愀搀 眀栀攀爀攀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 洀攀渀琀椀漀渀攀搀 猀攀攀椀渀最 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 琀爀愀挀欀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 䨀愀挀欀 刀愀戀戀椀琀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 愀 昀椀爀猀琀 栀愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀⸀ 一伀吀䠀䤀一䜀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䄀昀琀攀爀 猀攀琀琀椀渀最 甀瀀Ⰰ 愀 渀攀瀀栀攀眀 漀昀 洀椀渀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 爀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 匀琀攀攀氀 倀栀愀渀琀漀洀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 栀椀洀⸀ 䜀漀椀渀最 甀瀀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀琀Ⰰ 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 栀椀氀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 甀瀀 漀渀 琀漀瀀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀攀挀漀渀搀 栀椀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 洀礀猀攀氀昀 栀漀眀 䤀✀洀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 洀椀猀猀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀℀ 吀栀愀琀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 漀瘀攀爀挀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 瀀愀椀渀 猀攀愀爀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 洀礀 栀攀愀搀 愀猀 眀攀 栀椀琀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 椀渀瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀猀⸀ 一漀眀 䤀 挀愀渀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀氀礀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀 眀栀礀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 渀攀攀搀猀 琀漀 最漀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䘀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀攀 匀倀Ⰰ 眀攀 琀漀漀欀 琀栀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀ⴀ搀椀猀愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀椀渀最 爀椀搀攀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 吀栀甀渀搀攀爀戀漀氀琀Ⰰ 䨀愀挀欀 刀愀戀戀椀琀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 刀愀挀攀爀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䄀猀 眀攀 攀砀椀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 刀愀挀攀爀Ⰰ 洀礀 渀攀瀀栀攀眀 眀愀猀 椀渀琀爀椀最甀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 䄀攀爀漀 ㌀㘀 ⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 猀攀攀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀椀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 椀渀 䄀瀀爀椀氀Ⰰ 䤀 猀愀椀搀 一䔀嘀䔀刀℀℀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 愀戀漀甀琀 㔀 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀 漀昀 挀漀愀砀椀渀最Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 ∀䠀漀眀 戀愀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 琀栀椀猀 戀攀㼀∀ 匀漀 䤀 最愀瘀攀 椀渀⸀ 匀漀 最氀愀搀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 搀椀搀℀ 䤀 氀漀瘀攀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀℀℀℀ 䤀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 昀攀攀氀 愀渀礀 渀愀甀猀攀愀 愀琀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 椀渀 昀愀挀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀琀攀 昀甀渀 ⠀攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 猀椀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 猀攀挀琀椀漀渀℀⤀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 洀礀 ㌀爀搀 爀椀搀攀 漀渀 䄀攀爀漀Ⰰ 䤀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀漀爀洀 挀氀漀甀搀猀 爀漀氀氀椀渀最 椀渀⸀ 䘀椀最甀爀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 最攀琀 眀攀琀Ⰰ 眀栀礀 渀漀琀 栀攀愀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 爀椀搀攀猀℀ 猀瀀椀渀 漀渀 刀愀最椀渀最 刀愀瀀椀搀猀 愀渀搀 ㈀ 漀渀 倀椀琀琀猀戀甀爀最 倀氀甀渀最攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 搀爀攀渀挀栀攀搀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀br>It was getting close to our meeting time, so we decided to hit Noah's Ark on our way back. And that was when the sky really opened up!! We waited in line outside the ark under a HEAVY downpour (but it didn't matter as we were already soaked) Thunder and lightning was all around, when I noticed that the Thunderbolt was still running! (with people on it!) I was amazed that they would still run it in conditions like yesterday! As the intensity of the storm increased, and a bolt of lightning struck Pit Fall, we hopped the rail and dashed for the Merry-Go-Round to meet the rest of our party. We waited out the rain for about an hour, and as things looked like they were not improving, we called it a day.
It was a shame that the evening was a washout, because Kennywood really is someplace special when it's lit up at night. But I satisfied my cravings for coasters and the Potato Patch, and I went home happy!
-------------
Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
Since my brother and his family were in town, we decided to take all the kids in our family (all 18 of them!!) to Idlewild last week and Kennywood this week.
IDLEWILD:
Oh, to be a kid again!! The last time I visited this park, I was about 5 years old. It was somewhat strange to walk through most parts of the park only to see that nothing has changed a bit! This park is almost entirely in the woods on the foothills of the Laurel Mountains (about 1 hour east of Pittsburgh)
Among the first rides to hit was the Wild Mouse. This was pretty much what I expected a wild mouse-type coaster built in the 80's to be. Quick hairpin turns, fast and sudden drops, and packed with fun! The park's only other coaster is the Rollo Coaster. Very old mild woodie, with a surprising amount of airtime to it!
The rest of the park is pretty much devoted to children. There is the old Story Book Forest, which until Kennywood Entertainment Co. bought Idlewild, was a separate park. What a delight to accompany my neice and nephew (both aged 3 and 4) and to see them experience their favorite fairy tales live! Adjacent to Story Book Forest, is the section called Hootin Holler, which is an old west theme. The only attraction I experienced here was Confusion Hill, which was an interactive funhouse, which, as a result of a mine explosion (so the innkeeper tells us), now sits on a 20 degree angle. It was fun and disorienting to see folks standing on an angle as they negotiated their way around.
Another area of the park dedicated to the children is Mister Rogers Neighborhood, which took us on a ride on the Trolley through the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Racoon Lagoon is another section nearby that offers rides for the littlest guests.
As the day started to warm up, the kids were getting 渀砀椀漀甀猀 琀漀 栀攀愀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀漀 䠀㈀伀栀栀栀 娀漀渀攀 愀渀搀 䐀爀⸀ 䠀礀搀爀漀✀猀 匀漀愀欀 娀漀渀攀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 眀愀琀攀爀瀀愀爀欀 眀椀琀栀 愀戀漀甀琀 ㌀ 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 瘀愀爀椀愀琀椀漀渀猀 漀昀 眀愀琀攀爀猀氀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 愀 猀攀瀀愀爀愀琀攀 猀眀椀洀洀椀渀最 瀀漀漀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀 氀愀爀最攀 戀甀挀欀攀琀 琀栀愀琀 搀甀洀瀀猀 眀愀琀攀爀 漀渀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 最甀攀猀琀猀℀ 䈀攀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 䤀✀洀 渀漀琀 愀 栀甀最攀 昀愀渀 漀昀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 眀攀琀Ⰰ 䤀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 樀甀猀琀 瀀氀愀礀 挀栀愀瀀攀爀漀渀攀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 搀愀礀 眀愀猀 昀甀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀椀挀攀 琀漀 爀攀氀椀瘀攀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 洀礀 挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀℀ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀氀礀 爀攀挀漀洀洀攀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀欀 琀漀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀椀琀栀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀⸀ 䤀昀 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 猀攀攀欀椀渀最 琀栀爀椀氀氀猀Ⰰ 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 礀漀甀✀氀氀 眀愀渀琀 琀漀 栀攀愀搀 戀愀挀欀 眀攀猀琀 琀漀⸀⸀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䬀䔀一一夀圀伀伀䐀㨀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䴀礀 搀愀搀✀猀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 愀渀渀甀愀氀 瀀椀挀渀椀挀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 眀愀猀 瘀漀氀甀渀琀攀攀爀攀搀 琀漀 愀猀猀椀猀琀 眀椀琀栀 猀攀琀琀椀渀最 甀瀀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 眀愀猀 最漀漀搀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 攀渀琀攀爀 瘀椀愀 琀栀攀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀 攀渀琀爀愀渀挀攀⸀ 䬀渀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀 爀攀挀攀渀琀 琀栀爀攀愀搀 眀栀攀爀攀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 洀攀渀琀椀漀渀攀搀 猀攀攀椀渀最 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 琀爀愀挀欀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 䨀愀挀欀 刀愀戀戀椀琀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 愀 昀椀爀猀琀 栀愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀⸀ 一伀吀䠀䤀一䜀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䄀昀琀攀爀 猀攀琀琀椀渀最 甀瀀Ⰰ 愀 渀攀瀀栀攀眀 漀昀 洀椀渀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 爀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 匀琀攀攀氀 倀栀愀渀琀漀洀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 栀椀洀⸀ 䜀漀椀渀最 甀瀀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀琀Ⰰ 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 栀椀氀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 甀瀀 漀渀 琀漀瀀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀攀挀漀渀搀 栀椀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 洀礀猀攀氀昀 栀漀眀 䤀✀洀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 洀椀猀猀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀℀ 吀栀愀琀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 漀瘀攀爀挀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 瀀愀椀渀 猀攀愀爀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 洀礀 栀攀愀搀 愀猀 眀攀 栀椀琀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 椀渀瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀猀⸀ 一漀眀 䤀 挀愀渀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀氀礀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀 眀栀礀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 渀攀攀搀猀 琀漀 最漀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䘀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 琀栀攀 匀倀Ⰰ 眀攀 琀漀漀欀 琀栀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀ⴀ搀椀猀愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀椀渀最 爀椀搀攀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 吀栀甀渀搀攀爀戀漀氀琀Ⰰ 䨀愀挀欀 刀愀戀戀椀琀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 刀愀挀攀爀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䄀猀 眀攀 攀砀椀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 刀愀挀攀爀Ⰰ 洀礀 渀攀瀀栀攀眀 眀愀猀 椀渀琀爀椀最甀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 䄀攀爀漀 ㌀㘀 ⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 猀攀攀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀椀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 椀渀 䄀瀀爀椀氀Ⰰ 䤀 猀愀椀搀 一䔀嘀䔀刀℀℀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 愀戀漀甀琀 㔀 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀 漀昀 挀漀愀砀椀渀最Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 ∀䠀漀眀 戀愀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 琀栀椀猀 戀攀㼀∀ 匀漀 䤀 最愀瘀攀 椀渀⸀ 匀漀 最氀愀搀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 搀椀搀℀ 䤀 氀漀瘀攀 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀℀℀℀ 䤀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 昀攀攀氀 愀渀礀 渀愀甀猀攀愀 愀琀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 椀渀 昀愀挀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀琀攀 昀甀渀 ⠀攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 猀椀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 猀攀挀琀椀漀渀℀⤀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 洀礀 ㌀爀搀 爀椀搀攀 漀渀 䄀攀爀漀Ⰰ 䤀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀漀爀洀 挀氀漀甀搀猀 爀漀氀氀椀渀最 椀渀⸀ 䘀椀最甀爀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 最攀琀 眀攀琀Ⰰ 眀栀礀 渀漀琀 栀攀愀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 爀椀搀攀猀℀ 猀瀀椀渀 漀渀 刀愀最椀渀最 刀愀瀀椀搀猀 愀渀搀 ㈀ 漀渀 倀椀琀琀猀戀甀爀最 倀氀甀渀最攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 搀爀攀渀挀栀攀搀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀br>It was getting close to our meeting time, so we decided to hit Noah's Ark on our way back. And that was when the sky really opened up!! We waited in line outside the ark under a HEAVY downpour (but it didn't matter as we were already soaked) Thunder and lightning was all around, when I noticed that the Thunderbolt was still running! (with people on it!) I was amazed that they would still run it in conditions like yesterday! As the intensity of the storm increased, and a bolt of lightning struck Pit Fall, we hopped the rail and dashed for the Merry-Go-Round to meet the rest of our party. We waited out the rain for about an hour, and as things looked like they were not improving, we called it a day.
It was a shame that the evening was a washout, because Kennywood really is someplace special when it's lit up at night. But I satisfied my cravings for coasters and the Potato Patch, and I went home happy!
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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
Great report. I went to K-wood on 7/20 and I'm now making plans for my next day off. I will drive 4 hours to ride for $20 and eat like a king!!
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There's nothing like a woodie...
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There's nothing like a woodie...
Saturday? D'oh! I'll be there SUNDAY (for KennyKon). Any chance you can switch days? ;)
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
Aw, rats!! I'm supposed to be in D.C. this weekend!
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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
www.geocities.com/neildeweese
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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
www.geocities.com/neildeweese
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