Kennywood Advice?

I may be missing Beastbuzz this weekend for the Dean Martin Festival in Steubenville, OH (long story), but since we may have Friday free, I'm pushing for a trip to Kennywood, an hour east from where we'll be.

Any advice for a first-timer? I've read pretty much all of Kennywood's website, but would appreciate any advice, suggestions from those who are Kennywood regulars.

The sooner you arrive, the less hiking you will have to do from their parking lots. It's like climbing down a ski hill.

As for the park itself, my only recommendation is to ride Exterminator early in the day -- the limited capacity causes long lines as more guests arrive.

Enjoy your day!

There really isn't any way to go wrong. Like Greatwhitenorth said - get there early, and if you wish to ride Exterminator, put that first on your list, the line can get pretty lengthy.

Other than that, take your time, eat ALL the food, and have fun.

- Josh

Ride the Exterminator and the Phantom's Revenge early (was there last week and the coaster was still limited to one train, making those lines hure too.)

After that just be sure you try to ride all their special flats, there are many one of a kind rides in that park.

^ What they said (not that one visit qualifies me as a regular, though). Go for the "premium" parking.

Kangaroo, Old Mill, Noah's Ark, Turtle, Auto Race, and the Train ride-- all rides unique to Kennywood. Plus a great lineup of coasters. Potato Patch fries, which are actually whole potatoes the same day you eat them, are recommended.

The rides, the food, the atmosphere... now THAT'S Amore!

Don't miss any ride. They all have their unique character to them!

Potato. Patch.

Be sure to ride the first row of the third car on Jack Rabbit, and then put your hands way up high on that drop :)

~Rob Willi

Be sure you get your toes under something first.

I would say the same as the first posters, because the lines do get long for phantom and exterminator, plus hopefully its not so hot, cause that building that houses exterminator gets down right scorching inside. They also wait to clear lines to the inside so if your outside where they queue you up its gonna be a wait no doubt.

Potato Patch maybe a must for some, but i wasnt all that thrilled, maybe it was because i had a hangover from a day before i went. Ride thunderbolt, i liked it more than the other woodies there, but they are in just such great shape, parks should take a page or two outta their book. Enjoy just the atmostsphere of the park and the nostalgic(sp) value. I really enjoyed this park my first time, and i hope you do too.

The premium parking is only $5 I think? I am not a "regular" but it's one of my "homeparks" so to speak. The Potato Patch fries are NOT to be missed. It is wise to get them as early as possible (right before the lunch rush.) The gravy and BBQ sauce is ok, but I prefer cheese and garlic salt. :-P

As the rest of the peeps said, ride Exterminator as early as you can. The lines can get insane. Phantom's lines usually move pretty fast, depending on how many trains they have going. Actually Racer and the Jack Rabbitt have the longest lines. All the coasters are awesome!

If you like skycoasters, I would recommend THAT one! Garfield's Nightmare is funny as hell, as well as Aero 360. ;-)

You will LOVE Kennywood, Linda. Just take your time and enjoy it all. Take in as much as you can. :-)

You can also get discount tickets at the local Giant Eagle stores for about $20. There is one across the street and up the hill from the park.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/12/2006 8:50:43 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Lunch rush = cooler oil = soggy fries... :-/

Kennywood advice? GO! You WILL be back... :)

I love Kennywood first-timers! (CPLady, I can't believe you've never been there) The place is nice and small, so don't worry, you'll get it all in and then some. The quality thing is that it has plenty of modern thrills and loads of old fashioned nostalgia in a great setting.

Ditto on the pay parking- it's cheap and close- I've never figured out why more of the locals don't take advantage of it.

Exterminator first, for sure. It's about the only ride with an excrutiatingly long wait on a busy day, which incidentally, Friday may not be. Kennywood can really pick up in the evening, tho, due to reduced nite time admission, so there may be a lot of "date-nighters" there.

But BE SURE to say till close if you can- they're open nice and late and you'll want to tour the park at night- the music goes all dreamy, and the lighting is fabulous, the place is covered in light bulbs and neon. Night rides on the Racer, Jackrabbit, and Tbolt are a gas, too.

Let is know how you love it- we all know you will.

P.S. The Dean Martin Festival! How cool is that? Do you suppose they'll have any old GoldDiggers hangin' around? I betcha those menopausal girls are STILL hot!

There is really nothing I can't recommend NOT to see at the park. Definatley do the coasters. Like said above, try to do the Exterminator early. PR should have a consistent line most of the day.

Your belly and sweet tooth will be happy at the park. I suggest the Patch fries of course, along with a funnel cake, dip cone, and fried Oreos. These can be spread over the whole day ;)

If you're going to K-Wood just for the coasters, you're going to miss out on a lot of neat stuff.

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RCMAC said:
Ditto on the pay parking- it's cheap and close- I've never figured out why more of the locals don't take advantage of it.

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Because the second level isn't all that far, and the third level (if it's a busy day) nets you a free skyride before you ever get in the park, and both are, well, free. :)

Thanks all! I'm definitely going for more than the coasters! I'm looking forward to some of the classic rides and the "small park" atmosphere. I haven't been on a whip or turtle since I was a kid, and the nostalgia factor is big with me.

Thanks, Tina, for the discount advice, and ROTFL to you RatherGoodBear. Although I grew up watching Dean Martin (both in movies and his TV show), I'm not all that sure the Festival is going to keep me entertained.

I'm not sure I'll be able to talk the hubby into staying until dark...IF we go. Right now he's arguing about the payment he's supposed to get for doing the sound for the festival, considering gas alone is likely to cost us $180. I hate getting my hopes up only to have something crap on them.

Deep fried oreos....I had those at HW.

While I'm still dreaming of Kennywood, here's my list of "don't miss" stuff.

* The auto race thing- the electric powered cars get up to a pretty good clip running through their unique track. Keep an eye open for some handslapping moments.

* Kangaroo- Airtime like nuts. It's an old flat ride kind of thing that goes around in circles and launches the gondolas, one at a time, over a big bump. Quite spiffy.

* Skycoaster- Yeah, it's upcharge, but it was the 1st Skycoaster and, by many accounts, still the best, especially being over a lake.

* The mine ride up the stairs by the rapids ride- Sooo cheesy. It's great.

* Tumblebug- I believe there are only three of them left and one of them is decaying at Chippewa. Hop on while there's still time.

The coolest thing about Kennywood is all the old stuff. Spend some time exploring!

I don't know understand how someone can actually think the "far" lot at Kennywood is far - 5-minute walk, tops. Plus you are going to be walking all day long at the park, what is another few minutes at the beginning and end of the day? I never could understand the people who go to a mall and drive around endlessly looking for a close spot because they don't want to walk so much. Then once they get inside, they walk around for hours.

And yes, it is only $5... but that is $5 you could be spending on an order of delicious chicken fingers and french fries at Small Fries in the Lost Kennywood area (highly recommended!). And once you finish those, you will be glad you walked those extra few minutes from the "far" lot so you don't feel so guilty.

Don't forget the beautiful carousel. It is a 4-abreast Dentzel from the 1920s and is another of Kennywood's classic rides. It has a Wurlitzer band organ piping out the music. Like Kennywood's other historic rides, it is well maintained. It received a major overhaul a year ago.

Kennywood is one of two amusement parks designated as a National Historic Landmark (the other one is Rye Playland). The numerous rides from the first half of the 20th century along with some historic buildings are the reason for this.