Kennywood advice?

I have been wanting to hit up all he amusement parks in the state of PA for quite some time, and I am thinking that this year is the Kennywood year (Waldameer too if I can swing it). I've been watching videos on their coasters, but I'd really like a little more info. I know Racer is supposed to be fantastic, and a lot of people love Phantom's Revenge (I have seriously mixed feelings about Maggie, so I don't have the anticipation of a great ride no matter what anyone says about PR), but what about the other coasters and flats? Anything I'm NOT to miss? I know I need to ride Bayern Kurves, and I know the Kangaroo is the only one in existence, so I must ride that as well. What about good food? Nearby attractions? Thinking about making it a weekend, but again, not sure if I can swing it. Any advice, ride reviews, etc is appreciated!

PRev? Imagine Maggie *without* the awful lapbars.

Don't miss Auto Race, Noah's Ark, and the Old Mill ride. Regardless of condition or theming, they're timeless classics and rare/unique.

Also, you need to plan a week so you can add in Waldameer - but also Darien Lake, Martin's, Niagara/Marineland, and Anchor Bar.

Exterminator is my faorite indoor coaster. Echo gator's thought on Noah's Ark, although I forgot about it last visit, and my friend later told me he steered me away because of the line. PR is a different feel than Magnum. Love the woodies, Skyrocket's not bad. Black Widow is a great example of its genre. Touch base with Judy, she knows the place inside out.

Gator, I've actually been to Darien Lake...pre-SF purchase and sale, but I've still been there...but I get what you did there.

I actually really wanna go to Waldameer as well, and I forgot I have two friends who live out that way, so it might be doable. Possibly...

Mike, isn't Exterminator a mouse in a box?

I'm excited for Sky Rocket as I love me some Premier coastering. I'm also now curious about PRev due to the comfort level apparently being much better than Maggie (I've only ridden Maggie twice, and I had a craptacular ride and a stellar ride so....).

Thanks for the tips! Mike, maybe you'll be all healed up and you can drive to my place and then we'll carpool to Kennywood. I AM on the way... :)

rollergator said:

PRev? Imagine Maggie *without* the awful lapbars.

Don't miss Auto Race, Noah's Ark, and the Old Mill ride. Regardless of condition or theming, they're timeless classics and rare/unique.

Also, you need to plan a week so you can add in Waldameer - but also Darien Lake, Martin's, Niagara/Marineland, and Anchor Bar.

Give yourself a couple of extra days for Seabreeze and Canada's Wonderland if possible. In addition to the Anchor Bar since you are in the Buffalo area visit the Navy Ships USS Little Rock and USS The Sullivans, and while at Anchor Bar STAY AWAY from the "Suicide" Wings unless you have SERIOUS THRILL ISSUES!!! And you might want to stay overnight in Canada for Marineland Niagara and Canada's Wonderland. Crossing the Border is H-E-(Double Hockey Sticks) BOTH WAYS (That @#$&! 9/11 Changed Everything, and the Customs Agents on both sides of the border love it as much as you do). :(

She's not going to Canada. I love how these threads always turn out. Poor Bunk, hang around long enough and we'll have you driving to Denver.

But your question was about Kennywood, right? Absolutely go and Waldameer is short, sweet, so much fun. It would be perfect for a side trip. Erie is north of where you'll be, (at Kennywood) not too bad a drive. But you knew that.

Here's my two cents about Phantoms Revenge. I find the trains to be extremely comfortable and the lap bar should be on every ride. It doesn't staple, you can't fly out and the ride is thrilling drops and unexpected omg airtime. You'll like it and wish the ride was longer and the wait was shorter. I prefer that ride 100 times over the original.
Exterminator is indeed a Zamperla Crazy Mouse in a box. If you've ridden the one at the fair, you're good. The indoor thing is fun, though, there's some quirky home made scenery. And I've ridden it where the spins were just right.

Take this trip. It can be done easily and affordably and you deserve to expand your experience past Dorney.

Ditto RCMAC's description of Phantom's Revenge; a top 10 steel for me.

You mentioned Racer, which I like (maybe a little bit better than Sky Rocket, which is fun), but it doesn't hold a candle to Jack Rabbit (try your best to get a back seat ride, the double-down defined the term "ejector air") or the show-stealer, Thunderbolt.

Auto Race!!! It's the last of its kind. It was tamed down a bit for 2014 but still a fun ride. I'd suggest getting to it early as the low capacity leads to a very long line.

The Log Jammer is a lot of fun too.

I really was liking the layout of Thunderbolt, but it looked like it was rough as hell, so I was definitely curious as to if it was a good one to ride. Glad to hear it is a "showstopper".

Wow, this makes me so excited to go to Kennywood. Thanks guys!

And no, I'm not going to Canada, sad to say...at least, not this year. I will have a pass, but I can't go further than a weekend trip, most likely. Plus, I have good friends out by Pittsburgh, so if I have to crash for a few days, I can probably do so for free. Canada not so much.

RCMAC, I have experience besides Dorney! *laugh* just because I live practically next to Dorney doesn't mean I don't get out of the box every now and then...but I WOULD like to hit a non-chain park that I've never been to this year, and I think it will be worth the drive.

Well, let's get you more excited, then, shall we?

H-E-(Double Hockey Sticks) YES to Thunderbolt, it's a great ride. I certainly wouldn't classify it as rough, well at least in the bumpy sense. The thing about Kennywood's coasters is they're not big at all. Or maybe I should say tall. They take advantage of the terrain for the drops, and ain't nothin wrong with that. Thunderbolt is actually two coasters, one old and one really old. The track is so well done and maintained that it's a very smooth experience, but the forces are slammin'. I think you'll love it. Oh, and I hope you aren't by yourself, T'bolt is no single riders. Sometimes the wait for a riding partner can be longer than the line. Or you can call me and I'll meet you there.

Racer is one of my favorites, the hills are rolling and curvy at the same time. It smells good. The station is old and awesome. The last drop is everyone's favorite. And it races every time.

As Vater says, Jack Rabbit is REALLY something. It's tiny from the midway, your house is taller. There's only four drops. But the double down is positively the most exquisite little piece of floater airtime on the planet. First timers always freak a little, it's so surprising. After that it's hands up every time. Ask the kid if you can take your first ride in the back, it's well worth a little polite begging.

God bless those coaster designers of the 20's. Armed with a pile of wood, an idea born of necessity, and a good eye and they were able to turn out rides the likes of which we don't see anymore. The Pittsburgh area, and the nation, really, is fortunate to have three of those rides still living in a park where they forgot to get rid of the old stuff.

Be sure to see the park at night, it's traditional park wonderland at its finest. A night-ride tour of the woodies is advisable and doable. As noted, Noah's Ark, Old Mill, Whip, Auto Race, and Turtle are old favorites, and there's that Bayern Kurve. Laffing Sal lives there too, she's by the train.

C'mon summer.
K bye.

Summer? I just had a coaster lap a few hours ago!

Jeff you just LLLOOOOOVVE to rub that in, don't you? I guess if I were in Florida opposed to the winter wonderland of western NY (almost happened 2 years ago) I'd brag about year round sunshine & park visits too!

Not only make sure to see the park at night, but make sure to stay until the "Nighty Night" song. Walking to the park exit when the song plays reminds you of how much fun you have had while there.

And "fun" is what I call Kennywood. It doesn't have the biggest rides. It's not the largest park in the area. It is the most fun though. I don't know why, but every time I go, I have more fun than anywhere. It's magical, somehow.

Advice? Hmm... Only ride Garfield's Nightmare after you have been on everything else. That ride is annoyingly terrible.

Don't miss the Potato Patch Fries. Get them either between Noah's Ark and Thunderbolt, or at the end of the fountain in Old Kennywood, near Phantom's first drop.

Noah's Ark is pretty dang cool. The entrance is kind of hard t find. It is at the back of the attraction.

Ghostwood Estates is fun too. It's a ghost blaster type ride.

Their log flume has a unique roller coaster style drop. Fun!

The park is small enough that you won't get tired walking from one end to the other. Everything is close to everything else.

You can usually find discounted tickets to the park at PA grocery stores.

Last bit of advice... Let me know when you are going, too. I only live two hours from the park. You, RCMAC, me, and whoever else can go would have a blast spending the day together, I'm sure. The more people you go there with, the more fun you have, because it is just that kind of park.

I should probably just ride everything then, huh? *laugh*

In all seriousness, thanks everyone for the tips. I really want this trip to happen. Travis, we will certainly let you know when and if we have a date. Might end up being a huge group of people, which apparently is a good thing!

ShaneDenmark said:

Jeff you just LLLOOOOOVVE to run that in, don't you?

We all make choices about where we live. Just sayin'.

The Jackrabbit, built in 1907, is not too be missed. An innocent looking ride, it features rare elements that make it a classic; mid ride lift hill, double down drop, a dark tunnel, and classic trains with a fixed lap bar.

Auto Race, another innocent looking ride, is one-of-a-kind. I believe it's intended to be a "kiddie ride", but once I saw it, it was deemed a "must ride". You "drive" a car on a electric track in a wooden trough. A few lateral G's on the bottom going full throttle.

All of their woodies, are wonderful coasters and very smooth. I believe it's a combination of being well- maintained and a medium height coasters. Without a doubt, this would be the best park for ERT on the woodies.

The hand-craved ice cream bar was great. They take an ice cream block and crave out the bars, insert a wooden stick, and then dipped in chocolate and nuts. Entertaining to watch them make it, and great to eat.

Also, you need to plan a week so you can add in Waldameer - but also Darien Lake, Martin's, Niagara/Marineland, and Anchor Bar.

Give yourself a couple of extra days for Seabreeze and Canada's Wonderland if possible. In addition to the Anchor Bar since you are in the Buffalo area visit the Navy Ships USS Little Rock and USS The Sullivans

SMH.

Kennywood is a wonderful park. I'm trying to get back up there this year as it's been 10 years since my last visit.

Jeff said:

ShaneDenmark said:

Jeff you just LLLOOOOOVVE to run that in, don't you?

We all make choices about where we live. Just sayin'.

Or the wife vetoes the move because she is afraid the dogs will get eaten by alligators. No, I'm not joking.

Okay I have to do this, it's the teacher in me, the Jackrabbit was built in 1920 not 1907, and the double dip was a trademark element of John Miller's. In fact the Thunderbolt on the other side of the park has it in the portion of the ride that had been the Pippen. At one time there were a lot of coasters that had the double dip on them.