Kennywood Advice

I am planning to go to Kennywood for a weekend during the second week of August for my first time. So I need some advice from some regular Kennywood visitors on what are must see attractions and how many days is enough to do everything and have a good time.

Phantoms Revenge looks like a great hyper coaster and definately a ride I am looking forward to. I think it runs two trains but any advice on lines on a saturday night or sunday morning or afternoon would help. Definately something I would want to reride and hopefully get several rides on

The three classic wooden coasters are definately something I want to go on. Thunderbolt looks like the best one and I think it will be a back seat ride with the 90 feet plus last drops in the ravine. I also would want to ride later in the day, because most wooden coasters are better then and maybe a night ride. What are the lines like and how many trains does it run. What time is the line the shortest?

Jack Rabbitt looks classic John Miller and probably has great airtime on the double dip. Racre loops fun and is unique considering it is only mobius loop racing coaster in the states. Both are fun and would like to know info about lines and if it runs multiple trains.

Finally the other coaster is their indoor spinning wild mouse. After riding and really not liking the spinning wild mouse at Six Flags Great America, I am not to excited for Exterminator. I just want to know would it be worth doing, considering I don't like spinning wild mouses. Also it probably will have long lines due to capacity, and rather wait for Thunderbolt or Phantoms Revenge.

Other rides I want to go on, our Pitt Fall, all their dark rides, maybe their long flume, and some other flats.

Would it be better to go all day saturday, or do a night admission for saturday and also sunday. The second option would probably be better, but more expensive since the two days. Also doing a saturday night allows me to see the park at night and Lost Kennywood which looks nice. How bad is a saturday afternoon, and could I do everything I want with one whole day?

If you love airtime don't miss the Kangaroo!

Heh, I am writing a website now that will give you ALL of this information!

Hit PR first thing in the morning once or twice and you will get a walk on or a train wait. They won't run two trains until the line gets pretty long, usually around mid-early afternoon they will run both trains. Keep an eye on the lift hill and when you start seeing the trains farily often get into line and keep re-riding until your tired or they take the second train off. If you are lucky, as I was last Friday night, they will run them both all evening and you will get plenty of rides.

The woody lines will never go over 30 minutes no matter how long they look. Try and get into the second to last seat on Racer, I think its the best seat on the ride.

The Exterminator is a much different ride in the dark, but if you don't like spinning mice...

The Flume can be skipped in all honesty, and thats from a log flume fanatic. Raging Rapids is fun though. And if you can, hit the Auto Race and Antique cars. Seriously...

I personally don't get as dizzy on Exterminator as the other outdoor spinning mice and I think its pretty likable for me compared to the others. The theme is kind of interesting and I would recommend trying once. I've never had a line more than 15 or 20 minutes for it. I'm not enough of a regular to know good answers for the rest of your questions as far as weekends go. I agree with Moosh. The Kangaroo is a must. Good luck and have fun!

+Danny

Your best bet would to plan most of your riding for Sunday, as they typically are less busy than Saturdays. The church-going crowd usually doesn't show up until the middle of the afternoon, so the lines are excellent in the morning and early afternoon on Sundays.

Ride these four rides first then spend the rest of your day doing everything else at least twice

Phantoms Revenge, Exterminator, Noahs Ark and Pittfall.

Chuck

You will have plenty of time to get everything in. I would give the Exterminator at least one shot. If you don't like it at least you will be able to add it to your track record. It's in the back corner of the park and easy to miss for a first timer.

Try to get night rides in on everything, PR is great at night. Ride Pitt Fall several times to get the different views from each side. It really looks a lot higher when you are facing the river. You must hit the Kangaroo as others have said. Gold Rusher is worth a ride also.

Thanks for the help. I think I will go drive up on a saturday and do the night admission. And then go again for sunday and hit everything that I missed. I might try the exterminator but only if its wait is 30 minutes or less. It would be hard to justify waiting for that when I could ride 3 classic wooden coasters and a top 10 steel hyper, if its line is long.

Pitt fall seems like one of the better drop rides, and I like the ones that offer a nice view. Any food that I have to try there. I thought they were know for having good french fries. I typically don't eat a big meal at parks, but will try something if it is good.

Their Potato Patch fries are the best. I also like their hot sausage sandwiches. I can’t believe we all forgot about the fries. ;)

Also, if you like to High-Five on the Racer, enter the train first as the outside will become the inside as the trains go around the first bends and start up the lift.

I honestly wouldnt hold your breath on 2 train operation on the Phantom. At least, I havent had much luck with them doing that, and it bugs me when I have to wait 20-30 minutes when that wait could be cut in half. But other than that the park is simply awsome, a day and a half is PLENTY of time to do all the big stuff and then some, and get re-rides. Yes, Pitt Fall is a very good free fall ride, probably my favorite. Be sure to sample a few of Kennywood's flats while your at it, they really do have a nice collection of them. Also, I dont think anyone mentioned this very importatn fact: DO NOAHS ARK!!! It is truly a one of a kind ride, an really neat walkthrough attraction with a few tricks up its sleeve im sure youve never seen before. I think its the only one of its kind in the United States. It's the one thing that defines Kennywood possibly more than anything else. Not to be missed.

Here: http://hometown.aol.com/dc2beltz3/kennywood.html
I posted teh pictures of everything thats worth seeing, theres more to see, but these major attratctions are a must see and must visit.

I had 2 trains opereration on Phantom, theres a good chande that would be running especially if the crowds kick up. They usually run just 1 train in the morning. There's plenty of time to do just about everything.

Best advice on Kennywood is just to relax. If you're going crazy trying to get from ride to ride, you'll end up doing everything in the park in a couple of whirlwind hours that'll probably leave you wondering if that was "it"?

As for rides, I also wouldn't miss the Swing Around as it sits in a rather unique position that may not quite the same in the future. Also, King Kahuna (top spin) is actually a very wet water ride on hot days, so if you're not one that hates top spins, and you're hot, give it a try.

For food, wander to the "back corner" of Lost Kennywood, near the Wave Swinger and get the chicken strips and fries at Small Frys. It's the same as Potato Patch fries with less line, more food (chicken strips) and including a drink is around $5.00.

Try and catch the shows for this year if you can, Kennywood's done a really good job of upgrading their entertainment this year. The Kenyan acrobats on the Kennyville stage (near Thunderbolt) are painfully impressive, and the dog/magic shows back on the Garden Stage (under Swing Around) are silly fun and worth 20 minutes of your time.

If you do Saturday night, tickets are only $14.95 after 6pm.

Finally, Kennywood's an absolute b!tch to find if you've never been in the area. Drop me a PM or an email, I can get you some pretty good directions including local food stops and such.

This works out as a good topic becuase i need the no how too. I am going with my mom in a few weeks. Its on a saturday, i think this place could possibly be the last trip outta state this year. Maybe Conneaut lake Park too, but i have a few insiders there. All i can say is with all this help this should make a very good trip. I just look forward to the classic woodies and yes the Hyper as im a big fan.

I have a question was Steel Phantom(I had to call it this for a reason), the second hyper in the US. Cause i really want to hit a bit of a hystorical hyper even with it changing over the years. At least does it have the roomier trains like Morgan had on Steel Force.

1) Yes, Steel Phantom dethroned Magnum as the tallest coaster in the world.

2) The trains are comfortable and have a ton of leg room, especially if you sit in the back row of the car.

1) Yes, Steel Phantom dethroned Magnum as the tallest coaster in the world.

Nope. Steel Phantom's highest point was only 140 feet off the ground. But it's second drop was longer than any drop on Magnum...it took the record for longest drop but NOT tallest coaster.

mOOSH

Close enough, you know what I mean. ;)

You will have two trains on the Saturday night if the weather is good. The line was 30 minutes Saturday night and they ran two trains until close.

Another tip if you are there until close Saturday night, take a walk past Racer, they fill both trains for the last ride of the night so they re-open the queue until they have enough peeps to fill them. At least they did Saturday night. :)

Must Rides:
Thunderbolt, Jack Rabbit, Racer, Exterminator, Phantoms Revenge, PittFall, Log Jammer, Noahs Ark, Kangaroo, Swing Around, Raging Rapids, Pittsburgh Plunge, Auto Race, Turtles, Gold Rusher, Old Mill, King Kahuna, Pirate, Volcano, Rotor, Carousel, Flying Carpet

The only ride I usually intentionally skip are:
Bumper Cars (Too Tame)
Wipeout
Music Express
Turnpike

Ted, KW doesn't have the rotor anymore. I believe it went to Lake Compounce. It was replaced by locker's and then nothing.

Katie