I am planning my first trip to kennywood this summer,and was wondering if some of you could answer some questions i have.first,do they charge a "pay one price"to all the rides,or is a ticket system?also when is the best time of the year to go.i also herd someone say that they do not have a specific closing time,is this true?
You can buy a POP wristband or pay general admission and buy tickets.
I think earlier in the year (first few weekdays of operation would be best) Neil or Greg Legg could be more help there sint they both live in the 'burg.
When I was there last summer I believe they closed at either 10 or 10:30 but depending on crowds may stay open later (I think). When you hear the music late at night you know it's time to go. Once again one of them could help you out more in that department.
Or you could go to Kennywoods official site and find out everything.
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2000 stats: 135 coasters in 26 parks
Not Too Shabby For A Summer
Ok, here's the full scoop...
First off, parking. You can pay $4 to park right up next to the main gate (unless handicap). Parking around the perimeter of the main lot (the one you enter if traveling in from the 'burgh) is free!! If that lot fills up, you're in luck! You get to park on the very top furthest lot from the park, and ride a ski lift down to the gate (still for free) and it provides a nice visual approach to the park.
Monday through Friday Ride All Day passes are $20.95, Saturday and Sunday $25.95. General admission is always $7.50 (over 65 = $6.50) and you buy tickets in the park.
For their full calendar and other information, link to their website through this silly little portal!
Closing times do vary depending on crowds. I can guarantee if you are there during their nationality days (especially Italian Day) or Fall Fantasy they may close as late as 1 or 2 am. They begin seasonal operation in mid April. Best times to go are weekdays up until school lets out, as they do not open after Labor Day.
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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
*** This post was edited by Neil on 1/23/2001. ***
thank you,this info will be very helpfull.
Neil beat me to it with a very complete post ;)
I'll just add that a CROWDED day at Kennywood USUALLY still results in shorter wait times than a typical summer day at Cedar Point ;)
Unless it's a miserably crowded day or you're arriving late, it's usually worth it to just get the RAD, rather than deal with ride tickets.
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
Kennywood's closing time is one of the best-kept secrets in the amusement industry. You get a 30-minute warning when it's time to go. Apart from that, the only thing you know for certain is that it is probably at least 10:00pm.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
just out of curiasity,how much are the tickets,and how many does each ride require?
hothitz said:
"just out of curiasity,how much are the tickets,and how many does each ride require?"
Kennywood actually just changed that this year. Tickets will be $0.60 each, rides require 1-4 tickets. In the past they were $.20 or $0.25 (I'm blanking right now, but probably $0.20) with rides needing 3 or more tickets.
General Admission tickets can only be purchased by people over 21.
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 1/25/2001. ***
I was at Kennywood for the first time last year. When finding your way to the park be aware that the "Kennywood Arrow" signs they tell you to look for on the offical site are probably only 2 ft long by 4 in high. Being that you don't go through the best part of town and you're kind of in a hurry the arrows are easy to miss. Once you get to the bridge and see the rides off to the left you'll breathe easier.
I wish I could go again this year.
It's well worth the trip. You'll have a great time.
The only time Kennywood will close early would be for a severe weather alert. That's what happened at Kenny Kon last August. The park informed the people already in the park that they were closing early. When we left they handed everybody rainchecks(which we used the next day).
Yeah, those arrows are an institution here in the 'burgh. But they take you through a very busy section of town, and traffic in that area is a headache.
I recently discovered a neat little shortcut from the Parkway East to Kennywood, that bypasses the mess in Swissvale, and cuts a good 10-15 minutes off travel time. Unfortunately, I don't remember street names. The next time I head that way, I'll mark them down and post it here.
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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
From Parkway West, you're USUALLY better served getting off at the Squirrel Hill exit (or even earlier) and bypassing that messy tunnel. High Level Bridge, turn left at 8th, and you're off to Kennywood.
(Not that Beechwood Blvd and the Highlevel Bridge are picnics anymore either, with the Waterfront. I should know, I LIVE on that section of Beechwood and deal with the traffic daily :( )
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 1/25/2001. ***
I've heard there used to be one of Kennywood's arrows in Downtown Uniontown, which is a good 45 minutes away.
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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com
Heck,I've seen arrows outside of Erie!
Time isn't necessarily a good measure of how far an arrow is from the park. After all, there's a Kennywood arrow in Swissvale at the freeway exit, and on one of my visits last season, that was 45 minutes away...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Been there,RideMan.That's no accident,either. Why do you think there is so many stop signs along that route through Swissvale? The same reason the speed limit up Duquense Blvd into West Mifflin is so low. It's to enrich the boro's coffers, that's why.
I suppose you're right. I'm just used to saying "About 45 minutes south of Pittsburgh" to people who ask where in Pennsylvania I live. I'm not even sure of the mileage.
(By the way, Dave. What happened to the trucks and cranes?)
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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com
Actually, Dutchman, there is a good, practical reason for the stop signs along that one road...is that Braddock? Anyway, notice that the side streets where the stop signs are happen to be steeper than some roller coasters. Furthermore, the view from the side street into the "through street" is obstructed on both sides by walls and such if you're coming downhill, and impossible to see if you're coming uphill. Furthermore, traffic on the 'through street' can't really see what's on those side streets either. Those stop signs make sense from a traffic safety standpoint, not merely as revenue enhancers.
Lynch, to answer your question...when I post to CoasterBuzz from home (instead of from work) I use a shell account running the Lynx web browser. Because of the way Lynx processes the text entry box, it isn't practical to leave the signature in place; it's a lot simpler to just hack it off by hitting ^U a few times...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
