Kennywood underrated?

I was just wondering if anybody else thinks that Kennywood is underrated....visited there this Saturday, and it was awesome! I've been there so many times before but it never gets old, I try to go every year.
Many people I've talked to say its quite boring because all of its coasters are "old". I think that's what makes the park special! Its coasters are all classics and unique in their own way, even exterminator!
I just don't think its fair to compare it to CP or PKI, its just a different kind of park.
I sure hope KW doesn't try to change the park's atmosphere, I think its perfect just the way it is.

I don't know. It's been rated high enough in the past. I love the old coasters, but I really wish they would not take out a ride every time they put a new one in. Would it really kill the atmosphere to have a few extra rides?

I read your tr and I must say I am disappointed in your rating of the fries. Did you try the bacon ones? Other than the Thunderbolt, that is my favorite thing about Kennywood. I also agree with the Old Mill thing. Redo it if you want, but I think they went a bit too far.

I think it's hard for a park that gets such rave reviews to be "underrated".

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Kennywood -- even if it weren't my home park, there's just something special about it. However, you'll find more people who say positive things about it than not.

GregLeg, that's good.
Maybe I'm just running into the wrong people! I know tons of people that love KW too, but lots of people (mostly GP) think its boring because its "not like CP, PKI, or even GL".

Actually I'm struggling to think of a park that is underrated, however, I can think of several that are overrated.

which ones Grant?

Nobody's gonna like me for saying this - but I think Kennywood is OVERRATED. Really, I do. But that's for three reasons: 1. I'm not a fan of the old country-fair feel to parks. At least, not when it's unaccomapanied by shiny new toys. 2. When you're born and raised in Ohio and your home parks growing up were PKI and CP, you're spoiled. 3. I never got over Travel Channel's stupid website that put KW over CP for top thrill parks.

Don't get me wrong, Phantom's Revenge is a good coaster, but I can't in good conscience consider KW to be in the upper echelon of parks.

If you appreciate nostalgia, you'll appreciate Kennywood park. It is chock full of history, but mixed up with a little bit of new stuff.

This park shows that their rides do not have to be the tallest, fastest, longest, smelliest, err... whatever coaster gimmick in the world, for them to be enjoyable. I think Kennywood has some of the best ride collections out there, and the atmosphere just adds to the park's appeal.

Rating Kennywood over Cedar Point? I could see that...

~Rob Willi

I mean, just look at Indiana Beach (for those of us who have been fortunate enough to visit). That park is tiny, and literally in the middle of miles and miles of cornfield, but once you get there and experience it, it is really a great park. And it doesn't need the biggest, fastest, or newest coasters. It truly is a diamond in the rough!

Wow, I can't imagine why ANYONE would find Kennywood boring.

In Charleston we have about 7 parks that are within a 3 1/2-5 hour trip, Kennywood being one of them. I am constantly trying to get people to go up to Kennywood or out to Holiday World as an alternative to PKI or Carowinds (which both ROCK...don't get me wrong) but they never do. :-(

For the most part, the GP around here are "used" to going to PKI or Carowinds, some go to Cedar Point, Dollywood, Geauga Lake or King's Dominion year after year. It's almost like they are scared to try something new and not so mainstream. All are AWESOME parks but there is so much more out there to experience.

Um, yes I think Kennywood is underrated. ;-)

-Tina

*** Edited 8/17/2004 12:26:48 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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CedarPoint82 said:

I just don't think its fair to compare it to CP or PKI, its just a different kind of park.

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Exactly, it wouldn't be fair to CP or PKI. ;)

What is "country fair" about Kennywood? Show me a country fair that has 3 great wooden coaster, an outstanding collection of vintage flat rides, good reasonably priced food, a classic old-time, and well-maintained atmosphere and SHADE.

I made my first trip to Kennywood this summer. It's awesome. It has the best collection of wood coasters in any park outside Blackpool Pleasure Beach, an awesome steel airtime monster in Phantom's Revenge, great food and a fantastic atmosphere, especially at night. The combination of Exterminator and Pitt Fall in rapid succession caused me to to literally feel weak at the knees. Shame about that boring and generic Garfield crap in the Old Mill ride though. Give me Rye Playland's traditional version anytime.

I am seriously thinking of adding Kennywood to a Pennsylvania trip I'm taking later this month, but have some questions. If I'm just going for an evening, is that enough time to ride the best rides? What would people say are the must ride rides there? Should I get the all day wristband, or just buy tickets for the rides I most want to go on? I am not wanting to spend too much there, as it would be at the end of an already expensive trip. But I'd like to experience the park as best I can. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :) *** Edited 8/17/2004 2:52:43 AM UTC by DILinator***

If you're going in the evening, there's an after-6pm wristband for $13.95.

You should be able to hit all the major rides -- start with the three woodies, you should be able to knock them off quickly. Then get in line for PR. After PR, you'll be near Exterminator, so see if that line is still open (it SHOULD be unless the park is closing early due to weather or something). Once you're done with Exterminator, you can check the line for Pittfall, or start hitting the classic flats (Whip, Kangaroo, etc.) and eating your way back up through the park (Potato Patch fries with cheese and bacon; cheese on a stick; Dip Cone...)

ok, i hate to say this, but i found kennywood overrated. maybe it was the company i was with, i was on the blind date from, uh, heck. but i found PR to be nothing more than ok, some decent woodies and the rest of the park was ok. my favorite there Exterminator, laughed my way through that! but overall i'll take CP, PKD, etc any day :) *** Edited 8/17/2004 1:29:36 PM UTC by COASTINGTHRU***

I juist visited Kennywood about three weeks ago. It was everything i was told it would be, and better. THe place is just one of the most unique places that iv ever visited. The classic Coasters are amazing. Thunderbolt was just amazing, one of the greastest rides iv ever been on, and Pantoms Revenge is worth the trip all by itself. I didnt think anyride could ever top Millenium Force in my Top Ten list but it claimed #1 after my very first ride, and its was just as good the other 5. Everythink at Kennywood is just so amazing, how this park dosnt win a golden ticket just suprises me. It is definatly underated, and its one of those places that after your first time, youll want to keep going back.

No

Kennywood may be a little underrated, mostly for the fact people wil ltalk about Cedar Point or a Six Flags park, before they'll ever mention anything about a park like Kennywood.

You want an underrated park, Adventureland Iowa is just as underrated as any out there.

One classic woodie is generally more than enough to get me to your park....two of them, and you have the makings of a GREAT place to go. Three of them? That's just unreasonable! Add in PR and the WILD wild dark mouse (buy my new video, Mice Gone Wild!), and THEN the classic flats, the newer flats, the FEEL and atmosphere of the place....etc., etc.

It may be *highly regarded*, but for me I still don't thik *The 'Wood* gets ALL the credit it deserves...so yeah, to me it's underrated...

Can't we relocate Kennywood to someplace where the park can run year-round? ;)

If Kennywood was on the west coast it would get all the respect it deserves. Some of you folks in Ohio and Pennsylvania get spoiled, not paying respect to a park people travel thousands of miles to see. Just because there are other fantastic parks in the area shouldn't make Kennywood any less fantastic. Keep in mind no park uses their terrain better then coasters then Kennywood. No park Kennywood's size lets people buy tickets one ride at a time. No park gives you a ride on a chiar-lift to your car.