Kennywood VIP Coaster Tour, July 4th

My mother, daughter and I signed up for the VIP tour yesterday. Unfortunately, we got to the park late, and all the coasters (and most of the other rides) were closed for the entire time we were there. So we didn't actually get to use the passes.

It seems like a good deal -- in our case yesterday, when the park was almost as busy as I've ever seen it, a great deal. But there are kinks in the logistics they need to work out. The employee who signed us up and took the pictures for our passes explained that if the ride was closed at the time specified, the ride personnel would give us an alternate time to return. Except that, on the first occasion when we tried this, at Jack Rabbit, we couldn't even get the attention of the ride ops from the VIP station, were forced to go up the exit ramp to talk to them, and were met with indifference and confusion on the part of the ops. Finally they just told us to come back at any point during the evening when JR was running to get the ride.

On the second try, at Phantom, the employees at the entrance were somewhat more helpful, but still didn't seem to understand the policy that was being disseminated at the office.

At any rate, and no fault to Kennywood, the storms and rain continued through the afternoon and the park closed at 5:00. We returned to the VIP counter, received full refunds while getting to keep our nifty lanyards and passes, and then were doled out all day comp passes at the exit.

I should have stuck around the park a bit longer on Friday. I left at 1:30 or so because I saw the rain coming. I could have got a comp ticket out of the deal. Should I feel guilty taking a comp ticket as a Season Pass Holder? Hmmmm...

I don't think you should feel guilty if you give the ticket to another person who comes and spends money at the park some day. It would be more of a waste to accept a ticket that would never be used, since the park doesn't get anything back for it.

We were at the park on Saturday the 3rd. We expected it to be crazy, but the longest wait was for Jack Rabbit at 20 minutes. Thunderbolt was running incredibly well compared to last year.

I thought that Sky Rocket was a good 1/2 of a coaster with the second half being there to just get back to the station.

As to the prints, the first one is a litho where the blue streak print is a giclee. Giclees are printed one at time and use much more expensive inks that also are much more color fast and thus the higher prices.

I see. I stand corrected.