(Note: This is a basic clone of my rec.roller-coaster and CoasterBuzz TR's, with a few changes here and there. If you've read one of those, no need to read this'n too. Also, I apologize for any discrepancies. I'm doing my best to port it from place to place and make it site-specific at the same time, but I probably fouled up in a few places. ;)) After 6 months and change, the off-season is over!
The day I'd been waiting for since the 2001 schedule was released finally arrived, and me, Joe Cernelli, and Jason Rollison weren't gonna miss it. Everyone met at my house at about 11:45. After a quick gas-up, we started on the 45/50 minute trek north to Kennywood.
We arrived at the park about a quarter of 1:00. I give credit to Kennywood; they stuck to their word. The mass of people didn't start filtering through the gates until just about 1:00 on the head.
At this point, I'll let you all know that I was adorned in jeans and my Shivering Timbers shirt today. I didn't see anyone else with one on, so if you saw an ST shirt around the park, you saw me in it. ;)
We first headed towards the traditional first ride on Jack Rabbit, but, after a side-trip to the restrooms, took a spin on the Kangaroo.
First ride of the 2001 season: Kangaroo
Even after our Kangaroo ride, we didn't hit Jack Rabbit. The line wasn't "long" by any means (as it wouldn't be all day), but we decided to ride Racer instead.
First coaster of the 2001 season: Racer
From there, we continued the loop towards Aero 360. After about *8* months away from this bad boy, I was freaking out. After the first revolution, I was fine. It's still, in my opinion, the most intense ride in the park. (Personally, I don't think PR will be more "intense." More fun? Probably. ;-)
Did ya'll see Swing Around's new color scheme? I like the blue, I do.
From there, we headed towards the construction end of the park. It was quite a bit depressing seeing Thunderbolt sitting there not moving, both ripped and patched up at the same time. Damn collateral damage. Ditto for Turtle. But, speaking of Turtle.
As we rounded the bend around T'bolt's bowl and the Potato Patch, I got my first up-close-and-personal look at PR's supports around the Turtle. I couldn't help but think back to the first time I saw Millennium Force in person ("Look at that!" / "Look at that turn!"). I kept repeating "I didn't know they were that BIG!" over and over again. Maybe I'm just uneducated, or maybe I'm just an idiot, but even though I looked at all the pictures available (twice), I had no clue they were going to be that big. Getting more hyped up with each passing day...
To Lost Kennywood we went. I successfully avoided PittFall... this time. We took our first spin on Exterminator in 2001. What a great ride it is! Again, maybe I'm just an idiot, but it seemed different this year... something to do with the theming. From previous years, I remember walls between each hairpin turn at the top, and this year they didn't seem to be there. Oh well... I love that ride! (Hopefully, the lines will stay relatively short for it this year, with that big green and black distraction a couple hundred feet away.)
Rode Whip, Gran Prix, and Old Mill. After that, we took a few minutes to stand and mourn the loss of Kenny's Arcade. From what I've heard, that great little arcade above the Fudge Shoppe is, sadly, gone for 2001 to be replaced by lockers. At least they moved the "win-prizes-with-points, not-tickets" skee-ball machines over to Playdium. (But, annoyingly, they were *all* out of order.)
Finally got a ride on Jack Rabbit. The crew was really nice, but completely overshot the number of people to enter the station. I ended up being *forced* to sit with a complete stranger, which really didn't bother me at all, but I don't really like looking like an idiot (along with 5 other people) trying to find a seat on a coaster train. But hey, it's Preview Day! I'm sure they'll be into the swing of things by the next time I get back to the park.
After Jack Rabbit, we went on a real picture trip. As of this writing (4/15/01 1:38 AM), only the Phantom's Revenge pictures have made it to Kennywood Boulevard, but we've got a lot of cool stuff planned for the upcoming weeks (and, moreover, the whole summer). Check back every so often over the next week, especially if you've never been to Kennywood. (Hmm... if you've never been to KW, really, whatchu' readin' this for? ;))
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com The yet-to-be-added pics include some of the new stuff around the park, including the new shooting gallery and new games. Speaking of new stuff...
After our picture taking jaunt, we decided to start riding again with a drop on PittFall. I had heard about the new seat belts, and was actually pretty happy about it, thinking I'd feel more secure. (If you remember, I "successfully avoided" PittFall earlier... it gives me the heebie-jeebies every freakin' time.) But, they ended up being one hell of a drawback...
One of the three in our group, Jason Rollison, is a big guy. He stands about 6'6", 270 lbs. (You'll see him in some of the upcoming pics.) Any time he's on a ride with over-the-shoulder restraints, they don't really push down to somewhat parallel with the seat as they would on a thinner person, but they do push down most of the way and secure him with no problem. That's the way it was on PittFall (and SP) last year, and nobody really cared. But this year, the damned seat belt doesn't reach from the seat to the clasp on the OTSR. Because of this, he can't ride his favorite ride in the whole park. I know it's probably a safety thing, but it just irks me so bad because he was able to ride it last year! What are your feelings on this? (That is, if you've read down this far...)
That about wraps things up for the novel-type section of this TR. After more rides, more food, more games, and more fun, I grabbed a corn dog and coke and we headed for the gates at about 7:45, 15 minutes before the park was to close. (Ironically, the rain came at just about 8:00.)
Random Notes:
- 0 for 3 on Racer races today. Oh well... the airtime in the back made up for it!
- I really enjoyed Stephanie Terilli's performace in the Garden Theater. Will she be there all summer? I can only hope... ;)
- A strange character approached me while I was taking pictures of the old Kenny's Arcade skee-ball machines in the Playdium. He interrogated me about what I was doing, who I was doing it for, and what they're about. Ok...!
- Kennywood better put their noses to the grindstone on PR and T'bolt here. The park, in my opinion, really needs those two anchors. It just seems to lack a backbone without them.
- Didn't meet up with anyone. Was on the lookout for people I recognized/know, though. If you saw me and I didn't see you, feel free to reply or email me. Why let it happen again? ;)
Here's looking forward to a GREAT 2001 at Kennywood.
--
Matt Lynch, who actually got sunburned today...
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com
