SFGam or Kennywood

I'm trying to debate on which to go to. I really like coasters with airtime nad laterals so I'm thinkin Kennywood. But SFGam has more to offer. Which should I go to and why?

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It's his turn to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast.

If you havent been to either then you might as well flip a coin to decide.

Both parks are completely different atmospheres but they both get decent reviews.

"Heads or Tails?" ;)

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Im going to grab a cold one! WHAT? Walk to my computer! WHAT? Turn the thing on! WHAT? Log on to Coasterbuzz! WHAT? I said log on to Coasterbuzz!! WHAT?WHAT?WHAT?

its two totally different parks. SFGA has more variety, but if you're looking for some classic woodies, you gotta pick KW. either way, I'm sure you'll have a great experience.

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-Bob (formerly Coaster Jedi)
Knott's Berry Farm Cuba ~South Park
"Your proctologist called, he found your head!" ~Jerry "The King" Lawler

Trust me SFGAM has airtime. Viper has some awesome airtime and decent laterals. It is the most underated woodie in the world in my opinion. Also Raging Bull has some good airtime and the AE red side has vastly improved in the airtime department. I have never been to Kennywood but both parks are top notch and you can't go wrong with either of them.

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Mike
Favorite Wood: Viper at SFGAM,Shivering Timbers
Favorie Steel: Magnum and Raging Bull

You basically have to decide whether you'd rather spend the day running a bunch of large steel with a nice woodie thrown in for spice or a traditional park full of old time woodies with a single large scale steel.

For my buck KW has more bang as I'm a pretty big fan of the Phantom, T-Bolt, Jack Rabbit & Exterminator while SFGAm only stands out IMHO due to Viper (a top notch ride!), Raging Bull and Batman (which has been cloned to death).

It's really hard for me to say which one you'd like more...if you're a traditional park fan Kennywood is hard to beat but SFGAm is really one of the better corporate parks around...it's hard to go wrong here but given the choice between the two *I'd* go with Kennywood two times out of three, but that's because I'm a classic park fiend :-)
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* The Legend @ HW
* Superman: Ride of Steel @ SFNE
* Mondial Top Scan

i live near kennywood and i go there A LOT over the summer... ive never been to SFGAm, but it doesnt look that bad. it seems like everytime i go to a six flags park though i am dissappointed, just because they dont give me that great comfort from an amusement park. kennywood is definitly my favorite park of all time, maybe just because its my "home-town" park, but i have never ridden better coasters than Phantoms Revenge and the Thunderbolt (alright, alright, m-force is up there with them). if i were you id go for kennywood!

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I'm all about wooden coasters and disney parks! top 3 wood: Thunderbolt, Hurler(carowinds), and Beast

Do not let the "everytime I go to a Six Flags park I am disappointed" keep you from SFGAm. Whatever you've seen at other SF parks, this park will give you some hope that SF actually can do things right. Seriously, SFGAm is my second favorite park, just behind CP and just in front of PKI and KW.

That said, whether or not you go to KW or SFGAm should depend on what you want. As stated many times, both are top notch parks. Go to SFGAm if you want an incredible variety of coasters or if you want to build up your track record. SFGAm also has superb theming and 3 B&M's!

Kennywood, on the other hand, has history. It has a kind of magical, undescribable quality. It has historic old coasters. Seriously, though, Thunderbolt is the only one of their old coasters that I would classify as a terrific ride. Jack Rabbit is a one-trick pony and Racer is interesting, but largely unremarkable. Phantom's Revenge will blow you away, and Exterminator may very well be the funnest coaster you ever ride. KW also has a very unique collection of flat rides that should not be missed and...gasp...reasonable prices on everything! Like I said before, KW also has a certain magical quality that you can't describe and can only understand when you're there.

The choice is tough. I'd say SFGAm if you want coasters (with a great park on the side) and KW if you want a magical park experience (with a few great coasters on the side). Either way, you'll go home satisfied. Consider spending time in either Chicago or Pittsburgh if you make the trip, too. On that hand, I would say Chicago blows Pittsburgh away (although P-town has a lot of stuff to do, too).

Good luck!

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I get the feeling there's a conspiracy over at King's Island to remove anything that has "K" or "C" in its initials.

SFGAM has the single greatest collection of coasters I have had the pleasure of riding, Better then CP IMHO. It is clean, has beutiful landscaping and great capacity for a Six Flags. I haven't been ti Kennywood and would love to go but I tell you this SFGAM is prolly one of the three best Amusement (as opposed to Theme) parks in the country. Although from what I have heard you would be fine whatever way you went, For sheer volume of great coasters I would say SFGAM, For history Kennywood. Either way I am sure you wont be dissapointed.

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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

Besides being a great traditional park, Kennywood has a sensational one-two combo of Phantom's Revenge and Thunderbolt, and Jack Rabbit and Racer are very fun rides as well. I'd go with Kennywood.

P.S. Definitely check out The Exterminator

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http://www.angelfire.com/extreme2/rollercoaster2/index.html

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MagnumForce said:
SFGAM has the single greatest collection of coasters I have had the pleasure of riding, Better then CP IMHO. It is clean, has beutiful landscaping and great capacity for a Six Flags. I haven't been ti Kennywood and would love to go but I tell you this SFGAM is prolly one of the three best Amusement (as opposed to Theme) parks in the country. Although from what I have heard you would be fine whatever way you went, For sheer volume of great coasters I would say SFGAM, For history Kennywood. Either way I am sure you wont be dissapointed.

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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

I agree with everything said above.

SFGAM is my best park for coasters. Many reasons include Raging Bull, Deja Vu, Viper, V2, Batman, And i can't wait for AE backwards, that is going to kick

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Oh yea, no matter what anyone tells you about Iron Wolf, ride it. I love it. It delivers an intense ride like nothing else. And the best arrow looper ever made DEMON

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2002- Wishfull thinking has ended, nothing for SFGAM

Personally, I would pick SFGAm any day. To be honest, there's not much at Kennywood that I like - Exterminator is *great*, I'm sure Phantom's Revenge is really cool, and Jackrabbit is really fun. The dark rides are good for a ride, as are a few of the flats, but that's about it. Racer was very so-so and Thunderbolt is, IMO, a piece of junk. But hey - I'm in the minority on that, I know.

On the other hand, SFGAm is filled with great rides - Viper, Bull, Wolf, Batman, V2, and Deja Vu are all *fantastic* rides. And Eagle, Whizzer, and Demon are really fun coasters. And heck, with Eagle running backwards this year, I'm sure it's going to be 100 times better.

As for the atmosphere of the two parks, they're very different but equally good. Kennywood obviously is very traditional while SFGAm is very big, very corperate. However, it's a beautiful park with lots of shade, lots of water, and a very efficient staff. And the theming of the park is better than any other Six Flags park out there.

Choose what appeals to you more and be happy with your decision - they're both great parks. Maybe next year you can visit the other.

-Nate

*** This post was edited by coasterdude318 on 3/31/2002. ***

I have been to both parks. Reguarding Kennywood if you like a classic park this is the place to be and defenlty for Phantoms Revenge and Thunderbolt on the other side for Great America they do have more coasters to choose from. Raging Bull is well worth a drive not to mention V2 also.

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Wild Thing: 75Laps! Power Tower: 73 Rides. Valleyair Security 2002! 8Years Working at Valleyfair :)!

WOW!

How can you decide between these two...two completely different experiences!

First of all, if you are gonna get opinions from people on this board, get those from people who have actually visited both parks.

Myself I work at SFGAm, and love Kennywood...I honestly cant compare these two and would have to ask you the same thing as others...

Looking for a bunch of great coasters and one of the good SF parks?
-or-
Looking for a nice traditional park with a few classic wooden coasters an AWESOME steel coaster, and GREAT food???

I WILL NOT tell you which to pick, just take a look at what you like most and go from there....I am not gonna be SFGAm biased in anyway casue ive gonne there so many times and have worked there...I love both parks and for me fit into two separate categories. I got an idea....How bout go to both?!?! =)

You will have a ton of fun no matter what your decision is!

Good Luck!

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SFGAm Viper

I say you choose based off of what you like, woodies alot and arent to keen on Steel coasters go to Kennywood, but if you like steel more go to SFGAM, they have a larger variety of rides and attractions, personally I would go to Kennywood only becuase I haven't ever been there but Phantom's Revenge and Pitfall, and Racer, and Jack Rabbit, and Thunderbolt look great!

I am glad to see that I am not the only one unimpressed by the T-bolt. Its a great old ride but not all that. I do love the atmosphere of Kennywood, it just reaks of classic old park. As to SFGAM, it and CP are my favorites but I really think when I get down to it, CP only comes out on top for sentamental reasons. SFGAM is clean, well laid out and has wonderful landscape and an all around great atmosphere. I hate how everyone judges all SF parks in the same light, they are not all WoA and KK.

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Whats life if you never get to the Po!nt?

When your making your decision just remember one thing, AMERICAN EAGLE IS RUNNING BACKWARDS AT SFGAM!!!!!

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They really are two completely different parks, as mentioned many times previously.

The only other thing to consider is the crowds. Kennywood does get busy, but SFGAm can be miserable.

I'd pick SFGAm if it's on a weekday in the first few weeks of June or the end of August, Kennywood in the middle of summer. I would avoid both on any weekend.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Kennywood would deffifnatly be a great experience, the T-bolt is the best wooden coaster. It has great, intense lateral G's and air time( a lot more if u sit in the front). By a land slide the Phantoms Revenge is the best out of the three steel coasters. No matter where u sit u get launched many times. If u rode the steel phantom but not the revenge, youll be surprised to find yourself with your arms up, which wasnt really possible on the steel phantom.

Well, Im going to SFGAM this year for the first time.

I can tell you I loved Kennywood and for the $10 parking fee alone for SFGAM you could be munching on Potato Patch Fries, Chicken Strips and a large drink and still have change left.

Chuck, who is telling nobody what to do, but for economics KP is great for everyone!

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Charles Nungester

Americana is opening in 2002 and needs your support as many company picnics are already schedualed for someplace else, Indivdual visits are very improtant to the parks survival.