What good parks are in the Pennsylvania/Ohio area?


HurricaneGeauga said:
the only park that you could go to in that reigon without big waits would be Conneaut Lake Park.


Oh, I don't know about that. I'd say if you could hit SFWoA on a weekday you'll be able to ride as much as you want. I've gone there on weekdays a bunch of times over the last two years and the waits were always short (as in 15 minutes or less).

And rollergator, you can always ease that jealousy on any of those fine B&M machines that are in your neck of the woods! ;)

Aaron
- Friends don't let friends ride TOGOs.

You could hit Conneaut any day of the week (except Monday and Tuesday... they aren't open) and not wait more than 5 minutes for ANY ride. That may not hold true since the Blue Streak is so pretty now :)

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AIM: Pritti Kittie


Peabody said:
"It's apples and oranges. They're totally different places."

I *STILL* think this 'apples and oranges' comment is garbage. After all, it's all fruit. Last I checked, they are both amusement parks. If comparing *them* is Quote "apples and oranges" UnQuote, perhaps we should not compare a single thing again in relation to amusement parks/rides (something I am not willing to abide by).

But let's just say (for now) that it's a matter of opinion.

Oh topic though, I say you go a little further east and visit HersheyPark. I've *yet* to see a bad review of that place. (And I'd challenge the validity of anyone who wrote one ;)).
lata,
jeremy
--your friendly neighborhood SF Brat

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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

rollergator's avatar

OK jeremy, now that HP is "on the list" so to speak, I'm gonna have to write a bad review, just so I can ruffle your feathers a bit.... I just enjoy your *arguments*. After all, there's not enough folks who realize it IS "all in fun". I mean, we're talking amusement parks/rides, not the fate of the free world or anything....

Oh, and ColumbusCoaster...just realize that the Beemer showroom would wear on you if it's ALL you had...(although I have a hard time believing the same would be true of the "CCI showroom" that seems to be *cropping up* in Indiana)....;)

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You can't spell S:UF without UF....Go Gators! Let the pretzel loop tie you in knots...

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 5/1/2002. ***

I live in Altoona, PA. You just might be dissapointed in the two small family parks in my area. Lakemont Park is quite run down and Del'Grossos is very small. I would recommend:

Hersheypark-a very unique park. Great new and classic rides. Great chocolaty atmosphere. Don't miss the free Chocolate tour ride just outside the entrance

Kennywood-small but nostalgic. Nice collection of clasic wood. 4 Interesting dark rides. Traditional atmosphere with some state of the art attractions added to the mix. Don't miss Exterminator and the Delicious and inexpensive French Fries.

Paramonts Kings Island-very large and very exciting. The most overwhelming entrance to a park this side of Disney. Great collection of coasters. Don't miss The Beast; one of the most legendary ride ever to be built.

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"If you can't do it, don't even knock it" COINMONSTER

I don't think anybody has mentioned Knoebel's yet. It is one of the best all around parks and it has two world-class coasters that you will not wait in long lines for. If you are concentrating on western PA and Eastern OH, I would probably recommend Kennywood. You probably will wait for PR but the other coaster lines are usually not too bad.
RGW: It may be your *intention* to write a bad review of HP, but I doubt it would ever materialize, especially from you. Three (perhaps four) above average woodies. A *different* B&M. Argueably the best non-spinning mouse around, and a kick*****atmosphere....Nah, it wont happen. Your idle threats dont scare me ;)

Oh, and whenever you get tired of the B&M Showroom, you can trade with me. I'll give you the Vekoma Catalog of SFA :)
jeremy
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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

The number touted by the WOA marketing department is not accurate to the amount of used land. The old Geauga Lake Park was on about 70 to 80 acres (of park not parking lot)Sea World Ohio was actually smaller. But to be generous one could say that about 150 to 175 acres of land is actual midway WOA amusement park. Alot of the rest is lake and parking lot. But a couple of hundred acres of WOA land is unused forest. Meanwhile the tip of the CP peninsula is 365 acres. CP is a larger park, but the lake in the middle of WOA twists ones perspective.

They are compareable, but CP has onsite hotels, marina and camping grounds (for RVs only). I think that CP's kiddieland gets a bum rap because the rest of the adult entertainment is so good. They have more kiddie rides and two coasters for the tots. On the other hand the themeing in the WOA "boomtown" is excellent (if aging already).

While the marine park is something that WOA has to offer over the point, i don't see how that makes up for all of its lackings in the other catagories. If one were to try the apples and oranges arguement then i would say that it is unfair to try to compare a fledgling resort park like WOA to a seasoned veteran like CP.

That being said i do like the old GLP portion of WOA and will definately plan to visit for some great coasters. CP is firmly rooted to its history as a resort park and has been refining its park as such for some time now.

GLP was never much more than a local amusement park with the potential for so much more. Only in the past six years has there been a move by its owners to make it more. For WOA to be on the level of the PKIs, CPs and other big name Six FLags parksit will take time.

rollergator's avatar

SFA may have 2 Vekomas jeremy, but there is also two of the finest woodies in the whole chain in ROAR! and Wild One. Add in S:RoS - my fav steelie, blows MF away, and JJ (with lapbars...:)). Oh, and I should mention Bat-Flight...it draws the crowds away from all the "good" rides....LOL.

But you got me on HP...just looking in from the outside (almost 2 years ago now), I was drooling.....that much good wood between MD and PA is unbelievable to me, esp. considering where all that pine comes from! And Ohio too......why is it that we can't keep some pine here in GA/FL, and build good wood here? B&M is great and all, but their rides DO become a bit *predictable*....

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....teachin' people about towel safety and proper towel usage...it's important!


pezmanguy3 said:

HurricaneGeauga said:
. CP is about 10-15 years older than SFWoA, but that doesnt matter

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

Not quite true there, buddy

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sorry buddy that i was 3 years off, CP 1870:WoA 1888

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

Not to split hairs but CP 1870, Geauga Lake Park 1888, Sea World Ohio 197? , WOA 2001

SF WOA is really very litle like the old Geauga Lake Park in any way. There is little to no connection at WOA to its past. Perhaps one of its biggest downfalls.

Like said above, your best choices will be Cedar Point, Six Flags WoA, and Kennywood. They are all within about three hours of each other via the Ohio/PA Turnpike.

Kennywood is a very nice traditional amusment park that has kept is history without becoming stale. Classic and new high tech rides blend together nicely at this relatively small park. It is probably will have the shortest lines (especially on a weekday), and is the least expensive (admission and food).

The Jack Rabbit is the oldest coaster at Kennywood. It is a bit of a one trick pony (bunny?), but the double dip after the lift hill is a heck of a trick. The non moving lap bar and "seat belt" allow for maximum airtime.

The Racer's biggest claim to fame is that it has only one track. The train starting on the left finishes on the right and vice-versa. It is a nice little ride, and you can slap hands with people on the other train in the turns.

The Thunderbolt is a signature ride at Kennywood. Some have called it overated, but I am not in that camp. There is a good blend of airtime and laterals. Due to clever use of a ravine, the last drop is the largest.

The Exterminator is a well themed Crazy Mouse enclosed in a building.

Phantom's Revenge is a massive airtime steel coaster that also takes advantage of the same ravine as the Thunderbolt.

SFWoA is a decent park, but I found the customer service to be lacking. My favorite coasters there are the Villian, Batman Knight Flight, and The Big Dipper.

CP is the big dog of Northern Ohio, despite what the SF marking people say. Magnum was the first coaster to break the 200 ft barrier, and Millenium Force the first for 300ft. There is a BM Inverted (Raptor), BM StandUp (Mantis), an old arrow looper (Corkscrew), a suspended (Iron Dragon), a mine train (Mine Ride), a oversized racing mine train (Gemini), and a bobsled coaster (Disaster Transport). The wood is suspect at best, the Blue Streak being average, and the Mean Streak being horrible.

I think that the Kiddie Ride situation is actually much better at CP then SFWoA. There are at at least 4 kiddle areas at CP (Kiddie Kingdom (by the Arcade), Peanuts Playground (by the Giant Wheel), Gemini Kid Area (by the Gemini), and Camp Snoopy (by the Paddlewheel boats). Plus various gentle rides (car rides and the train and the like) sprinkled through the park.

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The Toledo Blah, One of America's Great Birdcage Liners


Jared Walczak said:

I want to ride some great rollercoasters without having multi-hour wait times. What parks in the Pennsylvania/Ohio are should I consider?



Did ANYONE read what Jared wrote? He said he wants to ride some great coasters WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT IN MULTI-HOUR LINES! That automatically eliminates Cedar Point and PKI, and SFWoA has some pretty busy days too from what I hear. That leaves parks like Kennywood, Knoebels, Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Idlewild, Coneaut Lake, Delgrosso's, Waldameer, Dutch Wonderland, Wyandot Lake, and Americana

Jared - if you want any additional info on any of those Pennsylvania parks, just say so....they're all loads of fun!

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-Rob Vaccaro

kennywood has waits comprable to SFWoA, CP, & PKI

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

Did anyone else see Perryburgs Guy's post? Notice how in giving descriptions of the park they couldn't help but give a shot to SF? While giving fairly detatiled run-downs on the other parks, the best that could be mustered was a half-hearted compliment and no less than three disparaging remarks.

Still think SF hating is *not* a sporting event @ CoasterBuzz?
lata,
jeremy
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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

Cedar Point, Kings Island SFWoA and Kennywood.

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Never argue with a fool for he may be doing the same

I guess I'm not allowed to have an opinion if it is even slightly negative towards SFWoA. I thought forums were for opinions.

Jeremy, criticism is not necessarily a "slap." SFWoA has earned much of the criticism it has received here and other places. And my thoughts on the kiddie areas are not as much as a criticism of SFWoA as praise for an often overlooked aspect of CP.

I'm sorry that I had problems with the way SFWoA ran their park when I took my family there. I'm sorry that Cedar Point and Kennywood provided a better experience for myself and my family. I'm sorry that this hurts you. I really want to be all about love, except for The Toledo Blade. ;-)

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The Toledo Blah, One of America's Great Birdcage Liners

rollergator's avatar

don't sweat it, PG....jeremy's all about the love, too, he just gets a *tad* argumentative, lovin' SF and hatin' the Green Beemers....not like me, I love everything...

But, OTOH, I guess I *should* let the Hostyl guy speak for himself...

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....teachin' people about towel safety and proper towel usage...it's important!

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 5/3/2002. ***


HurricaneGeauga said:
kennywood has waits comprable to SFWoA, CP, & PKI

Except for Phantom's Revenge last year, and sometimes Exterminator, this is RARELY the case. None of the woodies even have lengthy queues, for a reason!

Kennywood certainly gets longer lines than, say, Conneaut Lake, but they're NOT on par with the sleepfests at PKI, CP, or SFWoA.


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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
My page

If I went to Cedar Point on, say, a Tuesday or Thursday in the first half of this month... during the day time and before schools are out. Would the rides have generally shorter lines (I understand that their newest ride would still have very long rides)?

What would the expected wait be for their top 3 coasters? Any idea?

Thanks for all the comments so far!

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