Where to go? PKI or PCW?

I've never been to Canada's Wonderland, and I haven't been to Kings Island since I was a child, and I can't decided where I want to go next week. Either one will take me some time to get to driving wise.

I'm trying to create some pros and cons about both of the parks, and go from there, but I don't know anything about either park.

Any input would be a great help.

Thanks!

I am not too crazy about any of PCW coasters (except Top Gun) but they have an excellent collection of flats if you are into that. The Sledgehammer is just nuts! So is Shockwave.

PKI has the better coasters. As far as any other comparisons I can't really think of any. BOTH are excellent parks and I would try to get to both of them this summer if I were you.

-Tina

I have been to both, but prefer PKI hands down.

Like coasterqueen said, there isn't any "wow" coasters at PCW, at least to me. They are all just "allright" or "good" to me. I could ride Wilde Beast and Top Gun all day, though. Top Gun used to be a "wow" coaster, but the last time i visited it was just an allright ride. Not sure if it was because of weather or maitnence conditions, or maybe even the seat I was in, but it seemed much tamer than the first day I rode it to death. Other than those two coasters, there's not really anything that great in the park. Stay away from the tomb raider flying coaster... lol.

The flats everybody raves about, I wasn't that fond of either (well, the mondial revolution[?] / frisbee thing is awesome -- however I prefer the huss version at PKI where you arn't stuck at the same position the whole time) -- rides like the sledgehammar look really cool, but honestly I found it to be a *really* boring ride. Looks can be deceiving. The top scan is a very unique ride, it seems sometimes you can get a good ride, and sometimes it's just "meh". I havn't been on the "odd top spin" (i forget the name / manufacturer) or many other flats so I can't tell you, but they have some good ones around the park.

The lines at PCW always *seem* to be REALLLLLY long, the park is always packed. Maybe i've always picked bad days.

So to sum it up, if you want a large variety of coasters (but are really short -- *all* of them) -- but arn't going to be "wow"ed, and want to ride lots of flat rides, go for PCW -- but personally, I prefer PKI. PKI has delerium, and some wicked coasters that *will* wow you, at least moreso than PCW. The racer is a fun ride (forwards and backwards), the outer limits (i think that's what it's called?) ride is pretty neat, beast is an "OK" woodie UNTIL the second drop / helix MADNESS, holy--- , son of beast is rough but if you like it rough it can be fun [i love the thing... for a couple rides anyways :P], the spongebob 3d movie was kinda cool. That's all i can think of right now :-P

the atmosphere is great in both parks.

-- Alan "good luck" Jacyszyn

Never being to PKI I can't really tell you which would be better...but as others have posted...its simple.

You want coasters, go to PKI

You want flats and a GREAT waterpark, go to PCW

That pretty much sums it up.

I can't say I've been to PCW......but whats this with not giving any of the PKI flats any credit?

TR:TR is a great flat, Delirium is one of the best ever, Drop Zone is like none-other, plus they've got quite a few others around the park that are classics.

Waterparks.....PKI's got that down too. (But it won't be open this weekend).

Got to PKI

Well... I agree with the above. Both are great parks.

Wonderland does have some cool coasters, The Fly is a mouse that packs a punch, Wild Beast is a great woodie, and Vortex over the mountain is another of my faves. However, PCW doesn't really break any records in this area.

The flats are awesome. They have three from Mondial: Shockwave (Top Scan), Psyclone (Revolution, same as a Huss Giant Frisbee) and Cliffhanger (Top Spin). Huss contributes a Jump2 called Sledgehammer and Intamin adds in Jet Scream (an Inverter Ship) and Drop Zone (Gen 2 Drop Tower).

You should check out www.pcwjunkies.com. The owners of this site have put in some great video of the park. They download as zipped files and you can get a good feel for the park.

Don't forget that Wonderland also has one of the only few Huss giant Enterprises in existance... which is a pretty cool Enterprise compared to others out there...

Oh, i am not knocking the flats at PKI by any means Darth. I am just saying that our selection seems to be a bit better but they are pretty equal.

For example

You have TR we have Cliffhanger
You have Delirum we have Psclone
We both have drop zone...yours is bigger though I belive.

Water park I am not sure, ya ours isn't Boomerrang Bay yet but its still the best Waterpark i've been to inside an amusementpark.

PKI is my home park, but I have to say I'd pick PCW. It's a really neat park, but you kind of have to get used to not seeing the Eifel Tower, (they have a big mountain as their centerpiece). The layout of the park is unique, which is good and bad, but overall I like it.

Their coasters are pretty awesome, though I haven't rode Tomb Raider or their Italian Job yet! And the already mentioned flats, better than PKI on this one.

And you have to try the Potein, (I know I probably butchered the spelling.) This is, from what I understand, Canada's junk food favorite. Different places up there do it different ways, but PCW uses french fries, gravy, and melted cheese in a bowl. That stuff was great!

The coasters we rode were:

The Bat (Boomerang), The Fly (Best mouse coaster I've rode yet), Top Gun, (better than PKI's by a mile), Vortex (you go through the earlier mentioned mountain), Thunder Run (family coaster inside the mountain), M.C. Minebuster (this was a great woodie!), Dragon Fire (short ride, but packs a punch). Hope this may help. *** Edited 5/15/2005 7:38:33 PM UTC by Floorless Fan***

Poutine is the proper way of spelling it and ya its GREAT!!!

No contest. Go with PKI. hands down.
PCWs 2 best rides in my opinion are top gun and Vortex. PKI has a clone of Vortex, and Top gun is a Vekoma head banger(aren't they all)SLC. I would wait till Wonderland gets a coaster worth going for(which will probably be never)

You guys are forgeting PKI has Face off!! Outer limits:FOF and Beast. I would trade those 3 for everything in PCW.

No question go to PKI

Never say never.

And honestly, go to both if anything...why not? Make a little bit of a longer trip, and stop off in the falls on the way up and/or back.

Why is everyone praising Top Gun??

Top Gun at PCW is just a standard Vekoma SLC... and a rough-one at that! I haven't ridden it yet, but it's been compared a number of times to SFDL's Mind Eraser & been called a real hang-n-bang. Only the theming is worth mentioning...

...PCW is not the place to go for GREAT coasters, but it is the place to go for GOOD coasters. At 14 & climbing, they have a pretty heafty collection. Sure, it's more quantity than quality...
...but not many parks have that many to boost as well as an A+ collection of flat rides & just as great shows as the other Paramount parks.

Personally, I'd take PKI only because I've been to PCW & would want something new & I'd be more after the coasters...

But if you're looking for different & plan on spending 2 days at the park, goto PCW (one day is not enough especially on crowded days at that park!)

PCW is my home park and i will NOT praise Top Gun lol...

Sure when it opened it was great, now, i dont think my head can take the pain anymore.

I've riddn 3 SLCs, Mind eraser at SFDL, Serial Thriller at SFWOA(now GL) ad Top gun. All i have to say is this: Top Gun blows them out of the water. I don't know what it is but Top gun seems 10 times more intense then the other 2.

Also I find the roughness of Top gun adds to the ride. I think the rougher it gets the better. It will just be a coaster that kicks your a$$. That will make it worth ridding. Just to say thats the roughest coaster I have ever ridden

Maybe it's just me, but im not sure I want a coaster to "kick my a**" like that lol...

We're going to PKI this time. We'll be headed to PCW later this summer. I get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off weekly, and I'm going to try to hit as many parks in my driving range as possible. Thanks for everyone's input.

Hey have fun at PKI! After going to PCW this past weekend and doing PKI all the time, I personally would take PCW for the whole experience. Sure PCW doesn't have any record breaking rides, but they have a great all around collection of flat rides, shows, and roller coasters.

The wife and I were able to get on everything except for Italian Job because it broke down at about 4ish for the rest of the day. But we had a blast at PCW, as long as you don't let the Canadians know that you are American they are really really nice!

~Rob Willi

I am heading to PCW for the first time this weekend. I am really looking forward to their flats and their version of IJST. Are the lines really bad this time of year? I am assuming IJST will be a long line... anything else? I have about a day and a half there this weekend.

Go to Carowinds.