Photo TR: Kennywood (Monday 7-24-06)

CoasterExpert13 · July 25, 2006

Ahhh, another fun and hilarious day at Kennywood. This had to be the most enjoyable time that i've ever had at Kennywood. Don't get me wrong, I always have fun a KP, but for some reason it was more enjoyable this time around.

So, We (My Sister, two friends & myself) arrived at KP 4:00pm. We decided to buy a picture keychain of ourselves first. We contiued up the walkway and decided to have a go one the bummper cars. As always, it was fun...3 bumper cars rounds later, we headed towards Swing Shot. Like I said before, it's a fun ride, but it didn't give me that stomach churning feeling so I wasen't too elated. It was very hot yesterday, maybe about 90 degree (Give or take a few degrees)...So the lines were pretty long, though we waited for only about 15-mins. and then it was our go. We got on (my sister who's a year younger..looked a bit scared) as the Swing Shot did what it does best...only this time as it reached it's maximum height..I was surprised at the feeling it was giving my stomach this time around. It was great, the duration of the ride seem to stretch on and on and on....Finally much to my displeasure the ride was slowing to a stop. It was awesome and my sister had a grin ear to ear.

Soon after, we trotted off to the Potato Patch, to get some wonderfully delicious hot cheese fries. One large cheese fry and pepsi later, we decide to do the Phantom. However, one of my friends were scared to ride so she and my sister went to get dessert while I and my other friend got it line. The sun was up again and baking the back of my neck as we walked along the Phantom's bridge to it's loading station. It wasen't as crowded as I thought it would be, So we decide to wait for the front seat. A few minutes later and we were pulling the lap bar down and checking our seat belt....

Slowly we began to trot out of the station, down a dip and up the lime green lift, passing by other people waiting to ride. I gaze to the left of me and took in all of Kennywood's beautiful atmosphere, then looked to my right just in time to see Swing Shot at it maximum height, full of screaming riders. Slowly the height of Swing Shot begins to shrink and fade away as we are nearing the top of the lift. 10 secs later, our coaster car crests the top of Phantom, slowly edging over the lift and then...WHOOSH! We began our decent, speeding down the 160 ft. curving first drop into what I call "Dragster Lane", as we sped along a flat piece of track seeming to pick up speed. All hands are in the air, with screams and "woo's" of excitment as our car shot up the second hill giving you that "oh my stomach" feeling. So sleek and smooth, we careened down the 228 ft. second drop at 82mph pulling tears from your eyes, over and under Thunderbolt...all dropping our hands a little, as the illusion of hitting our hands on the thunderbolt seemed possible. Quickly, we navigate through the banked turnaround and into an "S" like manuver up through the thunderbolt and around the turtles. Giving us a slight breather before heading into the airtime filled bunnyhop passing the Phantom's loading station, another droppping under the Phantom's brake run and into a double dip bunnyhop that is sure to put a cheesy smile on your face. Our car is speeding almost ground level around a tight turn into one last glourious bunnyhop before we hit the brakes...Phantom is a speed demon with a killer layout..always a pleasure to ride.

After Phantom, we decide to have a go on Aero 360, King Kahuna, then the Magic Carpet, Pirates Ship, Noahs Ark. The sun was going down so, on to the woodies. The racers were first, then double-dip Jack Rabbit. Next we rode Thunderbolt, then we headed over to the wacky fun Exterminator. By now, it was nearly dark so we decide to get something to eat at one of the restaurants. Afterwards I decided to play a game. I played this game where you have to try and bounce a ping pong ball into a lily pad floating around in a little pool of water. To my surprise I did it on the first try (which never happens to me) and got a jumbo size Neon Orange Care Bear for my other sister who was home. By that time it was 10:15pm so we decide to head on home. But not before having another go on Swing Shot. We left happily afterwards. On to a few pics...