Capitalize Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 This Friday I have the day off work and want to make a trip up to a PA park I haven't been to yet. Which park should I go to? I really want to get on Phoenix, badly. But at the same time I'd like to wait to go there when they finally get Flying Turns going. BUT it is an hour closer, and the difference between 3.5 hours and 4.5 hours can feel like an eternity... Kennywood has a bigger collection of coasters and rides in general but I'm wondering if I'm willing to make a 4-5 hour drive up there for it or if I should just wait so I can make a weekend trip out of it and enjoy a full day/night at the park.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Knoebels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 If you only have a day, make it Knobels. Kennywood is great, too, but it's quite a haul to Pittsburgh on the turnpike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeboy23 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I wouldn't use Flying Turns as an excuse not to go to Knoebels now. There is no telling when that thing will open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterLover Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Knoebels... and unless you plan on riding essentially only coasters all day, buy the individual tickets, not the all day pass... on Fridays, you can get a $10 book of tickets for $8.50... a Ride-All-Day pass with the wood coaster add on will run you $37. For the cost of one ride all day pass, you can get 4 x $10 books of tickets with $3 left in change... enough for 16 rides between the two wooden coasters. Personally, I find that even on the best days, I will only ride the wooden coasters 3-4 times each leaving plenty of tickets to get on everything else... and usually, I leave with tickets left over (Knoebels ride tickets NEVER expire). To get the full value of the Ride-All-Day pass, you really need to ride a LOT of big ticket attractions and ride them often (and remember, Ride-All-Day passes are not good for the Haunted Mansion, you'd still need to pay seperate for that... but if you have tickets, you can just pay with tickets). All too often, I'll just go and buy two $10 books of tickets, and if I want to ride more after that, just pick up another $10 book, and if not,just head out. But, I leave that up to your disgression on how to pay.. that is if you do decide to go to Knoebels... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capitalize Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 Knoebels... and unless you plan on riding essentially only coasters all day, buy the individual tickets, not the all day pass... on Fridays, you can get a $10 book of tickets for $8.50... a Ride-All-Day pass with the wood coaster add on will run you $37. For the cost of one ride all day pass, you can get 4 x $10 books of tickets with $3 left in change... enough for 16 rides between the two wooden coasters. Personally, I find that even on the best days, I will only ride the wooden coasters 3-4 times each leaving plenty of tickets to get on everything else... and usually, I leave with tickets left over (Knoebels ride tickets NEVER expire). To get the full value of the Ride-All-Day pass, you really need to ride a LOT of big ticket attractions and ride them often (and remember, Ride-All-Day passes are not good for the Haunted Mansion, you'd still need to pay seperate for that... but if you have tickets, you can just pay with tickets). All too often, I'll just go and buy two $10 books of tickets, and if I want to ride more after that, just pick up another $10 book, and if not,just head out. But, I leave that up to your disgression on how to pay.. that is if you do decide to go to Knoebels... Thanks for the advice, I was just planning on getting the all day thing, but think I'll go with the ticket books you talked about. With the distance and everything I'm definitely leaning towards Knoebels at this point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim S. Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I wouldn't go to Kennywood if you can't spend the whole day there, because you'll probably encounter long lines. Also, in this weather pattern, I would never pay to go anywhere where I could get rained out. The biggest thing that Kennywood has going for it vs. Knoebels is of course the hyper. The wooden coasters didn't live up to their legend for me for some reason, other than the one killer drop on Jackrabbit, but hey, its one element out of three coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dailey Enterprizes Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Well seeing as you've never been to either it really doesn't matter too much. I'm sure both parks will always be there, so you can wait your whole life to go to them. I know it is a pain to get to Kennywood from anywhere! I live 10 minutes north of Pittsburgh and it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to get to Kennywood. Kennywood should be given an entire day to enjoy because I'm sure if you try to rush everything you won't get the chance to enjoy the park. ^ I'm not sure what legends you heard about the coasters, but perhaps you didn't know where to look. The Thunderbolt is famous for the drop out of the station, the laterals during the bowl section, and the last 90 foot drop before you hit the brakes. I actually prefer the second to last drop exiting the mid course brakes because you're going faster, but that's just me... The Racer is mainly known for the competition of the two trains racing each other and the ability to slap hands with the people in the other train. The last drop on the Racer gives some pretty good airtime, but the coaster is considered the tamest out of all the wooden coasters. The Jack Rabbit is famous for its double dip section and the key to this coaster is to ride the back-seat, which seems to be a no-brainer, but I'm surprised by how many people complain about the lack of airtime when they're riding in the front seat... The Phantom has changed since the last time I rode it (re-tracking of the first drop and second hill), but all seats are great on this coaster and you get airtime where you wouldn't think you would get it. I think it's referred to as lateral airtime, but when entering the Thunderbolt structure the second time through gives a decent amount of floater air and of course the seat ejecting airtime over the 4-5 last bunny hills around the station area are great. The Exterminator is a great indoor spinning mouse roller coaster. It's the standard spinning mouse roller coaster inside a building themed around a power plant themed to be infested with huge rats. It's a great coaster and one of my favorites, but it's downfall is the wait in line, but that's it. Well that's pretty much the roller coasters there, but there is a kiddie coaster in kiddie land if you're a credit whore! Also don't forget about the classics that Kennywood offers... The Turtle Noah's Ark Garfield's Nightmare (Old Mill) Auto Race The Whip The Kangaroo (not sure if this is a classic, but it's definitely rare) Also, Kennywood has a great 250 ft. Intamin free fall tower (Pitt Fall), probably one of the best log flumes in the country (Log Jammer), a Sky Coaster, but that costs extra. A brand new interactive haunted mansion type ride (Ghostwood Estate) and others. I guess you can tell I've been to Kennywood quite a lot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Linn Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Flying Turns might not open until 2050 at this rate, but I'd still pick Knoebel's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 As great as Kennywood is, I think it's a no-brainer for you to go to Knoebels. You're just not going to have enough time to do Kennywood properly. And, Kennywood can't stand up to the Phoenix-Flyers-Skooters trinity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capitalize Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 I can't believe I forgot about the snappable flyers! Thanks for the advice everybody. What I'm thinking right now is Knoebels this Friday and hope either later this summer, or next if I can't take the time off for some reason, I'll make it out to Kennywood for a full day. Staying at least one night in Pittsburgh. Obviously at Knoebels all the coasters are on my to-do list as is the haunted dark ride, flyers, and bumper cars. Any other must see rides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myself Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I'd always suggest Kennywood, but if you come to Kennywood with such little time, you won't be able to experience everything that the park has to offer. I'm sure Knoebels is much the same way, but if it's an hour closer, I'd say go for it as you'll be able to experience it more fully. Kennywood is also in a more urban area than Knoebels so you would expect longer lines and definitely more traffic. Closer park = more time, so I'd say go for Knoebels on this one. But do try to devote a full day to Kennywood in the near future, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterLover Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Obviously at Knoebels all the coasters are on my to-do list as is the haunted dark ride, flyers, and bumper cars. Any other must see rides? The log flume is surprisingly good and the Wilderness Train (the mile long one that goes out into the woods) is a must. The Ski Lift provides beautiful views if you're into that... if you're into the flats, Knoebel's has a very unique line up featuring a lot of flats that you more commonly see at carnivals... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeopardyfish Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) The coasters, the Haunted Mansion, and the bumper cars are great. Flats may not be your style, but I would reccomend some of the old-fashioned flats that are hard to find elsewhere. Edited January 2, 2012 by jeopardyfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Having been to both parks once...... Knoebels. Kennywood is fun and all, but to be honest Knoebels is hands down the best theme park experience I have ever had. Extremely cheap, EPIC coasters (see Phoenix, and proceed to marathon until park closes), great classic rides, flyers, an awesome haunted house, Fascination, and thats just the tip of the iceberg. Kennywood may have a few cool rides and stuff, but Knoebels cannot be beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim S. Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I see somebody mentioned the carousel, but if carousels are your thing, don't miss the carousel museum. If you like spinning rides, I recently saw somebody say that Knoebels Wipeout has a better program than some. I've never been on any others, but I can tell you that it's intense! Downdraft is also good for a huge serving of centrifugal force. On the opposite end of the thrill spectrum, the antique cars track is longer and better landscaped than most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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