Lin48
Posts: 612
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Gold Critic
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 6/11/2005 1:06:47 PM
I figured it was time that I finally got around to doing one of these. They're actually a lot of fun to read, especially if you've experienced the park being written about before for yourself.
I should start off by saying that before I went, Kennywood was my dream park. With the number of dark rides that they have (when some have none or one very lame one), it was just something that I had wanted to do since I heard about it and saw the rides in action on some Discovery channel special.
After a couple of years of coaxing, I finally got my family to commit to a trip to West Mifflin. They had never been before, in fact, I don't think they'd ever heard of Kennywood until I brought it up, but they're into amusement parks enough to think travelling to a certain place just to go to one makes for a worthwhile mini vacation.
When we got to West Miffin, we actually headed to the Giant Eagle across the street and up the hill to get our discount coupons. $20 is such an excellent deal for a day at an amusement park Kennywood's size. I was really excited that I had found a way to save my family $40 and I thank everyone here that helped me out with that. 
The day that we went to Kennywood was a pretty nasty day. Usually, somehow, when we go to amusement parks, we get really lucky and even when it's supposed to be rain and other yucky weather has been forecasted, it's sunny or only partly cloudy or whatever. This wasn't the case on this day, although there were some periods of pure sunshine. There were also a couple of drenching downpours, so...it was even overall.
When we got to the park, I was surprised that it was where it was. I'm so used to going to amusement parks and theme parks where there's a sign off of an otherwise desolate road and you're wondering "Where's the park?" Then you turn down a two mile road and that leads you to a parking lot where you can kind of see the sky coaster...or something like that. This is right in the middle of things, though, and that's neat. I've never experienced that before.
The first thing we did when we got in was Garfield's Nightmare (formerly known at The Old Mill). That was just depressing. I knew it would be, though. As soon as I slapped on those stupid 3D glasses. I don't know why they felt they had to change it. Actually, I do (to make a quick buck), but still. That upset me.
Then onto the Kangaroo (where it's absolutely true about the amount of airtime you get). And I loved how Kennywood had historical markers about rides. That's the way you do it!
Then onto the paratroopers and the carousel...nothing especially special, but still cool. We ducked into an arcade when the rain really started coming down the first time during our visit. It was a very cool looking arcade with lots of games. My only complaint about it was the modernized skee ball which I just can't deal with. You have to have the old wooden balls or it just ain't cool. Maybe they had it in another arcade I didn't go into, but I wasn't diggin' that.
After it let up a little, we went over to The Racer which is pretty fun. It was short, though, but I think when it came to all of the woodies, Kennywood made the most of the space they had. Same with Jack Rabbit. They definitely weren't the most thrilling woodies I've ever been on, but I'm glad I got a chance to go on them all the same.
We headed over towards Phantom's Revenge at that point and saw The Gold Rusher along the way, so we went up the stairs (!!!) and got on it. After the disappointment of Garfield's Nightmare, I was sure this dark ride would be better and it was...but only by a little. I wasn't expecting a lot here, though, because I had heard there were only 2 stunts in it. There were definitely more than 2, but probably no more than 6. It was okay, but again, not the greatest thing ever.
After that, we got in line for Phantom's Revenge and when you see where it is and how little space they fit it into, you wonder how thrilling i
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