DaveStroem Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 We started off from Wheeling, WV for the short 1 hour drive to Kennywood to get in coaster credit 39-43 of the 2009 season. We got there 10 minutes before the park opening at 10:30 and made our way to Phantom's Revenge for our first ride of the day. I have not been to Kennywood since this was Steel Phantom. While the ride was OK I expected a bit more. The track change on the 2nd hill feels so weird and disjointed from the rest of the ride. I wonder if they will ever smooth this out of just leave it. Next on the list was Exterminator. This was a walk on with zero people in the load area. The ride was fine but my 10 year old didn't like it. She also did not like Primevil Whirl at WDW Animal Kingdom so I am guessing this will be her last spinning mouse. We then headed over to Thunderbolt as many of the rides in the "Lost Kennywood" section were not open till noon. T-Bolt was a walk on for the front row. Since they have a no single rider policy a ride op went with my DD12 while DD10 & I rode in the 2nd row. This is where I first noticed that the park employees were not the friendliest of folk. I tried to chat her up and could only get 1 word answers out of her. This seemed to be the case with most of the employees. After T-Bolt came Racer. I loved the restored facade to this ride which was built the year that my Dad was born (1927). We talked to a father & son in the queue and when it came time for our loading we were at the front of the line. I knew that we would want front seats, so I asked the young man what color he wanted to ride. He said Blue so we went to the Red side. As we were riding he had his hands up like a true Ride Warrior but his dad was hanging on to the lap bar. To finish off our coaster count we jumped in line for Jack Rabbit. This was the the longest wait of the morning but the line still moved pretty quickly. While not much more then a junior coaster compared to what we have ridden this year, I still found it quite endearing. At this time we met up with my wife and sister-in-law for the rest of the day. She had never been to an amusement park before and had never ridden a coaster. She agreed that she should at least give it a try so we went back to the Jack Rabbit. Lets just put it this way, she took her first and last coaster ride at the same time. We broke for lunch and spent the afternoon hitting a bunch of flat rides including Goastwoods Estates (pretty good) and Garfield's Nightmare(sucks a big one) before heading back to Wheeling at 7:30. I would have liked to have stayed longer to see the park at night and get a few more rides in on PR but the SIL had to work today and needed to get her sleep. Overall impressions of Kennywood. It is a C rated park with a general lack of energy from the staff. Made me really appreciate the ride ops at KI & CP. The food that we had was excellent with the french fries and brown gravy going over well with our group. I doubt if we would go back here in the next 10 years unless they get a new coaster like is rumored. Next up is our 4th trip to KI for Father's Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Kennywood has, by all accounts, lost a lot under the new ownership. Believe it or not, Phantom's Revenge did not have the transition problem you wrote about until this year! They actually made it worse! Such a great park it once was. Not unlike Indiana Beach, I am not at all sure the new owners know, or care about, what they have. And they may not have it for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BavarianBeatle Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Sounds like a one day trip when we go at the end of the month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 The new owners told me everything I needed to know when they apparently in effect showed Mary Lou Rosemeyer, the long-time PR director, the door, then begged her to stay one more season to train her not quite replacement. Being the supreme lady that she is, she has done so. But...really....just another example of the new owners knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. Yes, as a matter of fact, I am bitter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erosarrow05 Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Bitter, party of one, your table is now available ... Sounds like the PR lady which you speak of is a class act. It takes a certain amount of humility to be able to stay in a position knowing you are in essence 'getting the can' at a quickly approaching date. I guess its fair to say different people have different management styles and techniques and change is inevitable over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveStroem Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Sounds like a one day trip when we go at the end of the month! Yes for sure a 1 day park. Depending on your plans, you may also want to keep heading up to Waldameer in Erie Pa and get 2 parks in over the weekend. Terpy, the employees attitude was the most disappointing thing about the trip for me. I love to chat up the employees. I did find a few that we had some fun with but not many. My SIL wanted soft serve ice cream so when I got to the window I told Dan that I had heard that he made his cones bigger then what she did (the person working the other window). He responded by saying "no, she makes them bigger" I replied that I guess I got in the wrong line then. He next brought me over a ginormous cone that was 2" taller then everyone else's. The ride ops also seemed shocked when I called them by name and thanked them. I don't know if it is just the farther east you go the less manners and politeness count? Has me worried about Dorney & SFGAd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveStroem Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 I also wanted to add that their Huss "King Kahuna" was still doing lots of flips unlike the Crypt but they also did not have any of the themeing on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 In years past, the employees at Kennywood were marvelous, happy and enthusiastic. I suspect they reflect the personality of management at the park these days. I don't think you will find the same lethargy at Dorney or Great Adventure, though at neither will you often find typical Kings Island or Cedar Point levels of enthusiasm, but you can find it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie_KY Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I wasn't aware that Kennywood is that close to Wheeling! Will definitely have to hit the place up this year. How much further is it to go to Waldameer? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 It's about 135 miles and two and a half hours from Kennywood to Waldameer. Terpy, who has made that trip several times... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BavarianBeatle Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Sounds like a one day trip when we go at the end of the month! Yes for sure a 1 day park. Depending on your plans, you may also want to keep heading up to Waldameer in Erie Pa and get 2 parks in over the weekend. Terpy, the employees attitude was the most disappointing thing about the trip for me. I love to chat up the employees. I did find a few that we had some fun with but not many. My SIL wanted soft serve ice cream so when I got to the window I told Dan that I had heard that he made his cones bigger then what she did (the person working the other window). He responded by saying "no, she makes them bigger" I replied that I guess I got in the wrong line then. He next brought me over a ginormous cone that was 2" taller then everyone else's. The ride ops also seemed shocked when I called them by name and thanked them. I don't know if it is just the farther east you go the less manners and politeness count? Has me worried about Dorney & SFGAd. We are planning on Dorney and Hershet as well during that trip. But after talking to my brother, I think they do the Civil War reenactment at Gettysburg the week of the 4th. I think I should probably take the boys to that, if possible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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