Koz2393
Posts: 59
Registered: 10/29/2006
Rank: Senior Critic
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 6/13/2007 8:56:02 PM
In july im going on a trip to penn. I plan to hit kennywood, knobles, and hershey. Ive only been to hershey before. Does anyone have any general tips about the parks? Also are there any other worthwhile parks between NYC and pittsburg? Thanks
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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 6/13/2007 11:27:12 PM
If ol' skool is your bag, you should definitely hit up Lakemont Park in Altoona. It's cheap, clean, fun, and usually has minimal lines. Plus, it has Leap the Dips, the world's oldest currently operating roller coaster, as well as the excellent John Allen designed Skyliner. I was just there last week and had a great time. This is an often-overlooked park that I think deserves more support from the enthusiast community.
Idlewild is another little park in Ligonier. I've never been but it looks worth a visit for the Rollo Coaster alone.
Of course, Dorney Park in Allentown is also worth a visit, especially if you haven't been.
I did a similar trip to what you're planning a couple years ago and had a ball. The Keystone State is a roller coaster Mecca, especially for the traditionalist.
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/14/2007 6:09:18 AM
I've been to all four of the major PA parks & I'm a PA native, so I know about the advice you'll probably need. Since you've been to Hersheypark before, I won't go into a lot of detail with that place except for the good news being how since the Boardwalk's open now for the summer, expect some short lines for most of their rides since everyone's concentration will be on cooling off all day. It's also a good idea to get there bright & early because the lines for rides like Storm Runner will fill up most of the time. For Kennywood, you can easily hit that park in only one day & the top recommendation rides for you are definitely Phantom's Revenge, Thunderbolt, Pitt Fall, & many more. The only lines that get long there are for Exterminator, their spinning wild mouse coaster, and Phantom's Revenge. If you want good food there, definitely go to the Potato Patch which is beyond the best place to get some good french fries. At Knoebels, you'll love the laid-back atmosphere the park has & it's always so peaceful & quiet since it's hidden deep in a valley. The lines there for the most part are short, even during the weekends. When you're there, definitely take advantage of riding Phoenix & Twister because they're some of the best wooden coasters around. Also, try out the Haunted Mansion, Downdraft, Power Surge, the Flume, the Grand Carrousel, and many more because they've got an awesome mix of old & new rides. The food there's incredibly cheap & delicious as well as the great shops they've got there (and I normally never visit any shops at other parks or buy food there). I'd highly recommend you to visit Dorney Park at least once because Steel Force, Talon & Hydra alone make for a great trip. Don't forget about Wildwater Kingdom which is one of the better waterparks. The lines are short there & the only rides you'll have to wait for are Steel Force & Talon.
Message updated 6/14/2007 6:09:38 AM by RCGenius
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Got_it
Posts: 818
Registered: 11/1/2006
Rank: Gold Critic
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6/14/2007 10:42:47 PM
I would make sure you hit all the little parks, you never know which one is going to close next and which credits you could miss. Lakemont is key, the Skyliner is a hidden jewel.
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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will then know peace"-Jimi Hendrix
Prefabricated Track is for people who can't handle a real wooden coaster.
5+ Years still missing the "Riverside" Cyclone
Message updated 6/14/2007 10:43:11 PM by Got_it
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/15/2007 12:24:11 PM
Don't bother with Dorney.
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Koz2393
Posts: 59
Registered: 10/29/2006
Rank: Senior Critic
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6/15/2007 2:38:03 PM
Thanks everyone. We'll try to stop at Lakemont and possibly Idlewild. We've hit dorney already and it is close enough for a day trip. Also, can someone remind me how to snap the flying scooters? I used ti be able to do it a little but that was about 5 years ago.
Message updated 6/15/2007 2:52:04 PM by Koz2393
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/15/2007 3:02:33 PM
^at a buck a ride at knoebel's, you can easily give 'er a few tries to get the appropriate snap technique.
if i was yoda and you were young skywalker, i would blindfold you and sit you down into a flying skooter, and tell you to FEEL where the sail should move. BREATHE with the ride, young skywalker, BECOME the snappy cable...
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the following sentence is false.
the preceding sentence is true.
Message updated 6/15/2007 3:03:19 PM by hrrytraver
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CoastrGlxy
Posts: 358
Registered: 5/23/2005
Rank: Silver Critic
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6/15/2007 4:43:57 PM
I've been to KW, DP, HP, & Knoebels. For someone that mainly likes coasters and skips the flats, what other smaller parks are must visits?
I know Lakemont is home to the oldest coaster so that's on my radar. What other coasters/parks do I need to visit?
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Jim S.
Posts: 39
Registered: 11/5/2006
Rank: Coaster Critic
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6/16/2007 12:11:52 AM
The other coasters in Pennsylvania are at Idlewild (one old small wood coaster, one Vekoma mouse[!]), DelGrosso's (one Wacky Worm, one Crazy Mouse, next year one loop/corkscrew), and Waldameer (one old small wood coaster, one spinning coaster [not a Crazy Mouse], next year one hopefully insane wood coaster). I think that's all of them, except kiddie coasters. The Williams Grove Cyclone is as good as lost, and nobody knows if the Conneaut Lake Blue Streak will ever open again. If it does, hit it QUICK!
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thare
Posts: 276
Registered: 5/16/2007
Rank: Silver Critic
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6/19/2007 2:29:32 PM
If you like classic parks then go to Idlewild! It is rich in history. It is a nice place to go and relax. 
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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6/19/2007 9:56:15 PM
Jim S., what's the deal with this "hopefully insane wood coaster" of which you speak? I hadn't caught wind of this one.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/20/2007 10:23:16 AM
^Ravine Flyer
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/20/2007 10:51:06 AM
Quote:
larrygator said:
^Ravine Flyer |
o my gosh, thanks for drawing that to my attention!
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/22/2007 12:03:45 PM
Don't forget Hershey has the preview plan. Buy your ticket the day before, 3 hours before the park closes, and you get to enter the park those 3 hours the night before. Save your parking stub from preview night as it gets you in free the next day.
Don't waste your money on the upcharge attraction "Really Big 3D Show".
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MovieCoast
Posts: 1359
Registered: 1/1/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/6/2007 3:39:41 PM
I live in PA, and it's definitely a great place for a park trip! Knoebel's and Hershey are two of my favorite parks, although Hershey is quite expensive these days. It's shame that William's Grove is closed, because it looked like a nice little place. Have a great time though, especially at Kennywood! I've never been, but it's looks awesome!
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"Coaster Freak says: Get A Life. Ride A Coaster!"
Coaster Count: 65
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/6/2007 5:18:06 PM
There are so many people that live in PA..... why haven't we met up???
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/6/2007 8:15:19 PM
Because we never collaborated & figured out which park we could meet each other yet. That's interesting though how so many of us are from PA.
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Koz2393
Posts: 59
Registered: 10/29/2006
Rank: Senior Critic
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8/6/2007 6:38:18 PM
Official plan - 1day in hershey 1 day at knobles thanks for everything everyone!
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