Disney World vs. Kennywood Park

popcenturylover

popcenturylover

Well-Known Member
Big Phil said:
I just got back from a trip to Kennywood Park. For those unaware it is located outside of Pittsburgh which is about a 6 hour drive for me. I like to go to other theme parks as often as I can, especially the ones I haven't been to. Kennywood is a very nice park. It isn't quite as heavy on the thrills - although it does have some - as a place like Cedar Point or a Six Flags park would but it does drip with a lot of nostalgia and history. Kennywood is an old park from 1898. It still has some old rides and still has a couple of wooden coasters from the 1920s. They are still pretty good as well since few things can beat a wooden coaster.

Kennywood has a lot of charm to it. It also is located in a very unique place in Pennsylvania. The hills and the terrain make it a perfect anecdote for building rollercoasters. The best coaster in the park - Phantom's Revenge - relies a lot on the hills for the big drops. That being said, since I am going to Disneyland in two weeks and have been a WDW veteran I want to compare Disney with another very good theme park just to see how much more advanced Disney is in comparison.

Theming - No contest here. Disney takes the cake. Standing in line was boring. There was nothign in the queues to even look at or pass the time.

Line-ups - I found Kennywood didn't do a great job when it came to spreading their attractions out. There are not a whole lot of attractions there even in comparison to other amusement parks. But the lax loading speed by teenagers only looking for a summer job showed. The lines could and would go much faster at Disney.

Thrills - Kennywood wins here. While it lags behind Cedar Point, King's Island, Magic Mountain and Six Flags Adventure - among others - for thrills it still held up pretty good. There are 6 coasters. Phantom's Revenge is a very intense one and even the Sky Coaster was a nice short quick thrill.

Aura - Disney lights out. I was on the train ride and it was rather short and didn't go anywhere near around the park. Plus on the ride you could look to the left and see all of the steel plants down the hill which kind of ruined the moment. The hills and the history make up for it though in Kennywood so it has sort of that Disneyesque appreciation for its past. That being said, Disney hands down.

Cleanliness - Disney again walks away with this. Not a lot of trash or gum everywhere but enough to make you realize you aren't at Disney World. Some rides were in major need of a refurb as well.


So there you have it. Despite the fact I enjoyed Kennywood I still can't help but think just how much more advanced Disney is over the rest of the world despite some complaints we have.
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This is like comparing apples to oranges. I've been to Kennywood, Cedar Point, & King's Island several times & they are amusement/thrill parks. They are not theme parks as Disney is. There is NO comparison!
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
I'm also from Pittsburgh and have gone to Kennywood every year from age 1-23. Stopped going for a few years, and went just this past summer.

WOW. What a change. And not entirely for the good, either. However, I still don't really think it's fair to compare Kennywood to Disney.. they're two entirely different parks, size wise, location, and offerings.

But I do agree with the OP assessment of rides needing refurb in a major way. Just about all could really use it.

Now I'll go read the rest of this thread. :)
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
I know there's two others who haven't posted in this thread (yet!) so... head count, +2. :)

Enough for a group rate? LOL


If anyone is local (inner city) and wants to hit up the museums or Phipps, let me know.. I got a membership to both and I'm not afraid to use it!
 
Bparso87

Bparso87

Well-Known Member
Soarin' Over Pgh said:
I know there's two others who haven't posted in this thread (yet!) so... head count, +2. :)

Enough for a group rate? LOL


If anyone is local (inner city) and wants to hit up the museums or Phipps, let me know.. I got a membership to both and I'm not afraid to use it!
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Get them at giant eagle fuel perks baby. I have a zoo membership and sandcastle.
 
KCheatle

KCheatle

Well-Known Member
Being the Disney-nut I am, I frequenly have to tell myself that I can't compare other theme parks or I will inevitably be disappointed. In Nebraska, we do not have any theme parks (well, we have this itty-bity one with a kid-coaster and a wave pool...). But, I have traveled all across the country and world, for that matter, and one of my must-dos in places I visit is going the theme parks. While I love a good coaster and I will say that many theme parks beat Disney in that department, there is no comparison between other theme parks and Disney when it comes to the overall experience. From the complete immersion feeling to the food to the entertainment to the family-friendly rides (the list goes on)- there is just nothing that comes close. What I have found, though, is that when I sit there comparing these parks to DIsney I end up ruining what should be a positive experience. For goodness sake, I'm in a theme park riding roller coasters - why should I be annoyed at the lack of theming? So, my recommendation (take it for what it's worth) is that you don't compare. Just enjoy the moment no matter where you are and count your blessings that you are in a theme park at all because I know from personal expereince that the Disney comparison will end up spoiling your time.
 
wdwstateofmind

wdwstateofmind

Well-Known Member
How can you compare "thrills" when Disney admits DHS has the only "thrill" rides and even then that you really shouldn't come there for the thrills?
 
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
KCheatle said:
Being the Disney-nut I am, I frequenly have to tell myself that I can't compare other theme parks or I will inevitably be disappointed. In Nebraska, we do not have any theme parks (well, we have this itty-bity one with a kid-coaster and a wave pool...). But, I have traveled all across the country and world, for that matter, and one of my must-dos in places I visit is going the theme parks. While I love a good coaster and I will say that many theme parks beat Disney in that department, there is no comparison between other theme parks and Disney when it comes to the overall experience. From the complete immersion feeling to the food to the entertainment to the family-friendly rides (the list goes on)- there is just nothing that comes close. What I have found, though, is that when I sit there comparing these parks to DIsney I end up ruining what should be a positive experience. For goodness sake, I'm in a theme park riding roller coasters - why should I be annoyed at the lack of theming? So, my recommendation (take it for what it's worth) is that you don't compare. Just enjoy the moment no matter where you are and count your blessings that you are in a theme park at all because I know from personal expereince that the Disney comparison will end up spoiling your time.
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Have you been to Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
 

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