A true pillar of Pittsburgh, Kennywood Park holds a special place in the hearts of Yinzers…read moreeverywhere. Most have grown up coming here, some have worked here, even fell in love here, but all have fond memories of the amusement park of Pittsburgh's past and present. Kennywood is located on the border of Duquesne and West Mifflin, sitting above the Monogahela River. If you are traveling from out of town, there are highway signs and also wooden, yellow Kennywood Arrows that direct you in the direction of the park from different areas of the city. Parking (both paid and free options) is located across the street, but there is a underground tunnel just beyond the entrance gates that takes you "across the road" and into the park. I have been to Kennywood more times than I can count, but my most recent visit was on a Saturday evening this past July. We arrived before 5:00 PM, and had no issue finding a parking spot in the free upper lot. There was parking available in the lower lot as well, but that section is paid. The upper lot has an escalator to bring guests down the hill, and from there it is maybe a 2-minute walk to the gates. At the time we entered, there was no line at the gates. I find that there rarely is any line, but even if there is it usually is only a couple minute wait. Security and ticketing has never been a problem here, and the process is always smooth and quick. The park was lively, but not so crowded that we were unable to ride. Lines were minimal for the most part, and even with a late arrival, we rode nearly 10 attractions before the park closed at 10. This included Phantom's Revenge, The Racer, Jackrabbit, Thunderbolt, and more. This included some time wasted waiting 40+ minutes for the Exterminator, only for it to break down while we waited! Right after we arrived, we decided to grab food. Even though it was prime dinner time, we had no trouble finding a table nearby. First, I purchased a souvenir cup at the Lucky stand. It was $34.99 pre-tax, but included free refills the entire season. If you bought several cups, the price per cup went down. However, I think this was an awesome deal, especially if you plan on visiting several times throughout the summer. Plus, there are several self-service fountain drink dispensers around the park that limit wait times for refills. Next was the Potato Patch. The line was short, and service was friendly and quick. I chose the classic combo of Bacon Cheese Fries. Fries here will run between $10 to $13, but are a must for any day at Kennywood. They are a good size to share with a few people, or to serve as a meal for yourself! Near the end of the night, there was a special Drone Show happening near the Jack Rabbit/Lagoon area. The show only ran for a few weekends in July. It was a neat show that went through the history of the park. Our whole group enjoyed it! My critiques of the visit are as follows: First, I wish there was still a Night Rider ticket. When I was young, they sold a cheaper admission price for those entering the park after 5 PM or so, since you miss a significant part of the day. I truly believe this should be brought back. Second, the hours of the park keep getting shorter. When I was a child, the park would be open until midnight during peak summer days, and even sometimes they would extend the hours on the spot if enough people were in the park. Now, you are lucky to see a 10 PM close. There is so much magic in the park at night, and closing when it is still light out should be illegal!!! Third, there were lots of attractions and stands not open. We visited on a prime Saturday night in July. The weather was perfect, and there were many games/food stands/rides not open or in operation. I know staffing is an issue everywhere nowadays, but it is disappointing to pay for admission and finding that prime rides, such as The Steel Curtain or Exterminator, are closed. Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Kennywood this past year! It is fun to keep coming back and reliving memories that I have from my childhood, but also seeing how the park continues to evolve and appeal to the present day consumer. I just hope they realize the desire for historic preservation by locals, and never veer too far away from that.

We have been season pass holders for several years now. If you are going to go to the park twice in…read morea year, it is worth it to purchase a pass. Along with the pass you have VIP parking and a cup that you can use on fountain drinks. There are a good variety of rides for all ages. Kiddie land is focused in one area of the park. Our favorite area of the park is Lost Kennywood. Food is pricey throughout the park but that is really expected anymore. One thing to note is Kennywood is cashless. We go to the park during all seasons throughout the year. You are able to bring in food, drinks and bags during the summer and winter. During fall fest they are very strict. You cannot bring anything in and your bag is limited to a small fanny pack. We found the best days to go in the summer is when it just rained. Definitely smaller crowds. Im sure we will be back as pass holders next year.

The oldest roller coaster in the park spanning over 100 years!…read moreOld school wooden coasters have a certain charm and feel that cannot be duplicated with the modern steel coaster. Located near the entrance of the park it's usually always the first ride of the day we enjoy. The first dip really gets the heart racing. The main downhill dip is a double dip that feels like you left the rails! Very exciting! That's where a camera is placed to capture the thrill of the ride that can be purchased for years of a great memory! One of our favorite attractions in the park, so much so that we usually ride it a few times throughout our visit to Kennywood. A must ride for the roller coaster enthusiasts! Looking forward to many more rides on the 100+ year thrill ride! Don't go by, A must ride!!

Riding the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood is like stepping back in time--in the best way. It's not the…read moretallest or fastest coaster out there, but that's exactly what gives it such charm. Built in 1920, it has this old-school wooden coaster feel that somehow never gets old. You sit down in these classic-looking cars, hear the buzz of the lap bar locking in place, and then you're off, rattling through a forested track that hugs the hillside. The real highlight, without a doubt, is the double dip. It's a surprisingly intense drop that gives you a jolt of airtime, and if you're not expecting it, your stomach will absolutely flip--in a fun way. The ride isn't long, but it doesn't need to be. It's quick, punchy, and nostalgic, and somehow manages to be thrilling without ever feeling extreme. Even the creaking wood and the screech of the wheels add to the atmosphere. It's a coaster that generations of people have ridden, and you can feel that history when you're on it. There's a certain magic to something that's been making people scream and smile for over a hundred years. If you're visiting Kennywood, skipping the Jack Rabbit would be a mistake. It's not just a ride--it's part of the park's heart.

The track length is 900 feet. The biggest drop is a whopping 27 feet! It's top speed? Maybe…read more30-35mph. Lame? No way! Idlewild's Rollo Coaster may seem an anachronism in today's kinetic, adrenelane-charged, high tech world of gigacoasters and monster "woodies" like Cedar Point's Mean Streak and Great America's American Eagle, each park every year vying for the biggest, fastest, and baddest. Believe me, I'm the Roller Coaster Queen and I love coasters like that! No, the Rollo Coaster takes us back to a different time when the object was simply to have fun. This coaster may indeed seem tame by today's standards. But it's an ACE Classic. ACE is the American Coaster Enthusiasts, of which I'm a member www.aceonline.org But keep this in mind. Although the drops may not be that high, this ain't no kiddie coaster. The ride is surprisingly rough! It's a classic old woodie with all the shakes, rattles, rolls, dips, turns, etc. You're still vibrating a little when you exit the ride! The Rollo Coaster is a terrain coaster, meaning that it takes advantage of the ravine it's built in. Kennywood's three woodies are also examples of terrain coasters. It was built in 1938 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, which still makes roller coaster cars. As I understand it, when it was built the designers from PTC came out to the park and fit the coaster to the terrain. One of the other neat things about it is that it's built in a wooded area. Legend has it that some of the trees in the park were used to build the ride. So no, the Rollo Coaster can't compete with the likes of the Maverick, the Phantom's Revenge, The American Eagle, or the Magnum XL. It doesn't need too. It only wants you to get on board and have fun and laugh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIa8l8C0GzM

Had such a fun day at sandcastle!…read more We bought our tickets using the discounted promotion online in advance. Parking was super simple and it was not very crowded. Started our day with a yummy cocktail from the Sandbar, where the bartender was super friendly and accommodating. Then we relaxed by the pool. After, we spent some time in the lazy river, rode a few tube slides and finished the day with lunch and ice cream. Overall, it was such a beautiful day! Hope to make it for another sunny summer day before the season is over. There were a few more slides and sweat treats I would like to try!

The walkways are so hot that my family had serious burns on their feet. I refused to even try to…read morewait in long lines because I did not want to stand on scorching hot steps for any amount of time. The fact that you cannot even wear water shoes to prevent burning is beyond obscene. Until this issue is resolved, why would I bring my family to a water park to cool off, just to burn the bottoms of our feet so bad that it's not enjoyable and dangerous?

We were on the fence about visiting because of all the negative reviews here but we were pleasantly…read moresurprised and had a magical day with our kids. We love Daniel Tiger and were so excited with the shows, the trolley ride and the "neighborhood", my girls were in DT heaven. We got to meet 4 of the characters which was great. The lines for all rides were moving fast, 5-10 minutes at the most. I love that all the rides are geared for smaller kids. We weren't interested in any of the water rides, so I have no comments on that part of the park. But everything else was very enjoyable and nice! Staff was amazing, very caring and polite.

Ample free onsite parking, wheelchair/scooter/stroller accessible. Very family friendly…read more We drove over an hour to see the rubber duckies. We arrived at opening, took a leisurely walk, and rode on many rides. Each operator obviously enjoyed their jobs. "Put your hands in the air like you don't care." The operator got everybody to raise their arms to easily perform safety checks. During Daniel the Tiger performance a staff member gave the performers a signal and the show was stopped for a change in weather conditions. Employees shut down rides until the rain, thunder, & lightening stopped. They explained the situation and guided guests out of harm's way. Unfortunately with the storm the 60+ ft rubber duckie was deflated. Staff would wait an hour before re-inflating. While waiting guests enjoyed $14 chicken fingers and French fries. Sticker shock until I saw the portion size. It could easily feed 2 adults or several kids. We enjoyed hot soft pretzels. Probably best we have ever had. Suggest bringing hats, sunscreen, and frozen water bottles. Wish the mouse roller coaster had some shade. We waited 45 minutes in line. Highly recommend this low key, family oriented park. Note: Ticket prices are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper through AAA v. park entrance.

My apologies for a lack of pictures. This place is really neat. We like it better than Dave and…read moreBusters, even w our boys now being teenagers. Amusement rides (small), go kart, some snack foods, lots of games, and the best VR game I've ever played. The kids who work there are generally sweet and helpful. Not as pricey as D&Bs.

Fune Fore All has something for just about everyone. I recently visited the place on a stormy…read moreweekend. If it looks like the weather is turning, I'd recommend starting outside and hitting up the batting cages or go-kart racing as those close first. We arrived just as the skies were opening up so concentrated on the inside. We had two small kiddos with us aged 5 years old. The Duckpin bowling was perfect for them. They loved it, and we selected the game theme as Christmas. Why not? It was Christmas in July! While bowling, we ordered dinner so we could eat and play at the same time. Think basic arcade/amusement park fare. But it was all pretty tasty. We ordered a large pizza and some garlic bread sticks. We devoured it all. From here, we went to the arcade, which was the biggest hit with the kids. They just loved all of the game options and winning tickets to win a prize. Personally, I was addicted to the quarter drop games and since it's all payment through a pre-paid card, it's easy to burn through the money! The rain eventually slowed so we checked out the outdoor putt putt golf and took the kids to a few of the rides. They loved the hot air balloons and the swinging ride. I will add, that the rides are more like carnival rides. Several of them were not working. We joined the kids on the spinning seat ride and there was a dramatic moment where they couldn't get any of the lap bars to open. It was actually very nerve-wracking. My bar wouldn't come up but after several tries they got it to open. My son's bar never actually got open after nearly the entire staff came out to help. He was surprisingly calm given the circumstances and we eventually were able to position him in a way that we could pull him out of the ride. The lap bar never opened. It was a little terrifying. But I'm giving the place a strong review since they truly seemed mortified by the situation. And allowed our kids to pick out whatever toy they wanted. While it was pretty traumatizing, they were able to pick out some new toys and that made them so happy. I was just glad I didn't sit in the seat my son was in. I don't know what would have happened!

Wild Mouse at Idlewild is a classic ride that delivers exactly what you'd expect from its…read morename--sharp, jerky turns and just enough chaos to make you laugh and scream at the same time. The compact layout, perched above the hillside, gives you a surprisingly scenic view before throwing you into tight, zigzagging turns that feel just a little too close to the edge (in a good way!). That said, be prepared for some very sudden stops, jarring transitions, and rough turns. While they're part of the charm for some, they can be rough--especially if you're not bracing yourself. The sharp braking at the end, in particular, caught me off guard and left me wishing the ride were just a bit smoother--I could've sworn I broken a rib and almost got sent flying. Despite that, I really enjoyed the experience overall. It's unpredictable, nostalgic, and a fun change of pace from more modern coasters. Just maybe don't ride it with a full stomach!

The Wild Mouse has been closed down all season so far and it will probably remain so for the…read moreforeseeable future. What a shame too because it is the best wild mouse type rollercoaster in existence. It's certainly one of the longest and it has some steep drops and some wild hairpin turns on it. The ride has had it's share of mechanical difficulties over the years. That and the Wild Mouse did not operate during a part of 2011 because of a lawsuit a woman filed, cliaming that she was injured on the ride in 2009. Uh, she also had pre-existing medical conditions, which if you read the signs, they advise against riding the coaster if you have them. Hopefully Idlewild will get the Wild Mouse running again soon.

Having a great time meeting and selling to lots of people here for our fall sales! It is two days…read moreand it is free to attend and if you are interested in homemade jams, candies, pastries, nuts, etc. this is the place PLUS all the art and craft items for sale!

Wow. $10 entry fee gets you parking, entertainment, and all the rides you can stomach. What a…read morevalue. Especially considering that most county fairs seem to be an exercise in separating you from your wallet. Not only that, but there are incredibly reasonable deals on food and water. Bottles of water are only a dollar at most vendors. I saw a $1 grilled cheese sandwich. You can buy a walking onion for $3. A walking onion? I have no idea. It was too hot for me to consider eating something that was billed to taste like french onion soup. But now, I regret the decision. I did try one of the $6 pit beef sandwiches after seeing the smoker in the back. Man, that was serious and resulted in a fantastic smoke ring. And the $4 milkshakes were pretty fantastic, especially the strawberry. And no fair experience is complete without funnel cake. The one from the permanent structure was fantastic. Also we took in a clogging show and watched a whole lot of goats get judged. The rides were a lot of fun for the kids. I found the ferris wheel to be terrifying, but enjoyed the bumper cars. I'm really hoping that we make it back here next year during fair week, because this place is fantastic.

This was our first time going, and it was an excellent experience . The teenage staff were all…read morefriendly .My family and I played 18 holes of miniature golf on Mother's Day ,May 10, 26th. It was awesome, we really enjoyed the course. They currently have one 18 whole course open and the other one is not open yet .We got to eat ice cream at their snack shop and we got to race go karts and play at the arcade it was a fun filled day, also the second time we raced go karts my 13-year-old son got to drive and I got to be his passenger. So they have single and dual passenger go karts. The bumper boats, water soaker zone and batting cages weren't open, but will hit them later when they are.

Needed a place to do an activity to keep my niece and nephew entertained for a good portion of the…read moreday. We ended up coming here in hopes of being able to fill the day with activities that varied. However, with it being close to the end of the season we didn't have much variation. Caddie Shack is well known in the area. When I lived in Pittsburgh it was always advertised as a weekend getaway area that would keep you busy. Go carts, mini golf, bumper boats, arcade and small carnival rides. An entertainment oasis during the warmer months near the turnpike, hotel resorts, and camping areas. Showing up this late in the season we knew that we weren't going to get all that much entertainment, but we were fine with that. All they had going were the go carts and mini golf. Even though they weren't completely done with the season. When we pulled into the parking lot it didn't look like it was all that busy. But looks can be deceiving. We first walked towards what is considered the admission area. Basically the arcade, we were met with signs that the building was not open and to head up to the concession stand/mini golf area to buy credits or admission. We utilized the restrooms before heading that way. The weekend we were here we were informed that they had a special going on that was unlimited mini golf. Good deal. We were given a wristband to convey that, allowed to pick our clubs and ball and then select one of the two courses to play on. Before we left we were told that after we finished our games the kids would get a treat bag, being close to Halloween. There are two course here for mini golf. The Highlander and Olde. We were directed to go the way of The Highlander first as it was supposed to have less people. We were directed wrong, but weren't made aware of it as we were already part way through the course. This is where things started to take a turn into 'not-so-fun' area. We hadn't even gotten to the first hole and we had other guests on our tail. We didn't even get to tee up and they were right behind us, making it not all that enjoyable. What complicated this more was that the people in front of us were playing the holes in such a way that it took more time to complete the holes. They each took a turn to completely get the ball in the hole and then when the last person was finished would they finally move onto the next hole. But that's not even the worst part about going this route. We were playing through until there was a bottleneck at one hole. There were three or four groups in front of us and that equated to nothing short of a traffic jam. At least we got to check out our surroundings. What wasn't great was that the residential neighbor was cutting his grass causing dust to fly all over the place. Mind you, when we got here, it appeared that the fire department was just on that property. What is enticing about The Highlander is that it goes through areas where you are supposed to be immersed in the surrounding. Going through a cave, playing past a waterfall, and water flowing throughout the course. The water didn't come on until well after we had finished the course. Mind you, we finished at a snail's pace with the jam of parties. Some of the parties in front of us just upped and left the course because of how slow it was going. Once we finished that course, we did the Olde course and continued playing. The Olde course is the smaller of the two, and a more traditional mini golf course. While we were playing this course they turned on the water. We thought, ok, cool, that is until the smell of rotting leaves and stagnate water hits you. Not to mention if you hit your ball off course into the water and can't retrieve it, you just don't get to play anymore. It was a mess. What makes it even more of a mess is that the two courses need some major maintenance. The bricks used to be the rim around the holes were not completely in place and might even be off completely, aiding in losing your ball. Some holes the green needed mending or complete replacement. Some of the tees, if a whole even had one, were not secure. It was a mess, as I said before. Usually, you buy credits to do things here. According to their website both courses are nine credits. One credit equates to $1. So $9 a course. If we hadn't gotten the deal of unlimited mini golf, I doubt we would have done both courses at $18 per person. Is it worth coming here? I can't say one way or another. Maybe during the height of the season it is livelier here, but it really isn't worth it to do a weekend activity.

Nice family friendly water park. Private parking lot, cash only for admissions & the concession…read morestands. Concession stand has hotdogs, walking tacos, soft pretzels, soda, water, ice cream bars. There's a pavillion & a few picnic tables. The park itself was manned by about 10+ lifeguards. 2 slides, one huge & swisty (slower speed) & one smaller where it's more of a straight drop (faster speed). There's a lap pool, 2 diving boards, 2 separate kiddy areas. Worth the visit if you're in the area.