This is our big summer trip to the New England region parks.

Day One July 2nd

We picked up the rental car July second and my mom, Katy (my sister) and I headed down to Cincinnati to pick up Adam (pkiboy). The car we had was an Impala. After getting him we stopped at KI for a quick lap on red Racer. Soon we were heading home. My Dad (DaveStroem) got home at 6:30 and we left for my grandparents house in Wheeling, West Virginia at 7. We dropped the dogs off and stayed overnight.

Day Two July 3rd: Kennywood

We left my Grandparents around 7:30 and got to the park around nine. The park opened at ten and the rides at 10:30

Phantom's Revenge from the parking lot.

The carousel horse fountain at the entrance to Kennywood.

After the park opened at ten we dashed to Sky Rocket.

I love how they have entertainers at the front of the park!

Phantom's Revenge: This is a nice coaster but is not in my top ten.

They have a very good Whip ride, one of the better ones, in my opinion.

Thunderbolt: I absolutely love this ride. It is packed with so many laterals that you can't ride by yourself. This is my favorite ride at this park.

The Lil' Phantom's paint job is the same as Phantom's Revenge's.

The five of us in front of Lil' Phantom's sign.

More Phantom's Revenge

The Lost Kennywood sign.

Musik Express, we didn't ride it this time. Notice the german phrase and spelling of music. The phrase "mit musik geht alles besser" means everything goes better with music.

Make sure to ride the Turtle as it is one of the few of its kind left!

Swingshot is similar to Skyhawk at Cedar Point but is not as tall.

Phantom's Revenge's first turn.

Bayern Kurve is a fun ride that pulls lots of Gs.

Even though this is gross it keeps the gum out of the rest of the queue!

The train goes through the control deck.

Ride Info

Sky Rocket: This coaster is not too extreme but is great for this park. It is very smooth and is a fun coaster.

Jack Rabbit: The double down is a great part of this ride.

Racer: This coaster is unique because it is a mobius, which means it is a racing coaster with one track that passes through the station twice so the trains end up on the opposite side of the station.

Exterminator: This ride is my favorite mouse in the box coaster. The theme is that you are in a sewer with rats and you are the exterminator, the theming is well done and makes the ride.

Noah's Ark is an absolute must! This is an old walk through attraction that is very well themed and is a classic.

Cosmic Curves is like Surf Dog but you're sitting in a circle.

Good Eats

Their french fries with gravy are delicious and are freshly made.

You can get them here. And yes, the fries are so good there is always a huge crowd for them!

Rides We Rode

• Sky Rocket
• Thunderbolt
• Racer
• P. Revenge
• Lil' Phantom
• Noah's Ark
• Jack Rabbit
• Whip
• Ghostwood Estates
• Bayern Kurve
• Swingshot
• Cosmic Curves

Day Two July 3rd: Waldameer

After driving from Pittsburgh to Erie we arrived at Waldameer. We got our wristbands and handstamps and headed in to the park.

The Sky Ride

Katy and Daddy got soaked on Thunder River.

While they did that, Adam and I rode the Tilt-a-whirl!

We took a spin on Steel Dragon.

All of us rode the Wipeout. My mom didn't like it much.

Mega Vortex is just like Cosmic Curves.

We didn't get to ride the Ferris Wheel.

Ravine Flyer Two

The fireworks started going off for the Fourth of July while we were on the Sky Ride.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Acting goofy in a cartoon mirror!

Ride Info

Ravine Flyer Two is an awesome Gravity Group coaster that has lots of air.

Comet is a Schmeck coaster that is fairly small but still a good ride.

Pirate's Cove is a good walk through attraction that is very fun.

Rides We Rode

• Ravine Flyer Two
• Ravine Flyer Three
• Tilt-a-Whirl
• Steel Dragon
• Comet
• Pirate's Cove
  
• Sky Ride
• Mega Vortex
• Wipeout
• Thunder River

We left Waldameer and stopped at Taco Bell on our way to the hotel, and that ends our first park day of our trip.

I always look forward to your trip reports and your incredible coaster knowledge!

Thanks so much!

Terp who adores Kennywood and Waldameer (and Waldameer's pizza...yum!)

Thank you Terpy!

Next time we go we'll have to try some.

It is great to see others enjoy "my home" park in Waldameer.

Did you get on Wacky Shack?

Not this time, there was too long of a line, but we rode it last year.

I can imagine.

Waldameer is always packed when there is a fireworks display. That is why a couple years back, the park started a policy that required a ride-a-rama for everyone under 19 not accompanied by a parent after 3:00pm on firework days. The park normally has free entry.

I'm sure it was even worse this year since Waldameer was one of a few places in our that actually had fireworks for the 4th.

The normal "Boom on the Bay" was cancelled due to funding issues.

KICoasterGirl didn't log off.

You didn't mention that on Lil Phantom that our trip took over the ride for the 2 laps. There were 5 of us and 5 cars. Everybody rode by themselves.

There is a certain joy in riding kiddie coasters for me. First that they let me on and second that I still fit.

KICoasterGirl didn't log off.

I take it Daddy was not amused by that. Smart she is...until it comes to logging off...tee hee.

Terp, who also was not a perfect child...by a long shot!

Bayern Kurve............

I so miss the one KI had back in the day. I was not aware that they were still around. Thank you for your trip report. I have to go ride this.

^ There is one at our sister park California's Great America.

Loving the report so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the reports. You all must have been wore out towards the end.

^^ That brings up an intresting question.

Can GA be considered a "sister" park to KI given that it is over 2400 miles away?

It currently has the same ownership as Kings Island does...is an Exxon station in California a sister station to one in Delaware? Or a WalMart in San Diego a sister store to one in Florence, Kentucky? Sure....

Bayern Kurve............

I so miss the one KI had back in the day. I was not aware that they were still around. Thank you for your trip report. I have to go ride this.

Your welcome! Did KI's have a horn that would blow once the ride got fast enough?

Loving the report so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the reports. You all must have been wore out towards the end.

Thanks! I will probably have one or two up each day for the next week. We were very tired when we got home!

Yes, Kings Island's had the bayern horn!

It currently has the same ownership as Kings Island does...is an Exxon station in California a sister station to one in Delaware? Or a WalMart in San Diego a sister store to one in Florence, Kentucky? Sure....

I always considered the term "sister" as something that is very alike and close enough that the similarities can be seen.

But perhaps that is just me.

Well, many of the rides are very similar...and it is easy to see the place used to be a Paramount Park, though it still has far more in common with Six Flags Great America than with most other former Paramount Parks...

Bayern Kurve............

I so miss the one KI had back in the day. I was not aware that they were still around. Thank you for your trip report. I have to go ride this.

Your welcome! Did KI's have a horn that would blow once the ride got fast enough?

Loving the report so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the reports. You all must have been wore out towards the end.

Thanks! I will probably have one or two up each day for the next week. We were very tired when we got home!

I can not remember that far back let alone what or if I even had breakfast this morning

Very nice TR! It was more than refreshing to read a report from someone who didn't whine and cry about roller coasters being "rough" (Wah!) or "painful" (Wah! Wah! Wah!). And you are a thirteen year old girl. Many on here can and should learn from you!

Great PTR Elizabeth! Seems like you all had fun, did Nancy ride any coasters on the trip besides Lil Phantom? I can't wait to see the photos from the rest of the parks, especially La Ronde!

Nick, I think Nancy only sat out 2-3 coasters the entire trip. Her count is now 145 including the 2 tallest & fastest operating rides on the planet. She is now demanding that we go back to some of the parks we did last year so she can ride the coasters there. What ever you say dear

Very nice TR! It was more than refreshing to read a report from someone who didn't whine and cry about roller coasters being "rough" (Wah!) or "painful" (Wah! Wah! Wah!). And you are a thirteen year old girl. Many on here can and should learn from you!

Thank you!

Great PTR Elizabeth! Seems like you all had fun, did Nancy ride any coasters on the trip besides Lil Phantom? I can't wait to see the photos from the rest of the parks, especially La Ronde!

Thanks! We took over 3,000 pictures the whole trip! We took a lot of pictures at La Ronde!

Very nice TR! It was more than refreshing to read a report from someone who didn't whine and cry about roller coasters being "rough" (Wah!) or "painful" (Wah! Wah! Wah!). And you are a thirteen year old girl. Many on here can and should learn from you!

Thank you!

Great PTR Elizabeth! Seems like you all had fun, did Nancy ride any coasters on the trip besides Lil Phantom? I can't wait to see the photos from the rest of the parks, especially La Ronde!

Thanks! We took over 3,000 pictures the whole trip! We took a lot of pictures at La Ronde!

La Ronde was a blast. They have a Rare Intamin Stand up we rode. I think there are only 2 that are operating but i could be wrong.

You are correct. Cobra was a lot of fun, one of my favorite stand-ups

I envy you KICoasterGirl! You go to Soooo many parks that are so great that I haven't even heard of! Great TR, those coasters look really good!

I need to go to those parks!

The credit goes to DaveStroem, if it weren't for him I probably would not have become a coaster enthusiast nor would I have been to all of these parks! Plus I wouldn't have met some great friends!

Thanks!

Somehow I missed the start of these reports and have been looking forward to them! Loved reading Part One - excited to move onto Part Two and Three.

She is now demanding that we go back to some of the parks we did last year so she can ride the coasters there. What ever you say dear

I'm sure lots of arm twisting is required - Way to go Nancy! I'm glad you are now enjoying the rides also.

Thanks!

She said that she's gotten used to them and isn't scared like she had been, but there are plenty that she still doesn't like!

Great PTR!

The Gum Bullseye is a great idea, if not extremely gross....

I literally laughed out loud at the picture of you in the funhouse mirror.

Thanks for the report!