Honestly Chris, you inspire me with your “hot takes” and sticking to your gut. I think I enjoy sky rocket more than curtain too, but I don’t have the guts to say that or the willpower to rank it like that. Props to you.
With Kennywood being my home park, it's awesome hearing your thoughts & others in the comments. When I was a kid and went to Cedar Point, I always thought it blew Kennywood out of the water, but as I got older I realized just how great Kennywood is, at least for what it is.
I have a friend who is afraid of steel coasters but he has recently realized just how insanely great (and big and fast) the Phantom is and that most coasters aren't like that.
Personally I think Thunderbolt is a waaay better coaster than people give it credit for. I love the fact that it uses the terrain to start you off with a dip instead of a lift hill. I also LOVE the fact that the last dip is the biggest. I wish more coasters would save the best for last like it does, but I get that Thunderbolt is in a unique situation because of the crazy terrain.
@@drewsapp6853 Don't... literally every park enthusiast is going to disagree with someone elses' personally rankings... Like Phantom is still my #1 coaster. While I haven't gotten nearly as many as Air Time Thrills, I have finally started clicking off some bucket list rides like TMNT Shell Raiser, which is only #4 on my list. Everyone has opinions; just like, at this point it's a meme but Air Time Thrills consistently putting Phantom above SkyRush, is a real hot button issue for Hershey Park fans. (I personally agree with that, but can say it's probably because of my height, my hometown affiliation with Kennywood, and the fact I lost my wallet on the SkyRush... A lot of bias standing in my way ranking that as my current #1)
The real key to the Jackrabbit is that it’s a killer family coaster. I think they may have upped the minimum height requirement, but it was 36” when my son was three, so long as an adult was with the kid. I’ll never, ever forget his first ride on a grown-up wooden coaster. He just sat there and breathed really heavily and wouldn’t say a word when I asked him (twice) what he thought. I thought I’d broken his brain. On the third try, he looked up at me with an angry face and said, “It’s too fast for little kids.” We did get him on again later that day, last run of the night for the coaster, and our family picture for the year. I do believe Phantom’s Revenge is his favorite at the park, as of a few years ago, but being able to ride with my son on the same coasters my dad rode on as a kid really makes the trip worthwhile for us, and the history makes a great day for anyone who likes their classics both old AND new.
It is 42” now but also my son’s first “grown up” coaster at 4yo. He loved it. We’ve since rollo coaster a ton too. He didn’t want to get off. Can’t wait for him to experience Phantom and the rest!
Sky Rocket in second place was unexpected, but it's been growing on me ever since reopening in 2019. Curtain seems to be a very love it or hate it coaster. The Curtain crew have been doing a good job with operations this year, but those trains are so overengineered, they seem to have new problems every week. Phantom is still the undisputed king of the park though.
I forgot to comment on operations from when I went. I found the staff incredible! I've never been to a park where staff happily and non-grumpily will take bags, glasses, hats, etc. from you while you are seated, waiting to ride. I have rarely seen ride ops react positively in that scenario. I have seen many a rolled eye and stank face pulled when that happens. Maybe not the fastest, but it's still huge in my opinion that operations were so kind and friendly throughout the park.
I've heard nothing but rave reviews for Kennywood operations, it's crazy to hear about how much they've stepped up their game from hearing lackluster opinions to fawning reviews at what seems like a flip of the switch
When I went, early in the day they only had 1 train ops on Phantom and Steel Curtain. Thankfully they realized that they needed a second when I was in line for Steel Curtain. Turned a 2 hour wait into 1. I have no idea why they do this, but apparently its pretty common for them to start the day with only 1
Kennywood is my hometown park! I’ve probably been on Phantom 100 times now and it’s still just as exciting and nerve-racking as it was on my first ride. Here’s my ranking: 1. Phantom’s Revenge 2. Thunderbolt 3. Steel Curtain 4. Jack Rabbit 5. Sky Rocket 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom
Living in eastern PA, I have still not yet been to Kennywood. With my youngest now showing interest in coasters, maybe 2022 will be our first. (As we will likely be at Seven Springs at some point in 2022, it makes it more likely.)
I think I have an explanation as to why your thunderbolt ride was extremely smooth this time around. In late 2019, the park actually did extensive retracking on the ride, which likely made it smoother
I liked the format...gave it a much better flowing conversation like style, cool vid and I would love to visit kennywood sometime, but I have a lot of parks to hit up before then
Great video! I got to take my first two rides on Steel Curtain this past Sunday. I felt the vibrations everyone was talking about in my back row ride. But I felt like the elements and transitions were *very* intense. Even the last cutback and banked turn had crazy whip. We were able to get last train of the night, and the ops offered to let us take a second lap! Two train ops all days as well. Kennywood staff was hauling this past weekend!
Shows how hard it is to thread that needle. You want long enough to make the long wait times "worth" it but length for the sake of length is also bad because then it becomes "I waited for this?"
I know this comment is just a joke or a playful tease but it's all about pacing and layout. If a coaster is long but the layout sucks or the pacing is slow then it's not really good ride. Same thing if the ride is too short, you waited a long time for the ride and while the ride has a good layout it's still too short so you feel like the wait wasn't worth it
For me, length isn't a deal breaker. I'd rather a shorter coaster with better pacing, than something just clunking around or losing its speed/intensity. I mean, yeah, Phantom's on the short side, but it also means more rides on it...
I went for the first time this summer, and my list is similar but I do have some differences. #1 - Phantom's Revenge - I rode this in the front for the 3rd train of the day and it was going pretty slow so the airtime wasn't too great. I got another ride in the back later in the day and it was much much better, but I still think it is slightly overrated. #2 Steel Curtain - Although I agree it was kinda force less, the unique elements really made up for it IMO #3 Sky Rocket - I agree that zero-g roll is absurd. I only rode it towards the front and that first top hat was pretty lame. Ill need to go back to try this in the back #4 Jack Rabbit - Rode this in the back and man that double down is one of the craziest airtime moments I've experienced. Rest of the ride is meh though #5 - Thunderbolt - Laterals were good but thought it was boring otherwise #6 - Racer - Boring and forceless #7 - Exterminator - I waited like 1.5 hours for this so that definitely affected this rating Didn't ride Lil Phantom, but that would probably be my #1
@@fragmentzz3878 I can see that, but I actually liked the positives this ride gave. The bottom of that second drop is really intense. I don't have many gripes with the ride, its just that I see people putting it in top 5s when there are much more deserving coasters IMO. Airtime was good, but I'd say the double down on Jack Rabbit is the strongest and best in the park
I rode Phantom's Revenge 21 times, 10 times in a row in row 7 while I was there for Kennycon, ⛈️ killed the crowd. Rode Steel Curtain 6 times. I'd put Sky Rocket at 4 behind Thunderbolt. The second half killed it for me
Kennywood is my local park and I love it there! It got me into rollercoasters. Even though it’s very small compared to other places I’ve been to, it’s very special to me. I’m going very soon and I’m hyped up! Every time I hear Kennywood mentioned (regardless of context) I get hyped up!
Every time i see the kennywood sign coming off the bridge i cry, and seeing kennywood Blvd does it to me too. Grew up up the hill from kennywood park, could see the rollercoasters from top of my street. Was so close me and my friends would walk there a couple times a week, when it was free to get in! My older sisters walked me down to the pool to swim too. Every family member (teens) worked there in the summer too. Im in NE Ohio but i really miss that place
Once I got to skyrocket really early in the day, and once the ride was over no one was in line for it. The ride operator asked everyone on board if they wanted to ride it again, and we agreed. Hands down the best experience I’ll ever have with the ride, twice in a row was awesome.
Phantom's Revenge definitely number 1 in the park! It's ALWAYS running, it's up there with the best coasters .... but Steel Curtain? total bust! Sky Rocket is legit FUN, and it's a nice way to end the day. Thx for this review !
I also love Sky Rocket, very underrated. I didn't get to ride Steel Curtain, having only visited the park in 2020, but I was pleasantly surprised to see you putting Sky Rocket above it.
Steel Curtain’s lift hill height feels even higher than it is because to your right the terrain plummets off a cliff showing the Monongahela River. On the chain lift hill, when the audio is working you get the opening segment of Styx’s “Renegade” and just when the song is about to transition from “Oh mama” soft ballad to hard rock, the coaster immediately rolls and plummets into the DrachenFire inversion and the run begins.
I rode Curtain last week, in Row 5, and I thought it was great. I don’t think it’s forceless by any means. The forces really build throughout the ride. There’s good positives before and after the sea serpent, and that one half helix between the corkscrew and cutback pulls near grey-out positives. The beginning isn’t that intense, but it makes up for it in the second half. Also, your footage looks very slow compared to my trip in August. I rode it around 1:30, and it was hauling. Next time, try it at the end of the day to get a warmed-up ride
I'll vouche for this theory. Having ridden Steel Curtain around noon vs. 9pm, the experiences are night and day. The coaster is odd in that the vibration (something I didn't notice on the latter ride) almost feels like a continuous trim brake. The night ride was far more intense, but it still pales towards any ride I've ever had on Phantom's Revenge. Of course, that coaster has always teetered on being extremely intense, and most certainly crossed that line in the original Arrow configuration.
Visited there my first time in June 2021, and was also pleasantly surprised by Sky Rocket. I agree with your top three rankings. Was also really surprised as how well maintained and smooth everything seemed to be riding... and had an unexpected amount of fun on the Turtles flatride... Only regret not being able to visit a little earlier to try out some of their other historic flatrides that were recently removed...
We went this past Christmas time and had a blast on the turtle! I'm local so been on it before but the 2 ride ops were so interactive with us. They would sing, then Slow it down as if ending, then speeding up again.
I went here for the first time in June, and I thought this place and the rides there were awesome! Here's how I ranked the coasters I rode: 1. Phantom's Revenge 2. Steel Curtain 3. Sky Rocket 4. Racer 5. Jack Rabbit 6. Thunderbolt (didn't ride exterminator or lil phantom) I didn't exactly agree with your rankings, but many things you said about the coasters I did agree with. The 2nd drop on phantom is insane. The last drop on racer is one of my favorite airtime moments in the park. Sky Rocket was insanely underrated, I may actually prefer it over some Sky Rocket 2s. Jack Rabbit's double down was a bit overhyped. And I did not expect that ejector pop right before the lift hill on Thunderbolt.
Definitely agree on phantom and sky rocket. The beginning to sky rocket is fantastic. All of phantom is awesome. Exterminator has a special place in my heart. It’s so fun.
I liked your Skyrocket review. I was not expecting much either, but my daughter and I really enjoyed that coaster! I never hear about it much since but it saved our Kennywood trip when Phantom's Revenge was closed (pre - Steel Curtain).
I love about an hour from Kennywood it's always been part of my childhood which is why I love going there. It also helps that I'm a bit of a history buff and that Kennywood has some of the oldest still running rides and attractions out there. I also for the most part agree with your list except for the Steel Curtain, I'd rank it second best but barely better than the sky rocket. The thing with the sky rocket is that to me it doesn't feel like a complete experience, the first half was great but it just kinda half assed itself to death after you get to the second part of the ride. The curtain feels more complete in it's concept.
Kennywood is my comfort park. Until covid hit, my family used to go every year. Coaster wise, I've only ridden Jackrabbit and Racer, but I want to ride a couple more coasters next time my family goes. Hopefully we go to go again this year.
0:41 "When you think of Kennywood, you think of..." I don't always think of Kennywood, but when I do, I think about the thrill of being strapped in on a ride during an active shooting after the ride operators fled for their lives.
I've probably ridden Phantom more times than every one of my other 104 coasters combined. Kennywood is built into my blood as I grew up in Western PA. Sadly I haven't been there since about 2018, and haven't got Steel Curtain yet. Funny to think that Kennywood has had TWO hyper-loopers over the course of it's history, I don't think any other park can say that.
@@yeahitme3392 actually “technically “ the term hyper coaster was coined referring to the use of steel track to build larger faster traditional coasters layouts. The fact that Magnum was the first to use the term and happened to be over 200 feet tall was really just a side note. But the nerdy enthusiast community latched on to that as the one and only requirement for a hyper and now we have hyper loopers & hyper woodies.
@@rparqer every enthusiast picks and chooses definitions to an extent - my picking and choosing is that to me, dives aren't traditional hypers or loopers. They're their own category if you will.
I normally suck at ranking things, but with Kennywood being my home park, I've ridden everything so much that I have a good feel for it. Here's my rankings: 1. Phantom's Revenge 2. Steel Curtain 3. Jackrabbit 4. SkyRocket 5. Thunderbolt 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom (and yes, I have actually ridden it)
Kennywood is my home park and I gotta say you SORELY missed out on experiencing Steel Curtain in the front row. I agreed with your review of the coaster from a back row perspective, but it is 110% a front row ride. The forces are far better, the airtime is stronger, and the transitions are whippier, not to mention a phenomenal view.
I was wondering. I went last month and rode twice in the back, and I kinda hated it. I realized the next day that I should've given it another chance from the front. I'll have to get back there again, I guess.
Airtime thrills thumbnails be like: 😶🤤🤭😬🤮😯😤😠☹️🥸🤩😘😌🥸🤣😙😀😛🤣🤩🙃🙂🥳🤩😐😡🥶🤥🥵😱👹😲🎃😮💨😈💩👹☠️👹🥱😪😂 Lol but seriously, you make amazing videos! Let us know when you go to lagoon in Utah and I’ll say hi 👀
Kennywood's collection honestly looks to rival Hersheypark... Skyrocket's 1st half seems elite, Scurt is def polarizing... it's one of those rides u either love or hate, it's hard to see what I'd think depending on my ride of course, cuz warmed up seems like a whole different beast... then, the woodies look very fun, and Phantom with it's unbelievable ejector just makes me wish that all Morgans ran trimless, without midcourse... runnin' without all that, we could see more of the out and backs running the way Phantom does, with it's legendary powerful strong air... Eel and Superman, which people say is actually better than Phantom, look unparrareled when they run without the strong midcourses and trims, it's definitely high in my bucket list to run those rides in those conditions
I wouldn’t say sky rocket is elite, it’s not super forceful. The trim on the top hat and the midcourse is also kinda unnecessary and att is right, everything after the 2nd drop is mild. I don’t think it’s a bad ride at all it’s still fun but it’s more of a first big coaster for a kid than a rival to storm runner
Steel Curtain is phenomenal and the best coaster in PA, Phantom is third, Sky Rocket is awesome, all three woodies are a lot of fun, and exterminator is a real wild card coaster. Kennywood rivals Cedar Point for me, the collection of coasters and park atmosphere are so amazing.
Went here the day Taylor from CS was here and I have to say I was very underwhelmed by Phantom and actually enjoyed my rides on Steel Curtain better considering how much they raved about it I definitely caught it on a good day. I rode back row twice and a front row on Phantom and other than a few good pops towards the end its was a rather mild ride and I wouldn't put it anywhere near rides like Lightning Rod, Voyage, and Steel Vengeance. I will say I found skyrocket to be a surprise and actually enjoyed my ride on it.
I have been going to Kennywood for 40 years and my list is much different. 1. Phantom's Revenge 2. Steel Curtain 3. Sky Rocket 4. Jack Rabbit 5. Thunderbolt 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom I noticed that if you walk from the Potato Patch up under Phantoms lift hill, there is a Lost Kennywood sign and they have Pittsburgh spelled Pittsburg. Ooops LOL I love the videos, my kids and I will watch them on a park before we visit. Keep doing what you do,we enjoy it!
Ugh, what an amazing lineup. Sky Rocket looks awesome. 2022 I'm finally going, I have to. Great video. I love hearing your thoughts on these coasters. I find it frustrating how many parks don't have a simple t-shirt with their logo (looking at Holiday World and Indiana Beach).
I went twice this year. I thought the operations were mixed. They were awesome at Phantom's Revenge, but at Steel Curtain they were not good. Sometimes at Steel Curtain they took seat request for some people and the next group up would be not be given an option. From a cost perspective the park is worth it. Here are my thoughts on the coasters: 1. Phantom's Revenge- My #10 overall and I agree it is the best coaster in PA for me (Slightly above SkyRush). Wait times were always short for this one. 2. Steel Curtain- Not in my Top 50. One real good air time moment and the stall is great. Rest is a bit overrated. 3. Jack Rabbit- My #100 overall. I love the double down. Good operations all things considered. 4. Thunderbolt- Just outside my Top 100. I agree with your points on this ride. 5. Racer- Didn't think it was as bad as you. Fun racing coaster. Slow operations. 6. Sky Rocket- I wasn't a fan all things considered. Second half was really boring. Top hat was good, the inversion you loved didn't really stick out for me. 7. Exterminator- I think you like the spinning coasters a little more than me. It was ok. 8. Lil Phantom- I did actually ride it. Overall Kennywood is worth the visit.
Honestly, Racer is my favorite Kennywood coaster. It has some decent floater on the camelbacks and (I forgot which) one of the pull outs. I do think that Jackrabbit's double down is a top ten airtime moment.
Having Kennywood be my home park I couldn’t agree any more with what you said. With growing up there so much all the ground rides are so fun when the lines are short.
After my last visit in 2017, my favorite is The Phantom's Revenge followed by Sky Rocket, The Racer, Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt. Those last two got me incredibly nauseas somehow.
Worth making the trip back to Kennywood twice in one year for lil phantom alone. Get on a plane in OKC fly to Pittsburgh and then do whatever necessary to ride lil phantom. God tier ride and it will make you wonder why you ever thought steel vengeance was worth riding.
Kennywood is like a 6-7-ish hours away from me so I've been there like 2 or 3 times and I rode most of like good family rides like Jake rabbit and thunderbolt
bruh steel curtain is amazing, best in the whole state easily, the ejector feels like an RMC, the whip feels like maverick, the hangtime is easily the best ive experienced and there is actually some rly forceful sections too, and the best part is the pacing, at least when i went in august 2019 the ride looked like a cartoon
@@quix9556 I completely agree. My first ride was a slightly rainy 45 degree morning in Oct 19 and I was not impressed at all. Went back this summer for Kennycon and it was hauling.
Just curious, do you usually ride in the front or the back? I rode in the back twice when it was warmed up, and I had a similar experience to @AirtimeThrills. It didn't feel very fast or forceful, and I walked away with a headache that I think came from the vibration. The tall seats really obstruct the view, so I think a front row ride might feel more intense and forceful. Also front rows are usually smoother. It might just be a front row machine, or I just had bad luck.
The reason for the one train ops is in may the train that was in storage valleyed between the dive loop and the airtime hill on top of the stall, it happened in may of this year cause it was colder than normal.
Scariest ride is the ski lift. No restraints, far above the asphalt, only your ass between you and a painful death I went there as a kid and still freak out remembering that
The park runs one train on their coasters for the same reason most stands only run one or two registers. Park management treats its employees like their rollercoaster tycoon staff, so they're perpetually understaffed. And even when they're fully staffed, they tell team leads to send people home to cut payroll
Kennywood just being a half hour from me, I have a lot of memories there. Still haven't rode the Steel Curtain though! I mostly agree with this video tbh, but I've never seen that Exterminator format outside of Kennywood! Perhaps I'm missing out. Also, just found you off of Ryan's "Son Of Beast" video!
Taking our first trip there this Saturday. Picked up flash sale tickets for phantom fest for $29 each. We hit up a lot of Cedar point this year, so I am kinda excited to get some new credits and ride a woody again besides blue streak. Also excited by the idea of riding everything I want without shelling out hundreds for fast lane plus lol.
One thing that everyone needs to remember when coming to Kennywood is that it is a Family park that focuses on attractions for all ages instead of big over the top thrills. It does a fantastic job with having rides appropriate for all ages and great for slowly taking riders from the simple and fun Racer all the way to the top of The Steel Curtain. *I personally despise the theme of the ride but that's just me*
Your experience with the rides sounds very similar to mine, although Steel Curtain's vibrations did get to me. I didn't mind it on the ride, but after it was over, I had a pretty bad headache. Re-riding only made it worse. I think my main problem was that I went for the back both times. The back is my go-to, but it seems the front of SC might be better. The tall seats kill the view from the back, and it seems from other reviews, the front might have more forces and a smoother ride. I plan to head back to Kennywood in the future, I'll make sure to try the front seat on SC, and I think you should do the same if you get the chance. It might earn the praise everyone seems to think it deserves.
Quick note on Sky Rocket: Ride it in the front if you can. The trimmed tophat is unfortunate, but in the front you get launched out of your seat just before you hit the trims. It's one of the best ejector moments I've experienced, and I've experienced the Zippin Pippin's ejector death hill in nearly every row.
Wow your tales are completely different than mine. I really wasn’t impressed with Sky Rocket, although I thought it was better than Wicked. I also liked Jack Rabbit more than Thunderbolt, despite it being a smaller ride. The only placements we agree on are Phantom and Racer-imo a clear best/worst pick for the park.
I went to Kennywood for the first time in over a decade, a few weeks ago (I live less than 40 mins away shame on me) and Steel Curtin is now closed for the rest of the season, so I didn't get to ride it. I got to ride Sky Rocket for my first time and for a better part of my day was going between Phantom and Rocket, two trains on both which was super nice.
Hey bud Chris. I'd send you direct message but I'm old AF and I tried but I can't figure out how to do it on RUclips. So the last two years (and for me three years before that) have absolutely SUCKED. The one thing that has really helped settle my constant nerves over all this crap is rollercoaster videos. And yours, far and away, get me the most excited, keep me most enthralled, make me laugh and think, the most. Love love love how much you like COMET Hersheypark. I was as terrified to ride that towering beast (at the time long before SKYRUSH) approximately 1985, as you were to ride Goliath. Just saying my life sucks sometimes. I only ever have the balls to comment and write on stuff, when I'm drunk. My dad accidentally ran himself over with a backhoe, on 4/23/17. And I've been trying to run our family drive-in movie theatre in his absence. My mom and my sister have dug right in, and we couldn't have gotten this far without doing it together. And we would've self destructed and blown all the way apart if not for Billy Hayden, and I know this sounds dramatic and dumb but if I didn't have your vids to look forward to, or to ease me out of a long busy messed up day, I dunno. I'm ready to give up on this sometimes and just hitchhike to Magic Mountain. a hugely supportive small two town community, ( But me and my dad had a rhythm, before he died. He didn't leave a will, or direction, or any life insurance. I have no point here, other than letting you know that Everytime I turn on my XBOX1TV, and you have uploaded another genius, perfectly edited, perfectly thought out, funny and great and dry humor af, it's a good night for me. Thank you Chris. You have endless free admission to the Midway Drive-In Theatre in Fulton/Minetto NY.
1 phantom revenge 2 thunderbolt keep everything else the same. I love Kennywood I live a few moments away from it and I go there several times every summer. A ride on the phantoms revenge and the thunderbolt will always put a smile on every Pittsburgh's face.
I go every year in august for band and this year I was forced onto every single coaster (except the curtain lol) and now I can’t wait to go again 😅 it’s so much fun
Kennywood has been doing better about running multiple trains where feasible. In my visit in 2022, both Phantom's Revenge and Steel Curtain were running both trains. Phantom's Revenge is a no-brainer number 1 at Kennywood and is my number 5 overall.
I've got somethin to make your Steel Curtain experience better, Chris. You need to request the front. I rode in the front last time I was there and holy crap! That may improve your opinion on its forces
I went to Kennywood last week and I can get with the Sky Rocket vs Steel Curtain ranking especially after riding Sky Rocket in the front row. The hang time going over the top hat is crazy, it makes the trims make sense.
This is my home park and I love it so much but in my opinion Kennywood has been coasting on their 3 classic woodies for awhile. I think Kennywood could really use a nice modern woodie. They’ve literally only built steel coasters since the 80s which is fine but I think a new wooden coaster would compliment the park nicely.
I would love to see it get a new woodie as well. The major problem is space, they really only have three options. Take out Raging Rapids and maybe the train, scrap Skyrocket, or buy more land.
You nailed it. Steel Curtain is good, but phantom is elite. For me: Phantom Sky rocket Thunderbolt Steel Curtain Jack Rabbit Exterminator Racer Lil phantom ...odd park really... 0 B&M, Intamin, or vekoma. Very unique.
We've been to KW twice this year, on our first big coaster trip in May & last Saturday during our 3rd big coaster trip this year. I definitely like Steel Curtain more than you. I prefer the more graceful, negative G inversions to the intense, positive G ones. I guess that's part of getting old. We did pull an "Airtime Thrills" on this trip. We rode the Maid Of The Mist at Niagara Falls at opening, kicked it to SF Darien Lake and hit every coaster except Mind Bender(I wasn't exactly heartbroken it was down!) and then stopped by Waldameer and rode the drop tower and every coaster including Ravine Flyer II twice & Steel Dragon 3x. My wife loved Steel Dragon and insisted we ride it multiple times. Not quite 4 parks in one day like you but I was pleased with what we did in one day.
Really enjoy your content 👍🏼😎👍🏼. I just did Kennywood Sunday August 15th. Steel Curtain was able to do 2 train ops around noonish. I am doing a 2 week 40th Birthday run to 6 parks I haven't been to. Lakemont Park, Kennywood, Dollywood, Carowinds, Hersheypark, SF Great Adventure. Right now I am doing Carowinds and OMG FIRST TIME Fury 325 back row for my 140th credit was AMAZING!!!! My list for Kennywood: 1. Phantom 2. Curtain 3. Jack Rabbit 4. Thunderbolt 5. Skyrocket 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom which was closed for me also 🥲 List of rides and where I sat on them from Kennywood: Jack Rabbit (2) both back rows Racer left 1 back row right 1 back row Steel curtain (4) row 6, row 6, row 8, row 3 Thunderbolt (1) row 9 Phantoms Revenge (4) row 6, row 7, row 7, row 6 Sky Rocket (1) row 5 Exterminator (1)
@@AirtimeThrills Rode it 10 times. Out of my 145 credits as of now I would rank it as my new #1. Here were my 10 rides on Fury 325 in order : LH back row, row 6, row 1, RH back row, row 4, row 7, row 3, row 7, row 2, row 3
I was surprised to hear that people don’t like steel curtain. I was also surprised to hear that people said it was rough. Honestly it’s in my top ten of smoothest coasters I’ve ridden!
If you find yourself coming to Busch Gardens in Tampa let me know. I have two Kennywood Guest Services shirts left and you can have them. They were actual Kennywood employee shirts. Around 20 years ago Kennywood sold them on Ebay when they were changing them for the next season.
Kennywood is my home park so I tend to overlook the slow operations. Get annoyed by one train on Phantom's Revenge and Steel Curtain. New brake system this year for Thunderbolt so they can run 2 trains again. My ranking top to bottom: Phantom's Revenge, Thunderbolt, Steel Curtain, Sky Rocket, Exterminator, Jack Rabbit, Racer and lil Phantom. And yes, Phantom's Revenge still runs crazy fast especially on a hot day surely hitting 90 at the bottom of the 2nd hill.
I actually found Steel Curtain to be very good. I was very disappointed in my front row 1st train of the day on Phantom so I was debating if I liked Phantom or Curtain better. Then I rode Phantom 3 more times in the back later that day and that blew me away
Could not agree more with you regarding steel curtain and sky rocket. Went to kennywood for the first time in Sunday and was hyped about steel curtain and Phantom's Revenge. While Phantom's Revenge more than lived up to the hype (especially closer to the front of the train), I walked away from steel curtain thinking "well, the lift hill was pretty intense." For 9 inversions, I didn't experience much in the way of forces. Even the initial inversion lacked hang time and the following five loop/drop felt almost too gradual to create airtime. Skyrocket, in the other hand, was not even a coaster I thought about going in. Between PR, SC, and 3 historic woodies, it didn't register. But the ride was surprisingly forceful. Great ejector on the 2 drops, and some solid hangtime. The back end is boring but the first half is great. Easily my #2 at the park. None the less, so disappointing that a ride as beautiful and innovative as steel curtain was kind of a bust.
The reason they take one train off before opening is per park policy. All rollercoasters must start the day on one train. That's what an attendant at Phantom's said when I asked them last time I went. It's really a shame because the two main coasters always have a line right at rope drop.
That is such an odd policy. It takes time to switch a train on and off, and It honestly takes wayyy too long for one train on Steel Curtain to complete its circuit with that slow lift hill
Great video, Skyrocket is most definitely the most surprising coaster at Kennywood mybdirstntwo trips there I skipped it for time sake but when I finally got on it I was blown away! I agree that it ranks above Steel Curtain and Phantom's Revenge is the undisputed Kennywood King! The classic wooden collection is awesome with great rides for their ages!
Also when your waiting in line, all those control panels and displays you see aren't fake. They came from a coal power station that was about 15 minutes down the river that closed about 30 years ago, power company just gave em away. They work really well.
Phantom is one of this world's perfect roller coasters. Doesn't even bother me that it's on the short side because what it does so is so perfect
It’s a 2 minute ride, which is pretty long tbh
@@Kellylynn_ half of that is the lift hill
@@mcloughlinguy4127 but that still counts…
@@Kellylynn_just su
@@Cadenmendenhall huh?
Honestly Chris, you inspire me with your “hot takes” and sticking to your gut. I think I enjoy sky rocket more than curtain too, but I don’t have the guts to say that or the willpower to rank it like that. Props to you.
Chris has honestly inspired me to be more independent with rankings as well. I think the new era of Coaster RUclipsrs has been a great thing
I haven’t rid Steel curtain even though I’ve been to Kennywood twice and that’s because the wait is 1hour 45 mins
@@carsonleslie2984 you gotta get there as soon as the park opens...
Dan is cracked
With Kennywood being my home park, it's awesome hearing your thoughts & others in the comments. When I was a kid and went to Cedar Point, I always thought it blew Kennywood out of the water, but as I got older I realized just how great Kennywood is, at least for what it is.
Same bro, kennywood is great to have as my home park.
Me too lol
CP annihilates kennywood
I have a friend who is afraid of steel coasters but he has recently realized just how insanely great (and big and fast) the Phantom is and that most coasters aren't like that.
Personally I think Thunderbolt is a waaay better coaster than people give it credit for. I love the fact that it uses the terrain to start you off with a dip instead of a lift hill. I also LOVE the fact that the last dip is the biggest. I wish more coasters would save the best for last like it does, but I get that Thunderbolt is in a unique situation because of the crazy terrain.
It would be higher on my personal lists if it didn't jar my back so frequently.
Title: Honest Opinions...
Kennywood Fans: *I'm gonna stop you right there*
We don't do that here.
Not gonna lie, I feel personally attacked by this post…
@@drewsapp6853 Don't... literally every park enthusiast is going to disagree with someone elses' personally rankings...
Like Phantom is still my #1 coaster. While I haven't gotten nearly as many as Air Time Thrills, I have finally started clicking off some bucket list rides like TMNT Shell Raiser, which is only #4 on my list.
Everyone has opinions; just like, at this point it's a meme but Air Time Thrills consistently putting Phantom above SkyRush, is a real hot button issue for Hershey Park fans. (I personally agree with that, but can say it's probably because of my height, my hometown affiliation with Kennywood, and the fact I lost my wallet on the SkyRush... A lot of bias standing in my way ranking that as my current #1)
The real key to the Jackrabbit is that it’s a killer family coaster. I think they may have upped the minimum height requirement, but it was 36” when my son was three, so long as an adult was with the kid.
I’ll never, ever forget his first ride on a grown-up wooden coaster. He just sat there and breathed really heavily and wouldn’t say a word when I asked him (twice) what he thought. I thought I’d broken his brain.
On the third try, he looked up at me with an angry face and said, “It’s too fast for little kids.”
We did get him on again later that day, last run of the night for the coaster, and our family picture for the year.
I do believe Phantom’s Revenge is his favorite at the park, as of a few years ago, but being able to ride with my son on the same coasters my dad rode on as a kid really makes the trip worthwhile for us, and the history makes a great day for anyone who likes their classics both old AND new.
It is 42” now but also my son’s first “grown up” coaster at 4yo. He loved it. We’ve since rollo coaster a ton too. He didn’t want to get off. Can’t wait for him to experience Phantom and the rest!
Phantoms revenge looks amazing can’t wait to ride it
Sky Rocket in second place was unexpected, but it's been growing on me ever since reopening in 2019. Curtain seems to be a very love it or hate it coaster. The Curtain crew have been doing a good job with operations this year, but those trains are so overengineered, they seem to have new problems every week. Phantom is still the undisputed king of the park though.
I forgot to comment on operations from when I went. I found the staff incredible! I've never been to a park where staff happily and non-grumpily will take bags, glasses, hats, etc. from you while you are seated, waiting to ride. I have rarely seen ride ops react positively in that scenario. I have seen many a rolled eye and stank face pulled when that happens. Maybe not the fastest, but it's still huge in my opinion that operations were so kind and friendly throughout the park.
Same for me. Every staff member I ran into was friendly
I've heard nothing but rave reviews for Kennywood operations, it's crazy to hear about how much they've stepped up their game from hearing lackluster opinions to fawning reviews at what seems like a flip of the switch
When I went, early in the day they only had 1 train ops on Phantom and Steel Curtain. Thankfully they realized that they needed a second when I was in line for Steel Curtain. Turned a 2 hour wait into 1. I have no idea why they do this, but apparently its pretty common for them to start the day with only 1
Kennywood is my hometown park! I’ve probably been on Phantom 100 times now and it’s still just as exciting and nerve-racking as it was on my first ride.
Here’s my ranking:
1. Phantom’s Revenge
2. Thunderbolt
3. Steel Curtain
4. Jack Rabbit
5. Sky Rocket
6. Exterminator
7. Racer
8. Lil Phantom
Living in eastern PA, I have still not yet been to Kennywood. With my youngest now showing interest in coasters, maybe 2022 will be our first. (As we will likely be at Seven Springs at some point in 2022, it makes it more likely.)
I think I have an explanation as to why your thunderbolt ride was extremely smooth this time around. In late 2019, the park actually did extensive retracking on the ride, which likely made it smoother
I liked the format...gave it a much better flowing conversation like style, cool vid and I would love to visit kennywood sometime, but I have a lot of parks to hit up before then
Phantom has some of the most violet airtime ever. This ride forces me to hold on to my restraint.
Compared to it's original layout, phantoms revenge is tame in comparison
Great video! I got to take my first two rides on Steel Curtain this past Sunday. I felt the vibrations everyone was talking about in my back row ride. But I felt like the elements and transitions were *very* intense. Even the last cutback and banked turn had crazy whip. We were able to get last train of the night, and the ops offered to let us take a second lap! Two train ops all days as well. Kennywood staff was hauling this past weekend!
Coaster enthusiasts be like: “this coaster is too short” (phantom)…
Also be like: “this coaster is too long” (sky rocket)
Shows how hard it is to thread that needle. You want long enough to make the long wait times "worth" it but length for the sake of length is also bad because then it becomes "I waited for this?"
I know this comment is just a joke or a playful tease but it's all about pacing and layout. If a coaster is long but the layout sucks or the pacing is slow then it's not really good ride. Same thing if the ride is too short, you waited a long time for the ride and while the ride has a good layout it's still too short so you feel like the wait wasn't worth it
@@David-gj9qr lol I definitely agree. Just poking fun over here 👉
I'll never complain about a coaster being too long as long as it keeps its speed
For me, length isn't a deal breaker. I'd rather a shorter coaster with better pacing, than something just clunking around or losing its speed/intensity. I mean, yeah, Phantom's on the short side, but it also means more rides on it...
I went for the first time this summer, and my list is similar but I do have some differences.
#1 - Phantom's Revenge - I rode this in the front for the 3rd train of the day and it was going pretty slow so the airtime wasn't too great. I got another ride in the back later in the day and it was much much better, but I still think it is slightly overrated.
#2 Steel Curtain - Although I agree it was kinda force less, the unique elements really made up for it IMO
#3 Sky Rocket - I agree that zero-g roll is absurd. I only rode it towards the front and that first top hat was pretty lame. Ill need to go back to try this in the back
#4 Jack Rabbit - Rode this in the back and man that double down is one of the craziest airtime moments I've experienced. Rest of the ride is meh though
#5 - Thunderbolt - Laterals were good but thought it was boring otherwise
#6 - Racer - Boring and forceless
#7 - Exterminator - I waited like 1.5 hours for this so that definitely affected this rating
Didn't ride Lil Phantom, but that would probably be my #1
Tbh, I thought Phantom hurt me a lot. It felt like my body was being crushed, super uncomfortable
@@fragmentzz3878 I can see that, but I actually liked the positives this ride gave. The bottom of that second drop is really intense. I don't have many gripes with the ride, its just that I see people putting it in top 5s when there are much more deserving coasters IMO. Airtime was good, but I'd say the double down on Jack Rabbit is the strongest and best in the park
I rode Phantom's Revenge 21 times, 10 times in a row in row 7 while I was there for Kennycon, ⛈️ killed the crowd. Rode Steel Curtain 6 times. I'd put Sky Rocket at 4 behind Thunderbolt. The second half killed it for me
Kennywood is my local park and I love it there! It got me into rollercoasters. Even though it’s very small compared to other places I’ve been to, it’s very special to me. I’m going very soon and I’m hyped up! Every time I hear Kennywood mentioned (regardless of context) I get hyped up!
“This is the premier coaster in kennywood” nO ItS NOt sKY roCKeT waS MAdE bY PRemIEr!
Ba dum tss
I agree with Sky Rocket in 2nd place. It's smooth, great airtime and fun inversions 👍
Every time i see the kennywood sign coming off the bridge i cry, and seeing kennywood Blvd does it to me too. Grew up up the hill from kennywood park, could see the rollercoasters from top of my street. Was so close me and my friends would walk there a couple times a week, when it was free to get in! My older sisters walked me down to the pool to swim too. Every family member (teens) worked there in the summer too. Im in NE Ohio but i really miss that place
Chris: “I rode everything”
Also Chris: “Lil Phantom closed due to rain before I could ride it”
So you actually didn’t ride everything then
Yeah well i guess. Damn
Ok
*Cries in L'll Phantom*
@@AirtimeThrills sky rocket is my favorite coaster there but did you get a chance to ride aero360
Does lil phantom even count tho? That looks like a ride for 2nd graders
Once I got to skyrocket really early in the day, and once the ride was over no one was in line for it. The ride operator asked everyone on board if they wanted to ride it again, and we agreed. Hands down the best experience I’ll ever have with the ride, twice in a row was awesome.
Phantom's Revenge definitely number 1 in the park! It's ALWAYS running, it's up there with the best coasters .... but Steel Curtain? total bust! Sky Rocket is legit FUN, and it's a nice way to end the day. Thx for this review !
Kennywood really looks like it gives American Blackpool Pleasure Beach vibes.
I gotta say I gotta give it to this man for creating a masterpiece of an intro keep up the good work airtime thrills!!
Honored to see you review my beloved home park!
Kennywood will always have a special place on my heart, as it was the first park I went to as a Thoosie besides Kings Island, my home park.
Kennywood is definitely a bucket list park for me, idk why but steal curtain look really crazy to me.
I also love Sky Rocket, very underrated. I didn't get to ride Steel Curtain, having only visited the park in 2020, but I was pleasantly surprised to see you putting Sky Rocket above it.
Steel Curtain’s lift hill height feels even higher than it is because to your right the terrain plummets off a cliff showing the Monongahela River. On the chain lift hill, when the audio is working you get the opening segment of Styx’s “Renegade” and just when the song is about to transition from “Oh mama” soft ballad to hard rock, the coaster immediately rolls and plummets into the DrachenFire inversion and the run begins.
Your videos make my days in sickness bearable.
Nice video one of my favorite parks. Love the history here.
I rode Curtain last week, in Row 5, and I thought it was great. I don’t think it’s forceless by any means. The forces really build throughout the ride. There’s good positives before and after the sea serpent, and that one half helix between the corkscrew and cutback pulls near grey-out positives. The beginning isn’t that intense, but it makes up for it in the second half.
Also, your footage looks very slow compared to my trip in August. I rode it around 1:30, and it was hauling. Next time, try it at the end of the day to get a warmed-up ride
I knew i was only gonna have a chance to ride it in the morning but one day ill try to get there for a ride later on
I'll vouche for this theory. Having ridden Steel Curtain around noon vs. 9pm, the experiences are night and day. The coaster is odd in that the vibration (something I didn't notice on the latter ride) almost feels like a continuous trim brake. The night ride was far more intense, but it still pales towards any ride I've ever had on Phantom's Revenge. Of course, that coaster has always teetered on being extremely intense, and most certainly crossed that line in the original Arrow configuration.
Visited there my first time in June 2021, and was also pleasantly surprised by Sky Rocket. I agree with your top three rankings.
Was also really surprised as how well maintained and smooth everything seemed to be riding... and had an unexpected amount of fun on the Turtles flatride...
Only regret not being able to visit a little earlier to try out some of their other historic flatrides that were recently removed...
We went this past Christmas time and had a blast on the turtle! I'm local so been on it before but the 2 ride ops were so interactive with us. They would sing, then Slow it down as if ending, then speeding up again.
I went here for the first time in June, and I thought this place and the rides there were awesome! Here's how I ranked the coasters I rode:
1. Phantom's Revenge
2. Steel Curtain
3. Sky Rocket
4. Racer
5. Jack Rabbit
6. Thunderbolt
(didn't ride exterminator or lil phantom)
I didn't exactly agree with your rankings, but many things you said about the coasters I did agree with. The 2nd drop on phantom is insane. The last drop on racer is one of my favorite airtime moments in the park. Sky Rocket was insanely underrated, I may actually prefer it over some Sky Rocket 2s. Jack Rabbit's double down was a bit overhyped. And I did not expect that ejector pop right before the lift hill on Thunderbolt.
Love seeing people come to my home park.
With Kennywood being my home park I love this rating and I agree on all of these. Good video
You my friend are the only person to even have sky rocket in top 4 let alone top 2. Glad you liked my hometown park tho!
Definitely agree on phantom and sky rocket. The beginning to sky rocket is fantastic. All of phantom is awesome. Exterminator has a special place in my heart. It’s so fun.
I liked your Skyrocket review. I was not expecting much either, but my daughter and I really enjoyed that coaster! I never hear about it much since but it saved our Kennywood trip when Phantom's Revenge was closed (pre - Steel Curtain).
I love about an hour from Kennywood it's always been part of my childhood which is why I love going there. It also helps that I'm a bit of a history buff and that Kennywood has some of the oldest still running rides and attractions out there. I also for the most part agree with your list except for the Steel Curtain, I'd rank it second best but barely better than the sky rocket. The thing with the sky rocket is that to me it doesn't feel like a complete experience, the first half was great but it just kinda half assed itself to death after you get to the second part of the ride. The curtain feels more complete in it's concept.
Kennywood is my comfort park. Until covid hit, my family used to go every year. Coaster wise, I've only ridden Jackrabbit and Racer, but I want to ride a couple more coasters next time my family goes. Hopefully we go to go again this year.
0:41 "When you think of Kennywood, you think of..."
I don't always think of Kennywood, but when I do, I think about the thrill of being strapped in on a ride during an active shooting after the ride operators fled for their lives.
I've probably ridden Phantom more times than every one of my other 104 coasters combined. Kennywood is built into my blood as I grew up in Western PA. Sadly I haven't been there since about 2018, and haven't got Steel Curtain yet. Funny to think that Kennywood has had TWO hyper-loopers over the course of it's history, I don't think any other park can say that.
Cedar Point is offended (Steel Vengeance & Valravn)
@@rparqer I don't think I've ever seen valravn refered to as a hyper, but i guess it technically fits the definition
@@yeahitme3392 actually “technically “ the term hyper coaster was coined referring to the use of steel track to build larger faster traditional coasters layouts. The fact that Magnum was the first to use the term and happened to be over 200 feet tall was really just a side note. But the nerdy enthusiast community latched on to that as the one and only requirement for a hyper and now we have hyper loopers & hyper woodies.
@@rparqer every enthusiast picks and chooses definitions to an extent - my picking and choosing is that to me, dives aren't traditional hypers or loopers. They're their own category if you will.
I normally suck at ranking things, but with Kennywood being my home park, I've ridden everything so much that I have a good feel for it. Here's my rankings:
1. Phantom's Revenge
2. Steel Curtain
3. Jackrabbit
4. SkyRocket
5. Thunderbolt
6. Exterminator
7. Racer
8. Lil Phantom (and yes, I have actually ridden it)
Actually, now that you mention it I am going to Cedar Point for the first time next month so perhaps I could also stop by Kennywood as well.
Recommend it just for Phantom. Also Noah's Ark is an AMAZING walk through
Kennywood is my home park and I gotta say you SORELY missed out on experiencing Steel Curtain in the front row. I agreed with your review of the coaster from a back row perspective, but it is 110% a front row ride. The forces are far better, the airtime is stronger, and the transitions are whippier, not to mention a phenomenal view.
I was wondering. I went last month and rode twice in the back, and I kinda hated it. I realized the next day that I should've given it another chance from the front. I'll have to get back there again, I guess.
Airtime thrills thumbnails be like:
😶🤤🤭😬🤮😯😤😠☹️🥸🤩😘😌🥸🤣😙😀😛🤣🤩🙃🙂🥳🤩😐😡🥶🤥🥵😱👹😲🎃😮💨😈💩👹☠️👹🥱😪😂
Lol but seriously, you make amazing videos! Let us know when you go to lagoon in Utah and I’ll say hi 👀
Kennywood's collection honestly looks to rival Hersheypark... Skyrocket's 1st half seems elite, Scurt is def polarizing... it's one of those rides u either love or hate, it's hard to see what I'd think depending on my ride of course, cuz warmed up seems like a whole different beast... then, the woodies look very fun, and Phantom with it's unbelievable ejector just makes me wish that all Morgans ran trimless, without midcourse... runnin' without all that, we could see more of the out and backs running the way Phantom does, with it's legendary powerful strong air... Eel and Superman, which people say is actually better than Phantom, look unparrareled when they run without the strong midcourses and trims, it's definitely high in my bucket list to run those rides in those conditions
I wouldn’t say sky rocket is elite, it’s not super forceful. The trim on the top hat and the midcourse is also kinda unnecessary and att is right, everything after the 2nd drop is mild. I don’t think it’s a bad ride at all it’s still fun but it’s more of a first big coaster for a kid than a rival to storm runner
Steel Curtain is phenomenal and the best coaster in PA, Phantom is third, Sky Rocket is awesome, all three woodies are a lot of fun, and exterminator is a real wild card coaster. Kennywood rivals Cedar Point for me, the collection of coasters and park atmosphere are so amazing.
@@notafurry4067 what would you say is second best in PA?
Let's not forget that Phoenix at Knoebels is in PA
@@mattgolden100 The work of art that is Candymonium.
Went here the day Taylor from CS was here and I have to say I was very underwhelmed by Phantom and actually enjoyed my rides on Steel Curtain better considering how much they raved about it I definitely caught it on a good day. I rode back row twice and a front row on Phantom and other than a few good pops towards the end its was a rather mild ride and I wouldn't put it anywhere near rides like Lightning Rod, Voyage, and Steel Vengeance. I will say I found skyrocket to be a surprise and actually enjoyed my ride on it.
I have been going to Kennywood for 40 years and my list is much different. 1. Phantom's Revenge 2. Steel Curtain 3. Sky Rocket 4. Jack Rabbit 5. Thunderbolt 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom
I noticed that if you walk from the Potato Patch up under Phantoms lift hill, there is a Lost Kennywood sign and they have Pittsburgh spelled Pittsburg. Ooops LOL
I love the videos, my kids and I will watch them on a park before we visit. Keep doing what you do,we enjoy it!
It's not a mistake. Pittsburgh used to be spelled without the H.
Ugh, what an amazing lineup. Sky Rocket looks awesome. 2022 I'm finally going, I have to.
Great video. I love hearing your thoughts on these coasters. I find it frustrating how many parks don't have a simple t-shirt with their logo (looking at Holiday World and Indiana Beach).
Right? It's infuriating. Kennywood had a billion of the "Kennywood's open" shirts tho. Apparently not flying off the shelves
I went twice this year. I thought the operations were mixed. They were awesome at Phantom's Revenge, but at Steel Curtain they were not good. Sometimes at Steel Curtain they took seat request for some people and the next group up would be not be given an option. From a cost perspective the park is worth it.
Here are my thoughts on the coasters:
1. Phantom's Revenge- My #10 overall and I agree it is the best coaster in PA for me (Slightly above SkyRush). Wait times were always short for this one.
2. Steel Curtain- Not in my Top 50. One real good air time moment and the stall is great. Rest is a bit overrated.
3. Jack Rabbit- My #100 overall. I love the double down. Good operations all things considered.
4. Thunderbolt- Just outside my Top 100. I agree with your points on this ride.
5. Racer- Didn't think it was as bad as you. Fun racing coaster. Slow operations.
6. Sky Rocket- I wasn't a fan all things considered. Second half was really boring. Top hat was good, the inversion you loved didn't really stick out for me.
7. Exterminator- I think you like the spinning coasters a little more than me. It was ok.
8. Lil Phantom- I did actually ride it.
Overall Kennywood is worth the visit.
Sky Rocket below racer, that's gonna leave a mark
Honestly, Racer is my favorite Kennywood coaster. It has some decent floater on the camelbacks and (I forgot which) one of the pull outs. I do think that Jackrabbit's double down is a top ten airtime moment.
Having Kennywood be my home park I couldn’t agree any more with what you said. With growing up there so much all the ground rides are so fun when the lines are short.
After my last visit in 2017, my favorite is The Phantom's Revenge followed by Sky Rocket, The Racer, Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt. Those last two got me incredibly nauseas somehow.
*_I actually went to Kennywood On The 14th Of August This Year, The Rides Are All Fantastic._*
Worth making the trip back to Kennywood twice in one year for lil phantom alone. Get on a plane in OKC fly to Pittsburgh and then do whatever necessary to ride lil phantom. God tier ride and it will make you wonder why you ever thought steel vengeance was worth riding.
I really like how your honest, and so we know how good and not good they are, so we don't have to wait in long lines so thx!
“racer is the only Morbius loop coaster I’ve been on”
Twisted Collossus: *Am I a joke to you?”*
Kennywood and one train are synonymous... Why I rarely go even though it's my home park. It's been that way my entire life...
Kennywood is like a 6-7-ish hours away from me so I've been there like 2 or 3 times and I rode most of like good family rides like Jake rabbit and thunderbolt
i have been to kenny wood for the first time in my life i was scared at first but when i rode almost every coasters i loved the place
bruh steel curtain is amazing, best in the whole state easily, the ejector feels like an RMC, the whip feels like maverick, the hangtime is easily the best ive experienced and there is actually some rly forceful sections too, and the best part is the pacing, at least when i went in august 2019 the ride looked like a cartoon
He said get got a morning ride, it runs like crap in the morning. In the afternoon in a hot humid day, it hauls like an RMC as you said.
@@quix9556 I completely agree. My first ride was a slightly rainy 45 degree morning in Oct 19 and I was not impressed at all. Went back this summer for Kennycon and it was hauling.
Just curious, do you usually ride in the front or the back? I rode in the back twice when it was warmed up, and I had a similar experience to @AirtimeThrills. It didn't feel very fast or forceful, and I walked away with a headache that I think came from the vibration. The tall seats really obstruct the view, so I think a front row ride might feel more intense and forceful. Also front rows are usually smoother.
It might just be a front row machine, or I just had bad luck.
@@BoomerangVillage it’s a front row ride, only a handful of rides I’d say that for but steel curtain is one of them
@@chickensandwich97 I mean it was extremely hot the day I went so that maybe why, it was hauling on my morning ride too tho
The reason for the one train ops is in may the train that was in storage valleyed between the dive loop and the airtime hill on top of the stall, it happened in may of this year cause it was colder than normal.
Scariest ride is the ski lift. No restraints, far above the asphalt, only your ass between you and a painful death
I went there as a kid and still freak out remembering that
Enthusiasts: "double down"
Pittsburghers: "double dip"
thank you. it must always be called the double dip
Yep, dip
The park runs one train on their coasters for the same reason most stands only run one or two registers. Park management treats its employees like their rollercoaster tycoon staff, so they're perpetually understaffed. And even when they're fully staffed, they tell team leads to send people home to cut payroll
Kennywood just being a half hour from me, I have a lot of memories there. Still haven't rode the Steel Curtain though!
I mostly agree with this video tbh, but I've never seen that Exterminator format outside of Kennywood! Perhaps I'm missing out.
Also, just found you off of Ryan's "Son Of Beast" video!
Taking our first trip there this Saturday. Picked up flash sale tickets for phantom fest for $29 each. We hit up a lot of Cedar point this year, so I am kinda excited to get some new credits and ride a woody again besides blue streak. Also excited by the idea of riding everything I want without shelling out hundreds for fast lane plus lol.
One thing that everyone needs to remember when coming to Kennywood is that it is a Family park that focuses on attractions for all ages instead of big over the top thrills.
It does a fantastic job with having rides appropriate for all ages and great for slowly taking riders from the simple and fun Racer all the way to the top of The Steel Curtain.
*I personally despise the theme of the ride but that's just me*
Your experience with the rides sounds very similar to mine, although Steel Curtain's vibrations did get to me. I didn't mind it on the ride, but after it was over, I had a pretty bad headache. Re-riding only made it worse. I think my main problem was that I went for the back both times. The back is my go-to, but it seems the front of SC might be better. The tall seats kill the view from the back, and it seems from other reviews, the front might have more forces and a smoother ride.
I plan to head back to Kennywood in the future, I'll make sure to try the front seat on SC, and I think you should do the same if you get the chance. It might earn the praise everyone seems to think it deserves.
Quick note on Sky Rocket: Ride it in the front if you can. The trimmed tophat is unfortunate, but in the front you get launched out of your seat just before you hit the trims. It's one of the best ejector moments I've experienced, and I've experienced the Zippin Pippin's ejector death hill in nearly every row.
Wow your tales are completely different than mine. I really wasn’t impressed with Sky Rocket, although I thought it was better than Wicked. I also liked Jack Rabbit more than Thunderbolt, despite it being a smaller ride. The only placements we agree on are Phantom and Racer-imo a clear best/worst pick for the park.
Jackrabbit is scary af because there are only small lap belts for restraints. You feel like you can fall out
I went to Kennywood for the first time in over a decade, a few weeks ago (I live less than 40 mins away shame on me) and Steel Curtin is now closed for the rest of the season, so I didn't get to ride it. I got to ride Sky Rocket for my first time and for a better part of my day was going between Phantom and Rocket, two trains on both which was super nice.
Great video! Seems like a good park to go to even if not the absolute best!
Hey bud Chris. I'd send you direct message but I'm old AF and I tried but I can't figure out how to do it on RUclips. So the last two years (and for me three years before that) have absolutely SUCKED. The one thing that has really helped settle my constant nerves over all this crap is rollercoaster videos. And yours, far and away, get me the most excited, keep me most enthralled, make me laugh and think, the most. Love love love how much you like COMET Hersheypark. I was as terrified to ride that towering beast (at the time long before SKYRUSH) approximately 1985, as you were to ride Goliath. Just saying my life sucks sometimes. I only ever have the balls to comment and write on stuff, when I'm drunk. My dad accidentally ran himself over with a backhoe, on 4/23/17. And I've been trying to run our family drive-in movie theatre in his absence. My mom and my sister have dug right in, and we couldn't have gotten this far without doing it together. And we would've self destructed and blown all the way apart if not for Billy Hayden, and I know this sounds dramatic and dumb but if I didn't have your vids to look forward to, or to ease me out of a long busy messed up day, I dunno. I'm ready to give up on this sometimes and just hitchhike to Magic Mountain. a hugely supportive small two town community, ( But me and my dad had a rhythm, before he died. He didn't leave a will, or direction, or any life insurance. I have no point here, other than letting you know that Everytime I turn on my XBOX1TV, and you have uploaded another genius, perfectly edited, perfectly thought out, funny and great and dry humor af, it's a good night for me. Thank you Chris.
You have endless free admission to the Midway Drive-In Theatre in Fulton/Minetto NY.
The one thing that surprises me is that Kennywood has a chain-driven, non-launched S&S Sansei coaster.
1 phantom revenge 2 thunderbolt keep everything else the same. I love Kennywood I live a few moments away from it and I go there several times every summer. A ride on the phantoms revenge and the thunderbolt will always put a smile on every Pittsburgh's face.
I go every year in august for band and this year I was forced onto every single coaster (except the curtain lol) and now I can’t wait to go again 😅 it’s so much fun
Kennywood has been doing better about running multiple trains where feasible. In my visit in 2022, both Phantom's Revenge and Steel Curtain were running both trains. Phantom's Revenge is a no-brainer number 1 at Kennywood and is my number 5 overall.
I've got somethin to make your Steel Curtain experience better, Chris. You need to request the front. I rode in the front last time I was there and holy crap! That may improve your opinion on its forces
I went to Kennywood last week and I can get with the Sky Rocket vs Steel Curtain ranking especially after riding Sky Rocket in the front row. The hang time going over the top hat is crazy, it makes the trims make sense.
The trims alao dont hurt the airtime in the back. You still get a nice pop
Grand National at Blackpool in the UK does the same thing as Racer. My favourite woodie over here!
This is my home park and I love it so much but in my opinion Kennywood has been coasting on their 3 classic woodies for awhile. I think Kennywood could really use a nice modern woodie. They’ve literally only built steel coasters since the 80s which is fine but I think a new wooden coaster would compliment the park nicely.
Let's hope for an RMC!!!
I would love to see it get a new woodie as well. The major problem is space, they really only have three options. Take out Raging Rapids and maybe the train, scrap Skyrocket, or buy more land.
You nailed it. Steel Curtain is good, but phantom is elite.
For me:
Phantom
Sky rocket
Thunderbolt
Steel Curtain
Jack Rabbit
Exterminator
Racer
Lil phantom
...odd park really... 0 B&M, Intamin, or vekoma.
Very unique.
We've been to KW twice this year, on our first big coaster trip in May & last Saturday during our 3rd big coaster trip this year. I definitely like Steel Curtain more than you. I prefer the more graceful, negative G inversions to the intense, positive G ones. I guess that's part of getting old. We did pull an "Airtime Thrills" on this trip. We rode the Maid Of The Mist at Niagara Falls at opening, kicked it to SF Darien Lake and hit every coaster except Mind Bender(I wasn't exactly heartbroken it was down!) and then stopped by Waldameer and rode the drop tower and every coaster including Ravine Flyer II twice & Steel Dragon 3x. My wife loved Steel Dragon and insisted we ride it multiple times. Not quite 4 parks in one day like you but I was pleased with what we did in one day.
That sounds like an awesome day. And mind eraser is among the worst slcs ever so no big deal there
@@AirtimeThrills Yeah, Mind Eraser, not Bender!
Really enjoy your content 👍🏼😎👍🏼. I just did Kennywood Sunday August 15th. Steel Curtain was able to do 2 train ops around noonish. I am doing a 2 week 40th Birthday run to 6 parks I haven't been to. Lakemont Park, Kennywood, Dollywood, Carowinds, Hersheypark, SF Great Adventure. Right now I am doing Carowinds and OMG FIRST TIME Fury 325 back row for my 140th credit was AMAZING!!!! My list for Kennywood:
1. Phantom 2. Curtain 3. Jack Rabbit 4. Thunderbolt 5. Skyrocket 6. Exterminator 7. Racer 8. Lil Phantom which was closed for me also 🥲
List of rides and where I sat on them from Kennywood:
Jack Rabbit (2) both back rows
Racer left 1 back row right 1 back row
Steel curtain (4) row 6, row 6, row 8, row 3
Thunderbolt (1) row 9
Phantoms Revenge (4) row 6, row 7, row 7, row 6
Sky Rocket (1) row 5
Exterminator (1)
Fury gets better and better as you ride it more also. Masterpiece
@@AirtimeThrills Rode it 10 times. Out of my 145 credits as of now I would rank it as my new #1.
Here were my 10 rides on Fury 325 in order :
LH back row, row 6, row 1, RH back row, row 4, row 7, row 3, row 7, row 2, row 3
Airtime Thrills is a "train half full" kind of guy.
I was surprised to hear that people don’t like steel curtain. I was also surprised to hear that people said it was rough. Honestly it’s in my top ten of smoothest coasters I’ve ridden!
If you find yourself coming to Busch Gardens in Tampa let me know. I have two Kennywood Guest Services shirts left and you can have them. They were actual Kennywood employee shirts. Around 20 years ago Kennywood sold them on Ebay when they were changing them for the next season.
Kennywood is my home park so I tend to overlook the slow operations. Get annoyed by one train on Phantom's Revenge and Steel Curtain. New brake system this year for Thunderbolt so they can run 2 trains again. My ranking top to bottom: Phantom's Revenge, Thunderbolt, Steel Curtain, Sky Rocket, Exterminator, Jack Rabbit, Racer and lil Phantom.
And yes, Phantom's Revenge still runs crazy fast especially on a hot day surely hitting 90 at the bottom of the 2nd hill.
I actually found Steel Curtain to be very good. I was very disappointed in my front row 1st train of the day on Phantom so I was debating if I liked Phantom or Curtain better. Then I rode Phantom 3 more times in the back later that day and that blew me away
Could not agree more with you regarding steel curtain and sky rocket. Went to kennywood for the first time in Sunday and was hyped about steel curtain and Phantom's Revenge. While Phantom's Revenge more than lived up to the hype (especially closer to the front of the train), I walked away from steel curtain thinking "well, the lift hill was pretty intense." For 9 inversions, I didn't experience much in the way of forces. Even the initial inversion lacked hang time and the following five loop/drop felt almost too gradual to create airtime. Skyrocket, in the other hand, was not even a coaster I thought about going in. Between PR, SC, and 3 historic woodies, it didn't register. But the ride was surprisingly forceful. Great ejector on the 2 drops, and some solid hangtime. The back end is boring but the first half is great. Easily my #2 at the park. None the less, so disappointing that a ride as beautiful and innovative as steel curtain was kind of a bust.
The reason they take one train off before opening is per park policy. All rollercoasters must start the day on one train. That's what an attendant at Phantom's said when I asked them last time I went. It's really a shame because the two main coasters always have a line right at rope drop.
That is such an odd policy. It takes time to switch a train on and off, and It honestly takes wayyy too long for one train on Steel Curtain to complete its circuit with that slow lift hill
Great video, Skyrocket is most definitely the most surprising coaster at Kennywood mybdirstntwo trips there I skipped it for time sake but when I finally got on it I was blown away! I agree that it ranks above Steel Curtain and Phantom's Revenge is the undisputed Kennywood King! The classic wooden collection is awesome with great rides for their ages!
Skyrocket isn’t all that good . Phantom is a lot better
Also when your waiting in line, all those control panels and displays you see aren't fake. They came from a coal power station that was about 15 minutes down the river that closed about 30 years ago, power company just gave em away. They work really well.