OT: Idlewild?

[snoopy5386]

We are planning on taking our 3 yo DD here in about a month. We picked Idlewild over Kennywood since it will be just DH, DD, and I so too hard for DH and I to go on the "big" rides since there is no babyswap or fastpass. I'd love to hear what others think of this park. Also can anyone clue me into where we might get some discounted tickets?
Thanks!

 

[jlovesee]

Kennywood does have a child/parent swap:

http://www.kennywood.com/docs/MicrosoftWord-2008HeightRestrictions.pdf

I have been to both parks (yes I live in Missouri and have been to both parks! sad isn't?). Personally they are both great for families. Except for a few exceptions Kennywood's rides are more family oriented, the Kangaroo, Noah's Ark, The old Mill and Jack Rabbit are all great examples. I think for all three of you this would really allow you the best experience.

Now on the flip side, Idlewild is a VERY cute park, it has a section called Storybook Land, and Mr. Rogers Trolley rides, both I think are great for a 3 year old. Their coasters are not the worlds largest but they are still very fun, Rollo Coaster is great! Plus I am assuming if Kennywood has a parent/child swap, then Idlewild would too, they are owned by the same company.

I couldn't tell you on discounts but area grocery stores have a tendency to be the best place to check for discount tickets. I have seen this with atleast a dozen other parks.

Have fun no matter what, you can't go wrong with either of the two.

Jennifer

 

[geniegirl]

I love Idlewild. I have worked at both parks and not that I have a son I would pick Idlewild over K-wood any day but Idlewild is just too far for me to go to all the time. We live within 10 min of K-wood. We do hit both at least once though.

Idlewild is laid back and more relaxed. as the last poster said there are different areas, storybook forest is great for little kids, jumpin jungle is an interactive area, then you have the main park but there is not ride that you can not ride together, as long as you are taller than 36, and most are not scary, you also have kiddie land with the typical kiddie rides and mister rogers. plus there is a full water park with slides and a new kid area that was just built in the last 2 years.

you will not be upset if you go to idlewild over k-wood, i think it is just a better little kid park.

 

[Joyful3Heart]

Idlewild is a lot of fun for smaller children, and I agree much more laid back, although Soakzone (their water park section) can get crazy at times. Our family, however, prefers kennywood's rides (Idlewild's rides tend to be more carnival like). Our dd9 has been riding their oldest rollercoaster the jackrabbit since she was 3. That being said, we usually bring grandma or get a group together to share time with the younger kids when we go. Kennywood will have longer lines and is usually quite a bit more crowded, also. I have never tried their child swap. I don't think you can go wrong with either one, and I, too would probably stick with idlewild if it was just the two of us with a 3yo.
Our local grocery store chain, Giant Eagle, sells discounted tix for both parks, but only, I think, til the middle of June (tix are good daily through part of July at kennywood and surcharged on the weekends thereafter, Idlewilds are never surcharged). I know pepsi cans sold locally also are supposed to offer a 20% discount for idlewild, also. What we have done in the past is stop at Giant Eagle on the way and buy our tickets. You can visit their website for locations.
Have fun

 

[HerdEar]

We took my almost 2 year old son to Idlewild. We had a blast because he could ride most of the rides. He had so much fun that he slept in his stroller through the Story Book trail after lunch. We liked the Mr. Roger's area and enjoyed the easiness of going around the park without too much of a wait.

The Story Book trail is a very unique and awesome feature of this park. It gives the kids a real-life perspective of different fairy tales. There are also characters that are at some of the areas, as well as places to take pictures. We also went to the SoakZone, but the kiddie pools were not working, so we had to take turns with our son in the big pool. He also had fun in the water glacier area. They have a pirate ship area that is really nice, but it really isn't for the little kids.

Enjoy your trip! We would have went there if we weren't able to do Disney.

 

[snoopy5386]

thanks everyone. I will have to take another look at Kennywood's website......My thoughts were I can see us going back to Pittsburgh and going to Kennywood again as DD gets older (we live 4 hrs away) but I don't know if we'll ever do Idlewild again if we don't do it now. Soakzone is out for us unless we get some really hot weather - we are going the 1st week in June, plus DH hates waterparks. And while Mister Rogers neighborhood and Storybook Land sound really cute, DD wouldn't know what most of that stuff is.....children of modern times. Any more advice welcomed!