OT-? Kennywood and Sancastle Waterpark

[stitchfriend]

Thought of taking a a mini vaca to Pittsburgh this summer. I have a few questions regarding these parks.

1. We will be going in June. How crowded will the parks be? I probably aready know the answer, but thought I'd asked..

2. Can anyone tell me how the Water park is? Does it have alot of rides to do? Is it worth the money? Food Prices?

3. Looking for a budget hotel under $100/nite and clean. Any suggestions?

4. How is the food prices in Kennywood? Is there places outside of the park to eat? Thought it might be cheaper to eat outside at a Wendy's or McDonald's. Does it take to much time to leave and come back?

Overall feedback on anything will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[flateacher]

I do not live in the area but I have ALOT of family in Pitt and go to Kennywood often.

I do not think it will be crowded in June. BUT check the website because different school districts have their "picnic" days. Meaning on a certain day it could be crowded with tons of middle/high schoolers.

The food is reasonable (in my opinion) compared to Disney. Best part is you can bring in a cooler. As in a full/huge rolling cooler with all of your food and drinks. In fact this is what the above school picnics are all about. People bring in bbq and tons of food and hang in a pavillon (sp?). You can leave your food there all day and come back when you want to eat. I do not know about rental (of the pavillons)- I think some are rented for the school picnics but I think others are first come first served but I am not positive.

I can not speak to the water park as we are from FLA and never used it. We looked at it and it was CROWDED! I thought the water park was the most crowded part. I never think Kennywood is crowded!

Edit:

I forgot to address your leaving the park question. There really isn't anything around that I remember that is worth leaving for. The park is really surrounded by neighborhoods. You would do better to bring a cooler (and yes I think you can re-enter).

Have fun! I love Kennywood - I think it is one of the best economical family parks. Also don't forget to check for discount tickets at Giant Eagle or other places. I know they always have them somewhere...

 

[snowmanlover]

1. PP is right, there are school picnics in June, not sure when they end.

2. Haven't been to Sandcastle in a few year's, but it is nice. There are alot of slides and it is a BIG place! I do know you can't take a cooler in like you can at Kennywood.

3. Google hotels in West Mifflin. There are several and not far from Kennywood/Sandcastle. Maybe 20 mins.

4. There used to be a McDonald's right outside Kennywood that you could walk to, but not sure it's still there.

I think it's worth a trip!

 

[BCV2003]

Until a year ago, I lived about 100 yards from Kennywood.

June may be crowded as someone said because of school picnics but not all days are crowded. Weekends will definitely be more crowded.

There are plenty of food options in the park. The only places to walk to are McDonald's or Long John Silver's/A&W. Not really worth the time for me to leave the park.

There are several new hotels between Kennywood and Sandcastle. One is a Courtyard by Marriott (newest) in Homestead and the other is a Hampton Inn & Suites. Last time I was down that way there were building another hotel near the other two that seemed to look like it was going to be a more budget type of place. There are plenty of restraurants, shopping and a movie theater in the area of these hotels too.

If it is a very hot day, Sandcastle will be crowded but again a weekday will be less so.

You can typically get discount tickets at the local Giant Eagle grocery stores for Kennywood.

 

[mindyd]

I would try to avoid Kennywood on the Weekends will be very crowded but like everyone said you will also have the School picnics. Food is resonable if you are soda drinkers I would get the refillable cup I think it was 9.99 last year and then .99 for a refill you don't realize how much you drink on a hot day you can also have them fill it up with water for free. There is Mcdonalds outside the park you get your hand stamped and will be allowed back in. Ther is a Cafeteria that is air conditioned and have all sorts of things even complete dinners like Roastbeef etc. Definitely try the Potato Patch fries they are great. Our favorite place to eat looks like a merry go round building you can get burgers, chicken fingers, subs. There are 3 or 4 dfferent windows in there that you can can order different things from and has a topping bar.

 

[midas]

Definitely avoid weekends. Even with the schools, it is not that bad if you get there early. Park gates open 10 or 10:30 and rides start 1/2 hour later. You can cover the big rides (Phantom' Revenge, Racers, Sky Rocket, Thunderbolt) pretty quickly. The park is not that big, you can walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes or so. Crowds increase during the afternoon and there's a discounted price for admission after 5, so evenings could get crowded.

Take a cooler with drinks (no alcohol) and or food and find a table in one of the pavilions that aren't rented and just leave it. Nobody will bother it and you can come and go as you please to get drinks. Food in the park isn't bad especially the cafeteria that a PP mentioned but drinks are costly like other parks.

Giant Eagle grocery stores sell discounted tickets and you can save 10.00 or so per admission getting them there. Last I remember, regular price is around 37.00.

Never been to Sandcastle, but I heard it gets crowded on nice days.

 

[dhuba]

A hotel at the Waterfront in Munhall would be the closest and that is what I would recommend. I think there are two and both relatively new. They are in a very nice area and in the district where there are tons of restaurants and shopping, large movie theatre and the entrance to Sandcastle is right there. That zipcode for a hotel would be 15120. Now that I think of it there are three hotels-not sure if the one is finished yet though.

 

[2bearsmom]

We went to Sandcastle for the first time last summer and brought in a small cooler filled with bottled waters and in my bag I had some small snacks. We had to leave early due to lightning and got tickets to come back another day. Lots of water slides, a lazy river although we have to be on due to overcrowding and not enough tubes. My kids enjoy the wave pool so we spend a lot of time there. http://www.sandcastlewaterpark.com/site/information.html This link has a small map outline of the park and info about bringing in food/drinks. We went on Wednesdays as that is my husbands day off work and both times it was packed with what looked like YMCA daycare groups. So really the only overly crowded section was at the end by Wet Willie's pool as that is geared for younger kids. A lot of walking on the really hot "board walk" path if you leave your sandals in a locker...the place could use a sprucing up but it's a nice day out.

When we go to Kennywood we always bring a big cooler filled with bottled waters and some snacks...we just find a picnic table back by the train ride and leave it there all day. We would never leave Kennywood to go eat, that's my yearly potato patch fry, corn dogs and Mt. Dew lunch! In previous years we've brought lunch meat in the cooler to make sandwiches for lunch then had dinner at the one indoor restaurant, don't know the name of it.

 

[RumpleMom]

Kennywood has reasonably priced food with good sized portions.

We like to eat in the cafeteria building. They serve a really good turkey dinner. It is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, roll with butter, steamed mixed vegetables and cranberry sauce. It is a generous, delicious portion. We add fruit- strawberries or watermelon and share the meal.

Also many people pack a cooler and leave it at a pavilion. We have done this too when feeding our kids and their numerous friends.

Kennywood's Potato Patch fries are famous. You can get them with various toppings. We usually share an order.

Also Pittsburgh has the National Aviary and a nice zoo.

 

[Crystal824]

I would avoid the weekends if you can. It will be less crowded on weekdays. Even so, Kennywood is not usually that crowded. Sandcastle can become very crowded on hot weekend day, however. Both are fun parks. While there is a McDonalds right outside of Kennywood, I would just eat in the park. Prices for food are not really that bad especially compared to Disney. Definitely get some potato patch fries, they are wonderful. If you children are younger, you might also consider visiting Idlewild, which is another theme park in the area.

 

[CMW0021]

Being from Pittsburgh, Kennywood is a summer staple. You have gotten great advice already. I would definitely take in a cooler if you are looking to save a buck. Otherwise, the food is reasonably priced and good. You got to stop at the potato patch. Homestead is the best place to stay. Chain hotels and plenty of spots to shop and get a bite to eat.

Check Kennywood's website leading up to June to check the school picnics. You're definitely better to go in the week. They periodically offer bogo tickets in the summer.

If you have small children, I would recommend taking the drive to Idlewild. Its a great place for kids and they also have a water park. Have fun!

 

[dhuba]

If you go to waterfrontpgh.com that will show what's around the area that I suggested you stay. You will also find links to the shops, hotels and movie theatre which is right across from two of those hotels. You could almost walk to Sandcastle. It's just a one or two minute drive just at the other end of the Waterfront down from Costco. And when you came back at night you could walk across the street to all the restaurants and shops. It's very nice busy area with a ton of nice restaurants, and you won't need your car if you don't want to once you get back. Kennywood is about five to 10 minutes up the main road and there aren't any hotels closer to Kennywood.

 

[MsLeFever]

Also - Kennywood has Dole Whips!