Visit to Kennywood - good hotels? UPDATE - JUST GOT BACK!

[ttfn3]

I'm planning a last minute getaway to Pittsburgh - and we're planning on going to Kennywood - and maybe Sandcastle. Plus - I would like to visit a couple of attractions in downtown Pittsburgh. Does anyone have a recommendation on a good hotel - that's family friendly, clean & reasonable? TIA for your help!

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

Not sure on the price, but there's a new hotel very close to Sandcastle - Marriott Courtyard Pittsburgh West Homestead/Waterfront - it looks nice. It would put you pretty close to the downtown area, plus there's a bunch of shops in the Waterfront area - http://www.shoppinginpa.com/shoppinginpa/CityExperience.do?page=waterfront

There's also a SpringHill Suites by Marriott - West Mifflin that I notice advertises Kennywood packages sometimes (I always pass it on the way to Target!). HTH. If you have any other Pittsburgh questions, let me know!

 

[BCV2003]

I second the Courtyard by Marriott in Homestead. It is very convenient to both Kennywood and Sandcastle. It is 4 miles from Kennywood and probably 1/4 of a mile from Sandcastle.

There are lots of restaurants within walking distance and nice movie theater right across the street.

 

[kidsister]

aWW shucks...I don't have any hotel ideas but I saw KENNYWOOD and just had to post as it brought back so many childhood memories when going to Kennywood was the highlight of the school year!!!!

Have fun! Ride the pippan and jackrabbit if they are still there, and oh yeah...noah's ark...is it still there?

 

[SondraC]

aWW shucks...I don't have any hotel ideas but I saw KENNYWOOD and just had to post as it brought back so many childhood memories when going to Kennywood was the highlight of the school year!!!!

Have fun! Ride the pippan and jackrabbit if they are still there, and oh yeah...noah's ark...is it still there?

O.K. I have been going to Kennywood for 30 years, but I am clueless on what "pippan" is?

 

[HayGan]

There's also a SpringHill Suites by Marriott - West Mifflin that I notice advertises Kennywood packages sometimes (I always pass it on the way to Target!). HTH. If you have any other Pittsburgh questions, let me know!

There is also a Hampton Inn on Lebanon Church Rd. that offers Kennywood packages.

http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=PITWMHX

 

[KristiMc]

Have fun - we went in July and had a great time. I miss Pittsburgh. If you don't have tickets yet, go to www.visitkennywood.com. I was able to get a family 4 pack of tickets for $75.

For hotel, I did priceline and got the Courtyard by Marriott downtown for $50. It was nice, but I forgot about downtown parking and had to pay $20.

 

[miksilver]

I have a business in that part of Pittsburgh and stay there quite a lot on that side of town -- Homestead and West Mifflin. I would sugest the Extended Stay America on Lebanon Church Rd in West Mifflin. The hotel is newer, has nice rooms and a kitchen. It runs around $60-$80/night rack rate. I've stayed there quite a bit. If you want something nicer (and a bit closer) I would stay at the Mariott Courtyard in the Waterfront. The Homestead Waterfront is a really nice area to walk around and shop. They have a Dave&Busters, Comedy Club, dueling piano players bar and lots of resturants. I tend to hang out there a lot when I am by myself on business trips.

Hope that helps.

 

[simpilotswife]

O.K. I have been going to Kennywood for 30 years, but I am clueless on what "pippan" is?

The Pippin was a coaster from way back in the day.....

http://www.kennywood.com/park_info/history.php

Many changes occurred between 1900 and 1930. In the early 1910's, Kennywood built two large roller coasters: The Racer and the Speed-O-Plane. Important rides added in the 1920's were three coasters: Jack Rabbit (Designed by Miller and Baker in 1920), Pippin (designed by John Miller in 1924), and Racer in 1927 replacing the old Racer built in 1910. The park added a huge swimming pool in 1925.

The Great Depression from 1930 to 1935 was especially hard on the park. Dancing helped keep the park in business during this period as great dance bands played in the park from 1930 to 1950. Kennywood prospered in the second half of the 1930's as new rides including Noah's Ark (1936) were added. During the Second World War period, the park couldn't add new rides, but it did buy a used ferris wheel and a miniature train. It still operates the latter.

In the 1950's school picnics grew by leaps and bounds. The park added many new rides to Kiddieland. Some popular rides in this period included the Hurricane, the Looper, the Rotor (the first ride imported from Europe), the Wild Mouse and the Octopus. With the 1960's and 1970's came competition from "Disneyland" and other theme parks. Kennywood decided to spend the money necessary to remain competitive. The Turnpike was built in 1966 followed in 1968 by the Thunderbolt, which was redesigned from the Pippin by resident coaster whiz, Andy Vettel. With the Thunderbolt came the designation "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World." The Dance Pavilion, a dark ride since the 1950's, burned in 1975.

 

[dijid]

We were at Kennywood in July. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Parkway East. DO NOT STAY THERE!! I can't stress enough how horrible our stay way. My 4yo DD and I went up a floor to get ice (our ice machine wasn't working) and walked into the middle of a medical research study where everyone on the floor was exposed to a virus. After scrubbing our hands, we learned that the hotel allows the Univ. of Pittsburgh to conduct medical research there - as do Holiday Inns across the city. My DH spoke with the study doc - he does studies with common cold, RSV, influenza even - IN HOTELS! No key card needed to access the floor study participants are on. No restricted access at all. (Plus the hotel was a dive, the waitress at the restaurant was the rudest I've ever had, no clean towels at the pool the entire weekend...I could go on)

I have tons of info on the hotel research (published studies, etc.) if anyone is interested.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Have fun! Ride the pippan and jackrabbit if they are still there, and oh yeah...noah's ark...is it still there?

Pippan, wow how old are you?

The Thunderbolt was called the Pippan many years ago. When my mom was young.

A major rehab was done of the old Pippan and it was renamed The Thunderbolt. And yep the Noah's Ark is still there, (but redone) and the JackRabbit is there also.

I have to agree with whoever suggests the courtyard by Marriott at the Waterfront. DH and I stayed there when he had a business meeting at the Waterfront. Its nice and a newer hotel.

Its very close to Sandcastle and about a 5 minute drive to Kennywood. DH's company picnic is at Kennywood in 2 week. Can't wait.

Make sure you have some Potato Patch fries.

 

[princesskatie]

Can anyone tell me how busy Kennywood has been lately. considering going next week and wondering about the wait times?

 

[HayGan]

Can anyone tell me how busy Kennywood has been lately. considering going next week and wondering about the wait times?

OK - wait times can really vary at Kennywood. It all depends if you are going on a weekend or weekday, if there are any ethnic or company picnics going on, etc. Another thing about Kennywood is that their rides aren't meant to move people quickly through lines like WDW either. We go expecting to wait at least 15 - 20 minutes for rides on slow days and 30+ minutes on busier days. The best day we ever had at Kennywood was this year. It was on a beautiful Tuesday in late June. We had perfect weather (upper 70's and no humidity.) The crowd lines were super low. We waited on average 10 - 15 minutes for the Exterminator, Ghostwood Manor, Jack Rabbit and Log Jammer. Some rides like Bumper Cars, Pirate Ship and Cosmic Chaos we walked right on. Our longest waits were ~20 minutes for Phantom's Revenge and another ride on Ghostwood Manor. I have never seen such short lines at Kennywood in over 30 years of going there! DH and I agreed that we were extremely lucky and that it was our best Kennywood experience ever!

 

[georgina]

There is a note on the website that Kennywood is closed August 25 through 5 PM on the 29th. (Probably many of the workers going back to school.) I know they have special days that can affect crowds. Our band is playing in the parade on Friday the 15th, that will probably be a busy day, as they have several high school bands in the parade and lots of people go.

 

[ttfn3]

Hi everyone! We just returned from our short trip - and I wanted to thank everyone for their help. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Homestead/Waterfront and it worked out great. We enjoyed being close to the restaurants and shopping area at the Waterfront. The boys enjoyed the D&B's on steriods (We have one near where we live and it pales in comparison to this one!).

I bought park tickets from AAA in Ohio and got a GREAT deal. $20 for a ticket to Kennywood - and we got a free ticket to use another day for Sandcastle. We enjoyed Kennywood, even tho. we had quite a bit of rain. The rain made the "Whip" really whip! It was fun to see all the historical buildings and rides. I thought the park had a nice mix of rides. Very family friendly park.

I LOVED Sandcastle. Lots of great waterslides along a boardwalk area. We wished it stayed open a bit later than 6 p.m. on a Friday night, tho.

I also want to return to Pittsburgh. There's a lot to do. We ran out of time. Next time, I would like to see the Science Museum and the Zoo.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Hi everyone! We just returned from our short trip - and I wanted to thank everyone for their help. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Homestead/Waterfront and it worked out great. We enjoyed being close to the restaurants and shopping area at the Waterfront. The boys enjoyed the D&B's on steriods (We have one near where we live and it pales in comparison to this one!).

I bought park tickets from AAA in Ohio and got a GREAT deal. $20 for a ticket to Kennywood - and we got a free ticket to use another day for Sandcastle. We enjoyed Kennywood, even tho. we had quite a bit of rain. The rain made the "Whip" really whip! It was fun to see all the historical buildings and rides. I thought the park had a nice mix of rides. Very family friendly park.

I LOVED Sandcastle. Lots of great waterslides along a boardwalk area. We wished it stayed open a bit later than 6 p.m. on a Friday night, tho.

I also want to return to Pittsburgh. There's a lot to do. We ran out of time. Next time, I would like to see the Science Museum and the Zoo.

Glad you had a good time!