Kennywood Park Reviews

Not what it used to be when it was family owned and operated. Lifelong area resident. Many memories of what it was. Biggest complaint is that it is under staffed with a youth workforce with little or no work ethic and no adult managers to improve or drive performance or service. Kids don't know how to prioritize for customer service and as a result there are LONG lines for food service. Secondly the place is feeling and looking dirtier than before. No "sweeperettes" keeping place clean. Thirdly it is WAY overpriced for the experience. Also bait and switch on admission. Advertised $9.99 admission for after 5 for fall fantasy parade. Many conditions in small print. Paid $90+ for three to see kids in parade!!!! From the small crowd size it looks like they are hitting diminishing returns with others feeling the same and not attending. If u want to see what a well run park in PA should be do yourself a favor and visit Hershey Park. MUCH better!!!

I was disappointed with the potato patch fries. Many places were not opened.

I usually like Kennywood and we go for our school picnic every year.

This year I have to give a bad review because Kennywood has gone the way of almost everything else... greed!

To start with, there used to be well less than 5 school districts having their picnic our day. They were all rather small schools. Lines and such were always manageable. Now, they pack school after school in with field trip after field trip. The place was completely packed beyond what the park can handle.

Next, there were simply not enough people working. Many rides were closed until 5pm when the local high school workers were done for the day. Having several rides down and other running with one train makes the lines ridiculous. The Thunderbolt line was the same wait as Splash Mountain was at Disney world probably was and the two do not compare.

Along these lines (No pun intended) there were few restaurants open and were replaced with overpriced food trucks. Thank goodness we are still allowed to bring in coolers or the 45 minute wait for a drink would have had people dropping of dehydration.

The bottom line is if you are going to over book field trips and pack the park, you better have enough people to work. I will forgive the mess caused by the construction on the new addition, but it sure didn't help.

I hope Kennywood realizes what it has created or it will start losing customers. I'll give them one more shot next year, otherwise I'll just save my money for a more efficient park like Disneyworld or Universal.

UPDATE: We went again this year and it was more of the same. People were complaining everywhere. No food stands were open. The Skyrocket has been closed for years.

We also went to Disney World which admittedly is much more expensive but it is worth paying more for a better experience. At Disney they have multiple people working every ride and the line flies. At Kennywood, one person works each flat ride if it is even.open. On the paratrooper I watched the one kid operating it let kids stay on for 3 rides and let 3 more kids just jump the line right in front of the booth where he was operating the ride. This makes for a 35 minute wait for a ride that isn't special at all.

Pay these workers a few dollars over what you are paying them (probably minimum wage) and you will have workers. I might even go work there as an extra job but not for well under $10 an hour. People would pay a few dollars more for admission to actually have fun.

The ownership here is just not interested in a positive guest experience. Just so people are paying to come in, look at empty rides and wait 30+ minutes for something that was mildly thrilling in 1930 is just fine with them. It is just a matter of time until the people stop coming.

Love the park... upset that two of the newer rides were broken down though

If there was a zero rating today that's what I would give. Long lines, rude staff and lots of closed rides. Definitely not worth the money!

Great place for the family, lines were long today and slow service for meals or I'd give 5 stars.

Limited operation of rides due to lack of employees to operate the rides and attractions. They did give us each a free ticket for 2019 season. Not sure if I will ever use it.

It is the best here when I went I love it was like no one got hurt

The food is overpriced. The rides are fun, but the lines may not be worth the wait. I love that the rides are becoming more thrilling! The Black Widow and The Phantom's Revenge are my favorite rides. They recently took out the iconic water coaster, The Log Jammer. Thumbs down on that. Hopefully something exciting replaces it... Every time i visit the park, i always have a great time with my friends!

This is the first time that I have been able to get their with my grandchildren. A lot of the ride were broken .I never saw that in old kennywood..

Love going here just a great place to have some fun and to just enjoy life . Alittle expensive.

My husband and a large portion of his family took me here and I was sadly disappointed for it being an "amusement park". Before you even enter the gate to buy your ticket for the start of your day, you are given an option to fork over an extra cost to pay for preferred parking which will put you closer to the entrance or don't pay it and walk. It's a long walk so be ready.
This place has roller coasters, and roller coasters and roller coasters and oh did I mention roller coasters.
I don't mind them, I ride them, and even some I like.
All the other rides were kiddie rides, out of date ( there's a "walk through" called Noah's Arc that my husband said he went through when he was a boy, lol he is now 46.) They were playing bingo in the middle court yard for prizes or spin you til you puke rides.
My step daughter went into 6 different giftshops and couldn't find a medium shirt to purchase. When we approached the cashier "Ma'am, do you have this in a medium?" Her reply was "Did you see one? If not, then No!" Rude and unhelpful
$9.99 for a cup for soda that cost you an additional 1.00 to to refill throughout the day. Smoking is allowed in predesinated areas ONLY! If you are found smoking anywhere else other than these locations, you can and will be told to leave. No refunds.
I love amusement parks, but here is my advice.... unless you are an avid coaster rider and have lots of money to spend on overly priced food, drinks, and carnival quality game "prizes" Pick a different amusement park.

Good place for kids and family fun in Pittsburgh good for hang out and spend fun time . Enjoy !!

Kennywood is a nice amusement park. Some coaster lines can b long, other than that, Great Place to Go

1st time going. I was with friends who had a adustic child. Today was for kids 10 and under. Halloween event. The family got a piece of paper to skip the line as it's to much for the child. I got to take both kids on the rides which was fun. Only one ride the lady wasn't understanding that for a adustic child to be in a line with lots of noise was hard work. I did take him up the stairs where people exit from to skip the line and show in a dark room to get on the ride faster. Thick Rita's custard ice cream with waffle cone is amazing. The mom brought her own scooter. Scooter cost is $45. I heard they only have 30, so anyone needing a ability scooter call ahead as the walk to the park from the car park is long. I believe they do have wheel chairs. I do recommend push chairs for toddlers. I believe it's a good deal if getting season tickets to get the meal ticket as well. Food, drinks does add up when your a family..bring food for the child with a lot of food allergies just for safety.

Love it here, even if it sent me to the hospital! Their Halloween spread is pretty cool too.

Yesterday I can truly say I was embarrassed to tell people I was from Pittsburgh. The attitudes of these young people at this amusement park were out of control. You are working in customer service however it doesn't seem as if Kennywood stresses nor coaches this. At the end of our day my son wanted popcorn when he saw the Doc Popcorn kiosk. Huge mistake. First I ordered and was rudely ask which size. My response wasn't anything out of the norm when I said what sizes do you offer. I was very rudely told that i needed to look at the menu board myself. I did say anything just yet however my husband then asked could we get our refillable cup filled. The other girl working ( Ellie, I believe ) said no they only sold bottles. Since I had already been in my transaction I proceeded to ask "the rude one" did she know where we could get a refill. She said with an extremely nasty rude answer NO. Really!? Don't you work here? So I pretty much gave her a nasty look and told her how rude she was being. She returned my nasty face with some rude comments. I asked Ellie what this individual's name was, as she was not wearing a name tag, and was told she didn't know. The rude one spoke up ooh so proudly and said Asia and then very loudly and sarcastically told me to have a great day. Wow! I can only believe that she was just so sure she would not get a single word said to her. I know this will fall on deaf ears but I am embarrassed for Kennywood and anyone there that still believes in customer service because, my friend, you are alone.

Very nice light up night. A couple rides open but the event is mainly geared toward children. A lot of things for kids to do and most of kiddie land is open a operational.

There are a lot of great rudes and fun things to do. They had really good food there and awesome rides. I would definetly consider going again

There's a lot if fun rides and lots of good food. I would recommend going there

Kennywood is always an awesome experience with amazing rides and roller-coasters great food and fun times. Phantom fright nights is a blast as well and worth a bit of chill to see the haunted houses spread throughout the amusement park

Love the rides overall. I won't go there in Sept again, they had half the rides open.

We have always bought season tickets but this past year was not a good one. They did offer us compensation for our issues and we are looking forward to the 2019 season. The staff here are usually always friendly, but the park could use a few updates. Great place for family events or just to spend the day having fun!

Many years ago was really good I haven't been Recently I was looking them up to To go in the springtime

Rain storms off and on all day and the two main gift shops with rain ponchos are closed! Thanks Kennywood.

Thomas Town is great! Enjoyed our visit with a 5 and 2 yr. old. Very clean! Only recommendation would be to lower food prices!

Season pass holders since 2013, so I know the ups and downs of this park. The rides are great, mostly classics, and great food, awesome place. The only downside is when there are teenage employees chatting instead of serving customers quickly.

Kennywood is a great amusement park with an execllent mix of classic and modern rides and attractions. They have rides that appeal to any age group, from exhilarating roller coasters to relaxing carousels and train rides, Kennywood has it all. There is also a great selections of foods, including the famous Potato Patch, with it s fresh cut fries topped with cheese sauce and bacon bits. All in all, Kennywood is the perfect day trip for any family in the Pittsburgh area.

Last year Thomas broke and now the Steel Curtain is a joke. The reality is, the black widow will probably be closed all season. Have you heard of Bollinger & Mabillard? They design coasters that work. Maybe Busch Gardens Williamsburg could give you their contact info.

Had a great time on father's day. Lots of shade and wind made for a perfect 90 degree day!

Was fun but some of the rides were closed such as the black widow and log jammer.

It's sad but it seems as if all the employees were just unhappy and miserable. I'm an adult it's ok, but kennywood is for the children and their experiences. It's ok to smile and help make the experience worth it for the children

Very disappointed with Kennywood yesterday.
Most of my experience was good. I enjoyed the rides that were working. however the main reason we were going was to ride the steel curtain after waiting in line for two hours or so the ride breaks down. How does a BRAND NEW ride have this much trouble when the older ones rarely have any problems? The black widow was also NOT working. You d think for how expensive it is to get in the rides wouldn t be broken all time.. and it s awful to take out the old rides to put new ones in that are just decorations because you can t ride them!

This place is going straight downhill, and it's sad to see. Buildings dilapidated, rides not being taken care of. The entire staff of the Potato Patch is the most dirty and uncaring bunch I have ever seen. Standing around all the time while the *extremely limited* food tables are absolutely destroyed with trash, ketchup, and who knows what else. It's a crime they let Kennywood get like this.

So great! Youth, senior, super senior, military and group discounts!

Can I wear is a very clean friendly historic amusement park that is just the right size for a great day-and-night of fun and pleasure

Omg this is one of my favorite places to go in the summer time! Most recently it s been staying open for a later season threw Halloween it turns into a haunted park and During Christmas it turns into a magical light park. This is a must see! Must visit when in Pittsburgh.

Great day with the family!!! Clean park and bathrooms were alright. That's usually how I grade these larger amusements. Staff was nice enough.

Beautiful Christmas decorations, had a great time and really enjoyed the 4D theatre!

Childhood memories hit me as soon as I get to the parking lot

My childhood amusement park. Took our four year old here in May. We had the best time.

The US version of Blackpool. Lots of character and personality

Trivia: One of the floors in Google's Pittsburgh office is Kennywood themed!

Lots of shaded areas and air conditioned stores and places to sit down to eat and stay cool. Ride lines are do-able.

Fun! Fun! Fun! The rides are super fun and as a thrill seeker it definitely met my standards. Enjoy!

Historic amusement park with fun rides, delicious food, and lifelong memories.

My son attended the theme park a few months back and had a great time. What I like is their longevity. I attended the theme park as a kid myself several times. And they have a lot of the same rides that they had back then. Plus they show relevance by adding new rides with more current themes so they can attract the younger generation.
I also liked this park because it's big enough to keep you busy all day but not so big that you can't possible enjoy it's rides and activities like other parks. And admission prices into the park aren't too bad as well. Definitely a fun time for the whole family.

Great rides. They need signs to tell you the wait time.

Eh. Not much to say about this one. It's more nostalgic than fun.

Kennywood was wonderful, had a blast. Food was great kinda pricey but tasted good.

Grew up having school picnics there. Great place, great time. Lots of fond memories

We had a group of 15 people so it was kind of hectic to keep track of evetyone but we all seemed to have a great time. The sprinklers around the park are an awesome way to cool down.

Going on a Saterday in the summer is not very fun. Super long lines and waiting to park took almost 30 mins. It's more teens and adults, not too much for little ones.

It's ok. That's it. Just ok. If you go in with $100 and an empty stomach you will leave with $2 and a half empty stomach.

Drove an hour and half to see the holiday lights tonight with the kids to find out that I had to pay $8.50 up charge to get in making my tickets more then the regular tickets. Wow did I get ripped off for being loyal. Peace out kennywood. I will not return because of your scam. Also may I ad that there were so.many angry people swearing in the office with kids around. Not very family oriented. The employees were even getting mad and should not have been put in that situation. They didnt even know what to do. I felt horrible for them. They deserve a raise working for that place. Why would the owner do that to there own employees way to go.

Haven't been here for almost a decade. It was a great day. No ride break downs or anything else that would have interrupted the fun.
Also, I've never did the phantom in the front. Not sure if I'll do that again. Odds are, I'll forget about this and someone will say "let's ride in the front" and I won't be thinking. But it's a great ride.
My friend and I glanced at the Steel Curtain and the 3 hour line was more wait than we were willing to do. But since I got my season pass for next year already, I'm not worried about missing out on anything.

Wonderful great family place with good memories. Wish they didnt take out everythibg we loved growing up

Its a fun park but the lines are ridiculous......I would reccomend getting the V.I.P. passes for all the rollercoasters anytime you go there.

Have always loved this place. They care for their patrons.

We love Kennywood! I've gone every year since I was a baby! This is a major Pittsburgh venue! They have several wooden roller coasters, 2 steel coasters, and a lot of historic areas. Everything is decently priced as well. The lines aren't too long earlier in the day and they get longer as the day progresses, so it's best to ride the roller coasters first and come back to everything else later. It has a very easy layout and the food is excellent. Potato patch fries are a MUST for lunch!
If anyone has any questions about it, you can contact me and I'd definitely be willing to help!

It was quite disappointing the half the rides weren't even open m we spent a lot of money to get in there and drove a long way and close early though I was quite disappointed I usually go there three or four times a year I don't know if I'll be back this year kind of doubt it 4 years

Nice place, even during covid outbreak! Everything was clean and sanitizer was everywhere