We had planned to go to Kennywood after work on Thursday and ALMOST changed our minds because it was supposed to rain. I’m so glad we stuck with the original plans because—although it DID rain briefly—we had such a glorious evening!

I feel like no matter how many times we got to Kennywood, there is always a need for a recap. But first, look at these rainbow snaps! It did rain briefly while we were there, bringing out a rainbow and then the rest of the evening was rain-free and beautiful.

Can you see it behind Phantom’s supports?

Over Musik Express.

The whole reason for our visit! A dipped cone from Golden Nugget is a must on every visit but the last time we were there, they were doing some sweet potato thing and I got a sweet potato sundae instead which was fine, no regertz I guess, but Golden Nugget is the GOAT when it comes to Kennywood sweet treats.

My Gemini shirt was just collecting compliments from the Kennywood employees left and right (and by that I mean 2 people were like GEMINI! NICE SHIRT! to which I responded both times with a thank you like Gemini is a child that I made or something).

I have new Kodak Charmera – this one is part of the Millennium collection which isn’t too different, just different designs and some new filters but I never use the filters unless it’s by accident, like below (LOL):

OK, here is a bulletpoint collection of things I want to remember from the evening (it was only three hours that we were there so you’d have to hope I don’t have much to say):

• literal walk-on for Steel Curtain. I do like this coaster but it’s just not something I would marathon. Henry thinks it’s rough—I mean, it does shake, but not to the point that it distracts me from enjoying the ride. I still hate that it’s Steelers-themed, though. And I hate the slow AF ops and the slow AF lift hill. But you can’t beat the views if you sit on the right side.

• rain ride on Phantom!!! I haven’t had a raid ride on that in years and it slapped (literally, cold and wet slaps). I was so excited because the ride attendants let us stay on for another ride but then there was some weirdness at the front where some kids were standing on the platform arguing about where to sit (someone wanted to sit with their cousin, I don’t even know what was happening) and NO ONE WAS TELLING THEM TO SIT DOWN OR LEAVE THE LOADING PLATFORM. I couldn’t believe it, like what kind of amateur ops was this?! You don’t let people mill about on the platform like that. Anyway, by the time they got their shit settled, the person in the operating booth got the dreaded PHONE CALL saying they had to shut it down because of storms. I WAS SO FUCKING PISSED OFF AT THOSE KIDS.

The iconic collection of hair ties under the Phantom queue line.

• It was all good though because from there, we ran through the rain to Exterminator – ANOTHER WALK-ON. For some reason, this was one of the best rides I had ever had on this! I was cracking up so hard that it felt like I broke a rib. It just felt like the first time riding it, if that makes any sense. I LOVE EXTERMINATOR and will die on the “It’s the second best coaster in the park” hill. Fucking fight me over it, I don’t care.

• From there, possibly had the WORST ride ever on Musik Express. The ride ops were so anti-fun and serious and the music could barely be heard. Also, they assigned seats. They never fucking assign seats on the Musik Express!! I always like to pick one of the seats that’s at the top inside the “tunnel” portion, but they made us sit in one right by the entrance. It was so lame and weak. Even exiting the ride, one of the attendants was waving everyone to SLOW DOWN as we walked through the exit. It reminded me of my  helicopter Aunt Sharon saying CHEW CHEW CHEW to my brother when he was a baby.

• As mentioned above, the actual longest, most excruciating wait for a Golden Nugget. There was NO LINE. Two people working. Yet it took us probably 7 minutes to get our cones. They were just working at a snails pace, I couldn’t believe it, like we were being punked. Especially toward the end, when the one worker finally made it to the end of the process which requires a few maraschino cherries to be speared on a toothpick for the cone topper, and she realized that the toothpicks were in a brand new package that hadn’t yet been opened so we had to watch in anguish as she slowly and calmly worked the plastic with her fingernails while staring absentmindedly into the distance. I wanted to snap my fingers and yell, “FOCUS, HONEY, FOCUS” but I can’t snap. In the end, of course it was worth it BUT SHEESH.

It’s almost impossible to hear but one of my favorite songs (and greatest songs ever written) was playing while we were eating our cones faster than they were made: JACKIE BLUE.

• We had 30 minutes before the park was closing to run back over to Phantom (“I’m not running, you’ll be riding by yourself if you don’t slow down,” Henry said). All that speed-walking was for naught because a family got to the entrance right before us AND WALKED THE SLOWEST WALK IN THE WORLD the entire length of the queue line. If you have never been here, just know that even if there is no one in the park, there is no fast way to get to the station of the Phantom – you have to walk the whole length of the queue. These people were clearly not thoosies by any means–they were STROLLING. I was so close to the back of the mom that there is no way she couldn’t feel my HOT-HEADED BREATH ON HER NECK. I was fuming!! I kept doing a little “temper tantrum stamp” with my fists clenched. I was making dramatic “MOVE” motions with my arms and at one point, the daughter turned around to say something to her and caught me LOL. MOM WAS TOO BUSY SAVORING HER VAPE TO BE BOTHERED TO PICK UP THE PACE and I was ready to stroke out. I AM ALWAYS IN A HURRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S ROLLER COASTER RELATED.

• Aside from that, we had the BEST RIDES ON PHANTOM!! Back row, and they let us stay on three times in a row. Henry was trying to get out after the second ride but I wouldn’t move. “I don’t want to ride again, I have a headache!” he cried, and I was like, “Bitch, tell that to your mom because I DO NOT CARE.” So he had to ride again, LOL. Plus, we were sitting behind two Kennywood worker who were done for the night and they were so much fun! WE ALMOST GOT TO STAY ON A FOURTH TIME but I gave Henry a reprieve and got off since the park was essentially closed at that point anyway. (It was 8PM.) I will never stop singing about how much I love the Phantom, though. IT’S SO GOOD.  

• I finally got good Phantom merch!! For YEARS I have been waiting for a good Phantom shirt design and they finally have one. I also got a keychain <3

 

I mean, that was a pretty great way to spend a random Thursday evening, if you ask me. I love Kennywood.

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