Idlewild & Soak Zone Review, Pennsylvania Children's Theme Park | How to Avoid Long Waits

[@cyberseal5513]

8:18 it's actually because it used to have a spinning tunnel effect (like on many fun houses) back when it was at Wiener Prater

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh! I always heard it was for trees, but that's a cooler reason.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I thought I had heard that too, but I couldn't remember where. The spinning tunnel effect and the tilt would give the illusion that you're going upsidedown.

[@cyberseal5513]

@@OklahomaCoasterFan same

[@T431nkn0wnreal]

I went there when i was 6 years old, I couldn’t be more thankful that I experienced this park in its original glory

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@jonathansima7591]

As a local, I’ve gone to Idlewild before Palace and currently. One constant is the wait for the trolley: even back when it was Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, it still had an egregiously long wait time. Though the park has taken recent steps for the better in regards to basic upkeep (note: the Super Roundup and Tilt-a-Whirl used to look more dated; the carousel horses are being restored 2-3 per year), I do lament the charm the park held in its glory days. Presumably, the Caterpillar is still in storage, though the likelihood of its return is a pipe dream at this point. I only wish you were able to experience Rollo Coaster with the original trains, as it legitimately was a walk-on at times.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for sharing some of the changes!

[@jurassicraptor9779]

I work at idlewild currently. The caterpillar is still here, it’s waiting to be “refurbished” but we don’t know much else.

[@jmanx360]

That's me at 6:40 at the brake levers! BTW, Wild Mouse has a banked lift hill not to avoid trees, but because it has a spinning tunnel over the lift hill when it originally opened at Wiener Prater.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cool, thanks for letting me know about the tunnel.

[@SkyrushFanboy]

I'm surprised how accurately you described this. It sums up all of my feelings with my home park even though you've only been there a couple times. I have vague memories of doing group tours in confusion hill. I was very young, but I remember it being very good Honestly I think my favorite part of the park is the potato patch fries, the same recipe as kennywood's Seeing your story book land review reminded me of what this park used to be before palace bought it

[@CanobieCoaster]

Story Book Land or Story Land? The latter is interesting still Palace also bought it.

[@SkyrushFanboy]

@@CanobieCoaster oops I meant story land haha (the one with roar o saurus)

[@skyguyismyguyr12turn]

@@SkyrushFanboy Lol. Hi.🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@lilsonshinebunch6447]

If you visit Idlewild in the afternoon, there are many days where the only rides you will wait for are the two coasters. I have never waited more than 20 minutes for Daniel Tiger’s ride, since I go at the end of the day. We are season pass holders and love it!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I had bad waits for the Daniel Tiger ride even on a weekday a few years ago. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but the fact 1-2 hour wait signs exist for that ride tells me it happens quite a bit.

[@pre_s_t]

Idewild was one of my younger childhood parks since it was pretty close. I don’t remember much but I remember being too scared to ride the Wild Mouse. I also remember loving the Rollo Coaster

[@CanobieCoaster]

It seems like a good park for kids minus the lines.

[@micoasters]

Yes! Another review. This is by far the best coaster channel on KZbin, I think your better than eltororyan and airtime thrills combined. Keep up the good vids

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thank you!

[@CancelHappiness]

Canobie coaster and coaster studios are my top 2

[@reissecupfilms]

This was my childhood park, what I really wish they still had was dizzy lizzy's, it was one of those things where you go into the room and it gives the illusion that it flips upside down, it had a whole backstory to it just like confusion hill

[@CanobieCoaster]

Those things are cool!

[@reissecupfilms]

@@CanobieCoaster yeah i miss dizzy lizzy

[@the.youtube.of.sam.gotter]

I remember seeing that ONCE and then trying to describe it to other people and they all thought I was crazy because they never saw it before

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

The waterpark's slides weren't too extreme, but they were still fun, right in that sweet spot that everyone can enjoy. Staff told me that Wild Mouse wouldn't open until around the last hour, so I had to stay the whole day, which got me to Sandusky at midnight. But it was worth it to get a couple rides on Wild Mouse. And spending the whole day here allowed me to check out everything and have a relaxing day. I was able to appreciate the park for what it was, and I love the setting. I agree with what you said about the poor throughput not being good for a children's park. Lines weren't bad on the Sunday I was there, but I can see that being a problem on busier days. I spent around $35 for my admission in 2021. I noticed online that they had a special where everyone pays the kids price, so I bought it in the morning and headed straight to the park from Altoona. It was a day that was open for me to do whatever, and my experience there was great and very memorable.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm glad the Mouse eventually opened for you. The day I rode it, the ride also opened late.

[@deyluhnas]

i havent been there since I was 6. It was a nice park from what I remember

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like everything but the capacity.

[@simom88888]

When I worked there in the late 2000s we were still running 3-4 cars on the mouse at a time. My first year there (Think it was 2007) was the last year they ran 2 trains on rollo coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a bummer they've gone backwards.

[@michaelbarrett1914]

@simom88888 I wonder why the rides are so limited on their ability to hold more riders. Is it condition of the rides, they need work to increase capacity, or is it limited due to insurance?

[@CoasterRoaster]

Considering this park is only 2.5 hours away from me, I think I'll have to hit it up next year on a day trip, although I'll have to combine it with a visit back to Lakemont because the only 3 rides that really interest me are Rollo coaster, wild Mouse, and the trolley

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a good one to pair it with.

[@michaelbarrett1914]

That is a considerable cost for just riding 2 rides...especially if you only ride each one once.

[@JSInOrbit]

Loved "canopy" - canobie coaster

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol

[@dytamic]

its called idlewild cause you're standing idle in lines for hours for barely wild rides

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yup!

[@mitchellries256]

What's the reason for running one train or car on their rides? Are they afraid of crashes? I worry the same thing when playing Roller Coaster Tycoon although I don't think that's something to worry about on the Wild Mouse, Log Flume or Trolly ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cost on Rollo (only having 1 train), Log Flume, and Trolley. Wild Mouse may be brake related.

[@superthrills7398]

This Looks A Lot More Prettier Than Any Other Family Theme Park

[@vladimirgarcia1933]

True

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is charming.

[@Lainey_XD]

In my opinion, they should make the Wild mouse cart less terrifying since its made for kids. It can look scary for some.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like how it is wild, but I get the argument since this is mostly a kids park.

[@michaelbarrett1914]

We are coming from Eastern Indiana and going to be driving just over 6 hours to bring my grandson to meet Daniel Tiger. He is going to he extremely disappointed if we get there and there is no character for him to meet. This is how the park was portrayed on one of the site we looked them up on. Now we are concerned. I sure hope it isnt just simple 2D cutouts of all the characters.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They have a physical character meet and greet (and show). The trolley ride has just 2d cutouts. Hope that helps.

[@MrTactical839]

I’ll say it as many times as possible, this little park is owned by kennywood so they aren’t going to to much more major expansion for a while. Kennywood would more than likely focus on kennywood or sandcastle.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I want upgrades to capacity more than new rides to be honest.

[@maxhagenauer24]

What was the accident in 2016 again? It's a shame the capacity of this park went downhill so much.

[@CanobieCoaster]

A young kid stood up on Rollo Coaster and fell out.

[@appalachianenthusiast9499]

I've been here three times, and not once has Wild Mouse been open for me. I think it's time Palace calls up Gerstlauer and orders a Green Hornet clone.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's painfully unreliable. I got lucky my first visit.

[@Bushwackerinpa]

This parks needs a GCI family coaster. Its shame to hear about the operation. I grew up with this park and kennywood and I never remember this park being that bad for operations. The Wild Mouse is quite good. Like this was the first wild mouse I have rode and every other one hasnt been that good compared to it.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'd love a junior Gravity Group.

[@Harrys.Truman-fanpage]

This park should get a Mack or Gerstlauer Spinner. Rollo coaster is a family woodie and building pretty much the same thing won’t help

[@djricecakes6035]

The kids love Idlewild.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@mostly.coasters]

1 train on a wild mouse?! Holy cow…

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've heard they're addressing some of the capacity issues parkwide this year.

[@unluckilyluckily8517]

British people like me love to queue so no problem here lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol

[@Robt9928]

Adventureland said by their GM said they were going to add a fast pass system

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm not surprised. Lake Compounce started adding one too.

[@vladimirgarcia1933]

Fun fact: this is the only vekoma wild mouse that is not defunt!

[@CanobieCoaster]

True!

[@noahkessler5500]

I grew up going here bc it’s like 45 minutes from me but when I was little was decent but I really just liked the waterpark and the food was decent but I haven’t been in about 8 years bc the lines and prices are so bad for a kid focused park

[@CanobieCoaster]

The lines are what really kills it for me.

[@coasternerd6978]

I admit that I don't see myself riding many rides their to begin with so the lines likely won't be a deal breaker to me but I admit that the operations are almost comical.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I would love for them to invest to increase capacity more tha getting new rides.

[@toplaycool21]

I think it's sad what happened to this park. It has so much potential and yet it is treated like mehh. Why is Dutch Wonderland, owned by the same company, getting better treatment? Also, what happened to the Whip and Caterpillar? I know why the Ferris Wheel is gone, but not those two rides.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Probably maintenance reasons. Story Land has gotten better treatment too, but that park has started to lose capacity too.

[@toplaycool21]

@@CanobieCoaster I see. I also want to thank you for the tips. I'm planning a PA road trip documentary on PA parks and I now know what to do when I go to Idlewild.

[@jurassicraptor9779]

Idlewild employee here, they are starting to put more into the park now. There’s a new family coaster coming within the next year or two (don’t know much else) and the Ferris wheel will return, but it will be a newer model.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's good to hear! I also heard they had 2 trolleys this year in use.

[@jurassicraptor9779]

@@CanobieCoaster they do!

[@jurassicraptor9779]

@@CanobieCoaster we also run all 3 trains on mouse at once.

[@pre_s_t]

I heard the new roller coaster is gonna be one of those zamperla kiddie coasters. Its small but its a perfect fit

[@Goodforme-]

I live beside it

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@garethklieber6621]

I have been there

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@teddym2808]

People will eventually say "enough" and stop going if they don't improve the guest experience. Things are different now regarding money - and people will be less willing to spend it here if they can only visit one park. They'll be forced to improve - or go the way that some other parks have sadly gone. Under.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They had good crowds the day I visited, so we'll see if people speak with their wallet.

[@teddym2808]

@@CanobieCoaster Yes but the economy is getting bad everywhere is what I am saying.. I think people will start being more picky where they go. But you are right, only time will tell. Not everyone is enthusiasts like us who don't care and just blow our cash going everywhere lol.

[@clairefunnell8481]

It's ok I guess.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I just wish capacity was better.

[@dytamic]

comment 2: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is actually a successor to Mister Roger's, taking place in make believe land. the show sucks ass

[@CanobieCoaster]

I haven't seen Daniel Tiger, but I was so attached to Mr. Rogers growing up.

[@skyguyismyguyr12turn]

Thanks to the Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood section, I expect this park to be among the literal worst, which is why I'm disliking this video because you filmed a few slides. #danieltigerdies

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish it still had Mister Rogers.