Worlds of Fun Amusement Park Provides Endless Fun
Worlds of Fun, an amusement park located in Kansas City, MO, opened in 1973. It sits on 175 acres of land and offers over 50 rides and other attractions. Based on the book Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne, Worlds of Fun’s is arranged with different parts of the world in mind, from Africa to Scandinavia to the Orient. The rides, shops, and other attractions in each section of the “world” are designed and named to fit within their regions, giving each part of the park a charming and unique feel. I have gone to Worlds of Fun perhaps twenty times in my life, and somehow it has never gotten old. My first memories of it are some of my sweetest memories from childhood, though slightly salted with disappointment-I wasn’t always tall enough for the rides. Fully grown now, and quite familiar with everything from the Skyliner (ferris wheel) to the Detonator (my favorite and perhaps the most thrilling), the place seems to carry the same magic it did was I was seven years old. The smell is mostly the same as it was all those years ago: the wafting scent of funnel cakes, new blacktop, and old lumber. The sounds are more or less as the have always been: laughter and shrieks of terrified delight. The sights change daily, and the tastes depend on whether or not everyone agrees on barbecue, pizza, or Dippin’ Dots ice-cream. Despite what my other senses think, though, the feel of the place is exactly the same. Past the entrance gate, I am partly a child again. I think everyone needs a place like that.
Thrill Rides – Worlds of Fun has claim to some of most thrilling rides in the country.
Boomerang – Boomerang is a steel roller coaster that begins by pulling riders up a steep incline. Once released, the momentum pushes the ride along, starting with a drop, followed by two corkscrew twists and ending with a loop-but that’s not all. After being carried up another incline with momentum, the riders fall back down it again and experience the entire ride backward. In all, riders are flipped upside down six times. At it’s tallest peak, the ride is 12 stories long and runs around 50mph at its fastest.
Detonator – Detonator is two twin 200-foot towers that carry 12 riders each. Strapped inside, the rider waits for the ride to begin, but can never really be certain of when it will. Once it does, though, there is no mistaking it. The ride shoots riders up along a tower, reaching 45mph within one second. At the peak of the ride, the rider experiences a moment (and several feet) of free-fall before being jettisoned up once again for another delightful stomach-flipping spell of vertigo. Following this is a short series of lifts and drops before the ride gently lowers its passengers to the ground, where they almost always have to stand and stare for a few moments, just to make sure it’s really there.
Fury of the Nile – Fury, located in Africa, is perhaps the least thrilling of the thrill rides, but it is not without appeal. The ride consists of 6 passengers aboard a small raft, set adrift atop a swirling, twirling and just generally out-of-control river. The fun is in trying to stay mostly dry, a goal that remains only elusive enough to try again and again. You never know where the next wave will wash aboard the raft, and at the end of the ride, you never know who the lucky one will be to pass under the small gap in the waterfall.
Mamba – Mamba is the only ride that rivals the Detonator as my favorite ride. The Mamba is a steel roller coaster, 205 feet at its tallest peak. It has a reputation as “one of the tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coasters in the world” according to the park. Named after a quick and deadly snake in Africa, the Mamba seems to live up to its name without much effort. The ride begins with a climb, as most rides do. Without wasting any time, it plunges its riders down a steep hill, where it reaches 75 mph and drops almost 200 feet. A second hill follows, and while you would think the riders would be too dazed from the first one to notice-well, you would be wrong. The second hill is almost as disabling as the first, and then the roller coaster sends it riders through its own support beams, which seem to grow smaller and closer all the time, until most riders are ducking in their seats. The ride takes the passengers on a series of smaller hills after this, up and down and up and down again, and the ride begins to feel quite snake-like indeed, and almost peaceful. And then it’s over. And then everyone runs from the exit line to the entrance line to do it again. And again.
Monsoon – Monsoon is shared by Worlds of Fun and its sister park, Oceans of Fun. The Monsoon has one goal in mind: get everything wet. The ride is fairly short, leaving the boarding station peacefully and turning a gentle corner. It offers a nice view of trees and fields and birds, and the riders hear the trickling of water beneath them, the soft rocking ofâÂ?¦ and then they’re plummeting toward the ground, and icy cascades of water seem to assault them from all sides. It’s wonderfully refreshing. There is also a bridge above the “splash zone” where hot, exhausted adults and children alike stand to get blasted by the cool spray.
Ripcord – Ripcord is fascinating just to watch. Picture this: three adults strapped to cables that are attached to the top of an archway 180 feet above them. The three people (or two, or even one) are lifted from the ground to the top of a tower parallel to the archway, so now they are almost eighteen stories in the air. They’re still attached to cables, remember, so when someone pulls the ripcord, the three people are suddenly flying through the air, down, down, down, and slowly up again, like a gigantic swing set for truly insane people. It’s a beautiful thing.
Spinning Dragons – Spinning Dragons is the newest addition to Worlds of Fun thrill rides, and it is quite an experience. Upon first glance, it appears to be a fairly small (only 5 stories) ride without the usual plunging dips or twirling loops. After a moment, though, something seems odd. Are thoseâÂ?¦ carsâÂ?¦ are they spinning? They are. They’re spinning! Yes, the cars on the Spinning Dragons-hence the name-spin. It makes for an interesting and unique ride every time, because factors like weight and seat placement help determine where and when the car will revolve. Each car contains four seats, with two on each side, but guests can opt for riding one, two, or three per car to experiment with spinning potential.
Thunderhawk – Located in Americana, Thunderhawk is 6 stories of tossing and twirling fountain fun. Forty passengers are seated snuggly on a wide platform that vaguely resembles two rows of movie theater seats that have been curiously altered with lap-bars and thick shoulder harnesses. This is better than a movie, though. The platform is the bottom of a huge pendulum-like contraption. Riders will find themselves upside down numerous times, spinning and seemingly out of control until they are taunted for a while, lowered slowly over a long, gushing fountain-but not quite enough to get wet. Spinning once more, the water will finally splash over them before the ride settles to its starting point once again.
Timber Wolf – Built in 1989, Timber Wolf is now the oldest roller coaster in the park. It is also the only wooden coaster. Riders don’t seem to mind that the Timber Wolf lacks 200-foot plunges or looping track. There is something about this ride exactly as it is, and roller coaster enthusiasts seem to agree-the Timber Wolf is still often referred to as one the best roller coasters in the world. There is a kind of ferocity to the ride that one cannot explain with specs and description. It is a ride that must be experienced to be appreciated.
Some Other Rides – For the young, the sleepy, and the faint of heart.
Sometimes guests just aren’t tall enough. I know that feeling. Sometimes even the most daring riders want peaceful rides, to see the pretty scenery, reflect on the day, and feel the wind ruffling their hair. I know that feeling as well. For some, those those thrilling rides are just too much. I would like to say I understand; quite frankly, I don’t, but I can sympathize. Intensity isn’t always what amusement parks are about, and there should be something for everyone. These are some of the best low-key rides.
Bamboozler – Bamboozler is a circular ride, and guests stand against the inner wall of it, facing each other. The ride spins, and once it gets up enough speed to take advantage of its own centrifugal force, the entire circular construction tilts. At its highest point, riders get the sensation that they are rolling through the park, trapped inside a gigantic hamster wheel. At night, this ride is not only fun, but pretty to watch with its decorative lights.
Cyclone Sams – Cyclone Sams is probably the most thrilling of the “non-thrilling” rides. Its setting is a building that resembles an old barn on the inside, with sharp-looking farm tools and other wicked objects attached to the walls. Riders can gaze at the objects and ponder what an inappropriate place the building would be were a real tornado to visit the park. The ride itself is in another room that is decorated with blacklights and humorous images of airborne cows and farmers tossed about by the wind. It’s difficult to describe what this ride actually does to its passengers, but I am fairly certain that it’s something like what an actual twister would do. There is spinning. There is rotating. There is spinning while rotating. There is spinning while rotating and being flung up and down repeatedly while the centrifugal force of the spinning plasters the riders to the side of their seat or their riding partner. Some riders will be going backward. Some forward. Most of them will forget where they are and what they’re doing and scream a lot while laughing. I love this ride.
Finnish Fling – Finnish Fling is another ride that takes advantage of centrifugal force, and it flaunts it. Similar to Bamboozler in that riders stand facing each other in a circle that spins, the Finish Fling has a unique characteristic: The ride doesn’t tilt; the floor drops out. Yes, I said that the floor drops out. Because of the centrifugal force of the spinning, riders are stuck to the circular wall whether they want to be or not. Because there is no floor, of course, most of them really want to be. Actually, the floor only falls a few feet down, but looks like more than that when your feet are planted firmly on nothing.
Scrambler – Scrambler is another one of those exciting “non-thrill” rides, but at the same time, it is pleasantly placid. Located near the Detonator, the Scrambler is the perfect post-detonation, cool-down ride. Riders are seated on a bench that can fit one or two people and spun around in various shapes resembling circles.
Sea Dragon – Sea Dragon didn’t catch my attention until two years ago, and I was surprised when it did. Another pendulum ride, the Sea Dragon performs none of the Thunderhawk’s aggressive antics, but it is nonetheless exciting. Seated on either of the far ends, these strategically placed rider will experience numerous moments of stomach-dropping free-sensation, while those placed nearer the middle will get a relaxing rocking in a dragon-shaped cradle. Fun times.
Viking Voyager – The Viking Voyager is by no means a thrill ride, but it does take a happy jaunt through a woodsy patch of the park while floating along in an elevated tube. The end of the ride does provide a nice, interesting drop and gives riders a gentle splash.
Worlds of Fun Railroad – The Railroad takes riders throughout the park on an old fashioned train, over creeks and through scenic meadows, past rides in action and beside crowds of guests. Along the trip, the conductor gives passengers a brief history of Worlds of Fun and introduces them to some of the park’s highlights. The ride has a distinct and appealing historical atmosphere.
Zulu – Zulu has got to be one of the most frightening looking non-frightening rides ever. It is circular, with twenty cars suspended along its edges. Once the riders are seated, the structure begins to spin and then to tilt, until soon the entire thing is perpendicular to the ground and riders are turning upside down and back again, over and over. Inside the car, things are calmer than it would seem. Centrifugal force keeps the sensation of gravity more or less constant, and the biggest scare is seeing the sky below and the ground above, then watching the world tilts once again, setting things right. It is mostly a gentle, relaxing ride, though, and another favorite of mine.
Entertainment – In addition to rides, Worlds of Fun has live entertainment at the Moulin Rouge Theatre, the Tivoli Music Hall, or the Snoopy Campground Theatre. There is also a dog show several times a day, and a band that features trumpets and tubas. Shows vary with every season.
Camp Snoopy – Worlds of Fun has a special section for the little ones. Camp Snoopy is an adorable portion of the park designed for those not yet tall enough for the larger rides. Peanuts characters are often seen wandering around or hugging happy children. The cutest ride has to be Woodstock Airmail, a tiny version of the Detonator. Camp Snoopy is a great section to hang out with younger children, and it’s also perfect for hosting birthday parties.
Worlds of Fun Village – New for 2005, Worlds of Fun now has cabins that house up to six and RV sites for traveling guests. The setting is woodsy, with beautiful ponds and the ambience of natureâÂ?¦ with a 205-foot roller coaster looming in the background to keep guests in the mood.
The park opens mid-April and closes on or around Halloween every year. Click the link to go to the official Worlds of Fun website, where you’ll find schedules, prices, directions and other information. Also, check out the “rides” section for a closer look at the park’s best thrills and to take a virtual ride on a roller coaster!
