I questioned whether to make a blog post out of this, but it is such a great story. Jeff, my husband and occasional co-wof junkie collected about five of the old souvenir photo books from the 1970's and 1980's when he was a kid. Of course when I discovered theses little beauties I wanted to borrow them... Well I borrowed them and they remained "borrowed" for many years, and we finally came to the realization that they weren't really borrowed anymore they were plan and simple, lost. After years of occasional searching, we finally gave up and considered them lost to time. It was a very sad moment for a WOF history fan.
(Brandon don't worry I don't think I can lose a large business size box of photos)
Well after cleaning up our basement a few weeks ago.... I discovered a lost treasure. The souvenir books! I was very excited, not to mention greatly relieved that they didn't fall prey to my intrinsic ability to lose things forever. :)
What do you think I did once I found them? I started scanning them of course!
No I didn't scan them all at one time, for one reason I just don't have that much free time! However I did scan completely the one I consider one of the most unique, the 1973 version. I now have it published online for your viewing pleasure here: http://www.worldsoffun.org/history/1973sb.html
Also if you should have even more free time, (can I borrow some?) be sure to check out the publications page if you haven't already. Over the past 13 years (yikes!!) I have scanned several of the old park maps, brochures, and the 1978 version of the photo book, you can find that nifty page right here: http://www.worldsoffun.org/history/publications.asp
What? You have to go to another page to view pretty photos? No I would never do that to you all. So to wet your appetite here is one of my favorite pages for the previously mentioned 1973 souvenir map. If you want more, well just click on that little link above. Be sure to click on each page for a larger version!
Tonight, we had the chance to visit the park and be one of the first to experience Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights, the new attraction at Worlds of Fun for 2010. As today approached I was surprised at how many wrote off the new attraction, as "just lights" (exact quote from a guest), From my personal experience as well as seeing the numerous expressions of guests faces I am guessing that many opinions were changed for the better, and as will become obvious with the photos in the next few sentences, Worlds of Fun's new attraction is more then "just lights". It really is an overall sensory experience.
From the time of the announcement both Jeff and I thought the coming attraction would benefit the park as a whole. It not only catered to families, but we also felt it would have a very significant positive impact on the atmosphere at the park as a whole. Overall, I would have to say that both of us really enjoyed the new attraction, and I would recommend everyone who will be visiting the park this summer make sure to make time in your visit to experience these beautiful lights.
Before we get started with the pictures, a few stats might be fun to play around with. The Hot Summer Lights attraction combines over 2 Million LED lights into an enjoyable interactive experience. The lights are choreographed with lighthearted music, and even provide multiple opportunities for guest interaction. In Europa there are several "push me" buttons, that allow guests of all ages to light up the trees with leaves, butterflies and my personal favorite... lady bugs :)
In Africa light bugs dance along the pavement as glow creatures (a worm, light bug and fish) roam through the crowds and provide great photo opportunities. Actually taken as a whole even though Hot Summer Lights is themed to the Peanuts characters it also conveys an almost Alice in Wonderland atmosphere. This is definitly not an attraction you want to miss, especially since there is no long line to wait in!
So on with the show...
In this case a photo doesn't really do justice. At the entrance to Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights, in the old Grand Prix Raceway area sits Lucy, with a picnic basket over all large checkboard lighted area. Also out of the picture are two large interactive "venus flytrap" plant creatures.
The children especially seem enamored with the lights, and also one of the attractions roaming characters. In this photo not only is the peanuts character, Lucy but also one of the lighted characters which could best be described as a flower princess. All the little girls seemed to love her!
Moving through Europa. though the lights in the photo appear static they do fade in and out with the music playing in the background.
The baseball themed section of Hot Summer Lights. You can see the woodstocks in the background playing catch, but instead of a real ball, its a lighted archway that moves to mimic a baseball.
One of my favorite parts, is the Europa hill, that has its trees cascaded not only in blue lights but also twinkling strobe lights.
Overall best part of the attraction, the Congo Clearing/Africa bridge. You can also see the glow worm here.
The fireflies dance on the wall of the Moroccan Merchant. Its a nice effect that really can only be appreciated fully in person though.
The Under the Sea section of Hot Summer Lights features real bubbles produced by bubble machines, a glow fish and an interactive oyster that pops open every once in awhile to reveal Woodstock guarding the oyster's pearl inside.
Check out more photos of Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights and discuss on Facebook
Okay I must admit, we didn't camp out. I know, I know... Look at it this way though atleast I am bringing photos! Yes, Jeff and I ventured out to Oceans of Fun (and WOF a bit too), tonight 05/21/2010 to shot some photos of the sequel to the amazing First Annual WOF Opening Campout.
We arrived about 7PM and stayed off and on until about 9PM, when we left they had about 50 campers, hopefully more by the time 11PM rolled around!
Check in at Oceans of Fun maingate started at 7PM. 93.3 was there providing live music, free xbox gaming, and door prizes.
A few tents are set up now, and they seem to have a good view of Mamba!
Night is setting up as more campers show up for registration and enter the 93.3 drawing!
The all important drawing for door prizes. 93.3 and the park gave away free movie passes, t-shirts and drink bottles.
Discuss and check out more information Worlds of Fun on Facebook
Okay, so its not as soon as I would like... However later is better then never right?
Jeff and I had the chance to visit Worlds of Fun as guests this past weekend and take some photos of some changes at the park. There have been several updates, especially when it comes to the new Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights attraction. The new attraction "opens" on June 4th, and it looks to be shaping up nicely!
For those that aren't familiar, Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights will be a lighted, interactive pathway following from Africa, through Europa featuring over 2 Million lights. This will be a not-to-miss attraction this year. Trust me. In comparison, Silver Dollar City covers their ENTIRE park with 4 Million lights, and at Worlds of Fun they are packing all those lights into a much smaller area. It should be spectacular.
We started our trek in Africa, by Big Game Hunt/The Shooting Gallery, so lets start there with photos.
It's Big Game Hunt... Shooting Gallery... whatever. Originally Worlds of Fun was going to go the Cedar Point route with inflatable Peanuts Characters. I am happy they went with much more permanent, and professional looking structures. Here we have Linus on top of the previously mentioned Big Game Hunt, but look at all the lights also strung across the roof lines! Many roofs in Africa have the same treatment.
From Brandon, it looks like the park is going with an under water theme in this section. The lights are all blue, and there are several seaweed lights that will be scattered around the area too.
Moving along is the African bridge. This is just the start of blue light archways, there will be several others joining these two further along down the bridge.
Across the bridge we voyage from under the sea, to camp fire nights. So we have Sally making smores. YUMMY.
What is it? More important where is it, and why is this plaster wall so important? Look closely. Those are glow in the dark fireflies painted on the walls of Moroccan Merchant. You can barely tell they are there. It is a very thoughtful, and delightful idea.
The Casbah games in the African section. I love the lights, it should look beautiful once it's all lit up.
Some interactivity in Europa. These quasi-E-STOP buttons are stationed throughout Europa, and should add a level of guest interactivity to the area. I suspect Europa will be a happening place for the first time in... thirty years? (Last new attraction was in 1978)
And now for something completely different. Autobahn has experienced a color change, and it now has a new paint job on its entrance.
More work on Autobahn has been done then meets the eye. No, this is not a comment about the roof (though I have heard it no longer leaks), but look closer.... That's a strobe/colored dance light, actually one of several scattered across the roof line. Autobahn will take its own part in Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights and become also much more interactive. It should be a good time at the old DFB.
No its not a shot out of a food magazine. This lovely food porn shot, is actually... from Worlds of Fun! Let's all be honest. Worlds of Fun has never really been known for its culinary masterpieces. These little tasty beauties raise my opinion of WOF cuisine by one, very important notch. Only $3 a piece at Cinnabon.
For many years I would write an opening day review at the beginning of the season.The last one I wrote was in 2006, corresponding to when I started to work at Worlds of Fun again. This year, I finally decided to take a crack at it again.Previously, I had reviewed seasons 99-06, and many of the opening day reviews were very critical. That is one thing that I am happy to say has drastically changed.Not to say that there are no critical points in this review.However the improvement over say 1999 and 2000 seasons is as different as black and white.
This will also mark the beginning (hopefully) on our park updates which we hope to post every one to two weeks.So stay tuned if you can’t head to the park, then hopefully we can bring the park to you!
Jeff and I hit the park in two waves.Due to multiple circumstances we didn’t arrive at the park until Saturday about Noon, and then spent several hours at the park on Sunday too.Not counting the hours of course we drove the train.
Worlds of Fun over the years has run some great promotions, and it seem this season is full of them.Of course it started off with overnight camp out, 500 people attended, when the park expected only a small fraction of that amount.I didn't attend, though now looking back I wish I had.Not much of a camper you see.:)
I have to give the park PR credit, it was a GREAT idea, and I will most definitely be attending next year! For those that have missed it the park is also running a great anyone for the kids price on Sundays until June 4th. I believe you have to pick the coupon up at any metro Subway, but its more then a 50% discount off regular price, $19.95 per person.
For 2010 the season didn’t start with any major new rides, or attractions, just several new updates.Now as much as many of us would like to drive a bob cat into the “main” (back) gate, it’s still there.However, the park for the first time in several years has made some small investments into the gate.Of course they added this nice fountain…
Plus a new sign is waiting in the wings, in an undisclosed location (otherwise known as the paint shop).We caught a glimpse of it on the way out Saturday night, and its looks nice.It incorporates the new font (not the old Partridge font) and also incorporates a globe, snoopy and a hot air balloon.We will provide photos once it makes its appearance.Much better then the old sign, which is rather falling apart.
I have to say in many ways I am what Jeff has called a purist.I really don’t like things changing.Especially when it comes to the theme.I like the themed world flags, the themed music, the themed restaurant names…. I guess two out of three isn’t bad. In fact, it’s pretty darn good! Last year, after Celebrate America, the park kept up the American flags, and Americana music, throughout the entire park.I may be the only one that feels this way but I was thrilled that the park brought those small, yet integral parts of the theming back.
So moving into the park proper.The park itself was quite busy for an opening day.In fact I would have to say it is the busiest opening day I have seen since 1999.Scandinavia itself didn’t see any major changes, except the return of some Roll out the Barrel, and Swiss Miss Yodeling Lass (Yes I am sad).Voyager itself got its queue-line wood work sanded down and repainted, though you really can’t tell.Which is good.
Moving on to the Orient section.The themed fish feeder looks like its down for rehab.The fish themselves though are already out and about, and are quite large.So I wonder, did the park a) buy some rather large koi fish right before the beginning of the season, b)Did the koi survive the OFF SEASON?C) did the koi fish enjoy a warm off season in the duck pond?Does anyone really trust that games guy to feed the fish?
You can see the difference between the old wood (the roof support post) and the new wood detail.
So, Bamboozer station.I can’t believe no one has commented on this, or simply no one has noticed.For me the Bamboozler station is one of the coolest looking stations in the park.So it’s always nice when its gets its detailed woodwork taken care of, instead of letting it fall apart.I had Jeff photo take a photo of one section of the station that shows the old and the new.You can definitely tell the difference.
Americana has had some of the most work done though, so let’s move their next.Of course there are the restaurants that received new roofs (Pizza Pier/Gyro Express), which looks nice, but Front Street is the star of this show.Who ever thought that some wood and paint would make such a big difference?
Interior of the Emporium. Notice the counter is no longer a square island. It looks so much better!
Peppermint Patty's. Interesting history factoid, this shop used to be called Sharon's Yum Yum Shop. Its sign is hanging in the Ambassador Ambam (break room).
Peppermint Patty’s, and the Front Street Emporium also received some TLC on their interiors too.Peppermint Patty’s has a beautiful new counter and brought back some of the fine candies.The Emporium received a new floor, and a new positioning of the counter.No the counter itself is not new, but it looks much better, and from what I have heard functions much better as well!
Most would also not notice the work outside of Front Street, on the Front Street (sunken) fountain.During the off season the fountain inner workings had been removed.As pessimists both Jeff and I had though that possibly the sunken fountain was being gutted for the new "main" entrance fountain.Nope, it was removed to be repaired and painted.It looks nice.
Onto Timberwolf.I was excited to ride it again after riding it during the off season.I unfortunately didn’t get to ride it on Saturday.Due to the surprisingly large turn out, and the fact that Timberwolf only running one train, the line was quite long.After riding it on Sunday though I do have to agree with my previously mentioned commentary. It is an improved ride.Its been a little bit better after every off season for the last three years. Besides the ultimate desire of seeing the thing completely re-tracked, this is the next best thing.At least it’s getting some love.
ELI also received some surprising love, it had its brass shinned up, which hasn’t happened a whole lot in the past.It looked good.
So moving on to Europa, Autobahn.Autobahn is still Autobahn, which makes me happy all by itself. (Or in Jeff's alternate universe its still DFB, Der Fender Bender) It received some unusual work over the off season, specifically several new walls where put up.The first set of walls on the left hand side is a good addition in our opinion.It hides the unsightly view of car innards spread out all over the place.The right side walls though were built for storage.The garage door is not the most beautiful thing in the world. But hey it is still Autobahn!(Can you tell I am happy about that).Also the floor itself appears actually larger then it had been in previous years.I do hope it still receives a new roof over the next few months though.
A few of the concrete blocks installed throughout Europa.
Europa has also seen quite a bit of work preparing for the 2010 main new attraction.Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights.Overall seeing the work progress and hearing some of the plans I think it should be a great new attraction, especially for families.On that topic concrete squares have appeared sporadically through the Europa section.We have heard that these will be used for various scenes spread through the lighted attraction.Sounds cool and I am excited for June.
On Sunday we got the chance to catch the new Moulin Rouge show, British Invasion.Jeff and I have conflicting opinions about the show.I really liked it.Yes, it was different, but that was a huge breath of fresh air after the same old, same old, year after year after year.Like previous shows there were a few highly talented singers, and like I mentioned it just felt fresh and the singers seemed to be having a good time, which makes all the difference.
Exhibit #1, King Tuts, with some new signage, but still King Tuts.
Exhibit #2, Congo Clearing, makes way for Junkyard Burgers?
I won't say anything, I won't say anything...
Moving onto Africa, we checked out a few of the shops and restaurants.First I think that Moroccan Merchant is one of the overlooked nice shops in the park.It really is themed and laid out VERY well.But there is no one ever there!Onto to the restaurants and here I will compare two, King Tuts Hot Dogs, and Junkyard Burgers (Congo Clearing).King Tuts still keeps its themed sign, yet also had a tasteful hot dog sign below it.Congo Clearing on the other hand, is completely re-named, and the name just doesn’t strike me as tasty.Junkyard?Plus the sign… goodness the sign.Maybe if I don’t think about it the sign will simply disappear? Form your own opinion.
On the complete flip side again we have the park making an effort at keeping the theme, with the somewhat garish African themed masks on the Congo bridge.(Garish and African do have a tendency to go together so that’s not necessarily a negative).Yes, they were added LAST year, but I didn’t get to talk about them last year.
Of course last there is always Prowler.Prowler is great as usual, spectacular is actually more accurate.Looking back many of us remember how the 21st century started in the 1999 and 2000 seasons.Not exactly the most memorable. Certainly disappointing.In the span of ten years what had started out as quite painfully one of the worst times in park history, has been turned on its head to finish out the decade with a very positive outlook.Overall, I see the park headed in the right direction. There is a pent up demand and while I hate to jinx anyone or anything I have a feeling this will be a good season.
With less the five days to go before opening Jeff and I ventured out to the park accompanied by Brandon to get some photos of a few of the park updates. It looked quite a bit different then a similar trip two months ago!
Front Street with its new paint job! We have seen this before, but this is its more finished stage.
And the Candy shop.
It's only Bamboozler right? Sometimes its what you DON'T notice that's the most important. During the off season we have both watched as what is one of the last original ride stations left received a mini-face lift. Much of its distinctive red, gold and black trim has been replaced.
The new fountain in the city of fountains located at the entrance to the park. Looks spiffy. :)
If you haven't read up on my previous post, Timber Wolf has also received some TLC this off season again. In this episode Timber Wolf received new lamination for its first turn (following the first drop), and the entrance to the 360 helix. It definitely helps the ride.
Extreme close up on Timber Wolf!
So its Krazy Kars the kiddie bumper cars ride. Looks like a nice improvement over the last few years. It also has a new panel, with built in timer! Okay you have to have worked the ride to understand how important it is to actually have a built in timer.
The Autobahn. They washed Autobahn in hot water several years ago, which caused it to shrink. Now that shrinking has been made permanent. If the park was going to shrink the size at least they made it look better though.
See no more looking at the guts and inards of broken Autobahn cars. Much nicer.
This is the other side of Autobahn. It's now a storage closet.
Moving along now, workers preparing for Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights.
Another close up on a tree. Also see the trees in the background already wrapped in blue lights.
Where are we? Looking up at the lights attached to the bottom of the train trestle.
We will be visiting the park this coming Monday for photos right before the park opens, but hey I couldn’t wait.I love talking about the park too much, and if that makes me a geek, so be it.
Saturday was dry run day, and while I was trained on driving the train .... (watch out it’s a women driver!)
The most important aspect to you readers is the fact that we both rode Prowler and Timber Wolf. On Prowler we rode in the front, there was one other person with us on the train, and it was running fast!Like the winter had never happened, and Prowler went from October to today with no off season.I say this as usually coasters are slower at the start of the season for the fact that they haven’t run for months.It should be a good season for Prowler.
Timber Wolf also has received some work, and hopefully on Monday I can update with some photos.The main body of work included the re-track of the first turn, following the main drop and the entrance into the 360 helix.For those that do not like Timber Wolf it will probably not make much of a difference.For those that DO like Timber Wolf, it makes a pretty substantial difference.Mainly, no shuffle, bang, shuffle, bang after the first drop!I really like the fact that despite everything the park is still putting money back into the Wolf.
Last, after much consideration I have decided to probably not camp out at the park.Especially since it would just be me, myself and I.(Significant other has elected to not pitch a tent) For anyone else who is interested we are planning a pre-opening breakfast at Waffle House.For anyone interested check out the event on Facebook
