Over the last year on this blog, we have delved into the announcement, followed by the design of the newly re-imagined Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun. We considered the similar details from the original vs. the new, on paper at least, and interviewed its designers and builders. Finally, the day arrived; Zambezi Zinger would give its first public rides.
Worlds of Fun invited us to attend the Big Slick event on June 16th, when the 32 winners of the first rider expedition would experience the first public ride. The new Zinger would open to pass holders the following Saturday and Sunday and finally to the general public on Monday, June 19th.
Before the first rides, speeches were given by Worlds of Fun General Manager Rick Fiedler, and Public Relations Manager Brian McGannon, as well as Andrew Garton Assistant Director of Philanthropic Giving at Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) and Mauria Stonestreet of Big Slick (Pediatric cancer foundation of CMH). The podium itself was an attraction itself, designed and built by the park to look like the ride's iconic spiral lift hill. The presentation of an oversized check to Big Slick and the ceremonial ribbon cutting followed.
After the first riders had ridden, we immediately headed into the queue we had heard so much about. Probably one of the best-themed queues in park history, the new Zinger reuses the original Zambezi Zinger's original queue house. Riders enter through a side entrance instead of entering through the original entrance. At first, this was a bit confusing, but it follows the back story laid out for the new Zinger when it was announced last August. The story goes that many years ago, a small-time safari company, Zambezi Adventure Safaris went out of business when its star attraction, the Zinger, was believed to have gone extinct. The safari company has now re-opened its doors after new evidence that the Zinger had been re-discovered. Signage on the original main entrance reads, "please use side entrance, as office closed due to snake infestation" This is a small detail that not only fits the new story but is a nod to the old urban legend that snakes once lived in the original Zinger tunnel.
The details continue throughout the queue line, both planned and unplanned. One of the most unnoticeable details is that if you look down, you can still see where the original queue rails were located; tight and narrow, the park removed them many years ago. Then there is a large corkboard in the queue that is so detailed it could have its own blog! A few standouts include a small letter telling riders to "watch out; there are snakes in the tunnel!" A reproduction of the Schwarzkopf badge (Schwarzkopf built the original Zinger), a copy of a 1973 souvenir map, and a small nod to Phileas Fogg, the original explorer from "Around the World in 80 Days".
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| Photo by Kim Slater |
The various, seemingly generic travel posters are not generic at all. They were designed by Cedar Fair Senior Environmental Graphic Designer Brittani Rosier, specifically for the ride, with each one including a nod to both current and defunct African attractions in each section. For example, the Egypt one features the Sphinx (Fury of the Nile) and a Mamba snake (Mamba), and The Serengeti features a nod to the original Safari ride. Brittani added an interesting detail: the Safari Vehicle on the Serengeti poster was initially designed to look identical to the vehicles on The Safari ride (1973-1978) but was modified to the more "Range Rover" appearance in final production.
Out of the queue building and towards the station, the landscaping is lush and unparalleled in any queue line at Worlds of Fun. Music is piped in to make you feel as if you are on your way toward a real Safari adventure. Because, of course, you are!
As discussed in a previous blog, the two trains on the new Zambezi Zinger are the first-ever Great Coaster International (GCI) Infinity Flyer trains. Riders only have a lap bar for restraint, no seatbelts! The significant change here is the height requirement, which the park had initially posted as 40" but was increased to a minimum of 48" just before the ride opening; the "why" to the question regarding the height requirement change is pretty straightforward once you experience the ride. It's fairly intense and makes several rapid, directional changes. The overall intensity doesn't detract from the ride experience but pushes it above what most consider a family ride.
This isn't the first time in amusement history that a ride that was intended to be a family ride ended up being something completely different. Personal recollection: PowderKeg at Silver Dollar City was also intended to be a family ride. No one will discount that PowderKeg is a great ride, and, in my opinion, people will see Zinger as a similar situation; a good ride is a good ride, after all.
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| This footer is visible from both the new Zinger queue line and when heading towards the lift. |
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| A view of the high-speed turn on the original Zinger, and you can see what I believe is the same footer (different angle) below the track. Photo by Tammy Queen. |
A ride on Zinger itself starts as you head out of the station. Immediately on exiting the station, riders should look to the right. In the stream below, they will see several concrete footers for the original Zambezi Zinger, specifically for its "high-speed turn" or its fourth drop that followed the curve around the lift.
Once on the lift, The Zambezi Zinger is anything but quiet, thanks to the anti-rollbacks (a feature the original Zinger never had). Besides that auditory detail, the lift is reminiscent of the original Zinger, and unlike your typical lift hill is quite fun. The drop itself is quick and relatively steep compared to the original, which was 56 feet tall; the new version is about twenty feet taller at 74 feet. The ride starts out relatively tame, making a quick turn over by Nile's queue line before heading back towards the lift hill. The turn around the lift is nearly identical to the original, while still being a bit speedier on this new version. What probably amplifies the similarity is that the new lift hill is located within 20 feet of the original, making this one detail, and the lift it surrounds, probably as close as anyone could get to the original without actually re-building the original.
From this point, the new Zinger becomes a tale of two different rides. While the original would take a curving drop into the high-speed turn, the new Zinger rips off towards undiscovered land. The train dives, crests over the train tracks, and begins its action-packed second half.
Going back to Zinger's original announcement, fans have been discussing one vital feature, the tunnel. Some go so far as to say it's not really a tunnel as it doesn't go underground. While I disagree with that assessment, I was surprised that the tunnel was a last-minute addition to the design. Today, the new tunnel is enclosed, and while not pitch black, it is quite fun and at a great location about midway through the ride. After shooting out of the tunnel, the ride continues its quick and ferocious campaign. Flipping riders side to side, so close to the ground in some cases you feel you could reach out and touch it. Several fiberglass African animals populate the second half of Zinger, a zebra, lion, and rhino, all relocated from Kings Dominion. Still, most riders would never realize it as you are being zinged right past them. Before anyone can catch their breath, we have made it back to the station and our safari expedition has come to an end.
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| The lion hiding out in the corner. |
I would end up riding the coaster three more times (for four total) in that first hour of ride operation. It was fun; I rode it multiple times and would do so again. One detail I mentioned is that unlike the original, which was mostly mild-mannered, this new Zambezi Zinger, totally lives up to its name, Zinging guests through the wilds of Worlds of Fun's Africa section. Like the original, though, the trees play a big part, and I imagine they will grow much like they did on the original as the years go by. That really will be one Zinger of a ride!