1999-2019: 20 Years in 100 Photos

Several over the years have asked for a review of history for the last decade or the first decade of the 21st century.  I'll be honest, it took a while for me to twist my mind around that time period as "history".   I not only lived it, I lived it in technicolor, I was already writing opening day reviews for dot org as early as 1999!  It just never seemed that long ago, but of course, it was now 20 years ago.  Crazy to think Mamba has now operated almost as many seasons as Orient Express ever did.   Creating this blog took more time than I could ever imagine, I sifted through literally 10,000+ different photos that we shot, at the time covering current events, now history.  For me, it has been bittersweet, reliving great memories, tons of them, and all the moments of "oh I had forgotten, or oh I miss that".  One more fascinating detail I realized partially through... starting in 1999 pictures used were actual print photos developed from film (whats that?!) that had to be scanned or had been scanned prior.  A few years later, it switched to pulling photos off of CD's, and then off a hard drive, and finally came pulling photos off an iPhone.  I realized this blog isn't just a history of Worlds of Fun, but a literal history of the evolution of photography  It's been quite a re-discovery.  

1999

1999 came right on the shirt tales of 1998 and Mamba.  I often consider Mamba's addition the turning point in park history, neatly dividing "old Worlds of Fun" from "new Worlds of Fun" but though it's nice and neat on a timeline even that isn't 100% accurate.  Drastic changes occurred before 1998 and after 1998, the park we know today is vastly different than the park in 1999.  Zinger was gone, but Orient Express was still there, and it wasn't just about the rides either.

1999 also began the multi-year transition of color for everything in the park.  Prior to 1999, everything was in the fall color palette, warm browns, reds, and golds.  Post-2001, everything was more of a winter shade, blues and greens mostly.  From 1999 until 2009 the park added a total of four new roller coasters, but also saw the removal of Orient Express.  From 1999 until 2019 the park saw the removal of 13 rides in addition to Express, but also saw the addition of 20 new rides (not to mention the four coasters).  In 1999, you could enter Oceans of Fun from Worlds of Fun by walking, but it was still a separate admission and separate season pass too!  

Overall, I believe one of the biggest changes over the last twenty years is the appearance of the park, colors have changed, landscaping has changed, the entire park gate looks about as different as night and day, multiple midways, such as the Orient, American Front Street, and Africa all look completely different.  And that is not necessarily a bad thing.  A few days ago there was a post regarding dwelling on the past, that nostalgia can go into overload.  It might surprise some that I couldn't agree more.  I find it important to find a balance between appreciating the past, and recognizing the changes that need to happen to make the park a better place.  However, you can't know where you are going without knowing where you have been and that is why this blog, this website, everything I have done and written over the past twenty-three plus years exists.  

So let's take a step back in time to 1999, things might have seemed far simpler back then but nothing could be further from the truth as the park was in the midst of massive upheavals. 

Africa isn't even remotely recognizable to its self prior to 1998, and one of those changes was the addition of Coasters Diner which in this photo is still under construction.  Coasters would open in May and would be virtually identical to the one at Cedar Point.

Ugh, how I detested the Grand Prix Go-Karts from the very beginning, even more so than Boomerang.  A pay-extra attraction, that wasn't all that attractive, built right over the Americana Gate, and then they ripped up Henrietta to do it.  To top it off they used Cedar Point's old hand-me-down Go Karts.  I was THRILLED  when Steelhawk came around to replace it.

I wrote an unpublished editorial a few years ago, as thoughts to when Worlds of Fun released the video of this old gate being demolished.  My thoughts are still the same.  I love the new gate, I think it's about as better than this as you can get, but some little part of me will always miss the old gate because of all the memories I had with it.  Including the one where this photo was shot in 2000.  Interestingly enough, the Scandinavian gate itself changed appearances several times over its tenure as "main back gate".  In 2000, the year this photo was shot it had only just been painted blue, over the old gold color.  The sign was new too.

1999 was Python Plunge's last year, of course in 1999 it was known as just The Plunge.  I have a friend of mine that loved Plunge, and have found over the years that it was like Arthur Bryant's Barbecue, you either loved it or hated it.  Personally, though I never rode it (to rollercoaster-like), I did operate it a few times, and I detested it for the sheer fact that you had to carry those rafts up the tower and they were heavy, wet and HOT.  

The Orient in 1999, looking far different than it does today.  The Aquatic Arena and Pagoda Soda would be demolished after the 2003 season (along with Orient Express), along with the large Bradford pears on the right.  Today the new trees planted in 2004 have filled in nicely.  

Tivoli in 1999, I am not entirely sure when Tivoli received its paint job, though I am taking an educated guess and thinking it was probably either '98 or '99 like the rest of the park.  Otherwise, Tivoli was much as most of us remember it with its covered entrance still intact and at this point still in decent shape.

Zulu looked about the same but the surrounding area looked quite a bit different in 1999.  It looked pretty similar to this until 2008, both the planter in front of Zulu (with the elephant ears) and the center island (with the cannas) were removed when the concrete was replaced with Prowler's opening.

2000

 

I specifically picked this photo since comparing this view and today, they are so quite shockingly different.  Yet to me, this view seems just like yesterday.  I loved the wooden benches that surrounded the trees, and then there is the SO bridge that also looks so completely different today.

Boomerang on opening day April 8, 2000, it shared the spotlight with the re-opening of Orient Express.  Opening Day 2000 is a day I am very likely to never forget as it was so cold that day that it took several hours before any rides opened to the public.  

Bear Country had such a short lifespan at the park, lasting only four seasons from 1997 until 2000.  Many of its various attractions would go on for several more years, re-themed to Camp Snoopy, such as the Spooky Old Tree becoming the Kite Eating Tree and the Club House becoming Woodstock's Nature Center.  However, the Bear County Treehouse which was built on the pad previously occupied by Octopus was removed and replaced with Snoopy Bounce in 2001.

Stax of Wax would celebrate 15 years in 2000.  Stax of Wax by name would be discontinued after the 2002 season but continues to live on in spirit as part of the back story to Haunted Homecoming: Meat Cleaver High.  

Beat Street, another one of those views that is so hard to contemplate that it's been almost 15 years since its looked this way.  Nothing in this view had changed since the removal of Cotton Blossom about five years prior, it still retains its harbor town feel that it was built with originally in 1982 as River City.  Rockin' Reeler was another one of my favorite rides, it was removed after the 2005 season and the area became a brick patio area.  Today, it is near where Cotton Blossom BBQ is, if you scroll to 2019 you can see an almost identical modern view of the same area.

Another view that has changed drastically.  That smoothie stand on the right is now the Coca Cola Refresh, its the same structure, it was built originally as Lamar's Libations.  The Grand Prix Raceway on the left was an eyesore for MANY years, I despised the thing, and was thrilled the last vestige of it go after the 2017 season, today Falcon's Flight is located there.  In the distance, you can see Autobahn with its tan and mint green color scheme, it would be re-painted in 2001 as we will soon see.

New Funtier Arcade in 2000 with it's original brown and cream color scheme.

2001

My sister calls this the show with the guys in speedos, which I guess is pretty accurate!  There were a few different diving shows that called the Aquatic Arena home after Fins and Flippers departed after the 1996 season.  Mermaids and Mariner's, which this is a photo of was the last one. 2001 was the last year for that show.

I remember when Camp Snoopy opened that it was such a delightful sight for sore eyes after the additions of 1999 and 2000 (Grand Prix and Boomerang).  I remembered commenting how finished it appeared, and looked... like someone put some thought into its design.  It looked quite a bit like the one at Cedar Point, but it was one comparison to Cedar Point that wasn't a bad thing at all.

Gazebo and playground area in Camp Snoopy in 2001.  Today, the gazebo would be standing right about where the entrance to Peanut's Playhouse/Pig Pen's Petting Farm is.  The gazebo was stored for a few years I remember it sitting back in the maintenance area, but I am guessing it has gone the way of the dodo.  It's fascinating to think back in 2001 that there were ZERO rides back in this area at the time, it was just a children's play area and gravel pit with a gigantic play dinosaur skeleton.  Today there are five rides back there!  The truly amazing thing is the one thing that hasn't changed is quite possibly more popular than any ride, and that is the musical foot board that is just outside of this photo. 

Another ride that I didn't ride, but again even if I didn't ride it there are just some things I will never forget.  Whhhhaaaaaaaa cling cling cling X 100... Waaaaa... I can't type it out well but for those that remember it you know exactly what I mean.  Omegatron was the prototype Vekoma Skyflyer (Vekoma also built Boomerang), there were only a few ever built.  There is still a Vekoma Skyflyer operating at Energylandia in Poland. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHq052bOPaE)

Moulin Rouge's exterior in 2001, it wouldn't change appearances much at all until 2013 when we walked in opening day and the sign was missing and replaced by a banner.  

Stax of Trax premiered in 1999 as the secondary show to Stax of Wax.  Unlike Stax of Wax, Trax was the next generation focused on the '60's and '70's, including a variety of '70's television shows.  This photo is from 2001.

Omegatron like many removed rides of Worlds of Fun's past didn't make it until the end of the season as this photo can attest.  And yes, that is Jeff in the photo, taking a close up photo.  

2002

With the removal of Omegatron in late 2001, new for 2002 was Thunderhawk a HUSS Top Spin.  Worlds of Fun attempted a unique twist on this classic flat ride by adding a drenching water feature.  It's likely that the water feature was also the end of Thunderhawk too.  

And New Funtier and Calamity Games also received new paint jobs, following the trend of bright colors it went from the muted brown and cream to a rainbow of colors.  Also, notice the red mulch that was so common throughout the park during these years.

Outta Sync would premier in 2002 as a roving band, it would last until the 2006 season.  In the background, you can see the old Front Street Americana area, one of the old tree islands that has been removed over the years, and The Rock climbing wall that was added in 2000 as a pay-extra attraction.

Rockin' the House at Tivoli  in 2002.  If you notice the backdrop in this photo hung on the wall of Tivoli's lobby for several years afterward.

By 2002 the Aquatic Arena was fenced off, and by 2004 the whole area would look completely different. The only attraction in this photo that still exists is the Skyliner Ferris wheel.  

Python Plunge was also removed after the 2001 season, but the concrete queue areas and runoff troughs were left until 2008 and Prowler construction.  Much of the leftover queue line and Python Potions snack area were reused for the first Camp Gonna Gitcha. 

And in 2002 Autobahn got this... unique... color scheme change, but if you notice both ends had yet to be enclosed, that wouldn't happen until 2010 to coincide with Hot Summer Lights.

Front Street still looked like it had since its 1995 renovation.  I know a lot of people miss the large trees, but I imagine it will regain its shaded status in a few years.

2003

Paradise Falls opens in 2003!  Much like the first opening day for Ocean of Fun, opening day for Paradise Falls was very chilly, I believe the temperatures reached the upper 50's.  I tried out a few of the slides but the water was extremely cold!

In 2003 with very little fanfare the first haunt opened in the old Beat Street area, known as Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns.  A second, family-friendly haunted house also opened in Camp Snoopy known as Magical House on Boo Hill. 

Scandinavia and Viking Voyager in 2003, I would work Voyager in both 1994 and 2006, so I remember both when this station was brown and orange with brown extended queue rails, and these trees were much smaller.  I also remember in 2006 when it looked just like this and I would sit on Lift 2, watching these trees turn yellow in the fall, as they would tower over the top of the queue house, it was quite beautiful. 

A common sight in 2003, as Orient Express was down almost as much as it was operational. 

Spooktacular during Halloweekends produced and performed by magician and illusionist John Bundy, and escapologist Morgan.  Spooktacular would run at the Tivoli from 1998 until 2011.

2004

Spinning Dragons  just prior to opening in 2004, this was shot on opening day 2004.  That day was rather unforgettable, we walked past a lady crying on a bench in the Orient.  Now I don't know if she was upset about the Express or it was just me transferring my thoughts to her, but it seemed an appropriate emotion at the time.  Spinning Dragons would parlay an entire refurbishment of the Orient section, one that was much needed, and though it seemed sparse in 2004, it has grown into itself and looks great today.

Snoopy Rocks at the Tivoli in 2004.  Neither Jeff or I are huge show fans but we did try to catch each show at least once a year.  Snoopy Rocks was a take-off of the Knott's and Cedar Point's Snoopy Rocks on Ice, which was a sing and dance show on ICE.  The detail I most vividly remember about this show is a family group who sat next to us and the teenage kid seemed completely uninterested thinking it was a "stupid Snoopy show" but perked up when he saw the live band, his commentary?  "I didn't know there was a live band!"

2004 was the last season for Fowl Play, it was hosted by Deb and Mark Obarka who started their careers at Busch Gardens in Tampa.  

Haunted Homecoming: Meat Cleaver High premiers as part of the newly expanded Halloweekends in 2004. (photo from 2006).  One fascinating tidbit is that the backstory (Cleaver High School Beavers) for Haunted Homecoming is lifted from that of Stax of Wax, and this is true with Zombie High as well.  

Digger's Used Coffin Lot was a skit that ran until 2011 and was located in Europa and Africa on varying years.  Though Jeff always made comments on the limited nature of Halloweekends prior to Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns in 2003, I always loved Digger's Used Coffin Lot and Witch Doctor's Revenge.  I do believe at least a few of the coffins from the show are still used in Lore of the Vampire as props.

2005

Peanut's Playhouse opened in spring 2005, replacing the playground and dinosaur dig area that preceded it.

Perondi's Extreme Canine Show premiered in 2005, replacing Fowl Play at the Country Junction Theater.  The Perondi family would host the show for three seasons through 2007.

Not long after the 2005 season concluded half of the old River City/Beat Street shopping complex was demolished with the remaining portion used for Patriot's Landing. 

2006

The same vantage point as posted above, and only a few months separate both photos.

Opening Day 2006 in Europa, an ice storm had downed the 3-4 Bald Cypress trees here, and it looked quite barren without them.  As part of the same storm, straps were also added to one of the train bridge supports. 

2006 was the last year for Rangoon Refresher, it would be replaced by Panda Express in 2007.  For at least a few years afterward the Rangoon Refresher sign would be relocated to the Ambassador Break Room (Ambam).

Compare this view to the same one of Rockin' Reeler above, it looks very different.  In 2019 Cotton Blossom BBQ would open about where the rock above is located.

2007

2007 would be the last year for Custer's Last Stand, in 2008 it would be renovated into the ICEE stand that it is today.  I always loved Custer's and Wet Your Whistle (which was over by Country Junction), both the names and signs.  They were so completely original.

And the first year for Panda Express, which replaced Rangoon Refresher.   I remember hearing a story that Panda Express wanted the Vittle Griddle location in Americana, but the park wouldn't allow it since it was there most profitable location, and I just can't imagine it there.  Kind of like the Panda Express in the Gotham area at Six Flags.  

Old MacDonald's Slaughterhouse (Bloodshed) opened as the park's 7th haunt in 2007. It was the first new structure built specifically for a haunt, it was also the first year and first haunt where makeup was not done at each specific haunt, which necessitated the creation of the parade.  A funny story is that many props tended to be moved from new haunt to new haunt.  For example, much of the exterior fencing was moved from Asylum Island to Slaughterhouse.  Also, the rotating barrel, which started with Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns, moved to Slaughterhouse and then onto various other haunts over the years.

This small shack was originally built as Python Potions, a drink stand next to Python Plunge.  When Camp Gonna Gitcha was added to the site in 2004 it was, like so many things at Worlds of Fun, repurposed.  This photo was taken in 2007 the last year Camp Gonna Gitcha was located in the old Plunge lot.  In 2008 it would be moved up by Nile to make way for the construction of Prowler.

Big Game Hunt would not only change scenery but also names after the 2007 season, this was one last look at the old layout (photo from 1999).  A fascinating and possibly true story regarding Big Game Hunt is that in 1999 there was a rumor it was going to be replaced by a Nascar Race Simulator. Jeff wrote his only editorial in an attempt to save Big Game Hunt.  Whether that had any impact or not, or whether the rumor was true or not, Big Game Hunt would stick around for 17 more seasons (counting from 1999).  

2008

SO Bridge in 2008 decorated for the Celebrate America Festival.  Celebrate America Festival ran through the entire month of July and featured classic cars on display, discount foods, ($1 hot dogs, soda, chips), fireworks every night.  I didn't realize it at the time but it, like Oktoberfest was an attempt to reboot a classic Hunt Midwest festival.  It like, Oktoberfest was discontinued after 2009.

Oktoberfest also returned for a short run in 2008, it like Celebrate America would only last until 2009.  It just wasn't heavily attended, the park didn't stick with it long enough really to get the word out like Halloweekends.  However, I remember it being very well produced, and enjoyable, The Leiderkranz Singers, Beer Sliding, German food, and then this trio pictured, the Bavarian Brass.

Haunt parade in 2008, this was the second year for the parade and the last year before Overlord.  Notice the lack of crowds in the background, just small groups of families!  This was the first year I wasn't a Screamster in Haunt, (I worked in Asylum in 2006 and 2007), and was at Patriot instead.  I made tombstones for the Patriot drive box for all the defunct coasters that year!  I believe operations kept them for a couple of years afterward. 

Outlaw's Revenge premiered in 2008.  Jeff was an inaugural outlaw and recalls (as do I) the trial and error with the sliding gear the park went through the first two years.  Jeff recalls going through the original park-provided pads in minutes and had to go out to Home Depot to buy his own, as well as hot gluing his own spark-creating gloves.

Big Game Hunt became Shooting Gallery in 2008, they completely gutted most of the targets but did, and I always find the choices here peculiar, keep the piano player, hotel sign and sewing machine (yes, sewing machine).  

2009

Prowler opens on May 1, 2009.  In 2009, I was working at the Depot/Le Carousel/Autobahn complex and recall Jeff walking by telling me he was invited to ride Prowler prior to its grand opening.  Needless to say, I was furious.  He has yet to live that one down.  

Overlord's Awakening premiered in 2009 and is truthfully a "cornerstone" addition in that it inaugurated the truthfully massive Haunt event that we know today.  Prior to Overlord there were no crowds in the Scandinavian plaza area, starting with Overlords the crowd started and would continue to grow into what it is today.

2010

The story of Worlds of Fun's kid's rides is one of movement, so many moved from all over the park, Viking Vheel (Head over Wheels) started in Scandinavia in 1982, it was moved to Pandamonium in 1987 and located where Detonator is today, and finally moved again with the addition of Detonator in 1996.  It wasn't the only kids ride to be removed in 2010 or 2011, Road Rally (Micro Moto Bahn) and Bounce-A-Roos were also removed after the 2010 season, and Pony Promenade (Peanut's Pony's) was removed after the 2011 season.  Funny story time, Jeff once was assigned to work Pandamonium back in the late '80's, he had never once operated the ride... and on top of operating a ride that he had personally never been trained on, he was also told to train a new ambassador on it too.  Let's just put it this way, at least kiddie rides aren't complicated attractions.

Planet Snoopy was announced in August 2010, what I remember most about this event... it was HOT, around 100 degrees or so.  Almost everyone was trying to find any shade which in that area of the park is minimal!  

Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights premiered in 2010, it ran from Europa to Africa, and had interactive roaming characters the first year, including the glow-worm above, it would be discontinued after the 2013 season.  One of my best memories of it is rather unique.  Jeff and I set up about four different history exhibits at the park from 2009 until 2014, we would come in right after the park closed to bring in the big items, and leave them there overnight.  One evening after finishing past midnight we ended up, for whatever reason, driving through the park.  There wasn't a single soul in the park, but the lights and music for Hot Summer Lights was still on, it was like driving through a Christmas Light drive-through experience. 

Festhaus in 2010, it would be gone by 2011 and replaced by Grand Carrousel.  The Festhaus wooden trellis structure was originally the queue line for the Schussboomer roller coaster which was removed after the 1984 season.  

2011

Planet Snoopy opens with 2011 season, though on Opening Day most rides weren't operational or even in one piece, the first  new rides wouldn't even open until May 1, 2011.  However, I remember being startled with the bright colors on opening day!  Not to say I didn't like them, I actually loved the colors after I got used to the change!  

Grand Carrousel replaced Festhaus in 2011, a new, permanent Festhaus (I call it Festhaus II) was built just adjacent.  If you remember my story about how Jeff got to ride Prowler before opening day, the same thing happened with Grand Carrousel.  He went out every week (probably to keep me happy, since I couldn't come since I was in nursing school and working full time), for photos of it under construction.

A photo taken from the Forum just after the stage was demolished (the dumpster is still there).  The reason we were given at the time for the stage demolition is that acts in many cases brought their own stages with them.  

Don't Stop Believin' at Tivoli was the second year for the show, but more importantly it was the last year for the Tivoli summer show, after 39 seasons of shows.

Scandi Skees was an original building to the park, but opened as Arctic Arcade it changed to Scandi Skees in 1984.  I will always remember it for having those odd Air Ball games.  

2012

Plaza Gifts replaces Scandi Skees in 2012, everything was repainted to the peach color we know today, except for the two towers.  The towers wouldn't be repainted until 2014.  It was kind of a joke we had how the towers didn't match the rest of the building for two seasons.

The Northland Kansas City water tower is re-painted in 2012.  Worlds of Fun pitched in $50,000 to repaint it in the signature Worlds of Fun colors.  I remember this well, I was surprised the day it turned up grey, and we all held our breath as we wondered if it would be repainted the same as it was previously.  This was during the time period that we were unsure if the park would stick with the balloon logo.

As late as 2012 Africa didn't look all that much different than it did in 2000.  Have I mentioned yet how much I hated that basketball free throw game?

Tivoli 2012, the first year there was no Tivoli summer show, and it looks downright sad with no marque signage.  

2013

And the Extreme Makeover: Theme Park Edition continues in Africa as it receives its first drastic cosmetic changes in over a decade with the coming of Dinosaurs Alive.

Probably the biggest change in 2013 was to Oceans of Fun, for the first 20 years of existence Oceans of Fun was a separately ticketed park, and even had its own separate Oceans of Fun season pass.  When I was a kid back in the 80's you couldn't even really see Worlds of Fun from Oceans of Fun, and I was always told "the parks were only separated by a fence", which was mind-boggling to a little kid.  In 1992, the changes started happening with the Same-Day Gateway, but both parks were still a separate admission.  In 2013 that was all wiped away, both parks became one, one ticket for both.  Truthfully, I was concerned with how that would impact Oceans of Fun attendance, and as most can attest, it most definitely hasn't!  As part of the combination, Oceans of Fun received a massive refurbishment, including its main gate, which has now become the new back gate.  

Oceans also received its first new thrilling water slide complex since 1983, Predator's Plunge.  You can see the wave pool to the left with its new color scheme.

Dinosaur's Alive was new in 2013, it was the park's fourth pay extra attraction after Ripcord, Grand Prix, and The Rock climbing wall. 

Zulu's overall station appearance and surrounding atmosphere appeared quite different starting in 2009, this photo is from 2013.

2014

On opening day 2013 we walked in and the old marque sign above Moulin Rouge was replaced with a temporary banner as we found out later the old sign was in danger of literally falling off the building.  In 2014 the temporary banner was replaced with this new neon sign, reproducing the original Moulin Rouge's sign (in Paris).  The exterior was also renovated.

Flying Dutchman's original sign was on its last leg here, and we didn't even know it.  We only found out one day when the sign had been replaced by a temporary banner which would be up for the rest of 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Steelhawk Opens on July 2, 2014 (It was Wednesday), and it wasn't an announced opening,  I remember getting a phone call that it was open and to head out in the middle of the week!  

Wilburn Gang robs the train in 2014, another short-lived addition that lasted only until 2015.  The original town of Yumma Yucca Mesa had been destroyed by a wind storm during the construction of Prowler in the winter of 2008, and was re-built for the new skit.  

Scrambler had been relocated to Americana in 1998, but 2014 would be it's last season there.  In 2015 it would be moved back to Scandinavia.  A fascinating story I've heard, and like many have no idea exactly how true it is... but fascinating none the less, is that the park initially looked at putting Scrambler inside the old Incred-O-Dome dome, to make it an inside ride similar to Cyclone Sams.  It only barely didn't fit.  I don't know about you, but that would have been awesome!

2014 would be the last season for Octopus.  Octopus had operated at its Scandinavia location since 1999 when it had been reinstalled after its 1997 removal from Pandamonium. An interesting point is that up until 2019, Octopus was the only original ride that had skipped an operating season during its tenure at the park. 

2015

A construction tour of Blood on the Bayou in 2015 during Coaster Mayhem.  I don't know why my memory seems to remember the extremely hot days but this was another one, it was stuffy inside, but it's incredibly fascinating to look back at these photos and recall it with the perspective after having experienced the completed haunt.

All-Wheels Sports, a bicycle and skating stunt show played at Heart of America Theater (Forum) in 2014 and 2015, it was fairly popular and in our opinion a great show!  

Ride rotation spans the entire history of Worlds of Fun, several rides, including several still at the park have been moved, sometimes on multiple occasions.  Scrambler would operate in Americana/Camp Snoopy from 1998 until 2014 (replacing Incred-O-Dome), but would move back to its original location in Scandinavia in 2015.  It would also receive an entirely new lighting package. The great detail about Scrambler is that it's manufacturing company is not only U.S. Based (ELI Bridge out of Jacksonville, Il) but also still in business so parts, such as the cars that were just replaced in 2019 are easy to obtain.  

2015 was the last season for Phileas Fogg and Nellie Bly, both characters were introduced in the 2012 season.  The character of Phileas was based on the main fictional character from Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days (in which the park is based on), while Nellie Bly was based on a non-fictional character that in 1889 completed a factual 72-day trip around the world.  

2016

2016 saw a second expansion to Planet Snoopy, making it one of the largest kids areas of any amusement or theme park in the country.  The expansion would include five new rides including the Larson Ride's Flying Scooters, known as Woodstock Gliders.  Larson Rides is located in Plainview Tx, and is probably most widely known for their Ring of Fire rides (very common at carnivals) but also in amusement enthusiast circles for their storage/display of the National Amusement Park Museum, which includes the lead car of the Orient Express train.

The Tivoli show Don't Stop Believin'. at least in concept was re-developed for Moulin Rouge in 2016.  I don't ever recall laughing so hard when I first saw this scene in the show.  

The new permanent Flying Dutchman sign in 2016.  Fascinatingly enough that when this photo was taken the background looks exactly like the 2014 photo, but that would change in a matter of months.

Baltic Bazaar in 2016, it would be demolished as part of the new gate and International Plaza addition.  Though not one to shed a tear over something that needed replacing, its impossible to miss the fact that Baltic Bazaar opened with the park in 1973 and had changed relatively speaking, very little over its forty-four years of existence.  

2017

Construction of the new Scandinavian gate in 2017.  It's can be quite a long story when it comes to the history of the main gate, as in reality the main gate was originally located halfway across the park from where it is now in Americana from 1973 until 1998. When the park discontinued the trams after the 1994 season, the Scandinavian (back gate) began the process of taking over as the main gate, and became the parks only gate after the Americana gate's demolition in 1998.  The Scandinavia gate, at best, was somewhat functional.  With its replacement in 2017, the park gained a real main gate for the first time in almost twenty years.  A fascinating tidbit is that the old Guest Relations and First Aid structures from the old gate live on serving as Passholder Services and Locker Rentals respectively.   (Photo from Worlds of Fun Social Media)

Falcon's Flight and Mustang Runner were introduced in 2017 in conjunction with the Cedar Fair European tour, when the company, under the guidance of Matt Ouimet, picked up several classic rides to bring back and re-introduce in the United States.  Both rides were bought used but refurbished to the point that they were like new when installed in the park.  Since the last new ride installed in Europa prior to Falcon's Flight was Le Carrousel in 1979 it was beyond time for Europa to get some love and it looks much cleaner now too. 

Tivoli in 2017 with its covered entrance removed.  For those that don't know, the entrance was added in 1974 and was not original to the theater.  The new entrance signage was added later that season.

2017 was the last season for Finnish Fling, it closed on closing day for the regular season of 2017, and sat there in the dark during Winterfest.  I rode Finnish Fling once, it wasn't all that memorable, except it made me feel like my throat was being pushed up against the wall, it was a weird feeling.  The funny thing is I remember going to WOF, in 1989 I think, it was with my aunt, uncle and cousins and mom.  My mom rode this thing then, as well as Zambezi Zinger, My mom hates amusement park rides more than I do!  I still can't believe she got talked into this above all the other rides.  

When Winterfest was announced in 2016 no one knew what to think. the park had never been open that late in the season before over its forty-five-year history at that point.  I remember driving by though the night of Thanksgiving, just before it opened the next day and seeing the park with all the lights on just absolutely blew my mind.  

2018

Some look at Africa and think not much has changed between the 2012 photo and today, I look at it and think what hasn't changed?  The only thing that hasn't changed is the trellis over the midway!  There is no more High Striker, there IS a Floral Clock (cue the angels singing), and then there is the current Auntie Annies (mmm pretzels..).  The pretzel place is probably the most successful of the variety of quick-service snack places that have been located at the end of Casbah Games... but its been one of MANY, from Rick's Cafe, to King Tut's Fresh Cut Fries, to ZardaQ Express, there has been a lot of variety there over the years and that's just the last 20 years or so. 

This trolley made its first appearance during Winterfest in 2017, since then it has been used for both its Winterfest Holly Jolly Trolley, various parade floats (Snake Saturday/St Patrick's Day Parade), and the summer-time show as well.  I like it, it reminds me of the Main Street Trolley Show at Magic Kingdom, which I think is kind of the point.

2019

Cotton Blossom BBQ under construction prior to the 2019 opening, if you notice it is the same view as the photo from 2006 & 2000!  (Photo from Worlds of Fun Social Media)

Front Street in 2019.  As many have commented it looks very different than it did in 2017 prior to the  renovation of the area, but I believe it needed it, and it will be only a few years before the trees began to fill out just like the ones by Voyager. 

In 2016 the old trees in front of Viking Voyager were removed and new trees planted, three years later the new trees have begun developing well.  

SO Bridge in 2019 during the premiere of Grand Carnivale.  One final story before we close it out.  If you notice throughout this blog I call the bridge joining Scandinavia and Orient the SO Bridge, that's what I have always heard everyone call it, and it was "given" that unofficial name by ambassadors and permanent staff long ago since it connects Scandinavia to the Orient.  As the photos have shown the SO Bridge has changed drastically over the years, first with flags and wooden hand railing, today, with a Torii gate and updated metal rails. Some say this necessities a change in name, but I disagree.  First, many attractions that have changed names are still called by their old names, years, decades later.  The Forum, Forum Road, Vittle Griddle, Blue Bronco even River City Rampage (that's Fjord Fjarlene), all have been re-named over the years, but are still called by many by their older names, because that's what many of us know them as.  For me SO Bridge is just SO Bridge.  

The Orient Express Turned the World Upside Down

Two years ago when we were preparing to celebrate Mamba’s 20th anniversary I decided to follow chronologically the announcement and construction of it, 20 years later. These last few months I have been confounded as we are preparing to celebrate another coaster’s anniversary, one that isn’t with us anymore but if it was would be celebrating the 40th anniversary of its announcement today, November 19th, 1979. That coaster was the immortal Orient Express. As I have covered, I never rode it and was only two years old when it was announced.  For me, there never has been a Worlds of Fun prior to Orient Express. However, for another person I am familiar with there definitely has been and his stories I have heard so many times before I could probably tell them myself. For that reason, while the stories I shared with Mamba’s announcement were mine, the stories for Express will instead be those of my husband who was 13 at the time of Express’s announcement and can recall not only exacting but wonderful heartfelt memories of it from even before it operated its first time.

Orient Express under construction.  Photo by Jeff Mast

As you might imagine I was terrified of coasters until 2004, what readers may not imagine is that Jeff was afraid of coasters too until he was 13 years old and on a trip to Worlds of Fun with his baseball team. As he tells it they were getting in line to ride the Zambezi Zinger and Jeff… worried about looking “wimpy” decided to “toughen up” and ride Zinger along with them, regardless of how terrified the coaster may have made him at the time. Turns out like me, he had nothing to be afraid of and became a coaster fan almost immediately afterward. So much so that he vividly recalls seeing the “pardon our dust” construction sign hanging just off tram road at the construction site for Orient Express on the ride back to the parking lot. So would become a lifetime connection with the first big red coaster at Worlds of Fun.

That winter he was able to talk his dad into driving him out to the park to see Orient Express under construction. He recalls being stopped by park security in the park’s parking lots to ask what they were doing there. When they told security they were there to see the construction of Orient Express they were told it was ok, just not to get out of the car.

Such an impression that it made that not only did Jeff buy his first season pass in 1980, made sure he was there on Opening Day of Orient Express, but also first in line to ride it. When asked 23 years later how the removal of Orient Express had effected him by a Kansas City Star reporter he commented: “it is like losing a friend”. A sentiment shared by many Kansas Citians, and an experience that was cultivated over 23 years of not only riding express but operating it too. In fact, I was surprised to learn that for all his Express operational stories he never was lead or manager of it. He operated it for three seasons, 1984, 1986 and 1997.

There are so many stories that I have heard from those years too, driving three trains, and physically having to push the trains out when the timing became just a touch too close. Climbing up to C-block when a train got stuck there. Being yelled at by park management for leaving a discarded cup in a shrub that no one in their life would ever find... except for that one supervisor. Then there was the time that a group of test riders on Express, including Jeff, were yelling down at the guests as they entered the park, completely unaware that they could be heard 115 feet below... That one wasn't exactly condoned by management either. For him, and for those that worked Express, or any of the other rides at the park these were normal summer days, nothing atypical about them at all, nothing noteworthy, at least that’s the way he and many others feel. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have heard “but my story is so boring!” But we all know that’s not really true, these memories are anything BUT boring. Every story is amazing, and not only worth telling but worth telling well. For this reason, I will leave everyone with a request, write down your memories, you don’t have to share them, but I recommend you do. No life and no story is unimportant.

Wayback Blogs

Below are our opening day reviews from 1999-2002 and 2005.  When I wrote them and published them on dot org I never thought of saving them for historical posterity, they were more ramblings on current happenings at the park. Looking back... I have found they are not 100% accurate, some of my opinions have changed, and some have not (that Boomerang tent is still hideous). However, they give a great snapshot of what happened, when, and what my thoughts and opinions were of those happenings at that point.  Reading them, is almost like going back and reading old diary entries. You the reader may find them boring, but if I already find them interesting from a historical vantage today, I feel that they are more than worth being saved. Please be aware that at the time my grammar skills were literally none existent.  That does go to prove though that anyone, even someone who still doesn't understand the use of a semicolon, can improve.  

1999 (April 18, 1999)

Well, as we were all hoping, it did end up warming up for the second day of the 1999 season. So unlike the day before, Mamba and the Orient Express where completely operational. Sometimes it seemed that the Mamba spent more time sitting than it did running. Unlike we had hoped, the Orient Express still has the roughest ride in the world. It is very noticable that Worlds of Fun did quite a bit of work over the winter.

First off, the good comments. Worlds of Fun did end up giving the entire Baltic Bazaar area (the Scandinavian shops) a face lift. Not only did they re-paint them white and cream but they also did a minor re-haul to the interiors that it desperatly needed. Unbelivably, the Omegatron seemed to have no problems working, it worked the entire time I was visiting the park from 11 AM to 4 PM. Some major brownie points for Worlds of Fun in that arena.

The Coaster Grill is still unfinished. It looks as though they are heading for an opening in May sometime, probably around Memorial Day. However, it does look dreadfully tacky against its African bathroom across the way. Overall, the whole area does give a quite nice view of Fury of the Nile and Mamba. Fury of the Nile also ran all day. However, the major geysers and waterfalls were completly turned off as expected. Due to the low turnout, the lines were short for every ride.

While speaking of the Africa/Americana desert between Mamba and the Forum . . . the Forum is no longer. In obviously keeping with the 50's theme of the Coaster Grill (It looks like a cross between a Winsteads and a Waids) the Forum was re-named to the "Heart of America Theater." Now KC has a Heart of America bridge and a Heart of America Theater (in fact two if I'm correct). Onto Americana . . . The Grand Prix is fairly nice, if it wasn't for the used Cedar Point race cars and the chopped up Henrietta.

The famous "bad luck" Oriental Archway is no more. The red arch that divided Americana from the Orient is now gone, a victim of de-theming. Its very sad. Other notes . . . the Flying Dutchman has been painted Fushia. The Scandinavian gate was painted a dark blue and the Worlds of Fun Railroad has been painted Red. For those who didn't know, the Finnish Fling was painted a Teal and Cream color at the end of the 1998 season. On the cleanliness side, it seems Worlds of Fun is off to a fairly good start but on the theme park side, it needs more help then ever before.

2000 (April 12, 2000)

Worlds of Fun opened its gates once more for its 28th season on a very cold April 8th. Probably not one of the better opening days on record it seemed as if nothing ran and everything went wrong. The day started on as the gates opened at 9:30 that morning. The temperature was sitting barely above freezing but that didn't keep people from the park. It did however keep most of the rides from running. At the time of opening only a few rides outside of europa where open, these included ELI and the Scrambler in Americana and the Viking Voyager in Scandinavia.

First on the list of news has to be the new ride for 2000, The Boomerang. The lines for Boomerang began forming soon after the gates opened at 9:30 yet the Boomerang didn't give its first public ride until about Noon. The reasoning given by the operators was that they had to wait for the temperature to reach 45 degrees, then it was 48 degrees and finally it was 50 degrees. One thing that we did notice that was different from the other Boomerangs that we have ridden was that the brakes coming out of the loop were not used the entire weekend.

The Boomerang station is as many have commented just positively awful. It's yellow steel station with a violet and yellow-stripped canopy. Basically, it looks straight out of a carnival. Worlds of Fun has obviously been getting a slow start on landscaping since the land around the boomerang as well as most of the flower gardens are still packed dirt. The Q-House, which happens to be one of the few good features of the Boomerang is the original Q-House for the Zambezi Zinger. It has been repainted a dusty red color, with green and violet trim. On a positive note, I was happy to see that they had replaced the African themed fencing around the majority of the Boomerang area. Also, reaction of exiting riders does seem to be positive. Since few Kansas Citians are hard core coaster riders most have never rode a roller coaster that goes both forwards and backwards, and many seem to enjoy the Boomerang a great deal.

Approximately 30 minutes after the Boomerang opened the Mamba opened. The Orient Express opened around mid-afternoon, with the Timberwolf being the last to open at about 3pm. The Orient Express is on of the few overall positives we have to give to Cedar Fair this year. It looks absolutely wonderful, and almost new. However, answering many people's question it appears that the Orient Express is running as rough as it did when it opened in 1980. However, one Orient Express enthusiast did believe that in the front car the Orient Express appeared to be running faster then it had previously.

As an answer to the running rumors on the Plunge (Python Plunge) it appears our questions and our prayers have finally been answered. As many enthusiasts have previously noted the Plunge had not been added to the official Worlds of Fun site. It was found on opening day that the Plunge had been also totally removed from the park map as well as its sign removed from the train trestle just in front of its entrance. After talking to a few park employees it has become obvious that the plunge is history and will probably be removed during the course of this year. The Plunge was added as the Python Plunge in 1988.

Another ride that was out of decommission was the Zulu added in 1979. After again conversing with Worlds of Fun employees it was discovered Worlds of Fun was incorrectly shipped the wrong parts and is still waiting for the shipment of the correct parts. With that the Zulu cars are lined up in front of the past Plunge entrance. No word as to when the Zulu will open to the public.As to the overall park it appears in much the same way as it did  at the beginning of last season. A few rides and Q-Houses where repainted, most obvious being the Viking Voyager repainting to its new aquamarine with blue and fuschia highlights. (It's not as bad as it sounds). The water had yet to be dyed to its distinctive yet weird blue and green colors, thus revealing their shallow concrete basins. We where happy to see that few trees lost their life this year (except around the Orient Express), but a few of the numerous trees cut down last year where replaced by rock trees (great big boulders). However, we did take notice of this years major non-attraction removal. This year it seems that Worlds of Fun decided to remove the Steadman Plaza from Scandinavia. For those of you who don't know, Jack Steadman was probably one of the biggest reasons Worlds of Fun was ever designed or built and we owe him a great debt for bringing the idea of Worlds of Fun Kansas City.

We where told from a Worlds of Fun employee that Worlds of Fun has plans to rebuild Steadman Plaza, only time will tell if this holds true or not. Overall, it seems Worlds of Fun has started yet another season on a bad foot, Here is hoping that the next following weekends Worlds of Fun gets everything working and back in one single piece.

2001 (April 7, 2001)

The air was warm and humid this Saturday as Worlds of Fun opened its gates for its 29th season. It seems Worlds of Fun may be off to its best start since Cedar Fair has owned the park since we noticed several minor additions. We first noticed as we entered the park Snoopy was there to greet and take pictures with guests of all ages. Snoopy was also available along with his other favorite Peanut characters to greet visitors at the entrance to Camp Snoopy. Along with other overall changes they have as reported changed soft drink vendors from Coke to Pepsi Cola, as well as some basic landscaping work which included new red mulch all over the park.

Since the day was warm all the roller coasters where running as well as all rides, excluding the Octopus in Scandinavia which unfortunately was still sitting completely disassembled. New for the 2001 season was the fifth version of Camp Snoopy, which was handled to our pleasure a lot better then we expected. Along with the two new children’s rides and Snoopy bounce attraction. While a few remnants of Bear Country remain including the Museum, Spooky Old Tree (re- themed as the Kite Eating Tree) as well as the Club House (Woodstock’s Nature Point), and School House (Sally’s Dance Studio). The defining features of Campy Snoopy including the wooden red railings where present replacing the Q-lines, as well as adding benches and other small touches which make it seem like they actually tried for a chance to do a half way decent job. Jennifer was also happy to note that this year instead of ripping out trees they are actually ADDING several pine trees to the Camp Snoopy area. The only bad note to report as far as Camp Snoopy goes is that Worlds of Fun in its traditional mode did decide to remove Either Oar, a small children’s kayak ride this year.

Also it seems the news about the re-themed Front Street was partially true, a few of the shops have been re-named, several have been re-painted and only one, the old Collectible Corner has been re-themed to carry plush toys. Included in some of the re-names are: Sharon’s Sweet Shop has now become Sally’s Sweets and Just Dandy Candy has been re-named Peppermint Patty’s.

Moving into Europa, we at first where dismayed since it seems the old eye sore Grand Prix track is still there, and still looking as tacky as ever, however the positives (for once) outweigh the negatives. Worlds of Fun has moved ahead in its original plan to remodel all of Worlds of Fun’s neglected bathrooms. They have completely remodeled the Europa bathroom with automatic flush toilets and new tiles. Also, far more exciting, they have replaced approximately 10 bumper car vehicles for the AutoBahn and approximately 5-7 for Krazy Kars junior bumper cars with new cars this year. This is good news for the Autobahn, which was in desperate need of some attention.

Moving onto Africa, we first noticed that the Python Plunge is... still STANDING. Believe it or not it seems Worlds of Fun might be planning to just wait for it to fall down. Aside from that we noticed a few Fury of the Nile geyser piping sitting abandoned along the Worlds of Fun Railroad track. We where unable to ascertain whether they have been replaced or not currently. If they where replaced this would be good news since the geysers where also in need of some work. Also in the news, the Big Game Hunt is still standing with all props, however at the time it was currently closed, also the Monsoon has been painted and appears a very nice bright blue even though it was closed through the duration of opening day.

Saving what possibly could be the best news of the year for last we are happy to note that Worlds of Fun might have finally paid attention to our constant remarks about the removal of Steadman Plaza in Scandinavia. This year we are very happy to report that The Rock is now back in Scandinavia. Steadman Plaza’s signature pink granite rock along with plaque has finally been rightfully re-added to Worlds of Fun.

As we stated earlier we where fairly happy with opening day this year and believe it to be possibly one of the best opening days in the past years. Of course, this could be because they haven’t really added anything major this year, but still Worlds of Fun does deserve a small amount of credit for starting out on the right foot for a change.

2002 (April 6, 2002)

On April 6th, 2002 Worlds of Fun opened its gates for its 30th Season, with the new thrilling ride ThunderHawk. Opening earlier then it had in several years, the day was mild and the crowds, while light, where heavier then average for opening day. All of Worlds of Fun’s roller coasters where operating when the park opened, with the exception of a few opening day glitches, including a few points of downtime for both the Orient Express and Boomerang. The star of this show however, was the ThunderHawk and revitalized Bicentennial Square. Worlds of Fun could have handled adding ThunderHawk the way they had added rides in the past, they could have thrown a new ride in there, with the standard station and not done anything with the area around it. The whole area was completely opened up, they re-landscaped the entire area around the ThunderHawk, the color scheme of the ride was well done in a patriotic red, white and blue. I was also happy to see that the color scheme for the adjoining Bicentennial Square (games) was bright and colorful and didn’t leave you wondering if the painters where color blind. Also of note, the ThunderHawk introduced a new ride element to the basic Top Spin ride. It became the first aquatic Top Spin that literally left many of its riders soaked, and also added a definite crowd pleasing atmosphere to the ride. Worlds of Fun took a basic flat ride and made it into a good experience for all, and also followed tradition by adding to its growing lists of firsts. 

As noted earlier, Worlds of Fun seems to have paid a little more attention to landscaping this year. There where several instances where they had finally pulled out the aged Railroad ties and replaced them with concrete bricks. They have also added new appropriately themed fencing in many areas that desperately needed it, and finally removed some serious eyesores from the park that really detracted from its appearance. Of course, as many remember, Kansas City was delivered a powerful blow by a terrible ice storm in late January, Evidence of this in repaired rides, cut off limbs, and trees that have been completely removed are evident around the park. However, overall the parks overall appearance has improved, even if it is not at the rate we where hoping for. 

Many other minor changes had been made in the Americana section, The sad Cyclone Sadies Arcade has finally been put out of its misery, especially since it was the worst arcade in the park. This area was remodeled, and Kaman’s Antique Photos has moved into this larger space. The original space occupied by Antique Photos was remodeled and replaced with a new specially designed area for Airbrush Artists. Also, on a minor note, The Timberwolf trains acquired a new logo on the front of the train. Unfortunately, this ride deserves more then a face-lift, it desperately needs to be retracked. Camp Snoopy is still keeping up the same quality they started the season out with last year. A special side note, Beagle Bay Outfitters is still an outstanding gift shop, it includes much more then just the standard t-shirts and key chains. Only two negatives to note, on several t-shirts Worlds of Fun appeared as “World’s of Fun”, never will World ever have ownership of, of Fun. Also it was sad to see that The Scrambler was still sitting there in pieces, it looks like it will be a long time before this traditional thriller will be up and running. Again, come on how hard is it?

Moving onto the Orient Section. As many now know The Aquatic Arena has both been moved off the map and it seems is in the process of removal. All that remains are the blue steel supports and the original concrete diving tank, the bleachers have all been removed and a wooden fence has been erected around the area. Also, though The Orient Express did have a little mechanical trouble on Saturday morning, it did run well the entire day, however only with one train.

Onto the world of Scandinavia, it does seem like The Viking Voyager took a hit in the ice storm, the trough was replaced in one major area near The Bamboozler, it looks like a tree fell on it. Also, it is positive to note that The Octopus, which was has not been open for opening day for three years now, was open this year. Last, the decaying fence behind this ride and the Finnish Fling was replaced, as well as the flower beds in front of these two thrillers was replaced with concrete landscaping bricks.

The last remaining world, Europa. Ever since they opened The Forum road this area has always been deserted. Of course, none of the rides in the area have changed since 1977. There are a few remarkable areas to note however. Worlds of Fun has added a few fences, and has removed the Grand Prix overhang area, which was deteriorating and a complete eyesore to the area. They have however left the raceway area, which one hopes they will remove at some point in the future. 

Overall, the appearance of the park was good, the parks new ride showed ingenuity and a little creative thinking, that to us is always a plus. Work and improvement has definitely been shown, and it seems this new management is off to a better start. As always there is work to be done, areas that there needs to be considerable improvement on, but not so much as in years past. We hope everybody can visit the park this season at least once, and we wish Worlds of Fun and all of its employees a wonderful 30th Anniversary.

2005 (Opening Day)

Welcome to the 7th annual Worlds of Fun opening day review, in every year that the park has opened I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly at the park, over the past few years the negatives have gotten less and the positives have gotten better. In 2005, while it's true that there is no major new ride, I will have to say it is the first season I will happily not have to spend as much time gripping about things that the park refuses to acknowledge. This is due to the fact that for 2005 the park has gratefully, continued the uphill improvements that started to show only a few seasons ago. So without further introduction, it’s time to head through the gates.

Several minor alterations at the park actually begin outside the park proper, as you walk into the park. For instance, those little red flags I saw a few weeks ago near the flag poles? Probably for the nice green evergreen bushes that have been added. As Jeff puts so eloquently walking into the park you are greeted by the smell of flowers, almost like Legoland. The rows of banners that line the walkway into the park have been replaced, and about half now have the Mamba logo emblazoned on them, the Ranger Station now has a brand new sign, after the removal of the dog kennel two years back. It also looks like it has been painted. All in all the entrance looks pretty much like it has in years past, except a little cleaner.

We actually arrived at the park about 11AM on Saturday morning, and thankfully for the park it was a beautiful day, I believe the temperature was around the upper 70’s, which is quite warm for April. unfortunately, probably due to lack of advertising, the park wasn’t to crowded, with the lots only reaching the midpoint of Lot D, and the rest of the park filled with Choir groups for the park’s annual Choir Festival. Honestly this is still pretty slow, but better then years past, at least they actually got to Lot D.

So we got our park map, which we really did like as it was much more detailed, and headed into the park. Much to our surprise annuals had already been planted in the Scandinavian section, and it’s the Scandinavian section that has received a lot of infrastructure maintenance during the off season so I will start there. The Scandinavian entrance shops, received a fresh new paint job, which looks great, and the lights have been completely fixed so that at night the whole entrance looks wonderful. Plus, Scandinavia was the lucky recipient of all new light fixtures which fills the entire section, which was a MUCH needed improvement. Just a word of advice, now that this section is properly lighted the park has no more need for the Halogen lights, which should be turned off. These where only put up for the wash down of the park and are not needed during regular operating hours.

Viking Voyager received a small amount of treatment as it appears the loading trough was repainted, and the splash down area near All Stars was cleaned up, as it is not near as much a mess as it has been the past. Basically no weeds, overgrown bushes or trees, and the area appears quite a bit better. The only point that we need to make is the gravel that was added between the station and the first turn on the ride. frankly Jennifer doesn't mind (now IM talking in 3rd person!), but Jeff thinks landscaping or even mulch would have looked a lot better.

On to a new topic, Norseman’s Niceties received a brand new hanging sign on the Tivoli side, which while knocked down on late Saturday evening (probably from teenagers), it looks a million times better. Only point we want to make here is that the sign would not have broke off if it had been properly chained down, the chains are still there in the bottom of the hanging box. All in all though with the replaced lights, the whole area is much brighter and much cleaner looking.

Also while we are on the topic of Scandinavia, the Festhaus is home to Joe Cool’s Backyard Bar-B-Q which we have finally found out more about. The Festhaus is the larger blue and white tent area that I believe holds about 1,000-2,000 people, in other words it’s big. Every Saturday and Sunday from 3 - 4:30PM guests can either purchase a meal ticket for $12.90 or purchase a meal and single day admission ticket for $28.95 (which must be purchased 48 hours in advance), and get unlimited food. It's basic, fried chicken, hot dogs, and potato salad, that type of thing, but it’s a pretty good deal if you think about other food establishment prices, and the food is unlimited. I also can’t get over the $28.95 price, that’s admission AND food. So if you plan 48 hours out, you can get into the park for $8 less the general admission and get a free lunch to boot. For those who would like to purchase tickets to the park through the Joe Cool's Backyard BBQ offer simply call 816-303- 5135 M-F 9AM-5PM.

So onwards we go and this time we go to the Orient. Not much has changed here, except Pagoda Soda now serves Nathan Hot Dogs, for $4.50 a pop, ok they are really good hot dogs, I mean REALLY good hot dogs, but that seems steep even for Worlds of Fun. Bamboozler still looks really good at night, amazing to think it’s a 28 year old ride, it’s as old as me... YIKES. It also seems by the map that Tibetan Treats is around for good, the kettle corn it offers is good and cheap $3 a bag isn’t too bad. Also we did get a ride in on Spinning Dragons, same as last year, but the park needs to work on capacity the lines was not to long but it was a long wait, again opening day, I’ll give the kids some slack.

Moving into Americana some good news is that unlike last year Worlds of Fun has removed the Freak Street sign and replaced it with the Beat Street sign, not a real big thing, but its better then the trash bag over the sign last year. Another point Jeff and I wanted to make is that the park did not necessarly have to REMOVE the Freak Street sign. They could have kept the sign and added a teaser line, something along the lines about what is to come starting September 24th.

Also the sunken fountain seems to have received a little treatment too as now 7 of it’s 8 lights work, reflecting multiple colors on the water, which seemed to have a little directional problem (*grin*), but it does look a ton better then it has since I can remember.

Also, marching with tradition more landscaping blocks have shown up! This time they have found themselves (I’m sure with the help of several landscapers) in Americana surrounding the grassy area between Front Street and the Air Brush Artists, that’s where the cow is for those who remember the cow. It’s now filled with red mulch, and bushes, and looks VERY nice. Also backtracking, Worlds of Fun also added some very nice landscaping bricks around the back and side of Festhaus, along with some nice conifer trees.

Okay so I’m sure many of you are waiting on pins and needles to hear about Timber Wolf, so here we go. It is better, Timber Wolf probably had more work done on it this off season then it has TOTAL since 1995. The bottom of the 1st drop and partially up the 2nd hill has been completely re-done, as well as some minor tracking in other parts of the ride. I mention the bottom of the 1st drop as it had a serious “pot hole” there, which er... hurt and now it doesn’t. Good work there. Not as much as we wished, but if its better then last year, then it’s still better. Still I will stress as has been stressed in the past Timber Wolf could be a top tier ride if it was COMPLETELY re- tracked, it HAS been a top tier ride, and I hope to see future improvements on it.

And right out front of Timber Wolf what do my eyes see? A Toyota Tundra parked right on the old supports for a previous car company sponsorship so it literally looks like its floating on water. There are three Toyota’s found parked through the park, all thanks to Toyota’s new sponsorship.

One of the new attractions for 2005 is the Peanut’s Playhouse. Most of you know that I am never thrilled when a new attraction is not open on opening day. I will play nice, as I wasn’t to put bluntly a happy camper in 2004. It does look to be very nicely done though. They have removed the gazebo, and about half of the circular courtyard, all the playground equipment has been removed as well, though it doesn’t appear that the Peanuts Playhouse will cover the whole playground area. When we where there, they had several steel pylons up, and that’s about all. Tune in later for more information.

Another attraction that was missing for opening day was the Worlds of Fun Railroad, though who can blame the park on this one, as ELI is quietly sitting being rehabbed in it’s rectangular round house, hopefully will see it out soon enough. The rest of the train remains sitting at the station, which brings me to my lights discussion once again. From what it seems, and what I’ve heard lights will become a bigger issue as the season goes on, but the lights on the train station, do look pretty dismal, along with the peeling paint. Yeah that’s nice. Hopefully the park has the train station on its list to fix this year.

Detonator is another ride whose lights haven’t changed much since last year, but its sounding like that might change for the better soon, which makes me very happy. When we where at the park they had set the lights in a blinking/chasing program which seemed to hide the fact that several light bulbs where burnt out. The major reason in bringing up Detonator

is what is directly to the left, and that is a new railing/fence that runs from the Detonator Queue-line to the Forum Fence. It took a day for us to figure out the reasoning, which probably has something to do with the fact that people used to run up and down the hill to get to the Scrambler. So good idea, and I’m sure the landscapers are happy about it too!

Last thing about Americana and that is one of my “favorite” topics... Forum Road. For those who have read my previous rants on it this will be no different. Closing Forum Road is not about looks, aesthetics, ride safety, or fun, in fact on that last part it’s the exact opposite. However, on the business and financial end it makes no sense whatsoever to keep it open.

Sometime in the past the gate was removed, which makes closing Forum Road more difficult. But if you think about it, Europa offers more rides, a shop, and two food outlets, including one that is quite good, that’s three ways for the park to make money, and Forum Road offers none. So wouldn’t it make more sense to route guests through a section where the park can make money, then it is to let them detour right past it all?

 Good news about Europa is fairly plentiful. Bounce- A-Roo’s received a brand new sign, Moulin Rouge looks like it recieved a new covering, but my favorite change belongs to Bonici Brothers. Last year the park renovated the previous Pizza Patio into Bonici Brother’s offering better food options and a really cool painted fresco near where you order. The outside paint was in really bad condition. In 2005, Bonici Brother’s received a brand new exterior paint job and it looks very nice, with a new white, olive green and brick red paint job. Plus the park replaced the old wood fence at the rear of the restaurant, which honestly last year looked like it was about to fall down. We also have eaten there twice, once last year and once on Saturday and the food is very good, including Jeff’s favorite Meatball Sub.

While we are on the topic of Europa I wanted to make one note about Stax of Wax. As many of you know Stax of Wax debuted in 1985, making it 20 years old this year. This show is getting OLD, even to those who appreciate park live entertainment. In personal opinion I wouldn't mind if Stax of Wax and Stax of Trax vanished and never came back, making it one attraction that belongs on the history page at this point in time.

So now we move onto Africa. I have been chomping on the bit so to speak throughout this entire review to discuss Mamba. Last year I mentioned Mamba needed to let up on the brakes. I personally think I had nothing to do with it, but on Saturday afternoon and even more so on Saturday night, Mamba still had it’s mid-course brakes on, but it wasn’t so bad as in the past. Ther was actually airtime on the return run! Jeff wanted to ride Mamba more the once! Both major positive changes. As many of you know I was terrified of coasters until last year, so I have never rode Mamba completely brakeless, I don’t think I ever will. But, if a ride on Mamba every day was like it was on Saturday I would be one very happy guest, or let me put it another way... Mamba would be on my top ten steel roller coasters list.

Overshadowed by the ride on Mamba itself are the lights. Last year I also mentioned the lights going up the lift hill and that they should be fixed. Well in 2005 they weren’t just fixed they where replaced, and they all now work. It does look great.

Only one negative about Mamba, and that has to do with capacity. As I mentioned earlier as this is the beginning of the season I will give the park some slack on this issue. However, its plain common sense that if you have two trains ready to be run on Mamba, and the ride has a line, that you run BOTH trains and not just one.

While we are on the topic of lighting, the entire

African section, specifically the older parts near Zulu are much brighter at night due to what seems like a large influx of overhead, atmospheric lighting. Yes, they are Halogen lights, much like the one’s we detest in Europa and Scandinavia, but Africa is a case in point where they are used well. The lights in Africa are put high up above in the poles scattered around the section so that you have to look high above your head to see the light source, and by the time the light filters down through the trees it offers a much brighter (hence safer) atmosphere, which is a vast improvement.

One part of Africa that has been overlooked for years is the Same Day Gateway, located right past the Monsoon. That area has received special attention this season as it will serve as the Ride & Slide entrance to Worlds of Fun, as well as the entrance to Worlds of Fun for those staying at Worlds of Fun Village. So far the park has added a new banner giving directions to the Ride & Slide booth as well as adding a sidewalk from the Oceans of Fun parking lot to the Same Day Gateway. As Worlds of Fun Village isn’t scheduled to open until May 27th, the park still has plenty of time.

Back to roller coasters once more, there was one small change to Boomerang, and it has to do with the train. As the nose of the train has always stuck out of the station it has faded over the past years giving Boomerang a very faded peach-nosed train. That changed this season, as I believe they must have painted the entire train, which is noticeable. The park might also want to think about re-painting the whole ride too.

Are you getting tired of reading about Africa? I have two more important points to make, and the first one is about my once favorite Worlds of Fun ride, Fury of the Nile. As many have commented already Fury of the Nile is a little better this year, when I rode it on Sunday they actually had the Wave Maker on, and I did get actually pretty wet, mostly from the now- existent waterfall at the end (it used to be three trickles). Plus I do enjoy how the water is dyed blue, it gives a much better appearance then the brown it has been in the past.

The only negative I have about the Nile and it is a large one is the Halogen Lights that are now sitting on the ground near Tower 2. These lights will be going up to lighten the area, and from what I have heard will be kept on during the normal ride operation. Not a bad idea to have so that employees can see the boats, not a good idea for guests trying to enjoy a great ride on the Nile. Is it possible to only have lights in the two lake areas? As in Lake 1 and Lake 2? Does the park have to light both rapids areas as well? Part of the excitement of the ride was roaring through the woods at night, now that whole excitement factor will be gone. You know the park could always just paint the numbers on the boats in white, or some other reflective color and then we wouldn’t have that problem.

If that’s as negative as I’m going to get this season isn’t off to a bad start if I say so myself, and my favorite little point is not what IS in Africa, but what is NOT in Africa, and that is the Hi-Stricker game. Of course I could be just jinxing myself, but in a perfect world this could possibly lead to the re- addition of the floral clock. So maybe I should start a Bring Back the Floral Clock movement, after all we aren’t expecting the park to add the landscaped date, that would be in all honesty way too much work, but bringing back a beautiful landscaped clock? I would be shocked beyond all belief... In a really good way. After all I hate having to tell kids what things where like when I was their age, I would much rather say this is what things where like.

Going back into Scandinavia, brings us almost to the end of this review, (notice how they get longer each year?) and I have one more important aspect to point out, and that’s Sunset Strips, the previously named Chicken Patio, previously named Nordic Nook. I didn’t get to try it yet, but the menu sounds pretty good, with chicken sandwiches, wraps and salads, but besides the point Sunset Strips/Nordic Nook also received a nice paint job too. Along with the brilliantly lighted Octopus the lower Scandinavian section looks pretty nice, along with the rest of the park.

One last point I would like to make. Over the past year I have read on numerous sites how people extolled how good Cedar Fair’s customer service is, and how clean its parks are. Until lately I always felt those titles belonged to Cedar Point, and maybe Dorney Park, never Worlds of Fun. That is until the past two years, and don’t get me wrong Worlds of Fun still is not Holiday World or Cedar Point. Until I see an employee washing gum of the concrete that is (I saw that at Cedar Point). However, compared to five years ago, the park is MUCH cleaner, and the employees are much more willing to help, either by wishing you a good day, by consoling an scared child on Timber Wolf, or just in their willingness to help other guests, that shows improvement, and over almost anything else that is the type of improvement I value the most. After all in most cases five years from know most guests will forget about the Orient Express, or the Octopus, or how good or bad the pizza was, but they will remember how an ambassador treated them, and I feel that that memories created lately will be more positive then it has been in the past.

So ends another opening day review, and I do have to say that I was greatly impressed, yes there where some negatives, such as ride capacity, lights etc, but I think and I believe that a lot of these issues, won’t be much of a issue come this October, at least I hope so, and I’m staking my optimism on it. I hope that Mamba will continue to run much as it did this last weekend, and I hope that employees will keep their optimism and positive attitude throughout the year. I also hope we can keep one good PR director for more then one year too, but that like everything else is completely out of my hands.