Also, I think we're going ON the 4th, so I was wondering if anyone had any experience going there on a holiday and if it was packed or not.
Obviously we'll probably hit up Prowler, Patriot, Mamba, and--after we've checked with our chiropractor--Timber Wolf (I've yet to experience this rough rider). What other rides are must-dos?
Thanks in advance!
First, all active or retired military and police officers get in free this weekend (and their families get heavily discounted admission).
Second, there is a great 2-Pack deal going on that gets you admission for $29.99 (about $12 off regular prices). Check the WoF website for details.
Third, there are $20 Twilight 2-Pack tickets available for after 4PM usage Sunday - Friday.
Fourth, there is supposed to be a "huge" fireworks show on Sunday. Personally, I have never been that impressed with WoF fireworks, but maybe this year it will be different. They are pretty similar to what you see at the ballpark after a Friday night Royals game.
One other thing to consider is that the forecast is calling for rain on Sunday, which could help if it is intermittent, but hurt if it is a downpour that ends up closing rides and canceling fireworks.
Anyway, I expect it to be pretty crowded this weekend (provided the rain holds off), and if Worlds of Fun is not running everything at full capacity, then you could be in for some long waits. Make sure to arrive early (at least 20 - 30 minutes before park opening), and make your initial coaster sweep around the park quickly.
As for your touring plan, you can go one of two ways: start with Prowler and head clockwise around the park, or start with Patriot (to ensure the front row without a massive wait) and head counter clockwise. The decision is yours. Personally, I don't think B&M inverted coasters are all that great UNLESS you sit in the front row.
Keep in mind, Timber Wolf and Boomerang rarely form huge lines, so hit them on your second sweep around. Also, Spinning Dragons is really the only coaster for kids under 48" tall, so it can develop very long lines very quickly. Make it your first ride after you hit the big three (Prowler, Mamba, Patriot).
As for the other rides, well, they are pretty much your standard collection of midway flats. Some, such as Cyclone Sams, Fury of the Nile, Thunderhawk, Zulu, and the Viking Voyager (at night, in the dark) are worth a visit. Most of the other rides are available just about anywhere (scrambler, round up, bumper cars, etc). There is also a new "light show" in the center of the park called Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights. It features 2 million LED lights strung up over large parts of the Africa and Europa sections of the park. You can stroll through the canopy of lights and see inflatable Peanuts characters, along with live entertainers and themed music. It is similar to Cedar Point's Starlight Experience, if you have been there.
DO plan on re-riding your favorite coasters again after dark especially for Prowler which offers an amazing night ride.
As for eating in the park, well, it is pretty lousy. However, the All Stars Grill is very good. It is a counter service, sit down restaurant with decent food at not too crazy prices. I really like their nachos...and their air conditioning. Everything else is pretty standard Cedar Fair / Six Flags junk. Sadly, there are no hidden gems at this park.
That's about all I can think of right now. The park is not great by any means, but it is clean, most of the associates are nice, and there is fun to be had if you set your expectations correctly. Let me know if you need any other info, and have a great time!
Also, check out the TPI page for Worlds of Fun, and make sure to rate and review everything after your visit!
We got there about 15 minutes after opening, so we were worried there might be crowds, but surprisingly there were hardly any. We started with Prowler and basically walked right on. That was basically the theme of the day. The longest wait for a coaster was for Spinning Dragons, as you mentioned. I think it's a combination of being a "family" coaster and the low capacity of the cars (there were only 3 running, with a max of 4 riders).
As for the coasters, we were really impressed. Obviously it's not the coaster capital of the world or anything, but they have some nice rides. We really enjoyed Prowler, Patriot, and Mamba. Those are all top notch coasters (and as such, we rode multiple times). We were less impressed with Timber Wolf--what a beating--and Boomerang, for obvious reasons.
As for the other rides, they were hit and miss. We wanted to ride EVERYTHING but got worn out pretty quick. Fury of the Nile was okay, but I thought it could have been themed a little better. Some blacklights in the tunnel and a little facade at the end didn't really impress me.
I thought Viking Voyager was just about the worst ride in the park. I enjoy log flumes, but this one didn't do anything--just a couple bends and a standard last drop. Meh.
We meant to go on Zulu, but missed out on that one. It looked like a good Enterprise ride though.
We ended up eating a bit at the park--pretty standard food. We thought about getting some BBQ, but didn't think it would stand up to the Oklahoma Joe's we had the day before (delicious...).
We needed a break in the afternoon so we settled for the "British Invasion" show at the Moulin Rouge. It was a good show--tough crowd, IMO. Those kids work hard, and had a lot of costume changes, without a lot of reward for it. Decent show, for what it was.
All in all we came away impressed. I'm a little bit more of a critic than my girlfriend as far as theming and everything, but we both had a good time. Clean park, nice landscaping, etc. Didn't get to stay for the fireworks show or Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights, unfortunately (plus the twilight crowd was rushing in around the time we left).
Again, thanks for the tips, James! We'll definitely try to go back at some time.
As for Fury and Voyager, they are both much better rides after dark when the lack of lighting shrouds the rides in a mystery that just does not exist in the daylight. But you are totally correct: after Mamba, Patriot, Prowler, and to a lesser extent, Spinning Dragons, Worlds of Fun is an extremely average park.
