PTR: Worlds of Fun (Now with videos!)

[steel]

Had an awesome day at Worlds of Fun yesterday. The season is off to a fantastic start.

 

Left at about 6:00 am yesterday morning and arrived around 9:00. Got the platinum pass processed and waited until the gates opened at 9:30, at which point I went straight to Prowler, naturally. Several people said things and the ribbon was cut without too much delay. I was seated in the back row, right side for my first ride.

Out of the station, the train makes a little 90 degree downward-sloping turn to the lift. The drop is fun, but it isn't the best. As you crest the second hill, it becomes clear that this is going to be very wild. You hurtle down a straight drop through the lift and away from the Prowler midway into the forest as your picture is taken. Forever changing direction, Prowler leaps up and down through the trees before navigating a simple turnaround. Airtime is imminent. After the turnaround, you cross a short straightaway, followed by a tiny hop, and three or four impossibly small bumps that act as a triple down of sorts. One turn later, the train hits the brakes and after just under 45 seconds, it's over.And that's before it warms up. Every time you ride this thing, it gets better.

Then it gets dark.

After a couple rides each on Patriot and Mamba, a blast off on Detonator, and a trip to Prowlerland on the train (and a fourish-hour nap at the hotel), it was back to Prowler to see how this baby could move at night.

Quick note before the fun stuff: Patriot is running beautifully, as always. Smooth and full of surprise air, just like it was when it opened. Mamba is running really, really well this year. They've turned down the MCBR a TON. It barely shaves off any speed this year compared to the other Morgan hypers (read: Wild Thing) and to last year, so the bunny hops are dreamlike. I'm hoping against hope that this won't change for ERT at Coaster Con this June.

Speaking of ERT at Con, I am super pumped for the first night at WoF, because we get ERT on Prowler until 12:30 am. Why does this excite me so? Glad you asked.

At night, Prowler is a whole new Beast (pun intended). The only lights are on the lift hill and the rest is in the woods, so for 85% of the ride, you can't see a thing. After the first drop and second hill, the ride photo blinds you for a second. This strobe is placed at exactly the point where the train leaves the lit portion of the ride. In other words, when your vision returns, there is absolutely nothing to see. At this point, Prowler has warmed up completely, so it's not so much speeding through the course as rocketing (imagine how insane this will be in August). Riding Prowler at night is like riding a weird lovechild of Voyage, Beast, and Zeus, but built by GCI. It throws you around so much that even those of us who killed half an hour memorizing the layout are baffled. And it doesn't slow down at ALL until it hits the breaks.

 

Prowler is not only an outstanding roller coaster, it is precisely what Worlds of Fun needed. Before this year, it had a good group of coasters and great atmosphere. Now, it feels like a complete park. I had a great time and I can't wait to come back later in the season.

 

RECAP:

Detonator: 1x

Train: 1x

Mamba: 2x

Patriot: 2x

Prowler: 9x (4x in the morning, 1x just before sunset, 4x at night)

 

NOTE: I do have a bunch of photos and some videos. I will post them soon, but not right now, as the internet is being touchy and I don't want to upset it by uploading loads of files.

[Jive]

Great TR. You did a good job of describing the Prowler experience.

 

I too look forward to the August night rides. It's pretty spectacular now. I can't image what it will be like then.

 

My wife and I popped into the park last night at 9pm just for 3 rides on Prowler.

[hemmy]

Nice, have to get out there this month hopefully, sucks I get no time off for summer, oh well

[ScoastinGS]

At night, Prowler is a whole new Beast (pun intended). The only lights are on the lift hill and the rest is in the woods, so for 85% of the ride, you can't see a thing... it's not so much speeding through the course as rocketing... Riding Prowler at night is like riding a weird lovechild of Voyage, Beast, and Zeus, but built by GCI. It throws you around so much that even those of us who killed half an hour memorizing the layout are baffled. And it doesn't slow down at ALL until it hits the breaks.

 

Yes! I am glad to hear the Prowler night rides are good. Night rides are my favorite - especially through the woods.

Based on steel's description, the speed and pacing of the ride are as awesome as the pov makes them look. The comparisons to the Beast at night are getting me especially excited!!

When is a good time to visit WOF? I need to start planning a trip!

[raptor6]

I really enjoyed reading your trip report! I think that I enjoy the more text based TR's than the more picture based ones...But that's just me.

 

Anyway, back on topic: If Prowler is even half as good as you describe, then it sounds like a must ride!

[steel]

Okay, here we go.

There you go.

 

Videos coming later. Be patient.

I'll leave you with two of my favorite shots of Prowler.

Me trying to take a picture of the super cool bridges that Prowler uses to get over the creek. And failing.

Tree cover everywhere.

Alright, here they are. Magic hour at Worlds of Fun.

Prowler Plaza at night from the station. Little-known fact: Zulu has the coolest lights ever.

My sad, pathetic attempt at a night shot of Prowler in a moving queue without a tripod.

Nice shot of Mamba at dusk.

WoF just sitting there being awesome. You go, WoF.

Inverted airtime FTW!

Always beautiful.

This is one of my favorite shots of Patriot ever. Why is it that the best photos are taken when you try least?

The Lift is also new this year. Used to be Norseman's Niceties. I thought it was pretty bland until I saw that they are selling back issues of Theme Parks magazine! (Pretty pictures!!!)

Pretty.

At this point, I went back to Prowler for more pictures, but the light was perfect and all the pictures were outstanding, so I'm going to come back later.

In the mean time, this is a view you couldn't really get of Boomerang before.

Good old Eli. Going to be much more popular this year. This is the best way to see Prowler in action. Sit on the lefthand side for the best view. Pity you aren't allowed to take pictures or video.

Detonator hasn't changed much. I didn't have a great ride because like two people were too big to ride pretty much every time and the line was long to begin with.

Obligatory skyline shot. Prowler didn't actually change this at all. You can see the top of the lift from the road, but that's it unless you're right next to it.

I like this shot.

They gave out nifty black bracelets that say "PROWLER Unleashed 2009" and"saveoursiberians.org."

 

The blue one says "MISANTHROPE" because I am.

The station looks really nice.

Photo booth from ride exit.

Beautiful trains.

The new Prowler plaza from the queue.

Station from queue.

Somehow, I managed to find a nearly empty queue for Prowler. w00t!

The area right next to Zulu was totally closed off last year.

This is the first look you get at Prowler after entering the park.

Back to more familiar stuff.

View from the exit ramp.

The first riders return.

You get a pretty good view from the queue.

Getting the official stuff out of the way.

Entrance plaza as I arrived.

There she is.

On the way to the park entrance. I think I have about twelve of this shot from different days.

[triggernel]

Boy, there must be a ton of that thing back hidden in the woods. I couldn't figure out the layout at all.

[XanderLee]

Wait wait wait...you can't take pictures or video while riding the train?

[Evan1127]

When is a good time to visit WOF? I need to start planning a trip!

 

Seriously. Me too.

[raptor6]

Prowler looks amazing!

 

Don't look now, but Worlds of Fun is becoming a quality park for enthusiasts! Roadtrip anyone?

[TC Ridesalot]

When is a good time to visit WOF? I need to start planning a trip!

 

Seriously. Me too.

 

The really great part about WOF is anytime in the summer is a great time to visit the park. It is only full in October for the Haunt so come and enjoy! For those of you who haven't been to the park here is what to expect:

 

1. You will be surprised how easy it is to get around the park. It is a simple loop with rides spread out.

2. Lots and I mean lots of over weight people with bad Tatoos!

3. Fun coasters with no lines other than Spinning dragons which will have 20 people in line and take 30 minutes to board.

4. A secret ride in a building that may be one of the best rides in any park nobody knows about. I will give you a hint... Go to the Americana section of the park and hang a left prior to getting your neck broken on the Timber Wolf!

5. Asphalt is very hot in Kansas City in Aug. so be prepared for this part of the day.

6. The Patriot and Mamba are two very underated coasters. I don't know anybody who has rode them that wasn't impressed.

7. WOF still has the old time cars. Why would I put this in, because it is nice to see a park keep some classic rides that were there at the beginning.

8. Trash cans, I say TRASH CANS EVERYWHERE!

9. Soda vending machines with Roller Coasters on the front that aren't even at WOF! Sad but true!

10. One of the coolest views of any Amusment park from the Hiway! It looks like coaster heaven from I435 with a veiw of 6 coasters as your driving by!

[ScoastinGS]

The really great part about WOF is anytime in the summer is a great time to visit the park...

3. Fun coasters with no lines other than Spinning dragons which will have 20 people in line and take 30 minutes to board.

4. A secret ride in a building that may be one of the best rides in any park nobody knows about. I will give you a hint... Go to the Americana section of the park and hang a left prior to getting your neck broken on the Timber Wolf!...

6. The Patriot and Mamba are two very underated coasters. I don't know anybody who has rode them that wasn't impressed...

10. One of the coolest views of any Amusment park from the Hiway! It looks like coaster heaven from I435 with a veiw of 6 coasters as your driving by!

 

I was actually there on the 4th of July last summer and would have to agree with everything TC Ridesalot said. The lines were minimal and the park was very easy to get around. I am glad to hear this is normal for WOF.

I won't reveal the name of the ride in #4, but it was definitely a fun one.

Mamba and Patriot both impressed me. Mamba's helix is intense!

 

Unfortunately, Prowler was a stack of wood last time I visited, so I hope to make it all the way out to KC sometime

[bigstevet07]

Thank god Prowler has a covered queue. I remember sitting in line for the Mamba for 3 hours the first year it opened because of breakdowns. All that time in the sun just wore me down for the rest of the day.

 

I am definitely looking forward to getting down to KC this year.

[the_rock401]

10. One of the coolest views of any amusement park from the highway! It looks like coaster heaven from I-435 with a view of 6 coasters as you're driving by!

 

May I also suggest the view coming south on 35 as you come under the overpass at Liberty, by the Super Wal-Mart? After driving all day across boring-as-hell southern Minnesota, Iowa, and northern Missouri, coming under that overpass and suddenly seeing the park skyline on top of the bluff is a HUGE morale boost! It means we're almost there! Yay!

 

I'll have my TR of WOF opening day up later on.

[christianscoasters]

It is only full in October for the Haunt so come and enjoy!

 

My step mom went to WoF these past couple of years during Haunt and enjoyed it a lot because there were hardly any people there. She's very "GP" as well.

 

I'll probably end up going sometime before June 20th or after the 28th (I'll be out of the country on a mission trip then). That is when a lot of my family takes vacations so ... Ya. But my step mom is very anxious to go and wishes she could go today!!! I told her it's best to wait until summer though. She hasn't experienced the true amazing-ness that is Patriot! We'll probably go early June.

[steel]

Someone asked about the train. Yeah, you can't take any video or pictures. You also can't ride if you're pregnant. It's ridiculous, I know.

 

Okay, video. Have fun.

MOV05807.MPG

Okay, here's the whole thing from the exit ramp. As you watch this, keep in mind how much track the train is traversing while you can't see it, and you'll get sort of an idea how fast it is.

Layout here: http://prowler.worldsoffun.com/public/ride/stats.cfm

MOV05791.MPG

The first riders roar down the initial plunge.

MOV05789.MPG

Cutting the ribbon.