Looks like they are going to let the Cat out of the bag next Monday
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I'm really excited to see this, though I have to admit I might be a little peeved if it turns out to be a massive success and draws attendance from SDC, making us wait another year for our coaster.
I'm ready to see another slammin GCI though - they're really bringing a new age of fun coasters to the parks. This'll easily be enough to finally get me up there. I don't know why I've never been - I guess I've just never had the time for it.
^I'll also be mad if this takes away from SDC. Especially if our river battle turns out to have such great charm and Tom Sawyer's Landing is totally re-born because of it, while Worlds of Fun's roller coaster is just that--a roller coaster. Cedar Fair hardly ever puts any theme into anything. It'll probably turn out to be a pretty good ride though. I hope this kills Timber Wolf. Timber Wolf is the roughest roller coaster on the face of the planet. I've banned myself from that ride.
^I love Timber Wolf! It's rough, but I just love the rolling hills on that coaster! I hope this ride nicely complements Timber Wolf.
^^Someone obviously has not been on Son of Beast or Grizzly if they think TimberWolf is the roughest coaster on the planet.
Also did you completely miss the themeing they did with Spinning Dragons, Patriot and IDK, most of the park? Yeah, Worlds of Fun is not your typical Cedar Fair park... and considering that the coaster is going to be built back in the woods... IDK if you can get much better themeing for a jungle kitty cat.
^^It does have nice hills but it is just too rough for me. I got headaches the last two times I rode it. I know I sound like a wimp but, that is really the only roller coaster I literally hate.
^Nope, never rode Son of Beast of Grizzly. As for the theming, Spinning Dragons and that whole area is nicely themed, I'll say that. But Patriot? It has a nice gift shop and nice signage and throw in some eagle statues. Other than that, I didn't see much. Don't get me wrong though, Patriot is a great ride. Really fun.
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The station is just as themed as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. That is a frontier-stylized station. I don't think you can get much more themed than that... especially with the iron cast lanterns they use for lights in the station.
I think what he's getting at is that the ride doesn't carry a backstory or have any sort of immersion involved - it's just a pretty ride. That's great though, because that's all anyone really wants it to be, and it's very pretty indeed. It's just nice to have a whole experience set up though, such as what's been done with rides like Expedition Everest, where you're on a journey and not just a ride.
CF builds some great rides, but it would be nice to see them make a creative department and start coming up with ways to add character to some of the rides. Sure, most of them look nice, but have they ever tried really digging into a theme? I think Disaster Transport at CP may have been one attempt, but I haven't seen much else. I guess it's just not really worth it for the type of parks they run.
Hey we're happy if they can just stick to the theme of each section of WOF.
If they add a backstory that's icing. Not that a backstory is really needed.
That's SDC's thing, not Cedar Fair.
As a point of fact, I think "theming" and "decoration" are two different things. Theming should include how the attraction "fits" into the park and how well it tells its own story while adhering to the park's own traditions.
I haven't been to WoF and it never has appealed to me. With all this talk of theming, I wonder what the theme is really supposed to be. Are the "areas" themed to different "worlds" or parts of the world?
The park is themed to the book Around the World in 80 Days. There are different lands: Americana, Orient, Europa, Scandinavia and Africa which are all mentioned in the books. In each area there are rides with names themed to that particular "land". The buildings in the area area also representative of that "land"
If CF started really theming the crap out of everything it might actually take away from parks like SDC and Disney. They have their place in the market and parks like SDC have their place.
Not everyone is going to build $100 million roller coasters like Disney, which still blows my mind. 4 Millennium Force's or 1 Expedition Everest?
QuoteThe park is themed to the book Around the World in 80 Days. There are different lands: Americana, Orient, Europa, Scandinavia and Africa which are all mentioned in the books. In each area there are rides with names themed to that particular "land". The buildings in the area area also representative of that "land"
Is this apparent to visitors?
Quote from: History Buff on August 27, 2008, 04:14:27 PM
QuoteThe park is themed to the book Around the World in 80 Days. There are different lands: Americana, Orient, Europa, Scandinavia and Africa which are all mentioned in the books. In each area there are rides with names themed to that particular "land". The buildings in the area area also representative of that "land"
Is this apparent to visitors?
I've been several times to Worlds of Fun. Had no idea until now it's themed to Around the World in 80 Days.
Why else would they have a balloon as their logo -- and the lands be labeled as they are? :-\
Quote from: shavethewhales on August 26, 2008, 09:56:48 PM
I think what he's getting at is that the ride doesn't carry a backstory or have any sort of immersion involved - it's just a pretty ride.
Yes, that is what I was trying to get at. I think they try to theme the lands but they just don't try hard enough. As Jason said, if they tried harder they'd really hurt other parks.
QuoteWhy else would they have a balloon as their logo -- and the lands be labeled as they are? Undecided
I might still ask, what does Snoopy have to do with the theme?
Snoopy is the official mascot of the Cedar Fair chain.
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WORLDS OF FUN ANNOUNCES A NEW KING OF THE JUNGLE FOR 2009
http://prowler.worldsoffun.com/
KANSAS CITY, MO – Deep in the woods of Worlds of Fun a dangerous predator lurks, ready to shred those fighting to escape the claws of the new PROWLER roller coaster. Beginning in spring 2009, guests at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, become prey to PROWLER, a beast of a wooden coaster tangled within the park's forested terrain.
The two-and-a-half minute high speed chase begins with the ride's only feature above the trees' cover, a swooping 85 foot plummet into a ravine. After the spiral plunge, the train rips through a seemingly endless amount of high speed hills and sharply banked turns that hug the wooded land below. With a top speed of 51 MPH, riders grasped in the clutches of PROWLER carve a path with powerful but smooth changes of direction, speed, and elevation.
Prowler is an $8 million investment and is located in the Africa section of the park near the Zulu thrill ride. The classic wood structure blends through a forest of unique terrain, creating a total elevation change of 102 feet throughout the course of the 3,074 foot ride.
"PROWLER reinforces our dedication to being the region's leading thrill park and family entertainment destination," said Frank Wilburn, Vice President and General Manager at Worlds of Fun. "This wild roller coaster will attract both families and thrill-seekers when it opens this spring."
PROWLER is custom designed and built for the topography of Worlds of Fun by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI) of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The adventure begins when riders board one of two custom 12 row, 24 passenger GCI Millennium Flyer trains. These extremely comfortable trains feature a metallic blue, green, and copper color scheme with black seats and accommodate approximately 850 riders per hour.
PROWLER is the seventh roller coaster at Worlds of Fun and is scheduled to open spring 2009. Construction is currently underway, but those who cannot wait until spring may take a virtual ride on PROWLER at worldsoffun.com. Visitors to worldsoffun.com may also access exclusive PROWLER updates and features, like a live construction Web cam, virtual renderings, ride statistics, construction photos, blog, and online fun.
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Looks like a lot of fun! With a theming change, something like this would fit right in at SDC. I love coasters that have banking, tight turns and twist around themselves, with the track going over and under other parts of the track.
That looks like a really fun roller coaster!! Looking at it made me sad for a minute about SDC's 2009 project. :(
It's VERTICAL!
PROWLER CONSTRUCTION TOUR UPDATE from OCT 18th (http://"http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/worlds/prowler/oct18_08/")
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Did they get all that done in just a day? I love how wooden coasters spring up like that.
The construction behind me went up in about 4 hours.
They actually had even more up by the end of the work day...
granted they have a lot of bents ready to be placed already so, yeah.
Construction Tour Update Time!!!
Lots and lots of photos from the tour -- they are now working on the lift and first drop area. Enjoy!
http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/worlds/prowler/nov13_08/
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MiG Crew's March 01 Prowler Tour PTR
FULL UPDATE WITH 80+ PICS {CLICK HERE} (http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/worlds/prowler/mar01_09/)
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^Looks really nice. It'll be a fun ride, fo sho. Hopefully not bumpy like its sister, Timber Wolf.
Quote from: Coaster on March 18, 2009, 07:44:42 PM
^Looks really nice. It'll be a fun ride, fo sho. Hopefully not bumpy like its sister, Timber Wolf.
I love Timber Wolf! :)
MiG Crew's March 26 Prowler Tour
FULL UPDATE{CLICK HERE} (http://www.midwestinfoguide.com/worlds/prowler/mar26_09/)
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