4/10/1999 Why is Cedar Fair dragging their heels when it comes to Worlds of Fun

Since the non-hostile take over of Worlds of Fun in mid-summer of 1995, Worlds of Fun has continued to add exciting new rides every year, making each season more exciting than the last . . . or so they'd like you to believe. During the past five years Cedar Fair has added only two rides that were included in the price of general admission. If you aren't familiar with what these rides are, they are Detonator and Mamba. Both of these rides are exceptional, but are they enough to fill the gaps left by the other years during this half-decade that Cedar Fair forgot to add anything?

Continuing in the tradition of the former owners, Hunt Midwest, Cedar Fair has removed more attractions than thy have added during this 5 year period. In 1996 they added Detonator, the twin tower S&S space shot, along with the Skycoaster, RipCord. They took out the Cotton Blossom and cancelled the tram service. Mid-way through the season they also shut down the Americana entrance. At the end of the 1996 season, they removed Pandamonium! along with several of the rides there. They also removed the Dolphin show. In 1997 Cedar Fair added the worst attraction yet, Berenstain Bear Country. (This is a large area with nothing in it.) A few of the rides from Pandamonium! were salvaged, and crammed into an area by Bear Country, then labeled as Kiddy Kingdom. In 1998, the Americana entrance was completely unopperational. Cedar Fair took out the first coaster built at Worlds of Fun, the Zambezi Zinger, and we're supposed to be satisfied by a 205 foot high coaster built south of Timberwolf named Mamba. Now I am glad they did add this coaster, but I am still rather upset with the removal of the Zinger. This coaster was fixable! Cedar Fair just didn't want to mess with it and received an opprotunity to sell it, so they did. In 1999, we lost yet another landmark attraction, the U.S.S. Henerietta and the Americana entrance wa completly demolished. All that 1999 has brought us is a used go-cart track from Cedar Point.

So why is Cedar Fair dragging their heels to rapidily expand Worlds of Fun? Well, if I knew then I'd be a pshycic. Unfortunately, I'm not. I do think I might have a few clues though. First . . . the pampered park in Ohio has to have a new coaster every so often and that costs money. Cedar Fair only has an alotted amount it can spend each year. This is then divided among the parks. When one attraction is added to a park it costs a large amount of money. The other parks must then compensate by adding smaller attractions that year. The problem is Cedar Point gets the larger piece of the pie more often than the sattelite parks, but is this fair? No, and yes I am fully aware that life isn't fair, but I do believe for the other parks to stay competetive in their regions they need to get a fair share of money every so often. And I'm not just talking about Worlds of Fun. Second is location of Worlds of Fun. Worlds of Fun right now has no enemies. The closest competition is in St. Louis. Compared to Six Flags, Worlds of Fun is a golden palace. Cedar Fair does realize this and this is another reason why they might be dragging their heels. They do need to realize though, that the threat of another park opening in the KC metro area could spell doom for Worlds of Fun . . . unless it bulks up ASAP. Plans for The Wonderful World of Oz include more coasters than Worlds of Fun currently has, including types that Worlds of Fun does not own (Inverted). The Disney-style park plans opens its gates in 2004 with the same level of themeing possessed by the new Islands of Adventure in Orlando. Finally, Cedar Fair might not care. As long as people keep attending Worlds of Fun and they get money, they are happy. Why spend more money when you have a large attendance every year? Sad, but it might be true.

What ever the reason may be, Cedar Fair is dragging its heels when it comes to expanding Worlds of Fun to the size and glory it should be. If proper actions are not taken, Worlds of Fun will slip into a slump like the later years of ""Hunt the Terrible's"" reign of doom. The possibilities are so numerous. All Cedar Fair has to do is act. ------