In Our Eyes: Worlds of Fun on May 17, 2003

"by Jennifer Lovesee-Mast"

We decided to visit the park on Saturday, May 17th. We hadnít had a whole lot of chances to visit the park since opening day, and there had been quite a few changes since then! Thankfully many of them were positive. We arrived about 2pm and parked in the back lots (meaning E, F,G, H, I, J & K Lots). The park was very crowded, which is always a good sign. The lines were long, probably longer then they needed to be, and I will be covering that subject in-depth in this issue of In Our Eyes.

It was a beautiful summer day, and we decided to head through the Scandinavian section. Quite a bit had changed since April 8th, flowers had been planted, hanging baskets had been added. It was nice, though a bit hard to navigate because of the crowd, and the unnerving amount of basketballs. This is a fairly big gripe of ours. Basketballs are good prizes, people can use them a lot more then stuffed animals, so I am not in anyway going to tell the park to get rid of them completely. But is it at all possible to award the basketballs deflated? Or, give the prize winner a ticket to pick up their basketball on the way out? I have been visiting the park regularly for the past five or six years, and these can get annoying, I have almost been hit a few times, tripped over them several times, and itís annoying having my path blocked by dribbling balls. Iím sure itís not just me who has this problem. It is annoying! It leads to a bad experience for guests. There I am done with that rant. Unfortunately there are more to comeÖ However rest assured gentle reader that there are many positives comments to come as well.

Onto my first argument of the day, which is on capacity. Operations can we say C-A-P-A-C-I-T-Y? Thatís good, now letís try some. That means not loading only two people on a Voyager boat designed for six, while there is a 30-45 minute line waiting behind. I watched the Voyager for awhile why Jeff took pictures of the Sea Dragon. Now that we are having crowds, itís time to learn, or re-learn, how to handle capacity. Maybe we can give a few suggestions since both Jeff and I worked in operations when capacity was more then an eight letter word. We had what was called a grouping circle, painted on the dock of the Voyager. When ever we had a group of two, we put them in the circle. Then when we had another group of 1, 2 or 3, we combined that group with the one waiting, loaded them into the boat and away they go. Thatís double the people in a boat, and half the wait for the people in line. People really do not mind having their groups combined!

Iím going to go back to my Disney example again, for if any park chain knows capacity it would be Disney. Not only do they have the shortest 45 minutes lines I have ever seen, but they were the first to implement the fast pass system. In doing so they made the rest of the amusement industry realize that faster lines do make a difference to the bottom line, actually twofold. First off there will be fewer angry patrons complaining about the long lines, hence they are much more likely to return. Second, the less time someone spends waiting in line, the more time they have to shop, eat or play a game, hence more profit for the park!

Before I move onto Africa, I think its time for a positive comment. One thing I have noticed, and I donít think itís just me, is the ambassadors seem more courteous, nicer this year. I noticed this on opening day, I noticed this on every single visit this year. Not only once but several times I was asked if I was having a good time. I was floored the first time, it was a good thing I was sitting down! Iím honestly so used to ambassadors going through the motions and not really noticing or bothering with the guests around them. This might be a mandate from the general manager, but in some cases itís not the reasoning that matters. What matters is that when youíre sitting next to a guest who has had a bad experience at the park that day and an ambassador comes up and asks how their day has been, and really takes the time to listen and actually seems to care, you can see how big a difference it can make. Sometimes one caring employee can make an enjoyable day out of one that has up to that point been just miserable. I think itís that experience, even more then the heart racing experiences on the parkís many thrill rides, that make a trip to the park that much more memorable, and make the guest much more likely to make a return trip. I might complain about rides, or capacity, but of everything I mention today this has made the biggest impression on me. I hope every ambassador reads this, and to those who really make the effort, thank you for making that difference.

Back to our tour now and into the realm of Africa. The landscaping around the Boomerang seems to have more mulch, and the trees that are there are nice, but it needs more. I had a chance to notice some tree planting around other parts of the park and this has given me hope.

We havenít mentioned the Fury of the Nile a lot in the past, but it really needs mentioning for several reasons. First off, it was drained for at least one week in early May, this wasnít a terrible loss, but if it can be avoided two major rides (the other being the Orient Express) should not be down at the same time. Second, I noticed when I climbed the hill to the Fury of the Nile that there were three people in one raft, and then three in another, and another and another. For a period of several minutes I didnít see a single raft completely filled with its max capacity of six people. Most had only 3 or 4 riders. Readers must realize this was at a point the line was snaking down the last hill of the Queue-Line. The last person at the end of the line must have had a 45 minute wait. Which would have been half of that had the boats been filled to capacity. Less time in line more time to spend money. Capacity is good news for any park, and it should be practiced here. Whatever happened to the sorting lines that the Fury of the Nile used to have? They were removed a few years ago. Previously an ambassador sorted groups into three different lines on the deck, allowing for no raft to go with fewer then 5 guests. Why did you go to such an effort to remove them, when it hurt the capacity of the ride? This seems so common sense. If there is some reason Iím a not realizing for this change in loading please enlighten me.

Last comment on the Fury of the Nile and then I will done. The Fury of the Nile was my favorite ride anywhere. It was the first river rapids ride I ever rode, and as those who know me, now that I am addicted to River Rapid rides. And as those who know the Fury of the Nile, remember that it was concieved and first operated as an exciting river rapids adventure, that left riders always wet and sometimes drenched. What Cedar Fair has done to the Fury of the Nile is beyond any description. The last time I rode it a few years ago it was tame, and it made me sick then (not to my stomach mind you). I decided to see just how bad it has become, and took a ride on it this weekend and it was positively aweful. You might as well take out the few remaining waves a re-theme it as a Jungle River Cruise! Throughout the entire ride the wettest I got was from a geyser, and that was a sprinkle. During the whole ride you get bumped around a little bit by the ìwavesî, but there is not a single soaker wave in the entire ride. I also noticed that near in Lake 1 (near the first watch tower) there are no waves; this might as well be a blissful, quiet pond. The tunnel, which at one time featured the highest, scariest waves in the entire ride, is now what you would see on the tamest river rapids ride elsewhere.

I came off almost completely dry. Guests exiting the ride were also mostly completely dry with a few having a wet spot here and there. What have you done to this once great ride? Liability can only be taken so far, and the Fury of the Nile has had only one accident (in 1984) since its opening in 1984. What is most disheartening is visiting other parks, watching riders walk off completely soaked, and watching waves that actually drench the riders. Anyway this is to depressing of a topic.

Letís try to get some positive remarks going here so we will move on to Europa. The good news is that Europa has some of the best news in the park. There were lines of course, heck I have never see the Le Taxi Tour have a line that actually snaked OUT of the Queue-House, that was amazing. I donít think I have ever even seen the Flying Dutchman with a line, period! Europa, for once in a blue moon was packed!

Everyone knows how we complain about the lights on the buildings, the white Christmas light ones? We complain how they are always broken, or being taken down, or something else as dismal? But the good newsÖ everyone please sit down for this might be too much. They actually ADDED lights. Yes they added a new string of lights to the exterior Autobahn. The Autobahn (or Der Fender Bender way back when) actually used to have lights on its exterior, but they were removed several years ago. Itís wonderful to see that they have added new lights. For those who donít understand why we make such a big deal about lighting let me explain. First itís about safety, nobody wants to walk through a park in the dark, and in some cases thatís what it has become. Second, it adds drama, think about Christmas doesnít it add something extra to see the lights at the Plaza? Doesnít it make it more memorable, more enjoyable? Thatís the whole premise here. It adds to the experience of the guest, and the memories that are being made. Thank you Worlds of Fun.

One last topic I would like to bring up before we move onto Americana, and that is Forum Road. Yes, I feel like I'm beating a dead horse with this one, but it's one were we really feel that the park management is completely missing the boat. Look to your left, look at all the profit that's just walking on by Europa. Guests are bypassing three possible forms of revenue, a shop and two restaurants. What is there on forum road for them to spend money on? I will ask what is the reasoning for keeping forum road open? How many good reasons are there for closing it? The park is a business, start running it like one.

Crossing under the train trestle into Americana, the first thing anyone would notice is if the steam train in the station (if itís there), Worlds of Fun has finally replaced ELIís name on the train engine. After repainting the entire train a few years ago, they made this small oversight and itís nice to see the engine bearing its proper name once again.

Moving further into Americana, it looks like the park decided to add a new game to the Americana games section. Firefly, which is located near Camp Snoopy is a standard water jet racing game, however in this variation you have to ìchaseî the spinning target. Itís also nice to see that Worlds of Fun did take to time to actually theme the game into the section, like its surrounding buildings this one has a barn-like exterior.

As a few now know, the Employee Break area or Ambam, which used to be up in Camp Snoopy has moved to its new location outside the park. Due to that fact it seems Worlds of Fun has recently added some advertisement banners for its two new haunted houses coming in the fall. They added a banner for the House on Boo Hill to the afore mentioned break building, and also to the Beat Street area for The Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns. Speaking of Beat Street, itís now time to pay our last respects. The Powerhouse Arcade, the sole standing attraction from the Beat Street Mall looks like it has been closed. We donít know if this is for good our not, stay tuned for future reports.

I jumped ahead of myself a little there, and didnít get a chance to mention a few smaller details in Americana. Small note, Worlds of Fun has actually moved the ATM from the previous location near the Grand Prix Raceway, to near the Airbrush Artist booth and Vittle Griddle. Also as most now know they have added a trial seat to the Thunderhawk, were would be riders can try out a seat, and see if they fit. Obviously, not all the riders are trying the seat out and they are still ending up with riders who wonít fit and then the whole loading process is slowed while the rider or riders disembark. Another capacity issue here. All would be riders should be required to test the seat before entering the queue, to avoid these ride evacuations. This could be accomplished by placing an employee at the entrance to the queue-line.

However, as much as I might berate the Thunderhawk, its crew should be commended. These people actually understand how to properly operate a ride, and how to get a lot of people on and off in a short period of time. We were surprised to notice that not only once but several times while unloading riders, they actually began load the ride at the same time. Meaning that they didnít wait until everyone on the previous ride had exited to begin loading, they actually loaded and unloaded at the exact same time. Thatís smart!

Okay onto one of our biggest rants, and this time I will stand down off my soap box, since I donít ride roller coasters, and would not be able to form a cohesive view point on a ride that I have never ridden. So I turn the floor over to Matt Laskowski as he will share his views (which are shared by others) of the once great and world famous Timber Wolf.

We had decided to catch a quick ride on Timber Wolf. And, to be honest, it was one of the most disappointing ways one could end the day. Many of you die-hards out there may remember the days when Timber Wolf was a top-caliber coaster. You may remember that at one time, it was voted the best coaster on the planet. Well, you might as well just toss all of those happy thoughts into the Missouri River. Unless something drastic happens, the Timber Wolf is slowly passing away.

The airtime. The speed. The ëoomph.í All have fallen by the wayside, making way for all too unpopular bully in town, ëroughness.í The infamous ìDinn shuffleî is definitely in full force as well. Even as our train departed the station, our back row seats had been turned into a front row view of the obvious side-to-side shuffling occurring with the rest of the train. And, while we experienced a few pops of airtime throughout the ride, the hostile beating the ride gives takes much away from the enjoyable experience and potential that the coaster once had.

With the history of Cedar Fair and their wooden coasters, it seems as if there isnít much hope in the future for this once-ferocious beast. Maybe, just maybe, if we all start to believe in the park and its management, just like many of us now believe in the once decrepit Kansas City Royals, the future may be a bit brighter for Timber Wolf.

Well letís not hope too much about the RoyalsÖ And thatís a completely different subject.

The good news is that I will finish my report with a few good notes as we move in the Orient. First off, the Orient Express is back up and running. One thing that I actually found miraculous is that Worlds of Fun planted trees. A fairly common practice, planting a tree, but for Cedar Fair, cutting down the tree has become more a common sight at the park. Itís gratifying to see that they took the time to add what looks like two or three new trees around the Orient pond area. Also, last time we had a chance to write a review, the remote control Pirate Ships (Blackbeardís) in the Orient Section looked like it was to be removed. We arrived at the park to find a new set of controls (or at least revamped) and the boats back in their pond. It doesnít appear functional, but it looks better then it did when it was decrepit and broken down.

In all honesty as rough as my review might have seemed, the park seems to be off on a better foot this year. On those things I critiqued, it appears that some strides have been made to correct the issues; however the jury is still out on how the Timberwolf will fare over the following years. When you say that your staff is friendlier, that the park is in overall better shape, and it seems that the driving force behind the park is really putting an effort into improving the park, then that gives us hope. However, there are many improvements that do need to be made, and I think I have highlighted many of those here. I look forward to writing about more improvements and less criticisms in the future. " 1