Worlds of Fun Tour of the Park 2023 Edition

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Scandinavia

In 2017 the entire Scandinavian gate was rebuilt and redesigned, complete with the iconic Worlds of Fun hot air balloon, and Guest Relations that may be entered by guests from both inside and outside the park. The new gate replaces the original Scandinavian gate built in 1973 and expanded in 1974 to serve as the park's secondary or back gate. With the removal of the main Americana gate in 1999, the Scandinavian gate began serving as the main gate.


Grand Pavilion 2017-current

Located directly off to the left following the main entrance, the Grand Pavilion added in 2017 serves as the park's largest picnic and group catering facility. Visible from the walkway from the back parking lots the Grand Pavilion is bright and open featuring several large picnic pavilions for catering events as well as its own catering kitchen. It replaces the park's group catering facilities added in the 1980's, Tivoli Terrace Central and West. Fascinating enough, and surprisingly so, the land the Grand Pavilion sits on previously served as the park's dump.


Worlds of Fun Rentals 2017-current

Located directly to the right as guests enter the park, rentals offers wheelchairs, scooters, strollers and lockers rentals. Rentals are available on a first come first serve basis.


Photo Memories 2017-current

Purchase your photo memory of your day at Worlds of Fun here! Photo Memories also offers a small selection of souvenirs as well.


Grand Carrousel 2011-current

Built in 1926 by M.C. Illions of Coney Island, NY (though the sign in front of the Attraction states 1918), it was built originally for the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial. Each of the 64 jumping horses was hand carved and in true Coney Island flamboyant style, and contains actual 24-carat gold flakes in the gold paint that adorns the horses manes and tails. After 1926, the carousel was moved to Birmingham, Alabama for a short period. In 1937, it was permanently moved to Geauga Lake in Ohio, where it operated for the next eighty years, until the park closed for good in 2007. Geauga Lake had been bought by Cedar Fair a few years prior, the company that has also owned and operated Worlds of Fun since 1995. At the time of Geauga Lake's closing, Cedar Fair opted to have the carousel put in storage while its future was considered. In 2010, it was announced the carousel had been handed off to Carousel Works in Ohio to be refurbished, and then installed at Worlds of Fun for spring 2011. As an interesting side note- when the carousel operated at Geauga Lake, it featured a rather unusual rocking mechanism on each horse, giving this classic carousel an even more unique twist. The rocking mechanism was removed, due to liability and safety issues, when the carousel was installed at Worlds of Fun. Guests less than 46" tall must be accompanied by an adult.


International Plaza Stage 2017 - Current

Added as part of the new gate in 2017 the Plaza Stage has been home to summer musical revue show since 2018. For the 2023 season it will be home to "RetroSpect" from June 24 through August 12th.


Fjörd Fjärlane 1982 (moved/renamed 1991)-current

Fjörd Fjärlane is a small blue circular ride located just to the main gate. Riders board one of 14 cars that spin around a central hub and are slightly raised in the air on each rotation. Often thought to be manufactured by Huss Rides of Germany (model name: Swing Around), Fjörd Fjärlane is actually an off-brand that is incredibly similar to the Huss version. Fjörd Fjärlane started its life at Worlds of Fun in 1982 when it was added as part of the new River City section in Americana known then as the River City Rampage. With the addition of Beat Street in 1991, River City Rampage was moved to Scandinavia and renamed Fjörd Fjärlane. Guests less than 46" tall must be accompanied by an adult to ride.


Plaza Gifts 1973 (renamed/repurposed 2012)-current

A souvenir and gift shop located near the Scandinavia park gate, Plaza Gifts features t-shirts, stuffed animals, retro merchandise, candy, and more. Plaza Gifts is an original structure to the park, but only recently, in 2012, did it become a retail location. Prior to 2012 it was an arcade, and opened in 1973 as the Arctic Arcade- its name was changed to Scandi Skees in 1984.


Gateway Pizza 2022 - current

This counter service location serves "pizza baskets" which include a slice of pizza and garlic knots. They also offer salads, "monsterella" sticks, and gluten-free pizza. Gateway Pizza replaces Chickie & Pete's (which opened in 1973 as Smorbord) and uses a portion of its original structure.


Norma's Funnel Cakes 2017-current

Located Located across from Plaza Gifts, Norma's offers that favorite of amusement park treat, the Funnel Cake available with a variety of toppings available. Interesting enough, The original Norma's, added to Baltic Bazaar in 1977, was named after Norma Hunt, the wife of the late Lamar Hunt.


Viking Voyager 1973-current

A classic family flume ride, Voyager has been thrilling riders since opening day on May 26, 1973. Riders board a Viking flume boat and take on the high seas, all ending with an over 40-foot splash down drop. Voyager was manufactured by Arrow Development of Mountainview, California. During the time period Voyager was built Arrow, flumes were incredibly popular installations and it's hard to think of a single park that opened in the 1970's that did not have an Arrow flume. In the four decades that have passed, many Arrow flumes have been removed to make way for larger, more thrilling coasters, and the classic Arrow flume becomes more rare with each passing season. Today, like in the 1970's, the Arrow flume still provides a fun, family friendly, slightly thrilling ride making it a perfect fit for a family theme park. Thankfully, the park has began to appreciate its importance as a signature classic ride and Voyager has received several major updates over the past few years including a complete update to its control system in 2016. (Prior to 2016 it was still operating on its control system from 1973). Guests must be 36" or taller to ride Voyager and those under 46" must be accompanied by an adult.


Scandi Candy (renamed 2019)-current

Located just across from Voyager is Scandi Candy, scheduled to open in May 2019. Scandi Candy is an original structure to the park, and has always been a retail location. Prior to being called Scandi Candy it was known as Kringle's Holiday House in 2018, The Lift from 2009 until 2017, and prior to 2009 it was known as Norseman's Niceties, offering standard park souvenirs.


Tivoli Music Hall 1973-current

Tivoli Music Hall is currently used only in the spring and fall, and otherwise sits empty during the summer months. During the spring it is home to the park's annual Choir & Band Festivals (dating back to 1974). During the fall it's occasionally been home to a Halloween-themed show including Ed Alonzo's Magic Show from 2014 to 2016 and Illusionists John Bundy and Morgan's Spooktacular Show from the early 2000's until 2012. Prior to 2011, Tivoli was also home to a summer musical revue show, which changed theme and productions almost every year. A complete listing of the summer Tivoli Shows is available by clicking on the above link.


Swedish Sipping Chalet 1980's-current

A small stand located adjacent to the entrance of Viking Voyager, guests can refill their souvenir drink bottles here, or purchase a soda, turkey legs, popcorn or pretzels. Interesting side note: this stand was originally built in the 80's to sell Encyclopedia Britannica.


Nordic Chaser 2018-current

This small circular ride, replaces Finnish Fling for the 2018 season. Manufactured by Mack Rides of Germany, riders board of of several two-seat, miniature viking ship cars. When the ride starts its spins around a sloping, circular track. Guests must be 40" tall to ride, those less than 48" must be accompanied by an adult.


Scandi Scrambler 1973 (moved/renamed 2014)-current

Located right next to Nordic Chaser is an original ride, the Scandi (or Scandia) Scrambler. Scrambers are incredibly popular rides and are found in almost every amusement park and traveling carnival. The Scrambler is a circular ride that moves in an egg beater-like fashion. Its popularity stems from the fact that it's a little thrilling, but also fun, making it enjoyable by almost everyone. Scandi Scrambler, like all Scrambler rides, was manufactured by ELI Bridge Corporation of Jacksonville, Illinois, the same company that built the Skyliner Ferris Wheel. Also, of interest, though Scrambler is currently in its original location, that was not the case for many years. From 2007 until 2014, Scrambler was relocated to Americana, in Camp Snoopy, while its original location in Scandinavia was home to the Octopus. With the removal of Octopus in 2014, Scrambler was returned to its original site, was given a massive renovation complete with colorful light package, and renamed Scandi Scrambler. Riders must be at least 36" tall to ride, those less than 48" must be accompanied by an adult.


Sea Dragon 1994-current

Located right across the midway from Scrambler is Sea Dragon, a traditional swinging ship ride, appropriately Viking-themed. Added in 1994, it was one of the last attractions added to the park by Hunt Midwest, who sold the park in mid-1995. Sea Dragon was added to replace the Victrix, a full scale, 4-masted schooner ship that had been removed in 1993 due to deterioration. Guests less than 48" must be accompanied by an adult.

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