Kansas City's Worlds of Fun is sharing first look photos of the changes it has made to its Zambezi Zinger roller coaster.
The new Zambezi Zinger, from Great Coasters International, debuted in 2023, following a 24-year run for the original coaster of that name, which was a Schwarzkopf model. The original Zambezi Zinger closed in 1997, but it remained beloved by many in the local coaster community, so Worlds of Fun decided to bring back the spirit of the old coaster in a new design.
One of the elements that the new Zinger borrowed from the old was a spiral lift. However, the booster wheel system on that lift did not do so well in the elements, so World of Fun decided after last season to enclose the lift.
You can see the results in two photos posted by the park to its social media today.
Worlds of Fun, a former Cedar Fair park that is now part of the new Six Flags chain, said that the enclosure should help the ride's operational efficiency. But I have to wonder how the changes will affect the ride experience, too. Visitors will get to experience the results when Worlds of Fun opens for the 2025 season in May.
Here is a look at the ride from its opening season, courtesy the park.
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I'm still bummed that I missed riding this by a week when it debuted. However, while this seems like a logical solution, I'm not sure if it's the best or most practical. I can foresee it getting very hot inside that lift area if there is not active ventilation, and obviously turning the lift into what is essentially a tunnel will be a loud and disorienting experience for riders. Perhaps this was the cheapest and easiest solution to the problem, but might not be the best.
Yeah that's an oven...
Could they not have included any theming at all inside? Like African plants/animals? because the spiral lift was the "gimmick". . . Now it's just a wooden coaster that starts in a glorified silo
How loud is the booster wheel system without the oven? I'd imagine it's not louder than a normal chain
i'll let you know in may ;)
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interesting...i am scheduled to be there in may so will look forward to checking it out. since it's metal, i'm wondering how loud it may be.