Worlds of Fun to Celebrate 50th Anniversary in 2023 with New Zambezi Zinger Coaster

© Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun has announced some very exciting plans for the park's 50th anniversary celebration, taking place at the park in 2023.  To celebrate this awesome milestone in the park's history, World of Fun will make improvements throughout its themed lands, host a festive celebration and introduce a brand new wooden roller coaster.  

The 50th anniversary celebration will see "all new theming, storylines and entertainment throughout the park" for guests to explore on a passport to fun.  The park isn't giving all details on these changes at the park just yet, but promises more to come.  The larger 50th party includes new entertainment such as "50 Nights of Fire" which is a festive stage show with a pyrotechnic finale.  The park also plans more special events, unique anniversary merchandise and special food offerings in 2023.

© Worlds of Fun

What most visitors will be excited about is a brand new wooden coaster, Zambezi Zinger, opening at the park.  The new wooden roller coaster, from Great Coasters Internationals and Skyline Attractions, shares the name of the steel Schwarzkopf coaster that operated at the park from 1973 until 1997.  That coaster was popular until removed from the park, and this new version is sure to be a hit with families as well.

© Worlds of Fun

The new Zambezi Zinger is a unique hybrid ride in several senses.  The wooden coaster will feature a spiral lift hill that mimics the one on the original steel ride, and that lift hill (and the subsequent drop) looks to utilize Skyline Attractions' steel Titan Track system.  The rest of the ride is traditional wooden coaster track.  Zambezi Zinger also feature a mix of wooden and steel supports throughout the ride, notably the unique booster wheel driven spiral lift hill looks to use wooden supports.

© Worlds of Fun

© Worlds of Fun

The Zambezi Zinger will stand 74 feet at the maximum and hit a top speed of 45 miles per hour - just tall and fast enough to be thrilling for younger riders.  The ride's zippy looking layout features 2,482 feet of track that uses similar space as the original ride, and feature many ground hugging turns and hills and a surprise midcourse tunnel.  These features were also shared by the original ride, and were designed on purpose to mimic the experience to some degree.

© Worlds of Fun

The new coaster will utilize two Infinity Flyer trains that were designed for Great Coasters International by Skyline Attractions.  The new trains feature levels of articulation that allow them to take on tight turns, many of which will be found on the Zambezi Zinger.  They also allow for lower height requirements, though Worlds of Fun has not stated the planned height requirement for this coaster yet.

Zambezi Zinger is planned to open by summer 2023 - for now check out the announcement animation video below.

Darien Lake's Predator Receives New GCI Steel Titan Track

© Darien Lake

Darien Lake, err Six Flags Darien Lake, has spilled the beans that their wooden roller coaster, Predator, has received an undisclosed amount of Great Coasters International's new steel Titan Track.  Technically the park didn't say much more than some eye balls and the above photo, but we get the idea and this is definitely Great Coasters' new steel track in place.  The new steel track is aimed at smoothing out the ride experience on some older wooden coasters that have become a bit rough as they age.

Titan Track is advertised as being able to to support much more extreme elements, including inversions, on wooden coasters.  These include rides that Great Coasters created over the years but also ones they did not - like the Predator at Darien Lake.  That ride was built by Dinn Corp. and opened in 1990.  The Titan Track also contains no welds, so it requires less maintenance and also is fast and easy to install, so says Great Coasters.

© Great Coasters International

Great Coasters, who have partnered with Skyline Attractions on the Titan Track, first installed a section of the track on White Lightning at FunSpot in Orlando, as a kind of proof of concept, back in 2019.  There was a lot of interest in the product but then as we well know the amusement industry kinda stopped for 2 years due to the pandemic, and now things are moving again.  There's another unannounced wooden coaster expected to get Titan Track this year, and these first steps could lead to parks having a choice - do they want to "RMC" their wooden coasters, or "Titan Track" them?

Several Prominent Ride Manufacturers to Cancel Exhibition at IAAPA 2020

More tough decisions for 2020 have had to be made, this time in relation to several prominent U.S. ride manufacturers which have decided to cancel their appearances at this year's IAAPA Expo.

As of right now the 2020 IAAPA Expo is still scheduled to be held in Orlando, Florida from November 17th through November 20th, 2020.  That may change however, as many events across all industries have been pushing back a year or going virtual.

One thing is for sure, Premier Rides, Great Coasters International, Chance Rides and Larson International will not be at the Expo if it does take place in person.

The below letter spells out the thought process wonderfully, and also note that these great companies are taking the opportunity to make donations to wonderful charities at a time when they're no doubt hurting themselves.  Bravo!

***

August 6, 2020

To our Valued Customers,

The IAAPA Expo in Orlando is the most important annual gathering of amusement industry professionals and enthusiasts and is truly the epicenter of attractions innovation and business.  In 2019, a record-setting 42,000 attendees including CEOs, global leaders, visionary designers, sales people, and technical experts gathered to conduct business, educate, and network at the industry’s gold standard conference and trade show.  The 2019 show was a confirmation of the strength of the attractions industry which this past year set all-time records globally for attendance.  Business had never been better.

2020 will not be the same.  The companies listed below represent well over 100 years of continuous exhibiting at the IAAPA Expo.  We are competitors, yet we work together closely to ensure amusement ride safety.  We put our heart and soul into this industry with the like goal of creating lifetime memories for millions of people around the globe.  And we all look forward to the opportunity each year to gather in Orlando and to be with colleagues and friends from nearly every country in the globe.  There are no better words to describe the show environment than “one big family”.  With that in mind, we are deeply saddened to share the news with you that we will not be exhibiting at the 2020 IAAPA Expo.  We know this news will come as a great disappointment to many of you, and we have made this hard decision with great angst and with significant consideration of several factors.  

First, the industry is hurting on all levels.  Even with a global effort lead by IAAPA to establish very safe facility operations, our guests have not come back to the parks in the numbers for which we had all hoped.  As suppliers to the industry, we know that successful business for us requires successful business for our valued clients.  We get it.  We understand there is a right time to sell and this is not the right time.  Parks and attractions need to focus all their attention on keeping their facilities healthy and well-maintained so they can open strong in 2021.  We are here to help you in any way possible, whether it be service or technical support and we will be here when the time is right to talk about new innovative attractions. 

Additionally, and understandably, the ability to travel from both a global and a domestic standpoint has been so greatly diminished to the point it is impractical.  Each day the news brings additional quarantines and restrictions.  Flying from around the globe to Florida is almost impossible, and even in the US with its myriad of quarantine rules it would presently require 28 days of quarantine to visit the show from New York.  Again, impractical.

And finally, and most importantly, we need to prioritize the health of our employees who have dedicated themselves to making our companies successful and who are what make visiting our booths so great and so welcoming.  We understand all the precautions that are being taken for the IAAPA Expo, and we are grateful for that significant effort.  There is indeed hope for the near future with rapid global achievements in the medical field.  But for this show, with just over three months to go, the clock has run out.
 
We have each reached out to our valued clients around the globe and also here in the United States.  The message has been the same.  For all the reasons above, “we can’t come” is what we are being told.  We understand and respect the situation and for the same reasons we will not be at the show either.  We will dearly miss you.

The show is a major investment and we have already spent significantly on the show; funds that can never be recovered.  We will use the savings from not exhibiting to maintain our company’s operations in order to be ready when you are.  In addition, our industry is known for giving and we are all making some generous donations with part of our savings.

We will be giving to:
- Give Kids The World to help make up for the annual IAAPA Expo Harley Davidson fundraiser.  https://www.gktw.org/
- Doctors Without Borders in recognition that we are indeed a global industry that positively impacts people arounds the world.  https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
- Heart of Florida United Way because we care deeply about the people of Orlando, the home of IAAPA and the IAAPA Expo.  https://www.hfuw.org/

We encourage everyone who reads this to also consider contributing to one of more of these organizations, even if the amount is small.

We work in an industry that is extremely resilient.  Through wars, through recessions, and yes, even through pandemics, our industry has survived.  People have a basic need to smile, to have fun.  And in tough times, amusement parks are a place where families can enjoy themselves.

The show must go on and will go on!  Just not this year.

We will see you again in 2021.  And yes, we will once again smile.

Thank you for your understanding.

Great Coasters International is building Texas Stingray for SeaWorld San Antonio

The following is an unedited press release:

Texas Stingray – Opening Spring 2020

SeaWorld San Antonio has announced exciting details about Texas Stingray; the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster in the state of Texas.  This record-breaking coaster, which will reach a top speed of 55 mph, includes a breathtaking hundred-foot drop and a sensory-bending hundred-foot long tunnel.  Texas Stingray marks a major addition to SeaWorld San Antonio’s gravity-defying roller coaster portfolio with five unique coaster experiences.

Texas Stingray Fast Facts

Opening Date:  Spring 2020

Conservation Partner: Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M

Type of Ride:  Wooden roller coaster, the tallest, fastest and longest in Texas

Special Features:  57-degree first drop and 76 degree high turns

Ride Length:  3,379 feet of track

Drop Height:  100-foot drop

Maximum Speed:  55 mph

Maximum Height:  96 feet

Tunnel:  100 feet

Airtime Hills:  16 airtime hills

Minimum Rider Height:  46 inches

Ride Duration:  More than two minutes

Ride Manufacturer:  Great Coasters International (GCI)

InvadR's Media Day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg Part 1

Here is the reason we came to ride. The sign lights up at night, and it looked impressive when we first arrived. There had been a blizzard in the Smoky Mountains of West Virginia and the 30-degree weather resulted in a delay before InvadR could begin to operate.

After the sun took the chill out of the air, the grand opening featured the invading Viking as the first to ride InvadR. Somehow, only Magnus was truly dressed as a Viking, unless they developed zippered clothing with polyfill insulation. It was interesting to see some of the participants later in the day throughout the park, still with their warpaint on.

Of course, it wouldn't be A SeaWorld park without immersive theming throughout the queue. And this carries on into the station and also at the end of the ride.

This new display is on many of the roller coasters at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It allows for the checkers to see immediately what bar needs to be adjusted and results in faster dispatches. Plus it is some else to watch while you are waiting your turn in the station.

Enthusiastic VIP guests braved the cold and rode InvadR time after time. It was easy to take photos since there were full trains all during the event. When InvadR goes into operation, the track clearing announcements also states "It is time to pillage the village," a nice touch for early riders who witness the start of operations. 

The consensus was this was a good addition to the park, for both families and coaster enthusiasts. You can see this is the Villager's train,...

and here is the Viking train. It is a matter of chance for which one you will ride. We tried them both and had great fun on each one. Here is our ride: 

We finally stayed home for a weekend to catch up so stay tuned for more from InvadR Media Day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

A Sneak Peek At Invadr, Busch Gardens Williamsburg's 1st Wooden Roller Coaster

What a wonderful way to start out the first visit of the year to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This park is known to be one of the most beautiful parks in the world and this entry billboard only adds to the eye candy!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg allowed fans of the park to choose such things as the name, the logo and the train design. Here's a couple of banners that show off the very cool looking lead cars that were revealed at IAAP last fall.

This concept drawing gives a lot of information as well a the layout of this GCI family coaster. It also shows how the new attraction interacts with both the log flume and the train.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg put a lot of effort into a back story for this ride. A great battle will ensue in the loggers' village of New France. Vikings will invade, forcing the loggers to defend their village and Magnus was trying to recruit Scott to support the Viking invasion.

While this ride entrance side is cool, it is extremely understated...

When compared to the eye candy that you walk under when entering the queue. The "War Wagon" was provided by Weber Group, Inc. This link takes you to their park portfolio which is a great walk down memory lane for park enthusiasts.

A special treat was in store for season pass holders on preview day, here is the video.

Here is a look at part of the queue, and you can see the auxiliary generator that will be used if the electrical grid goes dark.  Griffon is in the background, celebrating its 10th birthday this May.

And, a station view showing where the adventurous battle begins. That is the flume above the station.

Suzy, Director of Development and Engineering, fills us in on some of the details about Invadr. The park is thrilled to be sharing a wonderful new coaster with their guest this spring. That's right, spring, not sometime in the summer.

                            

This view of Invadr was taken on the bridge between New France and Germany. Behind the log flume, you can see the sinuous curves of Invadr and a view of the covered first drop from the other side.

This tunnel goes below ground level and soon this entire area will be landscaped to Busch Gardens Williamsburg's exacting standards.

One of the nine airtime hills throughout the ride, with a little bit of train steam floating above and Griffon on the left with Alpengeist on the right. Kinda like heaven, with two Bolliger & Mabillard coasters next to a brand spanking new woodie. April 7, 2017 can't get here soon enough.

Rather than their traditional all wood structure, Great Coasters International used a galvanized steel support structure for Bush Gardens Williamsburg's newest attraction, a break from their normal practice. But you can see, they kept the fun from their past with turns like this.

You can see the beginning of the above ground tunnel for the first drop from the other side, and the train track run right through the coaster layout. You can also see the extensive steel structure. Our thanks to Ron and Suzy for their help on Season Passholder Preview Day.

Scott And Carol Present - A Mystic Timbers Update

The work continues on Mystic Timbers, coming in Spring 2017!

Great Coaster International is making quick progress while the weather is good. Here the coaster will cross over the train track. 

 Here is a closer shot of the coaster "overpass." 

 Much care has been taken to save as many of the trees as possible, similar to the  way the Beast was routed around some particularly appealing small hardwood groves. 

  

Here is a field of footers and you can see where the structure stopped on on 9/23/2016. 

Some pre-assembled pieces that will be joined together for the risers. Check out the angle on the turn below:

This nice swooping turn, a common characteristic of GCI rides, drops riders right next to the new path to Whitewater Landing. The raft ride is closed for the season due to the construction. 

 

This is a wider shot from the path to  Madame Fatale's Cavern of Terror, located in the old Tomb Raider building.  Mystic Timbers is coming together nicely and we can hardly wait until Spring!

Scott And Carol Present - Kings Island Announces Mystic Timbers!

Finally, time to get the scoop on Project2017! The addition of Mystic Timbers gives Kings Island 16 roller coasters, and the addition of 3,265 more feet of wooden roller coaster track gives Kings Island the most of that type of any park worldwide. Coaster enthusiasts, especially ones partial to wooden coasters, will definitely be walking to Rivertown in 2017.

There has been lots of speculation concerning the changes Kings Island has started for Project2017. This view from the Eiffel Tower shows the timber being clearcut, with some tantalizing clues posted on the fence.

 

Reinforcing the railbed next to the overflow pond required some heavy equipment, which excited many youngsters riding the train.  Based on their appearance, sadly they will be too short to ride Mystic Timbers next summer since it will have a projected 48-inch height requirement at this time.

You can see the clearing crew providing the landscaping department with  lots of mulch for future use. I wonder where they are going to store all of it?

Kings Island made the announcement event as inclusive as possible, here an interpreter translates the conversation to sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing.  Kudos to the park for this extra effort.

Here is the ride layout, without the trees and pond. It sure looks like it can go 53 miles per hour! Look at all those airtime hills, some of them have to mix directional changes in with the feeling of weightlessness. The lift hill will rise 109 above the ground in the trees.

Kings Island invited all their guests to the announcement, and you could taste the enthusiasm in the air. When the fireworks ran long, the crowd booed; who really boos fireworks anyways?

 

Don Helbig, of Kings Island, emceed the festivities from the elevated stage that gave everyone a clear view and they also projected some renderings along with the Mystic Timbers POV on the side of the building that used to house Tomb Raider. It is now used for an outstanding haunted attraction during the haunt. 

The snacks were appropriately themed for the scary woods overwhelming civilization. Note the 57 pickup truck that is spotlighted.

On our trip to Disneyland last summer we encountered Greg doing "Product Research," here with the  Director of Ride Operations from California's Great America.

Greg Scheid, Vice President, and General Manager shares his thoughts.

This is the new pathway to Whitewater Canyon, because even when you are putting in a new ride, you have to make sure you can still get to the  existing rides. It offers some new views of Diamondback and also parallels part of the construction area.

These are what that excavator  was putting in next to the pond. It appears that have plenty more to go before the next phase.

And we think it will be for these bridges for Mystic Timbers. The water probably won't have that beautiful shade of blue, since it is mainly standing.

  

Adam grew up close to Kings Island, so in the summer of 2017 get will attend his high school reunion and tell his classmates that he helped design the newest roller coaster at Kings Island. That will have to make him "THE" dude at the gathering. How cool is that?



Nobody would answer that question, as Don Helbig and the Public Relations department intend to have lots of fun doling out clues to the mystery.

If you can't wait to see more,  Here is the link  to what Kings Island has released last night. Night rides on Mystic Timbers should be epic, and it will be fun to experience the changing of the seasons on this wild romp in the woods.