Living in Nebraska, options for theme parks within a reasonable driving distance are limited. One of the best options for us is Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. My family has been going to Worlds of Fun since I was a young boy in the mid to late 1980s. When I grew up and had children of my own, WoF became our “quick trip” theme park destination when we weren’t jetting off to Disney or Universal Studios. Having visited countless times over the past several years, this is how I rank the top rides at Worlds of Fun.
Ride Rankings Exclusions
This ride ranking list is limited to rides I’ve been on. Spinning rides are not my thing and I have not been on the rides in Snoopy land, which appeared in WoF after my childhood years. So let’s quickly run through the rides not eligible for the rankings:
- Cyclone Sams – You either love this ride or you hate it – I’m not going to find out which it is for me because I think I already know
- Mustang Runner – Very popular with my family…. but not me.
- Scrambler, Nordic Chaser, Fjord Fjarlane – I lump these all together as “spinny county fair rides”… that I’m not interested in
- Bamboozler – 🤮
- Spinning Dragons – My daughters tell me it’s cramped, rough and not that fun… and it spins
- The Grand Carrousel – Classic “merry go round”
- Flying Dutchman – Our girls like this ride, but it looks cramped for a large person like me, and why risk getting queasy
- RipCord – I actually intend to do this at some point, just haven’t made it happen yet.
- Zulu – My oldest daughter loves this ride, but it makes me queasy just watching it
- Planet Snoopy Rides – There are quite a few fun rides for young kids in this area, we did take our daughters here when they were younger and its a nice spot to have in Worlds of Fun for younger children.
15 – Boomerang
Guaranteed to make me reach for the aspirin, I enjoyed this coaster much more when I was younger. Dutch manufacturer Vekoma has unleashed at least 55 of these headache monstrosities worldwide, all with very similar layouts. There is certainly nothing unique about this one… except maybe the questionable choice of paint scheme.
14 – Skyliner
If you’re in the mood for a good time, and by “good” I mean “terrifying,” hop onto Worlds of Fun’s vintage Ferris wheel, straight out of the county fairs of yesteryear. This charming relic may not be the biggest Ferris Wheel you have ever seen. However, you will feel like at any moment, you are either going to fall out of the contraption or the whole thing is simply going to collapse around you. The safety features, or lack thereof, really add a thrill to the experience. It’s quite possible that the reason this ride is seldom in operation is to provide patrons with ample time to mentally prepare for a ride that is straight out of the movie Final Destination!
13 – Autobahn
The Autobahn is a standard bumper cars ride, perfect for that county fair with the Skyliner, although falling out of the Autobahn is much less of a terrifying thought. So, if you’ve exhausted every other ride in the park, why not take a few laps on this one?
12 – Worlds of Fun Railroad
The railroad is a nice way to relax on a hot day and just take in the park. On busy summer days, the train even stops for a “show” in the middle of the ride near the Prowler.
11 – Le Taxi Tour
One of the OG rides that opened with the park, this ride is perfect for the little ones and for those who prefer to keep their thrills at a mild simmer. And guess what? They have all new vehicles in 2024, so now the cars are running smoother than a buttered hot potato!
10 – Viking Voyager
This ride might be ranked a little too high, but it gets a nostalgia bump from me. In my youth, I had some serious adventures on this thing. It felt like the biggest, longest, most heart-racing ride ever! Sure, it’s just a gentle little log flume with a baby drop at the end, but it’s perfect for cooling off on a scorching day. And did you catch that SNL skit featuring VV (and WoF) a few years back? Hilarious!
9 – Sea Dragon
This classic pirate ship swing never fails to give me a wild ride, leaving me feeling like I’ve walked the plank. I’ve tried every motion sickness remedy under the sun, but this ship has a penchant for making me feel a bit queasy. Nevertheless, I can’t help but admire its nighttime charm, with its vintage lighting straight out of the 1990s. It used to be my youngest daughter’s favorite ride, until we finally convinced her to give the Mamba a try. Ahoy, matey!
8 – Timber Wolf
If you find yourself in the southwest corner of the park and absolutely have to ride a roller coaster, then I guess the Timber Wolf will do. One of three wooden coasters in the park (two more than it needs), TW is by far the oldest and roughest. If you factor in that the trains are very cramped and the coaster has a kill score greater than zero, the ride barely stays ahead of Sea Dragon for the number 8 spot. Hang on to your teeth on the way back to the station or they will rattle out of your mouth!
7 – Fury of the Nile
Another ride where my nostalgia might get in the way of objectivity, I remember when I first rode this what a new and exciting concept it was. These raft rides are standard in almost every amusement park today, but it was one of the first of its kind when it opened in 1984 and the first in the USA to use the turntable loading system that is common on all these rides today. Yes, its old and dirty looking, and some of the water features don’t work anymore, but its still a great way to cool off on a hot midwestern day.
6 – Patriot
While there is indeed a second steel coaster in the park, I simply cannot embrace the inverted style trains. The minimal thrill I experience from having my legs freely dangling beneath me is completely overshadowed by the obstructed view of the backs of the seats in front of me (unless I’m in the front row, of course). In addition, this ride invariably gives me a headache, which I attribute to my seasoned nature. My oldest daughter would likely rate this coaster much higher.
5 – Steelhawk
This chair swing ride is far from ordinary. As the tallest ride in the park, towering over 300 feet, it offers spectacular views. However, the experience of spinning around so high with minimal restraints can be quite unnerving. Unfortunately, this ride’s uptime is often affected by Midwest winds and many technical issues, resulting in frequent closures. Therefore, if you spot it in operation during your visit, seize the opportunity to ride it without hesitation, as another chance may not arise.
4 – Zambezi Zinger
Like everyone else, I was excited to hear Worlds of Fun was unleashing a new coaster in 2023. Then they’re like, “Surprise, it’s another wooden one!”. They talked a big game about using this new titan track, so I’m thinking, okay, maybe this won’t be a total chiropractic nightmare. But nah, they skimped out on it and now the ride’s bumpier than a dirt road. Factor in small-ish ride vehicles with restraints that tighten up on you as you ride it, and it is just a big letdown of a coaster. It is still moderately fun, but another wooden coaster was an odd choice for a new ride.
3 – Detonator
This old girl is quite the high-ranked surprise, despite being a short ride and making you wait in line forever… sans FastLane. But that first up and down is a real stomach dropper, and the view is something else! I can forgive the ancient, stiff shoulder restraints that give me “battle wounds” on my shoulders.
2 – Prowler
Many folks swear by this ride as the numero uno at World of Fun, but I just can’t wrap my head around it. It’s slower, shorter (in both duration and height), and rougher compared to the Mamba. I guess they’re throwing in bonus points for its layout that goes into a “woodsy” area of the park, off-limits to guests unless they’re onboard the coaster. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the top dog of wooden coasters in the park and a must-try, but it’s no match for the big red (and black) snake holding the top spot on my list. Honestly, it’s a bit of a facepalm moment for the Zambezi Zinger that a 15-year-old wooden coaster greatly outshines the brand-new one.
1 – Mamba
It’s like the giant, over-caffeinated uncle of the park’s roller coasters. Sure, it’s not the smoothest ride out there, but compared to the creaky wooden coasters and the head-spinning Boomerang and Patriot, it’s as smooth as a hot knife through butter. With a towering height of 205 feet and a thrilling speed of 75 mph on the first drop, followed by another 184-foot plunge, this coaster doesn’t bother with fancy twists and loops. It’s all about that need for speed and those stomach-dropping moments. WoF veterans know that a few years back they removed the brakes right before the camel humps, making the second half of the ride so much better, with plenty of air time. The Mamba just celebrated its 25th birthday, but it’s still the undisputed king of Worlds of Fun.
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