Misc Defunctland: The History of World's of Fun's Orient Express - Page 2

**007** · 08-01-2019, 02:50 AM

Felt this was a nice trip down memory lane.

Halfcan · 08-01-2019, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer

I think I saw somewhere that the Zambezi Zinger was repurposed and is being used in a foreign country today.

It is still running. It is all over FB if you search it.

-King- · 08-01-2019, 09:26 AM

The way that guy described Kansas City like it's in the middle of Kansas annoyed me.

CaliforniaChief · 08-01-2019, 09:28 AM

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I grew up in Iowa and used to think the Tornado at Adventureland was terrifying. Then I graduated to Worlds of Fun and remember my heart racing when we would drive down 435 past and I would just SEE the Orient Express...

I remember summers where my cheap family made us go back out to the car for lunch that we packed in coolers, and the pavement was mushy under our feet because it was so hot.

My other favorite thing to do at WOF was the pitching game where you would guess your last throw and win a batting helmet of your choice if you got it right. I collected a crap ton of helmets, some of which are still in my parents' house.

Great memories.

Frazod · 08-01-2019, 09:47 AM

I remember being at Worlds of Fun when I was in high school early on a weekday before the lines got long. We'd ride the Orient Express, then sprint back to get in line to ride it again. Can't even remember how many times we did it, but it was a bunch. That was awesome. Great coaster.

burt · 08-01-2019, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

It is still running. It is all over FB if you search it.

the Zambezi Zinger is still in operation, except that now it thrills riders at the Parque Nacional del Café theme park in Quindío, Colombia

burt · 08-01-2019, 09:58 AM

I worked at Worlds of Fun from 1977 to 1983. I started out as a ride operator, and finished as a Ride Operations Supervisor. I just wonder how many of y'all I saw running around that park. We often did "doubles".. 1 shift on your daily ride then another at another ride. I had worked at almost every ride at one point.

Interestingly enough, they don't discuss the tragedies that happened there. The kid that got killed by the Scream Roller, and a head trauma on the Schushboomer, the park employee that just missed being killed but lost a leg, are the only 3 that I remember well

It was a great place to meet girls. Back then, about 3000 seasonal employees, half were young women, just out from under their parents thumb and very sexually curious. It was a glorious time!

Holladay · 08-01-2019, 10:30 AM

Well Burt, I must to seen you as well. I worked on the Octopus '81-82. You are correct about the girls. I had one of the hottest chicks I have ever met give me her phone number and as I walked away, she pinched my butt. She was from NKC. This is one of my biggest regrets in that I lost her phone number. Bummer.

Pitt Gorilla · 08-01-2019, 10:32 AM

The landscaping was awesome. The trees and water made the orient that much better.

burt · 08-01-2019, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holladay

Well Burt, I must to seen you as well. I worked on the Octopus '81-82. You are correct about the girls. I had one of the hottest chicks I have ever met give me her phone number and as I walked away, she pinched my butt. She was from NKC. This is one of my biggest regrets in that I lost her phone number. Bummer.

Who was your ride manager?

burt · 08-01-2019, 10:52 AM

Me, doing time cards at WOF...80ish

Holladay · 08-01-2019, 11:08 AM

Hell I can't remember. That was a long time ago.

burt · 08-01-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holladay

Hell I can't remember. That was a long time ago.

LOL...I get that. But I have a weird memory...I remember all my managers from their..and every wrestler I faced my senior year.

IowaHawkeyeChief · 08-01-2019, 11:22 AM

Went to WoF in college in the late 80's. My buddies and I recorded "living on a prayer" at the place where you sang and then got a cassette. It was horrible and we played it all the time and my buddy still has it...

Deberg_1990 · 08-01-2019, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lprechaun

Last summer I came back home to KC for a funeral and before I came back to Florida my father and step mother wanted to go do something fun.
My wife and I have Universal Studios and Disney passes and go probably 25 times a year.... WOF has some rides that rival those big guys.
I did miss the ol Orient Express.

Took my kids to WoF a month ago. Hadn’t been there in 7-8 years.

Overall, I was impressed. Park was clean, ride operations were quick and it seems Cedar Fair is pumping some money into it with landscaping and new rides

Seemed like it was going downhill last time I was there, but they have course corrected.

**loochy** · 08-01-2019, 11:46 AM

I'll never forget the smell of the hot parking lot pavement mixed with the faint smell of propane from the parking lot trams.

08-01-2019, 02:50 AM
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $13950126 VARSITY	Defunctland: The History of World's of Fun's Orient Express Felt this was a nice trip down memory lane.
Posts: 65,557

08-01-2019, 09:26 AM	#17
-King- ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓ Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $2225743	The way that guy described Kansas City like it's in the middle of Kansas annoyed me.
Posts: 63,910

08-01-2019, 09:28 AM	#18
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12332899	Great video, thanks for sharing. I grew up in Iowa and used to think the Tornado at Adventureland was terrifying. Then I graduated to Worlds of Fun and remember my heart racing when we would drive down 435 past and I would just SEE the Orient Express... I remember summers where my cheap family made us go back out to the car for lunch that we packed in coolers, and the pavement was mushy under our feet because it was so hot. My other favorite thing to do at WOF was the pitching game where you would guess your last throw and win a batting helmet of your choice if you got it right. I collected a crap ton of helmets, some of which are still in my parents' house. Great memories.
Posts: 17,323	3 1

08-01-2019, 09:47 AM	#19
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2865085	I remember being at Worlds of Fun when I was in high school early on a weekday before the lines got long. We'd ride the Orient Express, then sprint back to get in line to ride it again. Can't even remember how many times we did it, but it was a bunch. That was awesome. Great coaster.
Posts: 119,529

08-01-2019, 10:30 AM	#22
Holladay Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2419480	Well Burt, I must to seen you as well. I worked on the Octopus '81-82. You are correct about the girls. I had one of the hottest chicks I have ever met give me her phone number and as I walked away, she pinched my butt. She was from NKC. This is one of my biggest regrets in that I lost her phone number. Bummer.
Posts: 3,600	1 0

08-01-2019, 10:32 AM	#23
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $2730194	The landscaping was awesome. The trees and water made the orient that much better. __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
Posts: 46,137	1 2

08-01-2019, 11:08 AM	#26
Holladay Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2419480	Hell I can't remember. That was a long time ago.
Posts: 3,600

08-01-2019, 11:22 AM	#28
IowaHawkeyeChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2016 Casino cash: $2520400	Went to WoF in college in the late 80's. My buddies and I recorded "living on a prayer" at the place where you sang and then got a cassette. It was horrible and we played it all the time and my buddy still has it... __________________ Chiefs are my favorite football team of all time!
Posts: 26,856	1 0

08-01-2019, 11:46 AM	#30
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $1880752	I'll never forget the smell of the hot parking lot pavement mixed with the faint smell of propane from the parking lot trams.
Posts: 40,597	4 0