Coaster Community

We thought that it was going to be a fun ride and we were right.  Worlds of Fun has given the Kansas City community one of the best inverts out there.  So like I said in the preview you need to get here as soon as you can and get in line for this beast of a ride. 

Some of the attributes that really stand out are the speed and force that Patriot delivers.  From beginning to end the ride doesn’t let up and it leaves enthusiasts like myself feeling very satisfied with the whole experience.  Another thing that fans of the park will enjoy is Patriot Landing and the loading station.  Patriot Landing is the area surrounding the new coaster and it features a gift shop/on-ride photo shop, several comfortable benches and a host of food and drink options.  You can tell that the park really put a lot of thought and effort into making this area the best that it could be.  We heard several people comment on the beauty of this new section.

As for the ride the height really is noticeable when you’re climbing the lift hill but the speed of the lift doesn’t leave you much time to look around.  Riders on the right-hand side of the train are treated to an interesting view of the loop on the way up.  The drop is as good as they come on an invert and the beginning of the descent includes a nice amount of banking that is really evident on the left-hand side.  The train quickly exits the banked section and then immediately heads straight for the ground.  The speed is unreal and the g-forces are intense.  We thought that the ground would provide a foot chopping effect but the speed doesn’t leave riders with much time to even notice the wonderful landscaping that’s below the drop.

The loop comes rather quickly after the drop and the g-forces are fairly constant throughout the maneuver.  Riders on the right-hand side are now treated to a near collision with the lift hill.  Exiting the loop involves another extreme amount of g-forces and if you’re not careful you’ll look rather silly in your on-ride photo. 

Now that we’ve conquered the fastest portion of the ride it’s on the some of the really crazy  inversions.  Before climbing the hill into the zero-g roll the track banks to the right and perfectly positions riders for the inversion that’s just ahead.  This has proven to be one of the most enjoyable zero-g rolls that we have ever experienced and even though the front seat and backseat offer different experiences through here they are both extremely gratifying.  Exiting the roll involves another great dive towards the ground.

Upon entering the immelmann the forces are kicked up a notch once again but before you know it you’re upside down and just a half second or so away from being flipped right side up.  I think that this inversion is best experienced in the back row.  The front does however include the added bonus of foot chopping as you exit the immelmann.

The inclined banked curve provides some interesting views of Patriot Landing and the go-cart track but those views are short lived because you really fly through this element.  Exiting once again provides a nice foot chopper for riders in the front row.

You will now be granted a few seconds to breath, but only a few.  The s-curve over the station does in fact contain a small amount of air time and as the ride is broken in it will likely increase the amount of air time rider’s experience.  This section is a tie between the front row and back row. 

As the train exits the s-curve it once again dives towards the ground while you stomach stays in the air.  This is one of the closest calls with the ground that you will find on the ride and it may be attributed to the fact that some of the speed is gone and you have a little bit of time to see what’s coming. 

The quick turn that leads into the corkscrew is rather abrupt and the train navigates the corkscrew just as rapidly.  We were really surprised that there was little to no head wiggle going through this inversion.  We’ve ridden multiple inverted coasters and all of them seem to include at least a little head banging through their corkscrews. 

Once the train clears the corkscrew it heads right into the high-speed spiral.  We’re close to the end but this little turn reminds riders that Patriot knows how to deliver the g-forces.   Upon exiting the high-speed spiral your feet will meet their final foe and that’s the segment of track that makes up the entrance to the high-speed spiral.  We thought that this would be a close call and it really is.  It seems like you’re just inches away from the track below.

We didn’t mention the little dip just before the brakes in the preview and that proved to be a mistake.  Just when you think the ride is over you’re treated to a great little drop and then a jump up into the brakes.  

We rode several times in the front and back and my favorite spot was the back row on the left-hand side.  Most people seem to prefer the right-hand side in the back row though.

Coaster season is upon us and Patriot is a must ride so get your season passes and get yourself to Worlds of Fun.
 

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Photos can be found in the Construction Gallery and the Park Gallery.