Detonator at Worlds of Fun has been in operation since 1996. Designed and manufactured by S&S – Sansei Technologies from their Space shot line. Riders are forcefully pushed upwards by a compressed air launch. This is a really fun, but very short ride for those that love looking over the beautiful park or just want a shot of adrenaline.
Detonator at Worlds of Fun Experience
Detonator at Worlds of Fun sits at the back of the park in the Americana Section. Located right next to Planet Snoopy and Mustang Runner. The line on this will vary on if both towers are running. If they are both running the line will move fast, if just one then it will crawl. You might want to prioritize this ride for just after opening or before the park closes. Riders must be at least 48 inches in order to ride. You will be kept safe by an over-the-shoulder restraint that has a seatbelt attached. Once the ride attendants have checked all restraints get ready for launch!
The seats will raise a couple of feet, and you will feel them lock into launch position. Wait just a couple of seconds and then blast off! Riders are shot up the 200-foot spike. When the ride loses steam you will get a couple of bumps back up, but nothing like the launch. The total ride time is about 25 seconds. Finally back to the ground where a ride attendant will give the all-clear. Now it is safe to undo the restraint and exit the ride safely.
Detonator at Worlds of Fun: The Good
Detonator is a one-trick pony, so it is good that one trick thrills. Being shot up so suddenly never gets old. The force that your body is under upon launch is intense. It’s the kind of force that is so fun, but if it continued for much longer it would be unpleasant.
From a visual standpoint, this ride rocks. Firstly is how you can see this at pretty much any point in the park. Secondly is that it is tall enough that when you recover from the force of being shot the next thing you’ll register is how beautiful it is so high up there. Lastly is in just how cool it looks in color scheme to the design of the towers.
The Bad
If this is a walk-on it isn’t a big deal. However, if you waited a chunk of time you may be left with a that’s-it-feeling. It is over just as you start having fun. Detonator at Worlds of Fun was one of the first for this type of ride. Now S&S offers the double shot line which is at nearby park Silver Dollar City with the great Firefall. Same concept, but has two blasts off’s. Firefall feels more like a complete ride, while Detonator feels like it is missing something.
This model is the reverse of the Drop Tower. While both offer an exhilarating experience we do prefer a drop tower. Would be great if they took one of the two towers and converted it into a drop tower. That way riders could pick which kind of ride they want.
Notice that our negatives here are about what the ride could be and not issues with the ride itself. We think there is some potential not being used here, but that doesn’t mean there is an issue with the ride itself. What is here works great, and is a blast (off).
Final Verdict
Detonator at Worlds of Fun is a great addition to the park. It offers a great ride that is packed with beautiful sights and intense forces. We wish it lasted longer or offered a drop instead, but that is nitpicking. This ride will please all looking for a blast of adrenaline. Because of these reasons, Detonator at Worlds of Fun gets a seven and a half out of ten.
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Cyclone Sams at Worlds of Fun