How to be One of the First Zambezi Zinger Riders at Worlds of Fun this Season

Worlds of Fun is bringing back a relic of history just in time for its 50th anniversary season. A new Zambezi Zinger roller coaster—inspired by the coaster of the same name that left the park in 1997—will be among the amusement park’s attractions later this spring.

Interested in being one of the first to ride it? You have two opportunities. 

Your first option is to donate to the First Rider Expedition. Each donation benefits Big Slick—the fundraising event for Children’s Mercy hosted by Eric Stonestreet, Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner, and Heidi Gardner. 

The bigger your donation, the more entries you’ll receive to win one of 32 seats on the first two riders of the roller coaster. Winners will be announced and contacted on April 3.

If you miss out on the contest, your next opportunity to be among the first to ride comes during the Season Passholder Preview event, which will be announced later.

The steel and wood hybrid roller coaster draws inspiration from its namesake by featuring a spiral lift hill, low contour turns, and a midcourse tunnel. The track layout pays homage to its predecessor, flying high through the trees (at 75 feet) and plunging into a gulley in the park’s Africa section at 45 miles per hour.