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Having never been to Kansas City before we were pretty excited to spend a week exploring this beautiful family-friendly city. When researching what to do in Kansas City with kids and toddlers Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun kept popping up everywhere so we knew we had to check them out for ourselves. We spent four perfect days in the campground adjacent to Worlds of Fun in their Worlds of Fun Village. It makes for visiting the waterpark and theme park very convenient but aside from that, we loved that we got a front-row seat to nightly fireworks at 10 pm.
I told Reid that if I lived in Kansas City, I would most definitely have a Worlds of Fun season pass. I absolutely love that admission to Worlds of Fun includes admission to their waterpark, Oceans of Fun, and that the parks are attached to one another. They are both equally awesome alone but combined they make a super park. We also happened to be visiting during the worst heatwave of the year so being able to take in some time at Oceans of Fun in the afternoon was a huge relief from the humidity. It was refreshing enough that we could run back to our RV for dinner and then stay out and play at the park until close.
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Tips for Visiting Worlds of Fun with Your Family
Get Your Kids Wristbands
If you are traveling with younger children right when you enter into the park head over to guest services and get each child a height wrist band. This will save many times pondering whether or not a child is tall enough to ride various rides. Each ride has a height requirement and many had signs where you could test if your child was tall (or in some cases like we found too tall) but it was not always entirely accurate. One child wanted to ride a kiddie ride and stood next to the sign and was in the green but was denied entrance at the gate. So best to stick with the numbers located on the sign.
Planet Snoopy For the Kiddos
Plan to spend a bulk amount of time you are at the park with young kids at Planet Snoopy. Here you will find character meet and greets, photo opportunities, a family care center and lots of rides that younger ones will enjoy. Our 9-year-old was getting a little old for most rides but still enjoyed going on them with her younger siblings. Otherwise, the younger ones really were only big enough for a handful of rides outside of this section.
What to Bring to Worlds of Fun
As we all know it’s best to always be prepared. Because Worlds of Fun is a dual park with Oceans of Fun if you plan on being at both parks you need a little extra preparation. You cannot visit Worlds of Fun in your swimsuit. You can wear your swimsuit underneath but pants, shirt, and shoes are required at the theme park. So you will want to bring either a change of clothes or sufficient clothes to cover up. Many people wore their normal clothes and then changed at Oceans of Fun in their swimsuits and then back in their clothes again. There were ample changing rooms available in the main restroom area near the front gate.
You will also want to bring your typical theme park experience type things such as sunscreen, a stroller if you have babies, a wagon if you have slightly older kids, empty water bottles, sunglasses, sun hats, and good sturdy shoes for walking and riding rides.
Worlds of Fun Packing List
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Empty water bottle
- stroller or wagon if you have older kids
- flip flops for water park
When is the Best Time to Visit Worlds of Fun
Summer is by far the most popular time of year to visit Worlds of Fun as you have access to Oceans of Fun. But being that it’s located in the midwest which is known for humidity it can get pretty hot. Crowds will be higher during holidays and weekends, so if you can swing a mid-week visit then you will get more bang for your buck.
Worlds of Fun also hosts many events throughout the year including Halloween and Christmas festivities making those great times of year to visit but just know that Oceans of Fun and the pools at Worlds of Fun village are seasonal.
Where to Stay Near Worlds of Fun
Worlds of Fun Village RV
Worlds of Fun Village RV campground and cabin rentals. We absolutely loved staying at the Worlds of Fun Village. You really can’t beat the location and proximity. It comes with some added bonuses such as a pool (with a lifeguard), and the ability to easily walk or drive to the theme park. We loved being able to get a break midday and come home for lunch and relax in some air-conditioning before heading back out to play. It helped our little kids be able to last until closing. There is also a convenience store on-site where you can stock up on snacks and goodies, laundry facilities and a bathhouse. We stayed in our RV but the cozy family cabins looked like a fantastic option for families who want to be right next to the fun. Each air-conditioned cabin can sleep up to six and has a small kitchenette for comfort.
We absolutely loved how clean and nice the RV sites were. Each site offers full hookups with both 30 amp and 50 amp access. The sites are spacious and large and have a nice private patio area.
Hampton Inn Kansas City
Hampton Inn Kansas City located right across the street on the other side of the freeway. Amazing location nearby plus you can get free breakfast and enjoy being close proximity for when you need a break.
Comfort Inn & Suites and Candlewood Suites
Comfort Inn & Suites and Candlewood Suites are both easy access hotels that are great choices for families located close by.
Where to Eat at Worlds of Fun
We were pretty spoiled by the fact that we had our RV right next door to the theme park so we were able to run home and grab a bite to eat if we felt the need. But I thought it was pretty unique that Worlds of Fun had chain restaurants such as Subway, Cinnabon and located right in the park. There were many different food options from pizza to BBQ, along with many cultural representations of food located throughout the park. You definitely won’t go hungry.
Additional Tips
Ice water is available for free at any drink station or counter service restaurant. Stay hydrated and ever over hydrate if possible. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than heat exhaustion.
If you want something other than water, buy the day-use souvenir cup right when you enter the park. It’s $15 with unlimited drink refills on the day you purchase it. All throughout the park, there are Coca Cola refresh stations and some of them are the fancy mix machines so lots of yummy concoctions you can make that your family will love. We usually don’t let the kids drink much soda but on a hot humid summer day, it was enough to entice my kids to keep hydrated so I was all for it. Plus Powerade is an option at most places. We definitely got our money’s worth and it was fun for the kids.
If the waterpark is the top of your list you may want to head there first. It gets really crowded in the afternoon in the summer when most people are trying to escape the heat. Reserve yourself some chairs in a spot you love and get on all the waterslides you can while the lines are short. Then you can enjoy the crowded times floating the lazy river or catching waves in the wave pool. Consequently, if you are looking for short Worlds of Fun rides hot afternoons will also be a great time to try the roller coasters. Weekday nights are also way less crowded than weekends.
Worlds of Fun Events
Grand Carnivale
Grand Carnivale is a new event this year (2019) that has a mardi gras themed parade and party at the end. Visitors will love catching beads from the parades and dancing with performers from all over the world during the street party. This event happens mid-July to early August.
Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt is a fun spooky event that is not recommended for younger children (under 14 years old). After 6:30 pm the theme park is transformed into a terrifying fog-filled nightmare where over 400 creatures, goblins, and monsters lurk at every corner to scare the living daylights out of you.
Great Pumpkin Fest
The Great Pumpkin Fest allows the whole family including young children an alternative to Halloween Haunt to get into the fun and festive Halloween spirit. Fun themed activities, crafts, costume contests, and character meets all happen in Planet Snoopy.
Winterfest
Winterfest is a great way to get into the holidays and enjoy some family fun. Starting in November visitors can enjoy beautiful light displays, themed rides, cookie decorating and ice skating and themed character meets and inspiring live shows. It’s a favorite among locals and you can purchase the gold season pass so that you can experience Winterfest multiple times.
Other Events at Worlds of Fun
Worlds of Fun also hosts roller coaster campouts, public service appreciation days, military days, and friends day.
When Does Worlds of Fun Open?
In the summertime Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun opens at 10 am and closes at 10 pm Sunday through Friday and 10 am to 11 pm on Saturdays. Dates and times vary through the other seasons so it’s best to consult with the calendar online.
Worlds of Fun Map
Right when you get into the park, I highly recommend grabbing and holding onto a Worlds of Fun map and looking at the various showtimes listed. This can help you plan out your day and get the most out of your visit to the park. I would bring a marker and circle all the rides and shows you want to visit and then you can plan accordingly. This will keep you from spending a lot of needless time backtracking.
You can also view the Worlds of Fun map online.
Our visit to Worlds of Fun was hosted by Visit KC. All opinions are our own.
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Would you consider this to be a good time for a 20 month old? Just wondering if my daughter is too young!