Canada's Wonderland - Sneak Preview and/or Opening Day?

Minebuster was good in the 80's. You do occasionally get a decent-good ride out of them both, but 7/10 times you ride you think to yourself after "why do I do this to myself?" Unfortunatly I don't believe any work was done on either this past season. I heard they re-tracked the ghoster coaster (junior woodie). But I can't say for sure this is fact.

The togo standup is kinda fun in a way. It's a 1 or 2 time a year ride.

Dragon Mt. is really neat. I don't know if it's worth the $40 for admissision. But if you like whales, and other wildlife by all means.

Anyone know more about new coaster rummors in 2011. Apparently markers have been sighted.

Yes, track work has been done, to the best of my knowledge. A decent amount of wood looked new.

-Sam

Cropsey/Sam/DKNY:

I got my passport and will definitely be going to Canada's Wonderland for the first time. You folks have given me some good info above, so keep it coming, because this is literally foreign territory to me. I'm not a world traveler. I've been out of the US ONCE..to Canada when I was FIVE. I'm 40 years past that now.

This is my planned itinerary:

June 23, drive to Kings Island. 24th and 25th at that park. 26, drive to Sandusky. That late afternoon/evening, all day Sunday the 27th at Cedar Point. Visit CP for a couple hours Monday a.m., then drive to Canada. I will be staying in St. Catherines that night, will be at Wonderland on Tuesday and Wednesday, and may stay an extra day Thursday, July 1 (which I understand is Canada Day.) Then I'll head back to the States to Darien Lake, then either go to Kennywood or head home.

So feel free to share any new info you may be able to give me. This will also be my first visit to Darien Lake, but not CP, KI, and KW.

Thunder Run (powered Mack) and the flats are excellent. The Jump2, Sledgehammer, was non-operational for a good part of last season, so I hope it's open for you. ShockWave, the Mondial Top Scan, is one of the very best flat rides on planet Earth...don't miss it!

If I ever get up to Canadadadada... one of the main reasons for me to visit CW would be to ride Sledgehammer. If that Jump II is anything like the first generation Huss Jump (Jumping Flash) that spent a short time at Sux Flags Great Adventure, then it might turn out to be my favorite flat ride of all time.

...But if it was closed, and I was visiting the park for possibly the only time in my life, I may be extremely disappointed.

And that's why park operation managers should strive to keep all the rides open, all of the time. At least as much as possible. The staff should stress over it, like Cedar Point does.

Have fun, and consider yourself lucky for having the opportunity to visit Canada's Wonderland.

As the fellow CW'ers will confirm, Sledgehammer is overrated. The drops lack intensity and speed. I rode once, yawned, and discovered what is that gem with their Mondial spinner, which is better than Delirium IMO!

My only real advice is when I was last in Canada (08) US gas was much cheaper, and I made it my entire time without getting gas there. Also, not sure if you're staying in Buffalo at all, but the Days Inn across from the airport was also a real gem!

Sledgehammer was closed a lot of the day on the 15th, but I got on it for the first time in 2 or 3 years. It's fun, not necessarily scary however

Skyrider (togo standup) was running smoother than usual, so definitely do that one (mind the lines). Vortex is an excellent Arrow suspended, so do that; and yeah, the other suggestions already mentioned

Also, they have the roughest SLC I've ever been on. So if you hate the people you're with, go on that ;)

Hey Mike - Just so you're aware CW is about an hour and a half to two hours from St. Cath's depending on traffic. But take the 403 after Hamilton to the 400 or 401 to avoid some of the Toronto traffic. Also Canada Day is like the 4th in the states so expect heavy crowds.

For boarder since you've never done it be prepared to have your papers ready, might want to keep a print of of hotel reservation handy to show you're booked. You'll need to let em know where you're going, for how long, and why. Fumbling of answers can lead to creepy delays.

If you can stand it hold off on Behemoth in the AM. Everyone goes on it first and it's usually a 2 hour wait, hold off until lunch time and it will be usually less than 30. Head to Sky Rider instead, it gets brutal lines that don't move so get it out of the way while everyone's in line for Behemoth. If you like waterparks it's also dead until 12:30 or so and after that will be jam packed. Otherwise just make your way around the park.

If it's open check out Sledgehammer for sure. It's a one of a kind in North America and alternates between several ride programs, some are better than others. Not as thrilling as it looks but still a fun ride.

Cropsey said:
Hey Mike - Just so you're aware CW is about an hour and a half to two hours from St. Cath's depending on traffic. But take the 403 after Hamilton to the 400 or 401 to avoid some of the Toronto traffic. Also Canada Day is like the 4th in the states so expect heavy crowds.

For boarder since you've never done it be prepared to have your papers ready, might want to keep a print of of hotel reservation handy to show you're booked. You'll need to let em know where you're going, for how long, and why. Fumbling of answers can lead to creepy delays.

I'm staying in St. Catharines because the person I'm going to the park with lives there, and she's graciously offered to let me stay with her Monday and Wednesday nights, so that helps financially. I'll deal with the drive, because I'll only have to make it one time each way. I won't be at the park on Canada Day itself, so maybe the crowds won't be too bad..or is that wishful thinking? I won't have a motel reservation, so I hope that won't be an issue. Do I need other papers besides my passport and drivers license for ID?

No, passport and license should be fine. Just be prepared to get out of the car, have your bags searched and be asked a lot of annoying repetitive questions by the boarder patrol. Or you might get lucky and sail on through.

^^ Just make sure you have your friends name and address handy. Sometimes it's very easy, others like AV mentioned can be really nasty. You will be asked the same questions in repition sometimes to see if you mess up or change something. I was searched once, but since then have been able to sail through.

The park is generally very busy but have heard crowds have been on the lighter side this year. The new attraction being....Snoopy...doesn't really have people beating down the door.

LostKause said:
And that's why park operation managers should strive to keep all the rides open, all of the time. At least as much as possible. The staff should stress over it, like Cedar Point does.

LK when it's closed you generally see pieces of the ride missing. The top cone was missing for much of last season. Me thinks it's a maintenence nightmare rather than staffing issues.

Yeah traveling with a group of friends from different states makes it even more of a hassle at the border. The first time I went to Vancouver, I was with Moosh and Dawn Marie. All of us had drivers licenses from different states and we were in a rental car from yet another different state. The border peeps were like "how do you all know each other?" Then they saw all of the coaster souvenir cups and blocks of wood from the Silverwoodies in the back and just laughed. lol This was in 2005 after the CAC event at Silverwood. Since then, I've been hassled even more, crossing the border.

Don't lose your cool. Just be honest and you should be fine, even if it takes 15 minutes of questioning.

^As I told Moosh in 08, I was told to pop my trunk coming back to Canada from DL, and the first thing in there was a big bag from Wonderland...the trunk closed and I was told, enjoy going back to Wonderland!

These comments about the border are making me a bit nervous. I'm partly deaf, so I sure hope that doesn't come into play. The funny thing is, the person I'm meeting is starting a new job with the government next weekend. If I understand correctly, the job is in the administrative office at the border crossing! I'll just do the best I can, I guess.

The canadian border guards are Waaaay more chill than the US ones. You shouldn't have any problems. Once in while they have whats called a "day of action". This is a form or protest from the guards. Basically they do thier job thoughly on every single car causing a huge wait. The Idea is to let the higher ups know they are not happy about something to do with thier job. Wage, safety, benefits, etc. Fortunatly these are very rare.

Wonderland does get very busy. I'd avoid weekends in the summer. July 1st would be like Cedar Point on the 4th.

Sledgehammer has been operating all year to the best of my knowledge. But you never know with that ride. Make sure you ride shockwave. IMO it's the best flat going. Make sure to ride Vortex, and Behemoth at night. Behemoth is best in back most days, but front wings are good too. Also a much shorter wait with basically the same view as the very front.

I'd skip the water park. The lockers are a joke, and theres nothing special there. If you love water parks then by all means. But don't expect to be wowed.

If you want to save money there are tons of restraunts you can walk to. In the park I usually eat at backlot cafe. Decent food all around wonderland. Funnel cakes are big $$ but thats thier big food thing. Plain are $8, and ice cream and strawberrys on top is $12. Two ppl could split a fully topped one though.

Final notes avoid driving during rush hour. Avoid the 407. Set your GPS to avoid toll roads as soon as you cross the border. It shouldn't make you take the 407 anyways. Tim Hortins is King, and have a good time.

OK, I'm leaving Wednesday. I'm pretty sure things will be fine at the border. I detailed my itinerary above, and I booked the Motel 6 in Brampton for the Tuesday night..$62 Canadian. Depending on my companion's work schedule...not sure yet if she'll have to...we're looking at doing Clifton Hill/Niagara Falls on the 1st. Obviously, it will be mobbed on Canada Day, but I think we'll be alright. If it's intolerably packed, we'll chill out somewhere else.

Probably won't do a full-fledged trip report, but I hope to share some anecdotal stuff upon my return. I'll be back on or around the July 4th weekend.

Thanks for all the info, gentlemen. And if y'all have any (literally) last minute stuff for me, feel free to share on the forum or send me a private message.

I was at the park last night. I could be crazy but attendence seems wayyyy down this year. Behemoth was only a 20 min wait at night.

Sledgehammer was up and running as it has been more or less all year.

Backlot stunt coaster now officially comes to a rolling stop by the hellicopter. Which is to say it doesn't stop. I actually like it that way.

Vortex was flying last night. Absolutly flying.

One of the most enjoyable things about wonderland. Which I must say is more of a family oriented thing, is to sit by the fountains by the entrance at night. The combination of the birch, and spruce trees, with the water fountains, and the changing colours can be breathtaking. Especially while enjoying a $12 funnel cake ; )

Don't watch rock band... The ice skating is good, if it's on yet. I don't think it is. The highdivers are amazing but I believe they start shows July 1. For those of you who haven't seen. These guys dive off of wonder mountain into the shallow waters below. It's pretty nuts. It only takes 10 minutes so it's not like one of those shows that eats up your day.

Shockwave is the greatest flat. Someone said it on an early page, and I agree. Make sure to check it out.

Have fun!