Going to Canada's Wonderland - suggestions and do I need a passport?

DKNY6363 said:
Hey Cropsey... Why do you think they haven`t announced the SPPN yet? I`ve heard it`s either the 29th, or the 6th. Maybe it has to do with when windseeker is going to be ready for. Usually it would have been posted by now. Do you post on CWmania? I try to but it`s pretty laime at times.

I've not heard anything on SPPN at all. Already have my pass purchased so usually they send a mailer out. We have season passes for Blue Mountain and pass by CW on the way for skiing regularly. Have seen zero progress on Windseeker that I can see from the highway so suspect they're waiting to get a date nailed down for it. I don't post on CWmania as it's a bit too specialized for me. I'm interested to know about SPPN night but not so interested in a debate over what colour the carpeting is in the office above the candy shop. :)

Get a Marineland season pass every year. Have a good coaster friend down in the area and usually combine laps on Dragon Mountain with casino trips or when heading into the states. It's a good value and early season and late season it feels like there's more people working there than guests in the park. Have had entire trains on DM to myself several times. It fufills the fantasy of having a private coaster to myself except that they usually make you go around even if there's not another person waiting in the station.

LostKause said:
...And trees? ;)

That flume ay Ontario Place looks like fun. Does anyone know who designed it? I especially like how fast it goes in some places, and it look like a rapids ride in some places. It's really cool.

The flume is an Arrow. It's the only one of its kind. It sits two across and each boat holds 6 people. The upper section has a series of rapids areas that I've never seen the like of. After the main drop is the unload - the boats are then sent up a lift empty to the upper main station.

Here are pix from my trip with Moosh in '08:
http://jimvid.smugmug.com/Amusement-Park/Ontario-Place-Toronto-CA-7...4339_RY3ro

(and Centerville pix: http://jimvid.smugmug.com/Amusement-Park/Centreville-Amusement-Park...7531_Jn8YJ)

LostKause said:
...And trees? ;)

Aw man, you totally busted my code. ;)

Cropsey... Windseeker has been started but I think the recent storm slowed progress. I know what you mean about CWMania, constant bickering aobut nothing. SPPN according to Raffi is either the 29th or 6th. I just don't know why no decision yet.

What else is at marineland now other than the topple tower, the combo drop tower, and DM. I remember from the 80's-90's some flats but nothing is clear in my mind. I remember having to walk around with empty trains... I hate that. Darien Lake used to do that with predator too.

If you are looking for discounts to MarineLand, they give a 10% discount to CAA/AAA members.

I agree with the summation of the Ontario Place flume.... it is awesome, and I will make note to get back to the park this summer in case they close the ride.

Best time to go to CW? In the spring anytime, but skip Saturday if you can, as well as Victoria Day as they will have fireworks. Fall Sundays are quiet too.

Credit whores and dark ride lovers should head to Centreville in the harbour... if you have time. Its pay per ride or get a wristband there, so at least you're not paying for a whole day if you don't want to.

^My main concern with CW would be all the reports of long lines - how every single ride is an hour wait. Is this still true? Or just on Saturdays/summer months?

In action zone, yes. Most days the lines can be an hour (except Behemoth, due to monster capacity). The rest of the park gets to about 30 minutes; which is why I usually start on the right side of the park and push through as much as possible before a late lunch

Considering even the lackluster mouse, Volare, and SLC trypically generate fairly-long lines...be prepared for it to be pretty busy any time the park is open. Hope Sledgehammer is open for you!

Plan on two days! ;)

I was very impressed with Canada's Wonderland. I liked pretty much every coaster except for Timewarp. Compared to Cedar Point, I almost think CW is better or at least on par because pretty much every coaster is fun and the overall experience just feels better. I thought Behometh was kinda meh - B&M smoothness makes a out and back kinda boring. I only rode it once because my family wouldn't go with me (intimidated by height I guess) and it wasn't worth the wait. I was quite surprised by Vortex. I kinda hate Iron Dragon butVortex is nothing like ID. I think that might have been the only coaster we did repeatedly. I also thought the stand up was the best I've been on.

I liked the waterpark better then most. I'm not a waterpark fan, but that one was worth spending a couple of hours. Mostly because they have a bowl slide (Barrucada Blaster). Every waterpark needs one of those.

CoasterDemon said:
^My main concern with CW would be all the reports of long lines - how every single ride is an hour wait. Is this still true? Or just on Saturdays/summer months?

I wouldn't worry too much about the lines. I also wouldn't recomend 2 days. But I rearely spend much more than 2 hrs. I would deffinatlty try to avoid saturdays... The weekdays can be kind of crazy as well if the weather is good. The line up aren't super crazy but they can be longer than you are willing to wait for what you get. For example The SLC used to get line ups of over and hour, but lately ppl have caught on how bad it is and usually it's not a huge wait. The boomerang is always a long wait, and the mouse.... forget about it. Try to do the mouse and the boomerang near opening if you need the credits. Behemoth is almost never more than a 40 min wait... even if it's out of the que's it's still only 45 tops. The line never stops moving. They always have the A team working it. Vortex on a busy day can run you 45 min, i'd say average is 25ish. Overall rides like Dragon Fyre, Wild Beast, Minebuster, Skyrider, Time Warp aren't huge waits. It's just they are all so meh you don't wanna wait for any line. Maybe thats just season pass syndrome. Thunder Run can have a long wait too. It's hard to give attendence advice cuz it's seems more random than most parks.. All I can say is saturdays are a bit of a wash. The fall is easily the best time to go. Oh and don't go on the bumber cars... too many cars, too many kids, too long of a line.

For line concerns really take the advice about moving around the park. Get there early and hang a right when you get in the park. You'll want to go to Behemoth but resist and save it for the lunch hour. Making your way counter clockwise you'll be able to walk on most of the rides until about 11:30AM. Do whatever you can and try to save Behemoth for after 12 when everyone's either eating or heading over to the waterpark.

You don't have to go two days, but I'd still plan on two days in case you find the first day isn't enough for a *first-timer who took a long journey to be there and may not be back anytime soon*. CW is one of the big, "epic" themeparks of the world. If you're into the whole park experience, take your time and explore every corner of the park and every attraction they have to offer. Don't rush it. I'd love to go back and mosey around for a couple of days. Riding each coaster once and then re-riding Vortex and Behemoth a couple of times isn't my idea of a good trip to the park. That's just scratching the surface.

Those are some valid points. Wonderland is huge and takes time to take in. Alot of whats great about wonderland is very subtle, and would not be noticed in a rat race of a day.. Running around trying to get 14 credits is not wonderlands best day. As much as the coaster collection frustraits me I don`t know a better place to have as a home park. Especially having a large family with many different ages, likes, and dislikes.

CW in 2012 matt.. could be good

Sounds like it does get pretty jammed up; I'm more the type to go to the park in the afternoon, then stay till close. The early morning park rush, not so good with that.

More reason to plan on two days. Maybe three. If you get bored, you can find other stuff to do in Toronto. You could challenge DKNY to a Street Fighter 2 tournament. He swears he's invincible if he gets to play M Bison. ;)

I`m sure he could find better things to do in Toronto than get his ass handed to him in a 20 year old sega genesis game.

In all seriousness though there is a ton to do around here. Just make sure you bring lots of cash. Especially now that your dollar is so weak ;) You`re pretty much just going to parks though right CoasterDemon? I remember you saying that you had no interest in the falls. Are you making it up to Montreal for La Ronde? I`m making my first trip there thias summer. Not overly excitted about it but it`s being combined with floor seats for U2 so that ups the value of La ronde. Also Montreal easily has the finest ``ballet establishments`` in NA.

La Ronde is a lot more fun than it looks on paper. Also if you're staying downtown it's super easy to take transit there. Also Bromont is about a half hour south east of the city in the eastern townships. They have an excellent, old school waterpark and Canada's last alpine slide. I was just skiing in the eastern townships last week and the whole area is really beautiful.

I actually have been thinking about going to LaRonde - with a SF pass and all... never been there. I didn't know anything about the dollar being weak - I usually try to stay at cheap hotels like Motel 6, etc., so hope it won't be too expensive going up there.

And of course, being a spinning head coaster geek, I start looking how far Nova Scotia is (FAR!) and other places I haven't been. May have to play part of this trip by ear.