Canada's Wonderland vs WDW: Our Trip Last Week

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

I just wanted to make some general observations from our trip last week. We decided to go to Toronto for a couple of days with our DD3 and DS7. Since our kids had never been to CW we decided to go there for the day.

I want to first say that our family is pretty easy going and honestly it takes a lot to make us unhappy.

The funny thing is that I kept comparing everything to WDW. Unfair? Probably, but CW is still a theme park even if it is smaller. It should also follow the same rules for keeping it's customers happy.

My overall impression was that it didn't even come close to WDW. Honestly I don't think I'd go back any time soon. Maybe when my kids are old enough for the mainstream rides I'd go.

Unfortunately we found it expensive ($10 for a couple of chicken fingers, close to $40 for a medium sized pizza and one pop, $3.50 for a bottled water out of a vending machine, $15 to rent a 2 seater stroller, etc....).

The rides for kids were really nothing spectacular, not like Disney where my kids keep saying "Wow, can I go on that ride, and that one, and that one...". The last time I was there was about 20 years ago when I was 17. Honestly, in 20 years I can't believe how little it's changed. There were some neat things that were new to be fair but really not a big deal to me.

CW also does a really crappy job of keeping it's parkgoers cool in the hot son. There are very little places to get shade in the hot sun whether it be trees or umbrellas at the food shops. The last thing you want are 2 little kids and 2 grumpy adults after 2 hours in the hot sun.

One last complaint... the attitude of the workers. Not impressed. It seemed that most were young kids that really didn't care to be there, at least the ones that I had to interact with. It showed. 3 times (yes 3) I was cut off by a worker sweeping the grounds. How's that for welcome to our park please come back. Hmpf. Perhaps I just caught them on a bad day but it just left me with a bad feeling of CW in general. My experience with Disney is that their workers bend over backwards to make sure the parkgoers really enjoy their time and money spent.

My feeling is that CW has a lot of catching up to do.

Just my $0.02,
Andy

 

[trivial]

The one reason I would go to CW would be the thrill rides. I was expecting more thrill rides and coasters at WDW, but I found them to all be fairly tame; CW has WDW beat hands-down in this department, in my opinion. But it's no WDW, that's for sure.

 

[SandraC]

We used our CW season's pass at Cedar Point a couple of weeks ago. Now THAT'S a theme park! Rides are WAY better than CW and WDW! S

 

[tink&cinderella]

It is not possible to even compare CW with WDW - in my opinion. We only go if get free tickets and we have no desire to go otherwise

WDW has theming - CW does not
WDW has variety - CW does not (only one park)
WDW rides have great theming - CW does not
WDW makes things right when something goes wrong - CW does not

The only two things in common

It's hot in the summer!!!- but I rather be hot in Florida and have WDW then, hot here and don't have it.

It's equally expensive - except I think you get more value for your money at WDW if you compare per person admission and what you get for your money.

Only positive to CW- It's closer then Florida

JMHO

 

[mickeywho?]

I found myself doing the comparing as well when we were there last summer. Especially when the loud speaker starting playing Disney music! Aaah!!
Two very different parks...

 

[Disneyof3]

WOW I thought I was the only one that compared the two and thought the same thing. 2 years ago we took the kids to CW due to we went to Florida and didn't go to WDW , instead went to BG( Let me tell you that was a mistake!!!) So when we went I hadn't been there since 1993, but I also was comparing it to WDW. Before WDW it was the best park and no one could of told me different. But now they are 2 different parks and you can't compare a apple to a banana. They have NOTHING in common. I couldn't believe the price and the food. Even the characters are cheap. I won't go again .The kids actually perfer the Toronto zoo and the splash pad there. I'll save my pennies and nickels for WDW and the sun.

 

[wannago2disney]

I can totally relate!

We took the kids to CW in early June for the CAA day...thank god we didn't pay full park gate price....that was my mantra for the week or so following when everyone asked how our trip was.

I have been there myself almost every year since I was 8 years old until I had kids 5 yrs ago and this is the first time I have been dissatisfied. I love thrill rides and the closest I got was the ghoster coaster!....the lines were just way too long and undisney-like!

The rides for the kids were no better than you can get at your local fair when it passes through town....and the employee's for the most part were indifferent if not unkind...kids need a little bit more enthusiasum (sp?)

I just got the overall impression of a once great time being run down...still we accomplished our main goal which was to find out what our kids reactions to rides were so that we can plan a better WDW trip for them...The kids said they had a great time...(they met Dora)...no crying all day long or anything


It will be a long time before we return there though...and if rumours are true about them moving maybe they will make the needed improvedments at the new location wherever that my be.

 

[disneyfan2]

my big difference?

WDW+ FASSPASS= low wait times
CW =Long lines in summer

I never go in summer anymore. We went a couple of times and the lines were so long on Thrill rides. SO i take the family in spring or fall,.

 

[michelle1]

I wouldn't really compare the 2 because it is like comparing apples to oranges. If you were to compare what you get for your money at WDW (parades, street performers, fireworks etc) compared to CW it is no contest. Food is VERY expensive at CW and I find the prices resonable at WDW considering the large portions. One other thing is cleanliness..when we were at CW many washrooms and eating areas were not kept tidy (that was on a weekday in June so maybe they didn't have full staff yet) but WDW is generally kept quite clean. They even vacuum the confetti following the parade! Oh...last thing...CW has no fastpasses!!!

 

[digskat]

we made the same mistake a couple of years ago. We decided to take a few days, and camp north of Toronto. Our plan was to do 2 days at CW, but that quickly changed. We arrived at the parking kiosk, and not only didn't get a 'Disney' welcome, but the girl couldn't be bothered speaking at all. She put her hand out, and dropped the change in my hand, without telling me the cost, the direction, or even making eye contact. We entered the park, just before rope drop, to see 5 staff leaning on their brooms, chatting, not sweeping up butts and garbage, just socializing. We asked a young lady to measure our kids, to get their wrist bands, and she acted like we had ruined her whole day, making her work.
I will give CW credit, their rides are great. The Mindbuster, Dragonfire, Top Gun, Sky Rider, Vortex, Bat, Tomb Raider and Italian Job are all as good, if not better than any Disney Coaster. Thunder Run, Cliffhanger, Jet Scream, Psyclone and the Sldgehammer are also thrilling. Their milder rides are good as well, as are the shows. Where CW lacks, is the pre-ride atmosphere, and customer service. Where Disney makes the wait part of the ride (Haunted Mansion and ToT, etc), CW treats you like sheep, walking back and forth in the sun, with nothing to look at. We waited 75 minutes for Sponge Bob 3D, sweating like crazy, to find out that they had only 1 side of the theater running. Later in the day, it was a 2 hour wait.
As a previous poster mentioned, it was $30 for a cold chunk of cardboard with tomato sauce, that they tried to say was pizza. 10 years ago, they had a German Beer hall, an Italian restaurant, Bedrock Burgers, .... at least a dozen options. Now, it is over-priced fast food. Where Disney has air conditioned shops and exhibit areas, CW has hot and humid outdoor waits. CW's version of Typhoon Lagoon/Blizzard Beach was packed, so much so, there was a waiting line to get in, and hour long waits for most slides. We were so disheartened after waiting for rides more than riding, that we left by 7pm, and decided on the Zoo for day 2. We decided that instead of blowing a few hundred at CW, we would add a couple more days at WDW each year.

 

[Scornelius]

I totally hear what you're saying, CW is sooooooo not Disney!! I live about 30 minutes away, but I haven't been there in a long time. Even when there were trips with my highschool, I just wasn't interested. Too dirty, too crowded, too expensive, and too many obnoxious teen employees.
I agree with the posters who say you really can't even compare the two. It's like comparing a Mcdonalds hamburger to a Kobe fillet mignon. Sure, they're both beef (or claim to be ) but they're in completely different leagues.

 

[canluvpooh]

have to agree with everything said here- we usually get season's passes for the kids so that they can go with their friends. This year it seems really run down and the employees are awful We will not get passes again - as it really is not worth it, much rather put them towards the Disney AP

 

[SherylR]

and I haven't even been to Disney yet!!!!

I planned a work trip for CW this summer for our staff and their families. I won't go there again anytime soon.
We did get good rates. What I didn't appreciate was having our bags searched (although it is standard practice). Many people had food taken away from them as their new rules mean no outside food in the parks and no cans. This means they can charge $3.00 for a bottle of water.
The food prices are OUTRAGEOUS. I spent over $40 on lunch and it was just a burger each and a large fries and that was WITHOUT drinks.
We did go to the buffet which was plentiful and the staff was pleasant. That was the highlight for me. The ride lines were outrageously long. The employees were sullen and rude. NOT a pleasant experience.
To top it off, the park was absolutely packed. It was Chinese Day, which in itself is fine. I have no problem with that. BUT it did make the park extra busy as there were some great initiatives for those of Chinese dissent at the park. Had we known it was a special day and that the park would have been extremely busy I would have planned it for another day. We came a long way but not to wait for 45 minutes to get in and then an hour at least in every line for a ride. It was a shame really. People were complaining everywhere you went about long waits for everything.
It'll be a long time before I go there again. Spend the whole day for what? Three rides and rudeness? No thanks.

 

[mommylo]

We live very close to CW but stopped going about 2 years ago. My DS8 is still not willing to go on the thrill rides so a total waste of money. We usually go to Centre Island or Ontario Place, with DS8 and DS5. Our first trip a week ago at WDW totally confirmed my decision. Disney wouldn't make people wait in line in the sun, everything is covered, or shaded. There were mist fans everywhere. CMs are usually quite courteous, compared to the ones at CW. Yep, no comparison at all...

 

[brooker]

We have been to Disney twice in the last 2 years.....but have never been to CW. I thought it probably wouldn't be as good as Disney, but I am very suprised at the poor overall quality based on what I read here.

 

[RoxyJ]

Disney really does ruin it for everything else. I also find I have a hard time watching local fireworks shows without comparing them to Disney. My DBF used to get mad, but now that he's been to the "Big D" he's started to compare too
Nothing quite lives up to Disney standards

 

[Chester's Mum]

Comparing apples and oranges here. It's been done before.

Once I went to Disney and discovered I could actually ride the rides with my (then) 2 year old, instead of standing by the fence watching her ride alone, and wave to her, it was all over for Canada's Wonderland. Then I started to compare all sorts of things.
1.For the amount of food you get at WDW the cost is reasonable, there are also better options (healthier choices if you want them).
2.Crowd control is a biggie for me, at CW when you finally get to the front of the roller coaster lines it is a free-for-all; every person for themselves, and you have to be a mathematician to figure out how to get on the same ride vehicle as the rest of your party. Disney tells me where to stand and always makes sure my party rides together.
3.Fast pass is an amazing feature, we frequently get fast passes and go ride something else or have lunch before we come back.
4.They pick me up at my car, and take me back at the end of the day, who else does that?

I love it, but then I love WDW too. Just bought into DVC at Boardwalk Villas. Why didn't I do this sooner???

 

[happycamper83]

I have gone to Wonderland countless times and went to Disney for the first time this year. I have not been back to Wonderland since but I know the next time I go I'll have a hard time not being disappointed.

However, I do appreciate Wonderland for being close by and being a fun 1 day diversion. The rides are a lot more thrilling, in general, and have a pretty good variety too. I really do enjoy splashworks also.

While I was at Disney, some things that really stood out in comparison to Wonderland were theming of rides and lines, cleanliness/upkeep, and type of crowd. I find Wonderland seems to be overrun with local teens with annual passes at times.. who jump lines, speak loudly (crudely), ruin storylines by giving away what's next, travel in large packs, etc. (obviously this is a generalization, they're not all like this... but enough of them are that I'd taken notice) Might just be a factor of the time of year I visited both parks, but I didn't notice that at Disney at all.

 

[Jedi_Galvatron]

I always laugh when people tell me there is a "variety" of rides at CW, it's simply not the case. There are two types of rides at CW kids rides (few and far between and as bad as standard traveling carnival fare) and thrill rides. Thats all. Granted there are a "variety" of thrill rides in the sense that you can stand up, sit down, lay down etc on the different coasters and then there are things like the sledgehammer but it's still all thrill rides.

The maintenance side of things at CW scares me. There have been no major incidents involving an injury yet but I assure you it's not going to be long before a catostrophic ride breakdown. You can see and hear the age of the rides both while on them and while in line. As for general park cleanliness (which I bank in with maintenance) it's appaling. I've actually seen cleaner ghettos then CW is as of late.

The staff is rude, and often has the attitude that you're interupting their day if you so much as ask them to perform the duty they are paid to do. Food service staff is also generally not very clean or hygenic as I have seen many of them handle food with unwashed hands on many occasions. Ride "control" staff often do not pay attention starting or stopping the ride at a moments notice without regard to the surrounding load areas, and they (as mentioned above) do little to assist a party in riding together.

This is not a theme park, it's an "amusement" park. I just don't see any amusement in it at all these days. Back in the 80's when it featured the Smurfs, Fred Flintstone, and other Hannah Barberra favorites it was at least more kid attractive and friendly but now theres nothing there that you could even see a remote resemblance to something you'd find at Disney. I stopped going 2 years ago and do not plan to ever return.

 

[mx3man123]

CW blows compared to Disney, I was at CW 2 weeks ago and it was the hottest day of the year. The only places that had A/C was the shops, some restaurants and that stupid ice show they have running. I will never go back there, I don't why I went that time. You really can't compare Disney to any other non-disney theme parks, they just don't measure up.