No disney this summer so canadas wonderland it is!!

[canadaman]

After we decided we wouldn't be going to Disney this summer we have decided to buy canadas wonderland seasons passes this summer. We used to go to wonderland every summer, but last year since we went to WDW we didn't go. To be honest I am looking forward to going and seeing how it compares to WDW. I am sure it won't even compare. I am not the biggest fan of wonderland but my kids love it. At wonderland it seem you get on a ride and then its over very quickly. At WDW as soon as you enter the line for a attraction it is an experience and that to me makes it better.
How do you guys feel the 2 compare??

 

[minnie56]

FOr me..Night and Day
Just my view!

 

[hockeymomNS]

What are the wait times at Wonderland in July & August?

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

I think its like comparing apples to oranges...that being said if you can't go to Disney then Wonderland is still al good way to spend time this summer.

 

[braydensmom]

I use to go to Wonderland all the time. It is a great place for kids, but you are right...the rides are so short and there is no "magic" that Disney seems to have put in every detail

 

[disneyfan2]

We went a few years ago with season passes, and it was ok for spring, and fall, but the summer was awful. Think PEAK Disney time, less FASTPASSES We waited in long lines all day during July and August. Didn't matter what day of the week or what time(we tried late day too) Splash works is only open in Jul/Aug and you wait so long for a short 30sec slide down. We are going to go down for day in June but never again in the summer. But if you can go on an off day, then they do have some amazing coasters-if you dare

 

[PrincessDonna]

We live right in the area - about 15 minutes from Wonderland, and we have bought Season's Passes for 3 years for us and our DD5. We go in the evenings or late afternoons when my husband comes home from work and yeah...the best time to go was in the Autumn. We do have fun.

However, NO comparison to Disney. Whatsoever. After going to Disney in January of 2008, all I could say Summer 2008 was "Disney needs to buy this park and shape it up - a LOT!" Then I started to daydream what it would be like if that really happened.

I can dream, can't I?????

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

We had CW Season's Passes in 2007 and 2008 for our family.

Summer of 2007 was great - we went 6-7 times and kids went about 10.

We went to Disney for the first time last April and now, Wonderland is ruined for us. Lines are brutal, rides are ok, just doesn't compare.

No passes for us this year - kids will understand better as to why when we spring the surprise Disney trip on them in Septmber.

 

[endy]

After seeing their commercial over & over again this weekend... the passes are 59.99 if you buy 4, (wonder does Superstore own them ). Anyway I am curious as how far from Toronto or Niagara Falls is it? How much is a normal day entry? Are there reasonable priced motels nearby?
We're half the country away but sort of thinking of going to Toronto for a few days in July.
Thanks for any help

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

After going to WDW Wonderland is "NOTHING". Last year my 5 year old said, "Mommy Wonderland isn't very fun!"......sure when she is comparing it to WDW its boring. SO I won't be wasting my money there this year.

 

[disneyfan2]

After seeing their commercial over & over again this weekend... the passes are 59.99 if you buy 4, (wonder does Superstore own them ). Anyway I am curious as how far from Toronto or Niagara Falls is it? How much is a normal day entry? Are there reasonable priced motels nearby?
We're half the country away but sort of thinking of going to Toronto for a few days in July.
Thanks for any help

The 59.98 is for renewal from previous years annual passes. New passes are $70. You can get 1 day passes at Macs or even the website for around $43 or so. Summer is extremely busy. no fastpasses, lonnnng line ups for coasters.(+1hr,but more likely 2 hrs) and the rides are all short.

It would take about 2 hrs from NF especially during rush hour. About 1/2 hr or less depending on what part of Toronto you are in

 

[MaMudduck]

No Comparison!

I find Wonderland dirty, outdated, run down, and unsafe. Gangs just hanging out, every once in awhile you get a wif of pot. There is no magic/story to the rides and no one seems to give people instructions/or check that you are safe on rides.

I too wish someone would buy them (again) and clean it up. And it doesn't even have to be Disney, Universal, Six Flags that would be fine by me)

 

[ferris198]

Oh my what a bunch of whiners.
Wonderland is owned by a large corporation.
Of course it won't be Disney.
There will be lines, so what.
Maybe we can't afford Disney every year.

 

[Hug the Mouse]

No Comparison!

I find Wonderland dirty, outdated, run down, and unsafe. Gangs just hanging out, every once in awhile you get a wif of pot. There is no magic/story to the rides and no one seems to give people instructions/or check that you are safe on rides.

I too wish someone would buy them (again) and clean it up. And it doesn't even have to be Disney, Universal, Six Flags that would be fine by me)

Don't hold back, how do you really feel?

What's ruined Wonderland for my family is staying onsite at Universal and having Express lines for all rides. The lines at Wonderland are often llllllllllooooooooooooonnnnggggggggggg.

As long as your kids enjoy Wonderland, it's worth while, isn't it?

 

[canucktyke]

I have a unique position to comment on both parks - my son worked at Wonderland for four years as a ride supervisor, and he also worked at WDW as a CM for two years. We only go to Wonderland one or twice a year because it is very busy and not as clean as WDW. Wonderland is owned by Cedar Parks (the owners of Cedar Park in Ohio) and they do take safety very seriously, however most ride attendends are teenagers, and they do sometimes get distracted (don't they all?). We have visited theme parks in Virginia, New York, Ohio and Florida, and Wonderland compares well with them all (when you compare apples to apples). Wonderland is not filled with "gangs", and pot is no more prevalent than any other public urban space e.g. parks, malls etc. It is however now surrounded by huge subdivisions, and unfortunately it seems to be used as a teenager baby sitting service during the summer holidays, hence the large groups of kids. Same advice applies to Wonderland as WDW: arrive early to avoid large lines, weekends are crazy busy, and park food is not great and very expensive.

 

[MaMudduck]

Check out trip advisor reviews:

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g499300-d185018-Reviews-Canada_s_Wonderland-Vaughan_Ontario.html

these reviews at least are coming from people that aren't "Disneyized" you'll find allot of the same complaints that are listed here.

 

[Leanne1972]

I bought Wonderland seasons passes this year too. My kids love it there. I enjoy the rides and the shows. Most of all I enjoy seeing my children enjoy themselves. Disney magic definitely not. However, we have had some good experiences there. If there are short lines sometimes the ride operator will let the children stay on the ride rather than getting off and getting back into the lineup. I have never really found a restaurant there that I really enjoyed until last year. They have a place called "Marketplace", or something like that. They have a really good buffet and it is a reasonable price.

I haven't really noticed the gangs and pot, probably because I'm in the kiddy area with my young children. They do have metal detectors at the front gates that all guests have to pass through so I am sure there have been issues of some sort years past.

When it was announced a couple of years ago that Paramount was selling Wonderland I really hoped that Disney would buy it. I guess they didn't want to invest in a park that wouldn't be able to operate all year round.