OT: Don't want to pay for preschooler for Canada's Wonderland? Read this thread pls

[toesmom]

Just verified with Canada's Wonderland customer service that they take a parent's word if child is 3 years old (that's when you have to pay for child's pass).

I've seen many kids go through without a pass or ticket who obviously are over 3 and maybe are 4 years old, and no one asks age of kids.

So if you plan to go to Wonderland, if you go on a busy day ( like this holiday weekend or even most of the summer), be assured that you don't have to buy a ticket or season's pass if your child is anywhere between 3-4 years old.

Actually, doesn't have to be a busy day, since any type of line up seems to get through quickly.

I confirmed by customer service that they do not ask for ID for kids to prove their age, they may only ask parents about age (that never even happens especially when it's busy and they are just trying to process people in). They don't expect parents to bring id to parks.

So, save yourselves a lot of money, and enjoy wonderland, but pay only for those kids who really look close to 5 years old, otherwise they won't ask. And if they do ask, feel free to lie as they don't ask you to prove it. Just make sure the child is in a wagon seated or stroller. Put the sun cover over the child and there will be no questions asked at all.

have fun and save some money at the same time.

 

[drag n' fly]

Just verified with Canada's Wonderland customer service that they take a parent's word if child is 3 years old (that's when you have to pay for child's pass).

I've seen many kids go through without a pass or ticket who obviously are over 3 and maybe are 4 years old, and no one asks age of kids.

So if you plan to go to Wonderland, if you go on a busy day ( like this holiday weekend or even most of the summer), be assured that you don't have to buy a ticket or season's pass if your child is anywhere between 3-4 years old.

Actually, doesn't have to be a busy day, since any type of line up seems to get through quickly.

I confirmed by customer service that they do not ask for ID for kids to prove their age, they may only ask parents about age (that never even happens especially when it's busy and they are just trying to process people in). They don't expect parents to bring id to parks.

So, save yourselves a lot of money, and enjoy wonderland, but pay only for those kids who really look close to 5 years old, otherwise they won't ask. And if they do ask, feel free to lie as they don't ask you to prove it. Just make sure the child is in a wagon seated or stroller. Put the sun cover over the child and there will be no questions asked at all.

have fun and save some money at the same time.

"feel free to lie"? Um ok Kind of makes you wonder what else they are not paying attention to?

 

[toesmom]

"feel free to lie"? Um ok Kind of makes you wonder what else they are not paying attention to?

I know, hard to believe, but that's exactly what customer service told me. She said "if a parent lies, there's not much we can do. We don't expect people to bring id into the park". So there you go.

BTW, I paid for my son's pass and was pretty mad that almost every other 3yo child was let through without passes or tickets. My complaint fell on deaf ears, and I told the lady I would post this information so that other parents know the real policy.

Had I known they don't check ID and don't even look at the child when processing people, I wouldn't have bothered with his pass at all.

 

[mickeywho?]

And then of course explain to your kids why mom & dad thought it was ok to lie because everyone else was doing it.
Great lesson here!

 

[Mortlives]

They may not check but it's still dishonest, and possibly illegal. Is this really what you want to teach your children?

 

[MamaLema]

At almost 6 feet tall, I'm the shortest one in my family. I was always a very tall kid.

I would really love to know how you know that the kids are "obviously over 3 or maybe 4"?

I have 3 boys, 2 of them are way, way taller than their friends of the same age. I always carry proof of their age just in case of problems.

I can't believe that you are teaching your children these things

 

[SherylR]

to teach your kids in my opinion. Lying is never the way to go. Even if it's tempting and "everyone else" is doing it.
We were there last Saturday and one thing that I found interesting was that you aren't allowed to bring food into the park anymore. When we were going through, they were going through everyone's bag and confiscating sandwiches, fruit, cans of pop, etc. We were allowed to bring in water and some granola bars. They were also confiscating sunscreen in the aerosol cans. Personally, i think this is a crime in itself confiscating the food when they have the audacity to charge $3.50 for a bottle of water, $4.00 for an ice cream cone and $7.00 for a grilled chicken sandwich.
On lunch for the six of us, without beverages it cost $56.00. That was 1 hot dog, 2 chicken sandwiches, a cheeseburger and a large order of fries.
For dinner we went to the all you care to eat buffet. It was only $9.99 for kids and $18.99 for adults and included dessert and beverages. The food was exceptionally good, the service was great and it was a nice respite from the fast food selection!

 

[MamaLema]

to teach your kids in my opinion. Lying is never the way to go. Even if it's tempting and "everyone else" is doing it.
We were there last Saturday and one thing that I found interesting was that you aren't allowed to bring food into the park anymore. When we were going through, they were going through everyone's bag and confiscating sandwiches, fruit, cans of pop, etc. We were allowed to bring in water and some granola bars. They were also confiscating sunscreen in the aerosol cans. Personally, i think this is a crime in itself confiscating the food when they have the audacity to charge $3.50 for a bottle of water, $4.00 for an ice cream cone and $7.00 for a grilled chicken sandwich.
On lunch for the six of us, without beverages it cost $56.00. That was 1 hot dog, 2 chicken sandwiches, a cheeseburger and a large order of fries.
For dinner we went to the all you care to eat buffet. It was only $9.99 for kids and $18.99 for adults and included dessert and beverages. The food was exceptionally good, the service was great and it was a nice respite from the fast food selection!

Wow, I didn't know this!! It must be a new thing. We have been bringing our own food for years.I guess we won't be going then. I refuse to pay $56 for sandwiches and fries. We are a family of 6 also.

 

[Debbie]

We've only been a few times, but we always had a picnic cooler in the van. When we were hungry, there were picnic tables outside the park to eat. I think that kids carried fruit snacks in their pockets, but we never took pop in. Maybe they are just enforcing the rules of the park?

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We did the same thing as Debbie. Left the park, got the cooler and had a picnic by the trees near the entrance. There are even benches to sit on but we had packed lawn chairs. The $$ for food make me lose my appetite!

 

[2forMe]

This is no different than many places with age restrictions. Most companies will not waste time asking childrens ages let alone ask for proof..no different than the movies, disney, museums etc

 

[Tabetha]

I know it's annoying to pay those prices for the food. But you know what's more annoying? Tripping over someone's ROLLING COOLER that they're dragging through the park. Happened to me. Couldn't beleive it was allowed in the park.

That was a couple of years ago, so obviously things have changed...

 

[toesmom]

I know it's annoying to pay those prices for the food. But you know what's more annoying? Tripping over someone's ROLLING COOLER that they're dragging through the park. Happened to me. Couldn't beleive it was allowed in the park.

That was a couple of years ago, so obviously things have changed...

About the cooler thing, I confirmed with executives at Wonderland that as long as family claims they have special dietary restrictions, they can bring a cooler inside. Now I don't think it means large rolling cooler, but just say you have special diet and they will let you bring in your cooler.

 

[jeannief]

I've been a few times this year and always bring snacks/bottles of water and the occassional sandwich. We don't try to hide it (I wear a backpack that fits what we need and say it holds drinks and snacks), and have never been told that stuff wasn't allowed. The only thing I was told by security was no cans and no glass bottles, I'm guessing from a safety perspective.
It probably depends on the mood of the guard you get at the gate.

 

[SherylR]

picnic area just to the left of the gates now. We were on a bus trip so bringing our lunch wasn't an option for us as the bus went back to the Rogers Centre for a baseball game.
Any other time we'd gone to Wonderland we'd taken a picnic with us and ate out in the parking lot. It was much easier and everyone was happy with their food and the break from the park.
I just think that the prices they are charging for food is ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason why a small ice cream cone from Dairy Queen should cost $4.00. Or $3.50 for a bottle of water. I mean, sure, bring your own water. But we had 6 people in our party (4 kids). I'm not hauling around a case of water (which is $2.99 for 30 bottles) for everyone, that's crazy!

 

[ForeverDance]

Back when DD was 4 we bought her a ticket. When I got the gate they told me "you don't need a ticket for her". I politely told her that she was 4 and that as far as I understood that was the age to start paying. She said "yes, but you really didn't need to do it".

I couldn't believe it. I would not want to teach my kids that it was okay to lie and I was really taken off guard that the staff would suggest I do that

 

[cdnmickeylover]

The food policy is new this year probably because of the new owners.

The metal detectors are new as well.

My nephew who turns 3 in a couple of weeks has a seasons pass for this year. Did he need it? Probably not but I wouldn't want to get stopped in case they were checking.

Fiona

 

[Subrbnmommy]

to teach your kids in my opinion. Lying is never the way to go. Even if it's tempting and "everyone else" is doing it.
We were there last Saturday and one thing that I found interesting was that you aren't allowed to bring food into the park anymore. When we were going through, they were going through everyone's bag and confiscating sandwiches, fruit, cans of pop, etc. We were allowed to bring in water and some granola bars. They were also confiscating sunscreen in the aerosol cans. Personally, i think this is a crime in itself confiscating the food when they have the audacity to charge $3.50 for a bottle of water, $4.00 for an ice cream cone and $7.00 for a grilled chicken sandwich.
On lunch for the six of us, without beverages it cost $56.00. That was 1 hot dog, 2 chicken sandwiches, a cheeseburger and a large order of fries.
For dinner we went to the all you care to eat buffet. It was only $9.99 for kids and $18.99 for adults and included dessert and beverages. The food was exceptionally good, the service was great and it was a nice respite from the fast food selection!

Why the sunscreen?

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Probably because it was in a can. They don't allow any cans or bottles into the park.

Fiona

 

[Princess Stitch]

Hm.. it's probably been about 5 years or so since I've been to wonderland, but the metal detectors have been there at least that long. Also, I never remember being able to take food into the parks. My mom and dad would pack a cooler and we'd eat at the picnic tables. Coolers were not allowed in at all. Maybe they got really relaxed on the rule, but I don't ever think you were allowed. As far as snacks and water, I've never had a problem bringing those things in.