OT: Niagara Falls in winter time

[toesmom]

I need help. We've booked 1 night at Hilton Doubletree over the holidays for dh, dd9, and ds5.

Not a water park package or hotel because the thought of being in a pool all day with a million other people is not really appealing to me or dh.

Hotel has nice salt water pool so kids should be happy.

I know we can view the falls and festival of lights, walk to see new casino, but are any other attractions really worth it with kids?

Thinking - fun house, bronto's playland, guiness museum? I really don't want to spend much (these attractions can cost up to $100 for 4 of us).

Is the shuttle or people mover working during the holidays?

I'd appreciate any ideas from disers who know the area or have travelled there in the winter.

We plan on bringing all our heavy duty winter gear so we can be outdoors a lot.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

[candielips]

We travel to Niagara Falls frequently, in fact we were married there at the new casino & my DH spent the night before the big day at the Doubletree.
There is a niagara funpass you can purchase for $29.95 per adult & $23.95 per child & incl.
Skywheel (which is heated & we have done in the winter)
Ripleys
Mini Golf
Movieland Wax Museum
Ghostblaster ride
FX Ride Theatre & midway tokens
http://www.cliftonhill.com/niagara_falls_packages/attraction_passes/
The IMAX theatre is also within walking distance to your hotel.
We always used the shuttle from the Fallsview Casino to the old casino near Clifton Hill to get around but I'm not sure if you can with children.
Also don't forget the Winter Festival of Lights.
http://www.wfol.com/

 

[OatsZoo]

I live in the Falls and agree, get the Niagara Fun Pass package deal. It is worth it. The Skywheel is $9.95 per person in itself and it is a 15 minute ride but the view is great. If you get the package it can be used over the coarse of you stay not just in one day.

The festival of lights is amazing, there is basically two spots you should get out and walk it. First in Queen Victoria Park is the Disney lights display with about 15 huge Disney light displays and then in Dufferin Islands which is a short drive about 3 minutes past the falls, parking if free there and you can walk along a water way to see the lights, basic lights on trees and cool dinosaur, deer, Noah's ark, wolves etc. displays, it is really pretty as the lights reflect in the water. There is a donation booth as you drive out, not set fee, since we go there often I only give 50-75 cents each time, but we go once a week, the kids love it.

As for the funhouse and playland, not sure if it is worth it, I wouldn't pay the money for it. I think a better beat is to go to Boston Pizza located on Clifton Hill and spend some time in the arcade, you can buy tokens and then you win tickets you cash in for prizes. My kids (DS6/DD8) love it there. You can go and spend as little as $20 and be there for awhile. The games for little ones run 1-3 tokens each, the bigger kid games are 2-6. They have two floors of games, any arcade game you can think of it is there, including indoor hoops, baseball, hockey and bowling alley. Spend you money there instead if you ask me.

Hope that helps abit, any other question ask away!

 

[toesmom]

I really appreciate the tips.. any others would be welcome.

So we'll try boston pizza and definitely see the festival of lights.

 

[NancyK]

Hi,
We took our niece and nephew on the Skywheel last December. Definitely fun to do at least once. Take a look at the Niagara Parks fun pass which includes Journey Behind the Falls, Sky Wheel, Niagara Fury (we haven't done this yet but it sounds neat) and the Butterfly Conservatory.

http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/winterpass.php

Not sure of your dates, but there are fireworks over the falls every Friday in December at 9pm as well as on New Years Eve and on Fri. Jan. 2nd.

Hope this helps.