OT ~ Wonderland lines yesterday

[SandraC]

Hi All ~ We went to Wonderland yesterday and the lines to get in were HUGE! However, once in, the lines were ok. I think Cedar Fair purchase will draw more crowds. S

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

What is Cedar Fair purchase???

 

[yosh12]

Thats who bought Canada's Wonderland...Cedar Fair, they also own Cedar Pont.

Canada's wonderland was sold by Paramount as I believe all the Paramount Theme Parks were if I am wrong, please correct me!

 

[SandraC]

Yeppers, Cedar Fair is Cedar Point's mother company. They bought Paramount parks. We bought the flexible pass that allows us access to Cedar Point. Guess where we are off to this summer? heeheehee. S

 

[Kurby]

we bought just the single passes this year - we aren't planning on going into the states this summer so to get the extra would have been a waste of money for us.

we've already been twice.

so far we've been on 2 rides LOL

i'm not much of a rider so we've just gone one with Cassandra - the small trains and the marry go round.

 

[usetheforceluke]

We went on Saturday also.

We weren't impressed with the lines, nor with the 'new' procedures that the new owner has implemented.

Fiona and I went with her niece and two (of three) nephews, ages 6, 4 and 3, so we basically confined ourselves to Hanna-Barbera Land.

There was a 90 minute wait for the haunted house. We waited the better part of 35 minutes to ride the train ride, for the really young one. (Everyone must be seated with a seat-belt on, including the big person.)

Prices were a bit stunning ($32+ for two cheeseburgers/fries, two large drinks and chicken fingers), and not all of the attractions/shops were open.

For some reason, I kept looking for Mickey.

Jim.

 

[disneyfan2]

i had season passes last year, and we went 2 x... It was so darn busy that the lines were unbearable. The third time we went on a mid week and not so hot, but the lines were still crazy. They need another huge park in the Greater TO area to spread the crowds. I don't plan on going back for awhile.

 

[alohamom]

We went opening weekend to get our season passes(my kids LOVE the water park and it makes it worthwhile for us)The opening day was INSANE but I think the beautiful waether had a role in that. We went again Sunday, went at opening and there were no line ups! It was freezing but we dressed in our hoodies etc so it was ok. We walked on the the Ghoster Coaster, walked on to The Wild Beast and really waited no more than 10-15 mins max for anything else. We left about 4:30 when all the swearing, lip locking teenagers started showing up. We actually had a great time. We tend to use our seasons pass for the spring and fall weekends for the theme park area and the summer for the water park. I don't think I would want to go in July on a hot weekend and wait for 2 hours to ride one ride.We tend to do disney in cooler weather too.

 

[MamaLema]

Ahhh, there was nothing like Wonderland years ago. It wasn't crowded at all and if it so much as drizzled, the park would clear out. I remember being in Kidzville, just me and my kids, no one else in the whole area, as long as you came early on a Sunday. That would never happen now. I find that since so much housing has been built in the area, Wonderland is just to crowded to enjoy anymore.

I remember us having a season pass and going every weekend from May to October

Those were the good old days. I miss them

We would stay on the Haunted Mansion about 10 times, never even get off once. Now, like pp stated the wait for that ride is over and hour.

I feel bad that I enjoyed those years with my oldest kids and my youngest won't be able to have the same experience.

 

[SandraC]

In 2001 we used our seasons passes 55 times! YEPPERS! That's 55 times! My kids were so fed up with Wonderland they begged up to take them to the playground near home to play on the swings and slides. LOL.

In 2002 we went 15 times....last year only 5 times. We plan to go alot for the waterpark this summer plus a few early mornings. Cool and rainy weather is the best for the rides!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

In 2001 we used our seasons passes 55 times! YEPPERS! That's 55 times! My kids were so fed up with Wonderland they begged up to take them to the playground near home to play on the swings and slides. LOL.

In 2002 we went 15 times....last year only 5 times. We plan to go alot for the waterpark this summer plus a few early mornings. Cool and rainy weather is the best for the rides!

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
55 TIMES!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!!!
That is a lot of times!
Last year we went once! This year I did buy a season pass and I hope we go a few more times. Last year I took dd at the end of August and she kept asking to go back, I didn't think she'd enjoy it sooooo much (she was only 3.5 years old) so this year I made sure to get a season pass and we will be going on weekdays and be there first thing in the morning! I love watching her enjoy herself!!!

 

[damo]

We went on Saturday also.

We weren't impressed with the lines, nor with the 'new' procedures that the new owner has implemented.

Fiona and I went with her niece and two (of three) nephews, ages 6, 4 and 3, so we basically confined ourselves to Hanna-Barbera Land.

There was a 90 minute wait for the haunted house. We waited the better part of 35 minutes to ride the train ride, for the really young one. (Everyone must be seated with a seat-belt on, including the big person.)

Prices were a bit stunning ($32+ for two cheeseburgers/fries, two large drinks and chicken fingers), and not all of the attractions/shops were open.

For some reason, I kept looking for Mickey.

Jim.

What are the new procedures?

 

[MouseGirl]

We're going to be down in Oakville and Hamilton visiting family in early July, and were thinking of heading to Wonderland for a day on our way home to Ottawa. That would be on a Monday - any sense of what crowds would be like on a Monday (as opposed to a weekend) from you seasoned Wonderland veterans out there?

From the comments I'm hearing on this thread I'm kind of worried about spending almost $200 for one day if we're going to be in line the entire time!
Fastpass at WDW and FOTL and Universal has spoiled us

Thanks so much,
MouseGirl

 

[digskat]

we used to go a couple times per year, and loved it. Two years ago, we took the kids, and were so disappointed, I vowed to never return. We pulled up to pay for parking, and the girl never even made eye contact, she merely stuck her hand out, took the cash, and dropped my change in my hand. No informing me of the price, no hello, nothing. We entered the park, and the first thing we see, is a group of about 5 staff, leaning on their brooms, commenting on customers. We waited in line for 20 minutes, for the kids to see a character, only to have the escort cut the line in front of us, even though there was no one behind us (the 3 teens in front of us were okay though). Lines were crazy, food was expensive, and the place was packed with unruly teens (Pop Warner x 10). The final straw was the 75 minute wait in the sun, for Spongebob, only to find out that 1 side wasn't even being used.

CW has great rides, but their food options are lacking, the customer service is brutal, and their crowd control is pathetic, and the atmosphere stinks. Disney attempts to entertain during lines, CW treats you like sheep.

 

[usetheforceluke]

What are the new procedures?

We didn't recall the requirement for seatbelts on the kiddies train ride from last year, nor on a couple of other rides. The seatbelts are the big one. On a couple of the rides, the attendant has to come around and open the belt with a special key, so you're more-or-less 'stuck' there until s/he opens it.

The train ride attendant had obviously had a procedure drill planted in her because it was exactly the same process for every group of people. It was fairly late in our day when I noticed it, so I didn't have the time to watch others.

I just don't recall waiting in line that long for what was a couple of minutes worth of ride.

MouseGirl: Adult prices are like $48/ea and kids prices are $25/ea. If you're going to stay over two meals, the meals shouldn't be much more than, say, $10 each per person per meal. Snacks aren't cheap either. To get the full value of your day ticket, you have to be there at opening and stay until closing. If you're not going to brown bag it for meals, then I'd think $200 may be too low.

Jim.

 

[SandraC]

My favourite way to do CW is to get there before the park opens, do the big rides, head to the waterpark around 11am. Stay until 1pm. Do a couple of the kiddy rides or have a picnic and then go home around 2pm. S

 

[MouseGirl]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I may have to rethink this!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I just heard on the radio this morning that you can get discounted tickets -- I think $36 at Pizza Pizza locations.

Hope this helps someone.

Fiona

 

[tmli]

I really HATE Canada's Wonderland! Overpriced, understaffed and in serious need of an overhaul!!

I have to go this year because my fiance hasn't been (just moved here from YWG)....I promised him I would suffer through it once!