Back from Canada's Wonderland, wanted to post a quick report

Spent the weekend on a little road trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls. Headed up on Wednesday to check out the new Legoland Discovery Centre and then took advantage of our Platinum passes and spent all of Friday at Canada's Wonderland. Headed to Niagara Falls on Saturday and just got back to Cleveland this afternoon. It was a wonderful Canada getaway and we really enjoyed Canada's Wonderland. Just a few quick observations:

- Metal Detectors at the entrance... we got there right at opening so it did not hold us up too much. Park was clean and attractive.
- Because we got there right when it opened we went on several rides with no lines the first hour. They have a weird early entrance policy, I think it's only on Sundays during the summer
- Skipped the water park, it was a high of 76 so we decided to do rides instead
- We hit the entire park, including 3 out of 4 shows and were done by 8 pm. Didn't get on the Leviathan roller coaster but did enjoy the Behemoth (seating was open and scary and loved riding over the water).
- Park operators really seemed like they enjoyed their jobs. Many were getting into it when the ride was going saying things like, let me hear you scream! Also, another operator was singing singalong children's tunes in the kiddie area which was really cute.
- LOVED the British Invasion show, it had songs from every era to please every generation
- Park is small and doesn't have the character that Cedar Point has, and the layout reminded me of KI and KD.
- They have a ton of unique flat rides which I was afraid to try but would definitely be appealing to some.
- Our favorites were the Fly (mouse ride), Backlot Stunt Coaster, Behemoth and Thunder Run

Overall, it was a nice visit to Canada and an excuse to get away for a few days :)

Here are my other quick trip reports from KI and KD last summer:

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/29921.aspx

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/29750.aspx

There's a good reason for the similarity of layouts: Canada's Wonderland was the third park built by Kings Entertainment, the company that owned Kings Island and Kings Dominion.

Thanks for the report shamrockcb.

Our family also visited CW on Wednesday night and Thursday. We all had a good time and and like to try and visit a different CF park each year. Last year was King's Island. Hopefully, next year - Carowinds.

Our observations...

- Most of the staff was friendly and helpful. I had a problem with my dining plan wristband (not scanning) and spent almost 30 minutes in guest services!
- Bought a Fast Lane Plus for my daughter and I to get on Behemoth and Leviathan. Both awesome coasters! Didn't get on Guardian though. This was not included with Fast Lane.
- No ride wait time signs at entry to each ride.
- My wife and son said the water was very cold in Splashworks.
- We all enjoyed the Cirque show and watching the divers from the falls.
- Agreed, a nice variety of flat rides.
- Got to ride Skyrider, before it is retired at the end of the season. Decent coaster, not as painful as Mantis!
- $12 for a funnel cake, ouch!
- Spent nearly 45 minutes in line for Time Warp (flyer). Couldn't wait to get off it!
- Merchandise (shirts), not as good a selection as Cedar Point.
- No tweetups!
- As mentioned above, no daily ERT.
- Food service was very slow.
- Seemed to be pretty lax with cell phone policy on coasters
- On Leviathan, ride attendants were collecting everyone's hats, glasses, loose items and storing them. Seemed to add time to the loading process. Different to CP's policy of using mainly lockers now on GK, MF, etc.
- No problem using our Pipe Scream souvenir cup from CP.
- Would like to go back in a couple of years and see what is replacing Skyrider.

Thanks for reading :-)

shamrockcb said:
- Park is small and doesn't have the character that Cedar Point has, and the layout reminded me of KI and KD.

That is an interesting observation that I think should be noted when people say CP is landlocked and out of room. Canada's Wonderland actually isn't a small park, but it is when compared to CP which is a huge park. It doesn't matter that CP is landlocked as the park is so huge there is plenty of land in the park.

I took my family to CW last Sunday and Monday.

Some observations from us:

- The $12 funnel cake was expensive, but also came with ice cream and more importantly was made correctly. It'd be nice if CP could figure this one out. (we prefer the crispy funnel cakes over the mushy dough mound CP dishes out every year.)

- We didn't buy or need fast passes, but Monday was almost twice as busy as Sunday.

- We rode Wonder Mountain Guardian on Monday right when the park opened. It was fun, but it was not a ride anyone wanted to ride again. 6/10 maybe.

- Leviathan was a REALLY good coaster, the quick left bank after the second hill is a blast! Leviathan is in my top 5. The wait was only 25 minutes even with a full queue and all lanes open.

- Bohemoth was great, rode first Sunday at night and again on Monday. Rivals Diamondback, but I think DB has a slight edge. My kids liked the helix toward the end.

- Vortex (Flight deck clone) felt like the fastest suspended coaster we've ridden. It was worth a second ride

- Time warp was horrible. Compared to Manta and even Firehawk it was rough, jerky and all around uncomfortable.

- We also didn't like the Wild Beast. It was painful all around almost as bad as Mean Streak.

- Mighty Canadian Minebuster, on the other hand was great. Rode it twice as well. Even my wife and daughter who hate woodies said they enjoyed it.

- We really enjoyed the Sledgehammer ride. Rode it twice as well.

All in all a fun park with two world class coasters. Probably wont make it back there anytime soon with so much left to see in the States.

djdaveyk1 said:
Our family also visited CW on Wednesday night and Thursday.

Our observations...

- No ride wait time signs at entry to each ride.
- We all enjoyed the Cirque show and watching the divers from the falls.
- Spent nearly 45 minutes in line for Time Warp (flyer). Couldn't wait to get off it!

Thanks for reading :-)

How funny! We kept looking at the license plates and didn't see any from the states! I did run into a family from Ohio at one point and chatted with them for a bit.

I forgot to mention the lack of wait time signs, that was a bummer only because I'm used to planning my day based on the times.

We also liked the dive shows... I was surprised that Cedar Fair allows such a dangerous show.

What didn't you like about Time Warp? We were ready to get in line because I've been trying to get my son on an easy upside down coaster and I thought that would be it! We were there right when it opened and there was no line but unfortunately we found out my son wasn't tall enough. None of us ended up riding it.

While we were waiting in line, I was wondering why they stacked up all the trains in the station. Next thing I see, a poor employee with a spray bottle and towel cleaning out train #5! Uncomfortable, jerky and just not a fun ride. Maybe I'm getting old, but my 9 year old daughter didn't enjoy it either!

My daughter and I did enjoy Sledgehammer, Riptide and Nightmares.

I think this was the first year the water park was not a separate admission at CW. I wonder if and when Soak City will be included at CP.

I guess I was the only one kind of disappointed by Leviathan. It's a good coaster, but Behemoth is much better.

You're not the only one. I visited the park last summer and was not amused by Leviathan, Behemoth was much better. Then again, Behemoth/Diamondback/Intimidator are three of my favorite coasters.

Both Leviathan and Behemoth are awesome rides, but I like Leviathan more. It is actually one of my all-time favorites.

I will be curious if we ride it again this fall if it remains as high on my list, or the circumstances of last visit made it that much better (walk-on all day long, as well as very cold temps in the morning and at night of 45F or so) which made for some chilly but amazing rides. The drop/turn/low hill combo is probably one of the best element combos.

CW also has an amazing Haunt event... It has a few HHN caliber houses, which really shocked us considering how flat the CP and KI houses can be. Well worth a visit up there in late Sept/October. But note, it is an upcharge and they actually close and reopen the park.

Maverick00 said:
You're not the only one. I visited the park last summer and was no amused by Leviathan, Behemoth was much better. Then again, Behemoth/Diamondback/Intimdator are three of my favorite coasters.

I'm so glad I went on it.... my husband and son went on Backlot Stunt Coaster first thing so I walked over to Behemoth. There was no line and I started to have 2nd thoughts (which has never happened to me but I"m getting more afraid in my old age). I think the style of seating really made me nervous, you just feel so out in the open!

So I started talking to people about the ride and I found another girl to ride with- FIRST ROW! I was all locked in and had a mini panic attack... I wanted to turn back and i kept looking for an attendant but they gave the clear and I was forced to go. I was so happy I didn't back out because I loved it!!

I agree that Behemoth is the better ride. Leviathan is pretty much A B&M version of Millennium Force, but with better capacity. Most people eat it up so by the park's measures it is a successful ride, but I just think it's like riding in a car with the windows down.

I also thought Behemoth was the better ride, Leviathan is a fast cruiser without all of the airtime hills that Behemoth has. Of course, I prefer Magnum to Millennium Force so I like the airtime rides better in general. The two rides do complement each other nicely though and they are both excellent rides.

I forgot to mention the best food part of they day... they have The Chippery!!!!! We got a huge bag of fresh Sour Cream & Onion and Salt and Vinegar while we were there, omg how I missed those chips!

Just rode both Leviathan and Behemoth today.

I still prefer MF over Leviathan. MF is notably longer, and the smaller scale of track and trains increases the perception of speed and height.

The drop on MF is better in terms of visual effect- both for the above scale reasons and on MF the track appears to curl under itself... no such illusion on Leviathan.

I also think the elevator lift, speed, and incline angle add to the thrill of MF.

Leviathan's first drop has one advantage in that your arse is out of the seat for much of the fall.

MF's second hill/overbanked turnaround is more intense than the similar hill 2 on Leviathan.

More airtime on Leviathan.

Behemoth is a good ride, and longer than Leviathan.

But my criticism of B&M hyper/giga models in general remains the same. A big part of the effect of a hyper or giga is the perception of height and speed. The B&M track gauge, train width/size, and support columns notably reduce this effect.

You can go 75 MPH down the same highway on a tour bus or in a Miata, and you're going to feel the speed a lot more in the latter.

The reduction in perceived height can be explained by this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_perspective

While Leviathan and Behemoth are both very good rides, I think they'd be notably better with, say, Intamin track and rolling stock, even if they were otherwise exactly the same coasters.

I still prefer Magnum and whatever they call the Intamin hyper at SFNE these days to any of the B&M speed models.

I used to be split between liking Behemoth or Leviathan better, but I must go with Leviathan due to its lack of seat belts.

Unfortunately, I have never seen any of the shows at Wonderland due my visits being in June before the shows start. (Most attended seasonal amusement park on the continent, and they do not start their shows till the end of June.) The great thing about going in June is the rides are usually <5 min wait. Unfortunately the park usually closes at 8PM in June.

Cedar Fair greatly undervalues Wonderland.

Time Warp is not the best of coasters (though I love its heart line rolls.) It may not be a big enough of a ride to deserve its own riding instructions, but here are a couple of tips anyway I have learned from my two trips to the great white north:
1. Shoulders should be pushed gently into the pads, not shoved.
2. Relax your neck, especially on the lift. No need to tire out your neck muscles before the ride even begins.
3. Relax during inversions, let yourself float within the restraint. It is normal on this ride when it inverts to fall away from the pad you are laying on. I know relaxing is hard for many people, especially for a first ride, but it really increases ride comfort.