Canada's Wonderland trip report, eh?

[sheikra_rocks]

WALL OF TEXT COMING... No complaining about the lack of photos! Most of the photos I took were of Leviathan, and Dinos.

I was invited to join a friend as his guest to the ACE Summer Conference at Canada's Wonderland and Marineland this past weekend. I just could not say no!

My friend and I arrived on Thursday evening in Toronto earlier than we expected, so we stopped off at Wonderland around 6:30 pm. We decided to head to WindSeeker to get a birds eye view and idea of the park layout.

WindSeeker at Wonderland is in the best location. It is centered in the park, and you get a 360degree view of the entire park and surrounding area. They dispatched as we entered, and we were in the next ride cycle. My favorite of the 3 Seekers I have ridden. (Wonderland, Cedar Point, KI.)

Next we hit the wooden coaster Minebuster and the Togo stand up, Skyrider. Minebuster was "okay". It shuffled between the rails quite a bit more than I am used to on say for example The Beast at KI. Other than the shuffling, it was a neat ride. 2 train wait.

Upon boarding Skyrider, I had flash backs to KI 1996 where I took my first KI coaster ride on King Cobra. For those of you who do not know, Sky rider is an exact copy of KC from KI. However, I do believe Skyrider is smoother than KC. We had a 2 train wait for front seat.

Next we head to Behemoth. The end of the line was only to the top of the stairs, so it was very short. 1 train dispatched before our ride in row 16. As you may know, Behemoth is the first B&M with the second generation hyper trains. I found Behemoth quite enjoyable, and loaded with airtime in row 16 during the first portion of the ride, which is better than Diamondback's first half. Diamondback's second half is better than Behemoth's second half (after MCBR). Behemoth is also a lot smoother than Diamondback, with very little shuddering.

We no longer had phone service, so around 7:30 (yes, we rode 4 rides in an hour on Thursday) we headed to the hotel which was a 15 - 20 minute drive from the park, where we got a message from the rest of our group that their ETA would be around 9ish. darn! We could have gotten more rides! Oh well. Time for rest!

[thedevariouseffect]

As you may know, great trip report

Are you still there now or what?

[sheikra_rocks]

I am breaking this into several posts to make it easier to read.

On Friday morning we went down to breakfast in the hotel lobby, then headed to the park for ACE registration and pass holder ERT. I have a Platinum, so I used that, but the park was gracious enough to let the ACER's in for pass holder ERT.

Pass holder ERT was in the Planet Snoopy area of the park.

While there was really nothing for the adults to ride without a child (that was operating), we decided to head over to wait with the non pass holders for my 30th coaster built by B&M, Leviathan.

FYI, full queue to the station for Leviathan is only 30 minutes! Diamondback is 45 minutes with a full queue to the station.

First train. Sadly, I was not on it.

Kind of geeky shot.

Going up!

There's me in the Diamondback T-Shirt! My first ride on Leviathan!

Row 8 is the sweet spot on Leviathan!

More to come soon.....

[sheikra_rocks]

As you may know, great trip report

Are you still there now or what?

I wish I was still there, and I will point out why in the next couple posts of my trip report later.

[YoungStud]

For some reason I thought you were a female. Nice putting a face to a user name. Nice trip report.

[thedevariouseffect]

That's a jerk move man hahaha

[YoungStud]

^

My apologies to sheikra in advance if he thought it was a jerk move, not my intention.

[sheikra_rocks]

Continuing on with Friday...

After our single ride on Leviathan, we caught Drop Tower, Wild Beast, and Vortex.

On Drop Tower, as you approach the top, the operator gives you the safety spiel. Once you stop, they proceed to say, "You will be dropping in 10, 9, 8...." DROP!

This was a nice view of the park, and was quite a nice ride.

Wild Beast was okay, nothing spectacular. It jackhammered and shuffled more than I would have liked, but what can you do, right?

Next was Vortex (Flight Deck clone). Full queue, sticking out into the midway, aprox. 45 minute wait or less. I found CW Vortex to be faster, more intense, and slightly rougher than KI Flight Deck. The location for CW Vortex is much better than KI Flight Deck. It is located on the side of a hill, and rockets riders over a river. IF the train were to valley in this turn around, the cars would touch the water.

Just goes to show, that location is key.

After Vortex, WindSeeker was the next ride we encountered. This was a 2 or 3 cycle wait. (see first post for more.)

Next up, was the Mighty Canadian Minebuster. I skipped this one since I had ridden the day before, and did not like it. (See first post.) I went around the corner to use the washroom, and to grab a snack. I tried the fresh-cut fries at "Hot Potato", which is literally right next door to WindSeeker. These fries were so much better than Rivertown Potato Works! They even have a seasoning shaker sitting out by the napkins for guests to use. Highly recommend these!

After Minebuster, the group decided that it was time for lunch, or as Madea would say, "Lurnch". While everyone opted for Coasters (same menu as CP, although I heard CW was better.), I got a foot long smoked sausage from the stand adjacent to Hot Potato. Highly recommend!

After lurnch, we decided it was time to head over to Behemoth. Along the way, we checked out Sledge Hammer. Sledge Hammer, is a really fun ride! TRY IT!

On to the big boy on this side of the park. Behemoth was running great again on Friday. I had already ridden on Thursday, but I will definitely ride it as many times as everyone else wants to. LOVE B&M!

Behemoth, RARELY stacks it's trains. By the time train 2 comes around the turn from the transfer, train 1 is being dispatched. I believe we queued for 35 minutes. Much better operations on Behemoth than Diamondback. (see first post.)

To be continued.......

[PKIVortex]

Great report so far! Glad you had a fun, can't wait to read more!

[sheikra_rocks]

At about 5pm on Friday, we enjoyed a complimentary buffet style meal. The venue was The Marketplace International Buffet.

The buffet consist of tacos, pasta, pizza, brisket, salad, fruit, and desert. Recommend!

Not sure in which order, but we caught Boo Blasters, Riptide, Dragon Fire, and Night Mares.

Boo Blasters is incredibly slow loading. The vehicles travel on a single rail track, and hold 2 people. Some of the effects were not working properly. Some of the scenes are the same as KI. Skip it.

Night Mares looks like a cross between a round up type ride, and an Enterprise. Great ride.

Dragon Fire is your typical Arrow coaster. just as, if not more rough than KI's Vortex.

Riptide is one of the best TopSpin type rides I have ridden! There are 2 rows that flip independently from one another. Beware, you do get wet!

It is time for a show in the Wonderland Theater, however, I opt out of the show to hit up Leviathan a couple times. The queue was FULL, but I was able to ride twice in just under and hour. Once in the front, and once in row 8. So smooth, so fast. More on Leviathan later.

By this time, it was time to meet at Dairy Queen in Planet Snoopy, to wait for our ERT session to begin on Ghoster Coaster and Taxi Jam.

Ghoster Coaster is pretty much the same as Woodstock at KI. Got a double ride, then headed to Taxi Jam, which is the same layout, but has slightly larger hills than TGPC at KI.

We all were treated to Ice cream cookie sandwiches, then headed to the opposite side of the park for Back Lot Stunt Coaster, (we were all calling it BackYARD Stunt Coaster...LOL) and Behemoth.

Back Lot's show was turned off, and they were just using that area as a block brake. Still a fun ride, all 3 launches were a bit more powerful that BLST at KI.

Next it was time for Behemoth again! I boarded the train in row 14 and stayed there for the remainder of the ERT session. I believe I got 6 rides in the same seat! I was also lucky enough to have timed it just right to be on the last train of the night. I still think that if Behemoth's second half was similar to Diamondback's it would have been better. Still a great coaster, but lacked the umph Diamondback has AFTER the MCBR.

Was able to buy myself and a friend each a Leviathan shirt. PASSHOLDERS GET 15% off on merchandise, however, we all were given a coupon for Buy on get one 40% off, so I used it instead of my Platinum discount.

Back to the hotel!

Saturday TR coming soon!

[IndyGuy4KI]

Thanks so much for the PTR, loving it so far!

[sheikra_rocks]

On Saturday morning, we arrived at the park around 8 am. We have a walkback tour of Leviathan, then ERT until 10 am on it and a couple other coasters.

First we went under the loading station.

Then we went out into the field beneath the coaster, where I was able to get this shot.

and these by the drop support...

and my favorite...

What you don't see is a train rocketing down the drop, making this support vibrate, and the sound resonated inside the support so nicely!

Looking up at a train dropping...

Then a few geeky shots...

Time to head over to the queue for our ERT session to begin. Notice how the support goes through the tent...

So, ERT starts with myself and 4 others taking up the last 2 rows. I LOVE row 8 on the right hand side! ERT was on Leviathan, The Fly, and Thunder Run, and Silver Streak. We decided that we should ride Leviathan once, then go get the other ERT rides done, then finish the ERT session on Leviathan.

FYI..... Leviathan is so much better than Millennium Force!

We ride Leviathan once, then head over to The Fly. Although we got there slightly earlier than our ERT, the manager signed off on the ride, and allowed us to ride. Such a fun wild mouse style ride!.

Then we take a ride on Thunder Run. A 2 cycle ride. When the train stopped, we discovered that no one was in the queue, so we went again. The ride ops did not even unlock, or recheck the restraints! It was literally, STOP and DISPATCH.

After a quick restroom break, we made our way back to Leviathan. (Not sure the time now, but our ERT on Levi was until 10 am.)

One other person in my group joined me for a mini marathon of Leviathan. We boarded the train in row 1. Upon our return, no one was in the station! My friend and I switch seats, and ride again in row 1. Upon our return this time, people were waiting for row 1. So we stepped off the train, and proceeded toward row 8. Here we found 2 people who allowed us to join them. After we return, the two ladies had had enough Leviathan and exited. No one was waiting for row 8, so we each got a corner. Me on my right hand side! We got a total of 11 rides in row 8!

As our train pulled in to the station after our 9th ride in row 8, 2 other people from my group joined us.

So, prior to riding Leviathan in the first place, I warned my group that by the time we were done, I would probably be a blubbering mess.

Half way through the 10th consecutive ride, tears started to flow. I was so thrilled, and happy at this point.

By this time, Regular guest have entered the queue. Restraints unlock, and locked again, then as the GP reached the top of the stairs, dispatch! The station crew pushed to get us one final ERT ride! That is 13 consecutive rides without leaving the station!

More soon.....

[gad198]

Nice report thus far!

I agree that operations at Wonderland are better than those at most every park in the states. I remember being in line for Behemoth a couple of weeks after it opened and that very daunting looking line when I first entered never stopped moving. The Leviathan line was much the same this year, even with the Fast Lane involved. Very impressive stuff.

Did you get a chance to try the poutine while you were there?

[sheikra_rocks]

No, I did not try the poutine! I am gay!

One of the members of my little group was looking for it, but we never tried it.

I still have more on Saturday coming, just try to decipher all the thoughts in my head about it before I put it to a post.

[sheikra_rocks]

Once our ERT on Leviathan was over, we headed to The Bat which was on our way to our next ERT session on Silver Streak.

The Bat is your classic Vekoma Boomerang coaster. It would have been an okay ride if it had the vests like the boomerang at Great Adventure.

Upon making our way toward Silver Streak a Vekoma junior inverted (Flying Ace Areal Chase), other Acer's passed us going the opposite direction stating it was down for technical difficulties, so we followed them and made our wait to the Wonderland Theater for a Q&A and a group photo by the lagoon.

We were treated to cookies, orange or apple juice, and bottled water.

Several people who have never visited Wonderland commented on how impressed they were with the overall experience in the park. From operations, to cleanliness, to guest service. The final verdict? Wonderland knows what they are doing!

My comment / question... "This is the 7th Cedar Fair park that I have visited, could you go to the states to show them how it is done?"

Wonderland is in it's on little world, and you would forget that you were in fact inside a Cedar Fair park! Night and day between CW and other CF parks.

After the Q&A, we were informed that Silver Streak would be available to us at noon. We were to enter the ride through the exit, and we will be put right on.

My group had arrived at Silver Streak slightly early, but decided that we would just go up the exit and wait for our time. We explained to the ride host what our instructions were, and she said that she would get us on right away. As a train unloaded, I tried to make a buck. I exclaimed that there was a $5 fee after riding as guests trickled through the unload gate. No one "bought" my sales pitch, but great fun was had, everyone was happy! We boarded the train 10 minutes prior to our allotted time! Going up the lift the unload attendant sings a jingle over the lift speakers. The jingle is the ride safety rules! Such a fun an interactive ride host! (Most of them were!) Silver Streak rides just like Flying Ace! Smile for the camera!

By this time, we had 2 coasters left, but decided to hit the 3D show "Monsters Of The Deep" which was only $1 with a season pass.

After the show, we head over to Flight Deck and Time Warp. Yes, save the worst for last!

Flight Deck is you regular Vekoma SLC. It is TERRIBLE! We just wanted it to be over with. While the line was not very long, it was very slow moving.

Time Warp is neat, but painful. This had about a 15 minute wait. Yes! At 2 pm on Saturday, Time Warp had a 15 minute wait! Time Warp is a flying coaster in which you board the single cars 4 across in a stand up position. Then, you are raised into the flying position as the car makes it's way to the block before the lift. The straight-a-ways aren't bad, it's the turns and inversions you have to look out for.

Glad I only had to ride each of those once!

Next we decided to break for lunch before using our complimentary Dinos ticket.

So many food options to choose from in the park! We settled on Backlot Cafe. They serve gourmet burgers, artisan pizza, fresh pasta, chicken fingers, Chipotle sized burritos, and soft drinks.

Someone ahead of me ordered 3 Cheese Tex Mex Mac n Cheese. While watching his dish being prepaired, I decided that I must have the same thing. I paid roughly $10 for food and a 32ounce drink, and I could not finish the food! 2 people could have easily shared what I ordered and been full afterward. It was delicious, and worth it! Best Mac N Cheese EVER! I did grab a refill of Cola and we made our way out. (Please and Thank yous go a long way!)

I bring up "Please" and "Thank you" because, it seemed like we were thanking every single employee that we encountered! Exiting Behemoth we are all saying "thank you" as we made our way to the exit.

Dinosaurs Alive! is Dinosaurs Alive! Although, I believe I enjoyed myself more in Wonderland's exhibit than in KI's.

There was a joke with this next photo:

"Someone needs to trim it's bush!"

Also, I was going to post photos and say:

"Here is a photo of the dinos moving."

"Here's another photo of the same dinos moving again."

Me: "If I cover my eyes, he can't see me"

After our DA! shenanigans, we felt it was time to have one final ride on the B&M's starting at Behemoth.

Really love row 16 on Behemoth as much as I love row 16 on Diamondback. However, if Behemoth had Diamondback's second half after the MCBR, I would like it better than DB.

Now, one more ride on the ONLY coaster that I have ever cried on. I got emotional during our 12th consecutive ride earlier in the day after realizing how truly amazing the coaster was.

Our last ride was around 6 pm, I think. By this time the coaster had warmed up, typical of B&M's, so I knew this had to be a last row ride. As we made our way toward the top of the lift hill, I look at the massive B&M I am about to traverse once again. Hands go up, lean forward, and reach for my toes as the train rockets back toward the earth!

Upon arriving to the park on day 1, I knew I would be blubbering like a 12 year old at a One Direction concert at some point on Leviathan.

Leviathan may have won this round, but I will be back for a rematch!