Canada's Wonderland
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| Canada's Wonderland | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada,  |
| Website | canadaswonderland.com |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. |
| Opened | May 23, 1981 |
| Previous names | Paramount Canada's Wonderland |
| Operating season | May through October |
| Area | 330 acres (1.3 km2) |
| Rides | 48 thrill rides & 200 attractions total
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| Slogan | Where Else? |
Canada's Wonderland is a 330-acre (1.3 km2) theme park in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, 30 kilometres north of downtown Toronto. The park is open seasonally from May to October and contains more than 200 attractions. It opened in 1981 and was Canada's first major theme park.[1] While under Paramount Pictures (later purchased by Viacom) ownership from 1994 until 2006, the park was known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland until it was sold to Cedar Fair and reverted to its original name in 2007. The park was the most attended seasonal theme park in North America two years in a row (2005 and 2006). It was designed by Landscape Architects Richard Strong and Associates and structurally engineered by O.T. Baggio and Associates Professional Engineers.[2] In 2006, attendance was just over 3.2 million.[3]
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[edit] Park history
[edit] Origins
In 1972, the Taft Broadcasting Company first proposed building a 1.5 square kilometres (370 acres) theme park in the small village of Maple, part of Vaughan, Ontario. Several other possible locations were considered, including Niagara Falls, Ontario, Cambridge, Ontario and Milton, Ontario, but the site in Maple was finally selected, because of its proximity to the City of Toronto and the 400-series of highways.
Other companies had seriously considered the Greater Toronto Area as a spot to build a theme park, including the Conklin family (whose Conklin Shows ran various midways around North America, including Toronto's CNE midway) and Walt Disney, who considered the area before his expansion plans in Florida. He eventually decided that the area would not make a suitable park site, mainly because the climate was too cold, thus the operating season would be too short to be sustainable.[4]
Construction of the park was opposed on multiple fronts. Many cultural institutions in Toronto such as Ontario Place, the Royal Ontario Museum and the operators of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) felt that the new theme park would put them out of business because the Toronto market was not large enough to support more competition. Other groups that fought the building of Wonderland included a Vaughan residential association (called 'SAVE') who felt the increased traffic would reduce property values. Some of the concessions from the company included a landscaped berm around the park to reduce noise and the appearance of the large parking lot. Taft was concerned about opposition, going as far as to fly a group of opponents and regional councillors out to Cincinnati to show residents and town councillors the positive impact of one of their theme parks within the local community. People in the region were concerned that the new park would be similar in aesthetics to a carnival or midway.
Canada's Wonderland was also responsible for changing the master development plan for the Province of Ontario. The government wanted to increase residential and commercial development to the east of Toronto in the Regional Municipality of Durham, which includes Pickering and Oshawa, while having the lands to the north of Toronto remain agricultural (see Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)). Wonderland was able to convince the province to amend the planning policy for the region, and the park secured infrastructure improvements (including a highway overpass and sewage systems) to be expanded and built out to the site. These improvements paved the way for increased development throughout the region.
Concerns were also raised about the cultural implications of allowing an American theme park to open in Canada. Many felt that it would be a "Trojan Horse" for American culture. To offset the criticism, Taft planned to open Frontier Canada, a part of the park devoted to Canada's history. Early park maps show the area encompassing what is now Splash Works, White Water Canyon, the F/X Theatre and the southern part of Kidzville, as well as proposed attractions, including a steam passenger train. While Frontier Canada was never built, several elemental themes remain in the area. Unlike its sister parks, Kings Island and Kings Dominion, it was decided during the early planning stages that centrepiece of the park would not be a replica of Paris's famous Eiffel Tower. Instead the park's designers chose to build a massive mountain, known as Wonder Mountain. Situated at the top of International Street, Wonder Mountain featured a huge waterfall and interior pathways which led visitors to a look-out point. Other elements which were never built include a hotel and conference centre (to have been built north of the park).
[edit] Construction and opening
On June 13, 1979, Ontario Premier William Davis depressed the plunger on an electronic detonating device, triggering an explosion on the site. Construction on Canada's Wonderland began immediately and continued through to early 1981. Canadian companies partnered on the preliminary design and engineering of the project and helped to mould the dream into a reality.
Two years later, on May 23, 1981, Canada's Wonderland was officially opened to the public by Davis and Taft Broadcasting President Dudley Taft. The park's cost was 120 million dollars.[1] The spectacular opening ceremony included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists, 350 white doves, and a pipe band. Four children representing the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, and Great Lakes regions of Canada each poured a vial of water from their home regions into the park's spectacular fountain. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky also appeared as a special guest, helping to raise the Canadian flag. 12,000 guests were welcomed into the park for the first time.
[edit] 1980s-1990s
The park's former connection to Hanna-Barbera productions was reduced after Paramount Pictures purchased the park. At that point the park was renamed Paramount Canada's Wonderland. After Viacom bought Paramount in 1994, a successful attempt was made to bring families back to the park by providing children with Nickelodeon cartoon characters that were familiar to a new generation. While the Nickelodeon channel (part of Viacom's MTV Networks) is not available in Canada, many of the network's shows air on YTV, making this decision logical. YTV had previously been involved in numerous projects at the park, including the 1992 direct-to-video Festival of Friends concert, raising money for Kids Help Phone.
[edit] 2000s
In 2005 the park introduced Fearfest, a Halloween event featuring various haunted house attractions in differently-themed areas of the park. Though the section of the park for smaller children was closed off, the park continued running many of their thrill rides during the event such as the Thunder Run ride, where patrons ride a mine-car-like train through a mountain. During the Halloween season it is rethemed as the 'Haunted' Thunder Run, and patrons ride through a darker tunnel with more strobe lights, fog machines, and black light lit scenes featuring the skeletons of miners that might have died in the mine.
In 2006, the park introduced Spooktacular, a Halloween event geared towards children. The event included children's rides, costume contests and a treasure hunt. Spooktacular was open on weekends during the daytime, while Fearfest remained open at night. Due to very low attendance, Spooktacular only lasted one season.
On 14 May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. was interested in acquiring the five Paramount theme parks, including Canada's Wonderland. The acquisition was completed on 30 June 2006.[5] As a result, in early January 2007, Cedar Fair began to drop the "Paramount" name from all of their former Paramount parks, and the park is currently referred to once again by its original name, "Canada's Wonderland". The 2007 season marked a transition year of removing "all things Paramount" throughout the park, which includes the renaming of some of the rides. By the start of the 2008 season, the Paramount logo and similar references were removed.
In June 2007, an accident involving a thirteen-year-old girl at a theme park in Kentucky on a ride similar to the Drop Zone at Canada's Wonderland caused Cedar Fair to close all five similar rides in its theme parks.[6] Drop Zone at Canada's Wonderland was reopened in July 2007.
In August 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Fearfest would be renamed Halloween Haunt to remain consistent with other Cedar Fair parks. At this time Cedar Fair also announced that Spooktacular would be discontinued. In place of Spooktacular, the park extended its regular operating season until the last weekend in October. Thus, the park is open to the public during the day, and Halloween Haunt runs in the late evenings on October weekends.
In the off-season of 2008-2009, Flashpoint shot an episode there for "The Perfect Family" episode, which aired on April 10, 2009 and in the Episode, it was shown as North Dream Park.
The park also announced its addition for 2008, a new hypercoaster called Behemoth, which is currently the largest roller coaster in Canada (and reaches three feet taller than the Drop Tower), and was built in time for the May 4, 2008 opening.[7] In addition, Cedar Fair reactivated the very top two waterfalls, which had been inactive for a long time.
[edit] Themed areas
The park has several themed areas. The four original sections are, International Street, Medieval Faire, Grande World Exposition of 1890 (now Action Zone), and the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera (renamed to Hanna-Barbera Land).[1] Later areas include White Water Canyon (1984), Splash Works (1992), and the expanded children's area including Nickelodeon Central (2003), Kidzville (1998), and Zoom Zoom (2001).
Flight Deck, which opened in 1995 as the "Top Gun" (based on the movie Top Gun) with a movie theme was a shift in the design of the park as it was the first ride to no longer be themed to match the "land" in which it was situated. Since then, almost all new rides have not been themed to be connected to the areas.
[edit] International Street
International Street is the park's main street area, which greets guests when they enter the park. Both sides of the street are lined with shops, including park-related souvenir shops, clothing stores, restaurants, and candy stores. At the end of International Street is Wonderland's centrepiece mountain, Wonder Mountain. While today International Street is filled entirely with chain fast food restaurants and general souvenir stores, it originally had stores and food representing Latin American, Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Alpine (often called Central Europe today) countries, hence the "international" in its name.[1]
Sister Paramount parks of Kings Island and Kings Dominion also have an International Street.
[edit] Medieval Faire
The Medieval Faire section of the park includes a medieval Europe feel to it, in both environment and names of rides. However, it has diminished in recent years due to the advent of un-themed new rides, Riptide, Drop Tower, Shockwave, Speed City Raceway, and The Bat. Quixote's Kettles, a spinning buckets ride, was renamed to Spinovator in 1998 and its brown wooden buckets with twine handles were painted bright pastel colours and had the handles removed. The other original rides which are part of the medieval theme are Dragon Fire, The Rage (a swinging viking ship[1], originally called Viking's Rage), and Wild Beast. The stores and restaurants follow the medieval theme as does the castle theatre (Wonderland Theatre, originally Canterbury Theatre) and a pirates show in the middle of the lake. Rides Wild Beast and Dragon Fire also had pseudo Old English names, Wilde Beast and Dragon Fyre before 1998.
Australia's Wonderland, which opened in 1985, was modeled heavily around Canada's Wonderland, as both parks were constructed by Taft Broadcasting.[8] Two of the three themed areas at Australia's Wonderland were Medieval Faire, and Hanna-Barbera Land, and had a layout similar to Wonderland.
[edit] International Festival
International Festival is located on the north east section of the park and is home to 14 games and 6 rides in the area.[9] Rides include Thunder Run, The Fly, Vortex, Klockwerks, and Krachenwagen. International Festival is most notable for their midway games. Depending on their respective department, Canada's Wonderland staff often refer to this area under different names, including Alpen Games (or also Alpenfest, or just simply Alpen), or simply as Mountain, due to its proximity to Wonder Mountain. The original rides of Krachenwagen and Klockwerks with its pseudo-German name, and the former ride of Bayern's Curve which featured a fake man in traditional German dress with a massive horn with German fencing around it, fit into its international theme.
[edit] White Water Canyon
This section of the park is heavily treed area and includes White Water Canyon, Timberwolf Falls, and Action Theatre, as well as Launch Pad, a set of six trampolines, which is a pay-per-experience attraction. This area was introduced in 1984 when the White Water Canyon ride debuted, it is where the "Frontier Canada" themed area had been promised (along with Splash Works). For operational purposes, these rides are considered part of the Mountain operational group.
[edit] Splash Works
Opened in 1992, Splash Works is a 20-acre (81,000 m2) water park located within the park boundaries of the park. There are 16 water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and some small children's water slides and water play area.
[edit] Action Zone
This area was formerly called the "Grande World Exposition of 1890" and was made to resemble an old world fair, which has expos ("expositions") from different countries all over the world, with specifically, the park focusing on African and Asian themes.[1] The original rides which fit into the theme are its Antique Carrousel, and Swings of the Century (originally Swings of Siam), in addition to the arcades/laser zone. The restaurants and bathrooms formally had the exposition theme, as well as The Orbiter, which was called Sol Loco and had a Latin American theme. For instance, one of the restaurants was called "Ginza Gardens" (now "The Backlot Cafe") and had a Japanese theme, which explains the former Japanese façade. In addition the former rides of The Great Whale of China and The Fury (originally Shiva's Fury) fit into the theme as well. The newer rides of Backlot Stunt Coaster, Jet Scream, Time Warp, SkyRider, Flight Deck, Psyclone, Sledge Hammer, Xtreme Skyflyer do not. Despite the name change, signage at the entrance from International Street still maintains the old name, and this area continues to be referred to as either Expo or Expo/Action Zone by staff members.
The Grande World Exposition of 1890 is one of the original four themed areas at Wonderland. In 2002, Action Zone, was created as a new themed area within the Grande World Exposition of 1890 (for area of the new rides of Psyclone, Shockwave).[10] However, in 2008, the entire area was renamed "Action Zone." At sister park Kings Island, Paramount renamed their "Wild Animal Habitat" themed area (which became Adventure Village in 1994), "Action Zone" in 1999.
The Mighty Canadian Minebuster roller coaster, built for the opening park, is on the outskirts of the Grande World Exposition of 1890 and was originally intended to be the centrepiece of the never-built Frontier Canada section of the park.[11]
[edit] Children's areas
[edit] Hanna-Barbera Land
Hanna-Barbera Land is the original children's area in the park which opened with the park. Initially called "Happyland of Hanna-Barbera" cartoon characters such as Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstone provided the theme for children's rides.[1] When the section opened in 1981 it had three sections. The first section was "Yogi's Woods", based on The Yogi Bear Show. "Scoobyville" was the central town site, where a carousel and other attractions were included. On the oppsite end of Scoobyville from Yogi's Wood was "Bedrock", based on The Flintstones.
Yogi's Woods was replaced in 1984 (see Kidzville), and Bedrock was replaced in 2003 (see Nickelodeon Central). Due to Cedar Fair's take over the park, many of the Hanna-Barbera references are expected to be removed in the near future. Today, Hanna-Barbera Land has Aerofield, a ride with WWI style plans, Ghoster Coaster, Hanna-Barberry-Go-Round Carrousel, Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion, Jetson's Rocketport, Revolving Cages, and Swan Lake.
Canada's Wonderland is the last of the parks to have a Hanna-Barbera Land. "Happyland of Hanna-Barbera" was found at the sister Paramount Parks of Carowinds, Kings Dominion (replaced by Kidzville in 1997), and Kings Island (upper part renamed to Nickelodeon Central in 2001, and both sections renamed Nickelodeon Universe in 2006). In addition, the other sister Taft Broadcasting park of Australia's Wonderland, had a Hanna-Barbera Land, which was largely based on the layout of the Canada's Wonderland, until the park's closure in 2002.
[edit] Nickelodeon Central
Nickelodeon Central is another children's section of the park carved out of part of Hanna-Barbera Land in 2003. It replaced "Bedrock", a Flinstones-themed area of Hanna-Barbera Land. Only the bumper cars were kept, turned into the Rugrats Toonpike. The restaurant was de-themed, and turned into a Pizza Pizza. The rides and area have a Nickelodeon theme. It also includes the rides Wild Thornberries Tree Top Lookout, Jimmy Neutron's Brainwasher, Dora's Dune Buggies.
A Nickelodeon Central section is also found at the other Cedar Fair theme parks of Carowinds (in 2003), Kings Dominion (in 2000), Kings Island (in 2001 and then expanded to Nickelodeon Universe in 2006), and California's Great America (in 2003). It is also found at the Australia theme park of Dreamworld, where through through an alliance with Nickelodeon, they created a Nickelodeon Central in 2002 based on a similar concept on the Paramount Parks theme parks. As with most things "Nickelodeon," the word is often shorted to "Nick" and hence the area is often called "Nick Central." Nickelodeon Central is unrelated to the Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
[edit] Kidzville
In 1984, "Smurf Village" replaced Yogi's Woods; a themed area of Hanna-Barbera Land. The section featured the newly popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Smurfs and was a walk-through attraction. For the 1993 season, the Smurf Village section became "Kids Kingdom." The year 1998 saw the Kidzville (styled as KidZville) area replace the Kids Kingdom. While the two Kids Kingdom rides were kept, Kidzville also introduced Taxi Jam, Flavourator, Chopper Chase, Toucan Sam maze, and Swing Time (which removed Snail Trail). Today, it also has the rides, Frequent Flyers, Jokey's Jalopies, and Kidzville Station.
A fourth themed area is Zoom Zone. Quite small, it is part of Kidzville. Created in 2001 with the debut of Silver Streak, it also contains the small rides of Blast Off, and Jumpin' Jet. One of the Kidzville rides, and originally a Kids Kingdom ride, Jumbo Bumps, was removed to make way for these three rides and new section. Starting in 2004, the Zoom Zone was no longer printed on the park maps as an independent section, however since Cedar Fair's takeover each of the three rides mentions it is in Zoom Zone, and park signage continues to indicate the name.
For operational purposes, Kidzville, Nickelodeon Central, and Hanna-Barbera Land are all considered to be one operational area, known internally by staff members as "H.B.", for Hanna-Barbera.
Sister Paramount Parks of Kings Dominion, and California's Great America both have a Kidzville. Both created Kidzville by replacing Hanna-Barbera themed areas. Kings Dominion replaced their Hanna-Barbera Land in 1997, and Great America replaced their "Smurf Woods" themed area in 1999.
[edit] Attractions
Today, Canada's Wonderland has over 200 attractions, including over 60 thrill rides. The park is tied for second place for the record of most roller coasters in one park with 15 in total, and North America's greatest variety.[citation needed] The park features eight themed areas on 330 acres (1.3 km2) of land which includes a 20 acres (81,000 m2) waterpark called Splash Works. Splash Works has over 2 million gallons (7,570 m3) of heated water, Canada's largest outdoor wave pool measuring 36,000 square feet (3,300 m2), a lazy river, and 16 water slides.
In 1983, Canada's Wonderland added the Kingswood Music Theatre, a 15,000 seat amphitheatre that hosted many "big-name" concerts. After the Molson Amphitheatre opened on the grounds of Ontario Place in 1995, cultural festivals at the theatre became more prominent. Splash Works is featured in the southwest quadrant; an artificial mountain forms the park's central feature.
[edit] Roller coasters
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[edit] Flat rides
Besides the large number of roller coasters it has, it also has a huge variety of flat rides, such as bumper cars, carousels, many of these relying on centripetal force, and other funfair rides, such as:
- Psyclone - A Mondial Revolution, swinging and spinning reaching heights of over 110 feet (34 m)
- Shockwave - A Mondial Top Scan that twist and turns on every possible axis.
- Riptide (formerly Cliffhanger) - A Mondial Splashover with twin gondolas that flip and go around in the air, but you might get wet.
- Jet Scream - A looping starship type of ride
- Antique Carousel A classic carousel loacted in Action Zone
- Orbiter Rotates around one axle, which eventually turns to almost 90°
- Spinovator A classic spinning tea-cups ride, but slightly tilted
- The Rage Another classic, a Pirate Ship ride
- Klockwerks - An old classic that rotates and with the centrifugal force pushes you outward.
- Sledgehammer - Spins riders on two axes and blasts you up and down distances of 85 feet (26 m).
- Action Theatre (formerly Action F/X Theatre) - Motion based seating ride in two large theatres featuring Sponge Bob Squarepants in 3D)
- Drop Tower: Scream Zone (formerly Drop Zone Stunt Tower) - A vertical tower-like ride that begins by slowly taking its passengers up the towards the peak of the tower and then immediately drops the passenger down until he/she reaches the ground.[12]
[edit] Major attractions by year
- 1981 - Park Opens with:
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- Antique Carousel (originally built in 1928), Balloon Race (Frequent Flyers), Bayern's Curve (R), Bedrock Dock (R) moved to Carowinds, now operates as "Little Bill's Cruisers", Blauer Enzian (Thunder Run), Dragon Fire, Flintstone's Flyboys (R), Ghoster Coaster, Great Whale of China (R) moved to Carowinds, now operates as "The Flying Dutchman's Revenge", Happy Landing (Swan Lake), Hot Rock Raceway (R), Klockwurker (Klockwerks), Krachenwagen, Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Wilde Beast (Wild Beast), Quixote's Kettles (Spinovator), Scooby Choo (Kidzville Station), Shiva's Fury (The Fury (R)), Sol Loco (Orbiter), Swing of Siam (Swings of the Century), Pharaoh's Eye (R), Wilde Knight Mares (Nightmares), Viking's Rage (The Rage), & Zumba Flume (R)
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- 1982 - Kings Courtyard (The Courtyard)
- 1983 - Kingswood Music Theatre
- 1984 - White Water Canyon, Smurf Forest (until 1990s) (R)
- 1985 - SkyRider
- 1986 - Thunder Run (formerly "Blauer Enzian", was relocated inside the mountain)
- 1987 - The Bat
- 1988 - Racing Rivers (R)
- 1989 - Timberwolf Falls
- 1990 - Jet Scream
- 1991 - Vortex
- 1992 - Splash Works: Wipeout (R), Whirl Winds, Body Blast, Scooby's Splash Island Kiddy Slides (Splash Island Kiddy Slides), Pipeline (R)
- 1993 - Kid's Kingdom play area (later renovated and renamed Candy Factory)
- 1994 - Days of Thunder - Motion Simulator Movie Ride (Action Theatre - Currently Playing SpongeBob SquarePants 3D)
- 1995 - Top Gun (Flight Deck)
- 1996 - Xtreme Skyflyer; Splash Works Expansion: Wave Pool, The Pump House, Black Hole Water Slide
- 1997 - Drop Zone (Drop Tower), Speed City Raceway
- 1998 - Kidzville, James Bond - License To Thrill (feature at Action Theatre (R)), The Edge Climbing Wall (R)
- 1999 - The Fly; SplashWorks Expansion: Super Soaker and The Plunge; Escape from Dino Island (feature at Action Theatre (R))
- 2000 - Cliffhanger (Riptide), Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion
- 2001 - Shockwave; Zoom Zone (new kids area) including: Silver Streak, Blast Off and Jumping Jet; 7th Portal (feature at the Action Theatre (R))
- 2002 - Psyclone; SplashWorks Expansion: Riptide Racer, Barracuda Blaster and Kids Sprayground
- 2003 - Sledge Hammer, Nickelodeon Central (replacing Bedrock), "Warrior of the Dawn" (in Action Theatre) (R), "Spongebob Squarepants 3-D"(feature in Action Theatre), Launch Pad (trampolines; requires separate fee)
- 2004 - Tomb Raider (Time Warp)
- 2005 - Italian Job Stunt Track (Backlot Stunt Coaster)
- 2006 - Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular (R), The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbara (feature at the Action Theatre (R), Nickelodeon Celebration Parade (R)
- 2007 - Coasters 50s Diner, International Marketplace Buffet, "Twistin to the 60s" show (R), "Endless Summer on Ice" show, Picnic Pavilion
- 2008 - Behemoth, "Dance to the Music" show (R)
- 2009 - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" show, "Marty's Party" Show
Current name in (brackets); R= Removed/Closed
[edit] Location
Canada's Wonderland is on the east side of Highway 400 between Rutherford Road (Exit 33) and Major Mackenzie Drive (Exit 35), 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Highway 401, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Highway 407 and 64 kilometres (40 mi) south of Barrie. It is bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Jane Street to the east, Major Mackenzie Drive to the north and Rutherford Road to the south. Formerly quite isolated, it is now surrounded by housing on all sides. It has three public entrances and one entrance designated for staff, deliveries and buses.
[edit] Public transportation
Regular transit access is provided by York Region Transit (YRT), while GO Transit, Brampton Transit, and Mississauga Transit all run special services. The bus loop at Wonderland is located near the northeast corner of the park, and is accessible from the service entrance on Jane Street, North of Major Mackenzie Drive. Transportation to the park to the Wonderland Terminal is available from the following of the regional transit organizations:
- Toronto Transit Commission on behalf of York Region Transit: Toronto - Route 165 Weston Road North to York Mills Station via Wilson Station.
- Mississauga Transit- Route 288, express, non-stop trip to/from Canada's Wonderland, starting/ending at Mississauga's Square One.
- York Region Transit: Route 20 Jane-Concord provides service along the Jane Street corridor from York University to Teston Road. YRT Route 87 Langstaff-Maple and Route 4/4A Major Mackenzie serve the park from nearby stops on Jane Street or Major Mackenzie Drive.
- GO Transit: Wonderland GO Bus Service from York Mills Bus Terminal and Yorkdale Bus Terminal.
- Brampton Transit: Route 66 from Bramalea City Centre.
York Region Transit has, in the past, run express Wonderbus services from Newmarket and Markham. These services were discontinued for the 2007 season. As well, beginning with the 2009 season, Route 4 Major Mackenzie no longer serves the Wonderland bus loop.
[edit] Promotions
In the 1980s, Canada's Wonderland and the Loblaws supermarket chain had a cross-marketing campaign. The supermarket provided customers with a Wonder dollar based on a customer's purchases, which was redeemable at Canada's Wonderland at parity with the Canadian dollar during weekdays. The obverse of the coin featured Wonder Mountain, whereas the reverse featured the Loblaws logo.[citation needed]
Canada's Wonderland has also been featured in Flashpoint, in the ninth episode of the second season, though its name was changed to the "Northern Dream Park".
[edit] Logos
The park from its opening in 1981 was known as Canada's Wonderland. In 1994, when it was sold to Paramount Pictures (later Viacom), they changed the name of the park to include the word Paramount, something Paramount Parks did with all of its other parks in 1993. Previous to that, none of the Paramount owned parks had the Paramount prefix.
The logo was completely changed to be in the style of the Paramount Parks logo, as well as their other theme park properties, which all had the same styled logos, including the Paramount prefix, and the Paramount Pictures mountain logo.
In 2003, Viacom updated the logo of Paramount Parks, and all its theme parks, including Wonderland, to include an updated Paramount logo, even though the logo for Paramount Pictures, the film studio, remained unchanged.
In 2007, CBS Corporation, (split from Viacom in 2005), sold all of its theme park properties to Cedar Fair, which in turn, dropped the Paramount prefixes from all five parks, and gave the logos the Cedar Fair logo and font style.
 Wordmark used from 1981 until 1993 |
 Logo used from 1981 until 1993 |
 Logo used in 1990 to celebrate Canada's Wonderland's 10th anniversary using Hanna-Barbera characters Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstone |
 The logo after Paramount Pictures purchase of the park, used from 1994-2003 |
 Slightly modified logo used from 2004-2006 |
 Logo used since 2007 after Cedar Fair bought Paramount Parks, including this park |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g A Theme Park Called Wonderland Opens Near Toronto, New York Times, Andrew Maclom, May 24, 1981
- ^ "Canada’s Wonderland Rated The Most Popular Seasonal Park In North America!". 2007-04-05. http://www3.cedarfair.com/CanadasWonderland/news/detail.cfm?item_id=566.
- ^ "Canada's Wonderland 2006 Attendance" (PDF). 2007-04-05. http://www.connectingindustry.com/pdfs/TEA-ERAAttendance06.pdf.
- ^ Cameron, James M. and Bordessa, Ronald, "Wonderland Through The Looking Glass". Maple, Ontario: Belsten. 1981
- ^ "Sale of Paramount Parks to Cedar Fair, L.P.". http://www3.paramountparks.com/CanadasWonderland/news/detail.cfm?item_id=387.
- ^ de Vries, Lloyd (2007-06-22). "Six Flags Closes More Rides After Accident". http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/22/national/main2965711.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_2965711.
- ^ Canada's Wonderland (August 2007). "Wonderland's Biggest Investment in History". http://attraction.canadaswonderland.com/public/news/.
- ^ WonderlandSydney, AsiaRooms
- ^ Canada's Wonderland 2008 Games Department Handbook; p.35.
- ^ Paramount Canada's Wonderland, Theme Park Timelines
- ^ Minebuster, CW Mainia
- ^ New ride names courtesy 2008 Operations employee newsletter.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canada's Wonderland |
- Canada's Wonderland official site
- Roller Coaster Database
- Google Satellite Image
- Cedar Fair
- Alpen Games' Website - Created by a Canada's Wonderland staff.
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Coordinates: 43°50′33.16″N 79°32′31.00″W / 43.8425444°N 79.5419444°W
