Canada's Wonderland

Canada's Wonderland is an amusement park in Vaughan, Ontario, a suburb town of Toronto.

Canada's Wonderland has over 200 attractions (including games), with over 60 thrill rides. With 17 roller coasters, Canada's Wonderland is ranked second in the world by number of roller coasters, after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California (19 coasters), and tied with Cedar Point (17 coasters). The park encompasses eight themed areas on 134 hectares (330 acres) of land, with an artificial mountain as the central feature. In the southwestern quadrant, an 8 hectares (20 acres) waterpark called Splash Works has over 7,570,000 litres of heated water, Canada's largest outdoor wave pool, measuring 3,300 m², a lazy river, and 16 water slides.

Understand

It is a seasonal park, open every day from May to early September, and on weekends a bit before and after the summer. Halloween Haunt is open until October 31st at midnight early November. WinterFest is open in late December. In 2018, it was the most visited seasonal amusement park in North America.

It is owned by Cedar Fair, which operates 12 amusement parks in North America.

Get in

By plane

Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) is the airport that serves Toronto, and its surrounding communities. It has flights from most large cities in North America, Europe, and the Caribbean, and some flights from Asia and Central and South America.

If you're driving, take the 409 East, then take the 401 East. Drive for a bit, then exit onto 400 North. After 10 km, exit at Rutherford Road, and then turn right, and immediately turn left onto Canada's Wonderland Drive. The park entrance is clearly marked. An alternative route is getting off at Major Mackenzie Drive, turning right, then turning right onto Jane Street, and then turning right again into the park. This route is longer.

If you're taking transit, there are many options. However, all options are lengthy and require transfers.

Option 1 (weekends/holidays only, $11, quickest way): Take GO Bus 34 to Finch Terminal. Then take YRT Route 760 to Wonderland.

Option 2 (any day, $11): Take GO Bus 34, get off at Yorkdale Terminal. Then take GO Bus 66 to East Gwillimbury, and get off at Major Mackenzie Park and Ride. Then take 4 or 4A east, get off at Jane, take 20 south, then get off at Norwood.

Option 3 (cheapest but longest, any day, $7.50): Take TTC Route 900, Airport Express to Kipling Station. Then take Line 2 subway to St. George. Then travel north on Line 1 to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station. Then take YRT Route 20 north, and get off at Norwood.

Option 4 (cheapest but long, weekends/holidays, $7.50): Take TTC Route 900, Airport Express to Kipling Station. Then take Line 2 subway to Bloor-Yonge Station. Travel north on Line 1 to Finch Station, then take YRT Route 760 that goes to Wonderland.

By train

GO Transit's Barrie Line is the closest train line to access Wonderland. You could use both Rutherford GO and Maple GO station, however, Maple GO would probably be easier to access if you're using local transit after you get off the train.

If you're driving, coming from Maple GO, head west on Major Mackenzie Drive, drive for a while, then turn left on Jane Street. Drive for a while, then turn right into the park. From Rutherford GO, head west on Rutherford Road, drive for a while then turn right into the park when you see the entrance.

If you're taking transit, from Maple GO, take YRT Route 4 west to Vaughan Mills, take YRT Route 20 south, then get off at Norwood. If you take Route 4A, go west towards Pine Valley, get off at Jane Street, then take Route 20 south to York University, and get off in front off at Norwood. From Rutherford GO, take YRT Route 85C to west to Vaughan Mills, then take YRT Route 20 North, and get off at Norwood. If you take Route 85, get off at Jane Street, and take Route 20 North instead.

By car

Arriving at Wonderland by car is the easiest way to arrive.

From the north: Take 400 South, exit at Major Mackenzie Drive, turn left onto Major Mackenzie Dr, and then turn right at Jane Street. Then drive 1.5 km, turn right into park entrance.

From the south: Take 400 North, exit at Rutherford Road, turn right, then immediately turn left into park entrance.

There are two entrances. One is on Rutherford Road, the other is on Jane Street. There is also a pick-up/dropoff area on Jane Street.

By bus

YRT (York Region Transit) provides bus service to Canada's Wonderland.

YRT Route 4/4A Major Mackenzie - Get off at Jane Street, take Route 20 south, get off at Norwood.
YRT Route 85 Rutherford - Get off at Jane Street, take 20 north, get off at Norwood.
YRT Route 85C Rutherford - Get off at Vaughan Mills Terminal, take 20 north, get off at Norwood.
YRT Route 20 Jane - Get off at Norwood Avenue stop, this is the closest stop to the park entrance for non-drivers.
YRT Route 760 Vaughan Mills/Wonderland - Get off at terminus (Wonderland). Note that 760 only operates on weekends.

By subway

If you're coming from Toronto, there's a large chance you might be taking the subway.

Option 1 (any day): Take Line 1 and ride all the way to the terminal station, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. From there, take Route 20 Jane north operated by YRT. Get off at Norwood Avenue.

Option 2 (weekends/holidays): Take Line 1 and ride all the way to the terminal station, Finch Station. From there, take Route 760 operated by YRT. It will take you directly to Wonderland with one stop at Vaughan Mills.

By bike

In Vaughan, it is completely legal to cycle on the sidewalks. Therefore, it is safe to bike to Canada's Wonderland. There are bike racks in the parking lot of the park.

Admission fees

All prices are in Canadian dollars.

Single day ticket prices for 2020:

Good Any Day Ticket ($67 + tax at the park, $40 + tax online). Includes admission to the park on any day during the season. Not valid for Halloween Haunt and WinterFest. No re-entry.
Funday Bundle ($105 + tax, $50 + tax if online). Includes admission to the park on any day during the season, parking, and one meal (entree + side + regular fountain drink). Not valid for Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. No re-entry.
After 4PM Ticket ($45 + tax, $30 + tax online).
Senior Ticket ($51 + tax, $20 + tax online). 65 and older.
Group Tickets ($38 + tax). Must be groups of 15-99 people. Only valid for a specific date. For every 15 tickets purchased, one free ticket will be offered. Not valid for Halloween Haunt and Winterfest.

Tickets purchased on websites like the Red Deals, the Next Deals, the Group Deals, or Kijiji may not be valid, and the park will not refund your money for such tickets

Season pass prices for 2020:

Season Pass ($76 + tax) — unlimited entry, but not valid for Halloween Haunt and WinterFest
Gold Pass ($106 + tax) — unlimited entry, including Halloween Haunt and WinterFest
Platinum Pass ($220 + tax) — unlimited entry, including Halloween Haunt and WinterFest, free parking, and unlimited entry with Platinum privileges at all Cedar Fair Parks in the United States, including California's Great America, Carowinds, Cedar Point, Dorney Park, Gilroy Gardens, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, Knott's Berry Farm, Michigan's Adventure, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun.

Fast Lane

For $80 (in addition to normal admission charges, 2020 price), visitors receive a wrist band that enables them to bypass the normal wait line and enter the Fast Lane. It allows purchasers to cut in at the front of the line on 21 of the most popular attractions without waiting. Fast Lane Plus allows purchasers to bypass the lines of three additional attractions for an additional $10. Fast Lane Plus Season Pass costs $465.

Boarding pass for people with disabilities

People with disabilities (such as mobility issues, IBD, Autism and others) can acquire a boarding pass from ride accommodations at guest services. This is a virtual line, and a time to return is given by the workers at the rides. They must be accompanied with one other person at least 14 years of age, most often the support worker or family member (i.e. someone who can assist boarding the ride with the guest with the disability).

Get around

Canada's Wonderland can only be accessed by foot.

Wheelchairs (manual and electric) are available for rent.

See and do

The park has several themed areas. They include International Street, Medieval Faire, Grande World Action Zone, International Festival, the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera, White Water Canyon, Splash Works, and three children's areas: Kidzville, Zoom Zone, and Planet Snoopy. In 2019, the park introduced a new themed area, "Frontier Canada", a gold-rush themed section.

Buy

There are many shops with branded merchandise. You can't miss them.

Eat

There are lots of stalls selling overpriced fast food, and some overpriced casual restaurants, too. Dining plans are available through the website (2020 prices, tax included) for single meals ($18), all-day dining ($36), or with a season's pass ($106).

Muskoka Craft Burger and Beer — Featuring freshly grilled burgers, freshly fried potato chips, and craft beer from Muskoka Brewery. Vegetarian options, and bison burgers. White Water Canyon area.
Miners Café — International cuisines such as Crisp Lemon Chicken, Braised Beef, and Tempura Shrimps. Near the entrance of the Mighty Canadian Minebuster.
King's Feast — Offering a covered patio, grilled burger, grilled chicken sandwich, chicken tenders and fries. Next to Leviathan in the Medival Faire.
La Cantina — Tacos, burritos and other Mexican dishes. International Street.
Beavertails — A Canadian classic, these are beavertail-shaped deep fried doughnut dough coated in cinnamon-sugar and topped with a variety of offerings. You can bring your own food and picnic at tables provided outside the entrance.

Drink

Waveside Tikki Bar — Serving domestic beers, ciders and light snacks.
Maple Wine and Beer Bar — Ontario craft beer and Ontario wines.

Sleep

There are no hotels in the park. Check listings for Vaughan Mills, a shopping centre just a couple of kilometres away. The park's website offers admission-and-hotel packages.

Canada's Wonderland - amusement park in Vaughan, Canada