Photo TR: Wandering Canadian

[Taylor Finn]

I dream of going on a TPR trip to Japan when I'm a bit older! I hope, hope, hope you guys go back there, Robb and Elissa! These two parks are screaming for me, right now. (;

[boweryboy]

This is by far the best Disneysea post evah.

 

I got a greater feel of the overall park, the attractions, the nooks and crannies.

 

Now I understand why every one rants and raves over how amazing this park is. It truly is.

 

Thanks.

[ernierocker]

Thanks for posting these trip reports. Between Tokyo Disney and Allure of the Seas you are off to a great start! Keep it up!

[BrianLo]

Today I got to check out Canada's Wonderland for ScotiaBank day. CW blocks the first three weekends of the year for major Canadian banks (yesterday BMO and next Saturday RBC) before it opens to the public. Usually the sneak preview event happens the Friday before RBC day but major coasters *cough* Leviathan *cough* pushed it before the bank days. Having relatives who work for ScotiaBank and RBC is a nice little perk.

 

The water park and water rides are not yet open (I think White Water Canyon usually is open at this time of the year but it's apparently opening May 19 and was completely drained). Windseeker was also closed (still haven't ridden it!) and the backlot stunt coaster for some reason wasn't operating although they had staff manning the on-ride photo booth. Of course sledgehammer and doesn't look like it will be operational anytime soon, as if that's surprising to anyone...

 

But if nothing but Leviathan was running I would have been there with bells on!

 

I think they really nailed the entrance for the ride.

 

First a Leviathan mini review:

 

-Definitely adding one to the back is superior to the front camp. Our first ride was on the front in the morning, and I think the ride may have picked up some steam throughout the day as temperatures warmed a bit. I prefer the right hand side as well.

-Leviathan is running so much faster than any of the initial test run videos I saw. It really flies through the elements.

-They were using trims on the return camelback. Very minor and only because I was paying attention to them.

-I think my favourite elements are the first drop (what a difference 5 degrees over Behemoth makes) and the turnaround by the front gate. It's one of the few off-ride photo ops for a coaster in Canada's Wonderland, it's great actually seeing something on one of their coasters as opposed to a lake, backstage or a field.

-Leviathan does not feel too short, nor was the epic break run bothersome to me. You can't really see the station and still fly through the flat portion of the break run and slow down once you crest the hill. Other elements would not have made sense.

-The plaque on the ride which shows all the manufacturing etc says Giga for ride type. I don't really know if that's been pointed out anywhere but I recall all the labels listed the coaster type as a Mega still so I thought that was interesting.

-Leviathan is consistent, I found the whole ride consistently more thrilling than Behemoth which loses steam after the mid course break run.

 

The front entrance is forever changed!

 

I really wasn't sure if I liked the two coasters equally, I love air time and I really enjoy Behemoth. After we returned to Leviathan later in the day and rode in the back I really was sold. Leviathan is a fantastic ride. Is it a million times better than Behemoth? No. But I already rank Behemoth as a fantastic ride, and I think Leviathan is Fantastic Plus!

 

I'd listen to the people who have actually ridden it, and the opinion is consistently strong.

 

A ton-o-fun!

 

I am so glad Canada's Wonderland finally has a signature ride to call all its own, it's really about time! Behemoth was a much needed catch up, but Leviathan is the ride CW deserves considering the strong annual attendance. It's so sad that the GP probably thought flight deck was the signature ride only a few years ago!

 

Leviathan has been covered ad nauseum, so let's check out the rest of the park!

Beautiful day in CW. We arrived shortly after 10 when the park opens, it was a two hour drive from London.

I saw the shivering in the videos from Friday so I wasn't going to be unprepared. Despite looking like an idiot I was warm. It was on the borderline where it was freezing in the shade and comfortable in the sun. Naturally we said hello to Snoopy.

The public finally is running in a different direction! The last major ride to this side of the park was Drop zone in the 90's. Cliffhanger I don't think was a run-to ride.

Figured it best to visit Leviathan first and take a ride in the front. Ultimately the line appeared to be the same all throughout the day, about 10 minutes which was great!

Last Leviathan dedicated picture... I think.

Next up we visited the bat, a classic boomerang but it's always been extremely popular at Canada's Wonderland.

It's still fun and relatively smooth after all this time.

The Bat?

Heading back the other direction, clockwise from the entrance we pass Top Gun/Flight Deck. I've been avoiding it consistently the past few years. No thanks head banging.

Also Tomb Raider/Don't ask me what it's called now lies next-door. Another tried it no desire to return coaster.

We enter what I dub Behemoth plaza with most of the new additions to the park. Sledgehammer was inoperable - go figure. I have ridden it and it's ok. It could be more thrilling with better programming but I fear the ride can barely function as is.

Back here we have Behemoth, backlot stunt coaster which was down and Mindbuster. Behemoth is still fairly smooth and lots of fun.

Psyclone opened up - no one wanted to sit near me, they were jealous of my warmth.

I love the mondial, it's my favourite flat!

Weee - You can see my feet. The second one on the white section at the crest. Watch the ride cycle before to pick your optimal seating

It's not meant to be between us windseeker.

Future home of super-awesome B&M prototype 2016. And vortex which is still a lot of fun!

Cliffhanger/riptide .

This year Dragon Fyre receives some new company, and it makes for a interesting ride!

Oh hello!

Lots of interaction with Behemoth. This used to be a relatively boring open field.

I also really enjoy Psyclone but it wasn't too happy this year. Every other section of seats were wrapped in tarp.

To kiddie land we go!

We got in line for the swans but the "you must ride with a child" signs scared us off. Can you spot the absolutely hilarious new theming of the swan ride?

The correct answer was the not so hidden end to Dinosaur's alive.

Photo op!

Dinosaur's Alive was pretty cool. Took us a while to realize they were trying to highlight all the recently found species of Dino's. You needed to wait about 30 seconds between cycles to see the animatonics come to life.

Ah no! It was actually really long! I feel like we got our $6 worth. The 3D movie was enjoyable but I am sad to see the moving seats go. The projector system looks like it has been updated to Real 3D and we got to watch about 5-10 minutes worth of commercials for LG, Panasonic, and 3D....

Wild Beast is over in that general direction. I didn't snag a picture but it really hurt us this year. This used to be my favourite ride but its in need of some TLC.

Why are you so painful?! Instead we are headed to...

Swing of the Century

Fun times!

In the background the TOGO standup that shall be ripped out for super awesome B&M prototype 2016. Good riddance.

Ah no white water canyon yet!

We have a Starbucks! I don't know when this exactly happened...

Yum funnel cake!

We hit up thunder run, which is still good fun.

Ghoster Coaster is fortunately not painful!

Boo Blaster is a shooting dark ride with the worst capacity in the world... But it's still fun, so we wait!

We finished our day off with Leviathan but I promised no more pictures of it... so here is skeeball! Great day in CW, I like to visit only once a year so I don't burn myself out from the park, but if you've never been it might be worth a 2-day visit to really hit up the amazing plethora of rides on offer and the waterpark. Now it's time for me to return to my thesis... *sigh*

[805Andrew]

Cool pics of Tokyo Disney w/o crowds, the classy RCCL cruise, and Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland. Lucky you to hit Tokyo Disney w/o crowds and to have Journey open even though it was scheduled to be closed for refurbishment.

 

From what I've heard most of Haiti is pretty barren but RCCL's private beach there sure does look nice. That zip line looks like it ends in the water which looks awesome. Speaking of cruises, last night's episode of the Simpsons was about going on a cruise, so that along with these pics and a lot of cruise talk lately on TPR really makes me want to go on one.