Canada's Wonderland - August 27th, 2024

On August 27th, I made my seventh visit of the season to Canada's Wonderland!

My brother Scott and our mom joined me as we made a visit to the park during the last remaining days of daily operation for the 2024 season. I was able to ride 14 different rides during our visit, including the big three roller coasters (Behemoth, Yukon Striker, and Leviathan)! The park didn't feel quite as busy as I was anticipating due to a slight chance of thunderstorms throughout the day.

Overall a great visit! I look forward to making a couple of visits to Canada's Wonderland this Fall to cap off the 2024 season. Stay tuned! 🙂

You know it's late-August at Canada's Wonderland when the Halloween Haunt display appears on International Street!

Construction for AlpenFury was continuing during today's visit as the track for the new for 2025 roller coaster arrived on site just the other day!

Scott and I started our day off in Action Zone with rides on Behemoth and Sledge Hammer.

After getting on quite a few rides in Action Zone and Frontier Canada, I went and got lunch at Lazy Bear Lodge. On my way over, I captured this photo of Wonder Mountain.

My first meal of the day was smoked hickory chicken and smashed potatoes with a potato bun roll.

While eating lunch at Lazy Bear Lodge, I sat and watched Yukon Striker's trains zip through the Immelmann inversion.

After lunch, we headed over to Timberwolf Falls and White Water Canyon to cool down as it became quite humid. The park was quite busy, but not quite as busy as I had anticipated.

With how rainy it has been this summer, the leaves on some trees have begun to change colour!

Here I am after splashing down on TimberWolf Falls! Afterwards, Scott and I rode White Water Canyon.

I took a spin on Lumberjack as I hadn't been on it this year. It is still quite fun with some decent hangtime!

While waiting in line for Shockwave, I captured this photo of Leviathan. Later in the afternoon, Scott and I would catch a front row seat on Leviathan, something we hadn't done in a couple of years!

Shockwave was running quite well today. Although, the one red gondola was still closed off, reducing the capacity to 25 passengers.

The Calla Lilies in front of Shockwave have greatly flourished this year!

Around 1:30pm, Scott and I were in line for Spinovator in Medieval Faire. While in line, the new Castaways show in Arthur's Baye was happening. It is a more traditional acrobatics and dive show, something I really enjoyed!

The new dive structure looks great!

The performers did a great job!

Overall, it was a great show!

There was tons of diving from the performers during the 15-20 minute run!

Here is one of the performers of Castaways diving into Arthur's Baye!

In the late afternoon, I had my second meal of the day at Lazy Bear Lodge. Pictured is pulled pork, a spring salad, and a potato bun roll. While this is good, I was looking to eat at Grande World Eatery again, but unfortunately it opened later in the day, only realizing this as we were leaving the park.

Another ride I haven't been on in a while is Swing of the Century. It was nice to ride some of the classics again!

Here's my mom and I on Antique Carousel.

My last ride of the day was a second ride on Tundra Twister! In the morning I had a ride that provided a panoramic view, while my afternoon ride was more intense!

Here's myself, our mom, and Scott posing in front of the globe in Grande World Exposition of 1890. Next year AlpenFury will be soaring over head! Thanks for checking out my seventh visit of the season to Canada's Wonderland! 🙂

Canadian National Exhibition - August 21st, 2024

 Today (August 21st) my Mom and I went down to Toronto to take in the sights and sounds of this year's CNE. Thankfully the weather was cooler, which made our visit very enjoyable! It is fun to make the annual trip down, but do the Exhibitions grounds ever get so busy in the late-afternoon!

Overall it was a great day at the CNE! Enjoy the photos of our day! 🙂

Before the rides opened, we checked out the midway. This year, North American Midway Entertainment rethemed the Rock & Roll Video Fun House to the Rock & Roll Space Station. It looks very nice! Too bad the walk-through wheel doesn't work.

Here is the X-Drive, that was new last year. I would ride it twice throughout the day. It is still provides an insane ride!

The Mega Drop had also received a fresh coat of paint this year, saying goodbye to the purple and yellow colour scheme. I love it when midway companies such as NAME refresh their rides!

Here's a look at the Crazy Mouse before the rides opened for the day. All nine cars were in use all day!

The first ride I took for the day was on the Sky Ride.

You can get a great view of the midway from the Sky Ride.

It was quite breezy throughout the day. Luckily the winds weren't strong enough to close down the taller rides.

Here I am on the Sky Ride.

The Sky Ride opened about 20 minutes before the rest of the midway, so that is why it looks quiet in the next few photos.

The classic Polar Express was forming quite a line before opening for the day.

It sure was a sunny morning!

Once the rest of the rides opened, I rode X-Drive, Niagara Falls log flume, followed by the Crazy Mouse. My car spun a lot!

Up next was a fast ride on the Polar Express!

After taking in more rides on the midway, including the Swing Tower and Mega Drop, it was time for some lunch. I had a very tasty burrito from Burrito Co. in the Food Building.

In the early afternoon, we checked out the CNE Art Collection in the Withrow Common building. It was rather nice checking out various paintings from the CNE collection.

After viewing some paintings, I took another ride on the Sky Ride.

Here's a look at the Wave Swinger from the Sky Ride.

The Niagara Falls log flume was attracting quite the crowd.

X-Drive is a ride I can't get tired of watching or riding!

The midway was starting to get busier come early afternoon!

Here's my mom waiting for me at the end of the Sky Ride.

Views of the midway such as this are very iconic with the CNE!

I love the Swing Tower. I always make sure to ride it each year!

After getting on more rides, my mom and I checked out the "Carnival: An Exhibition" exhibit in the Enercare Centre. Artifacts were provided from the Conklin family.

It was really neat seeing these artifacts on display!

Here's a look at some antique carousel horses.

Here are some more carousel horses and kiddie ride pieces that were on display.

Here is an original Tilt-A-Whirl sign. Very cool!

Here is a restored car for the Flyer wooden roller coaster that opened in 1953 and operated for nearly 40 years.

The flipping and twisting on X-Drive is just insanely fun!

Later in the afternoon I took a ride on the Observation Wheel. This 150 foot tall giant was new at the CNE in 2023.

Here I am on the Observation Wheel.

From the Observation Wheel, you can see the reconstruction of Ontario Place taking place.

Here's a look down on the midway from the Observation Wheel.

After a ride on the Observation Wheel and the Ring of Fire, I took another ride on the Sky Ride.

From the Sky Ride I captured the Swing Tower in action.

Here's a car on the Crazy Mouse zipping down one of the many drops!

Star Dancer was swinging riders upside down throughout the day! Hard to believe this ride is five years old!

The midway became quite busy between 4 and 5pm!

Before we left the CNE for the day, I had a classic Hot Ice Cream Waffle.

It was very good and something to enjoy every year!

After a great day of rides (over 15 total) and checking out exhibits, we headed out just before 6pm. Thanks for checking out the photos of our annual visit to the CNE! 🙂