Amusement Views: Crazy Mouse

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! 🙂

On Tuesday, August 23rd I went to Toronto to visit the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)! This was the first one held since 2019 due to the pandemic, which caused the event to be cancelled the past two years.

While at the CNE, I took in many rides and even went on a historical walking tour that tells you about the history on the buildings on the exhibition grounds.

Unfortunately the midway was a bit smaller than it was in 2019 as some of the regular rides weren't there, but I still had a great time regardless! After 4pm, the grounds had gotten busy, so I took in many sights and sounds of the busy midway, catching rides here and there.

Be sure to enjoy some of the many photos I had captured during my day at the CNE. :-)

After a GO Train ride from the Oakville station, it was good to be back at the CNE after a two year hiatus!

I arrived at the CNE shortly before 10am, so the rides weren't quite ready yet. They would open at 11am.

The Skyride was the first to open for the day, just before 11am.

After redeeming my all-day ride wristband, I took a ride on the Skyride to get a good view of the midway supplied by North American Midway Entertainment.

A line was beginning to form for the ever popular Polar Express.

The Crazy Mouse and Mach 3 were located in a completely different position, usually where the Blitzer roller coaster operates, which was not present this year.

The Giant Wheel looked bright under the late-morning sun.

It was odd not seeing the Euroslide or the Wave Swinger which are usually beside the Niagara Falls log flume. Hopefully both rides make a return next year.

The new-for-2019 Star Dancer had returned this year. It provided a fun and thrilling ride like it had three years ago!

The Niagara Falls log flume was testing as I rode by on the Skyride.


	After getting off the Skyride, I immediately went to the Polar Express.


	It was great to experience this classic high-speed ride again! Mack Musik Express rides are always a blast!


	After taking a spin on the Polar Express, I went head over heels on the Star Dancer, and then joined the growing line for the Crazy Mouse.


	While waiting to board the Crazy Mouse, I captured this photo of the Giant Wheel.


	It is hard to believe that the Crazy Mouse is 16 years old now! I recall when it was new at the CNE back in 2006! It is still very fun with a lot of spinning! The Tilt-A-Whirl located next to the Crazy Mouse also provided a lot of spinning too!


	The Niagara Falls log flume provided a refreshing ride.

Throughout the day I took a total of three rides on the Skyride. In the past I used to be terrified of it, but after not riding it for nearly three years, I now enjoy it.

While on the Skyride, you pass by the BMO Field. The Skyride goes about 35 feet above the ground. The BMO Field always makes it seem much higher.

The midway got busier throughout the afternoon.

The midway has something for everyone to enjoy.

The Swing Tower provides quite a view as it spins high above the ground!

The Giant Wheel is quite iconic.

The Mega Drop was about to drop thrill-seekers when this photo was taken! I did "drop in" for a ride on it later in the day.

Here I am during my second ride of the day on the Skyride.

I didn't manage to get a ride on Orbiter this year as the line was quite long.

The Mega Drop takes passengers up the 131 foot tall tower, only to freefall downwards in a few short seconds!

It was interesting seeing the Pharaoh's Fury in the corner on the midway where the Euro Slide and the Wave Swinger usually operate. Behind the Pharaoh's Fury was the Century Wheel all packed up, but powered on. It usually operates in the Kiddie Midway, but not this year.

The fun Alpine Bobs had also made an appearance at the CNE, like it has many times over the past years.

It was a bit breezy throughout the afternoon, but not enough to close the Swing Tower.

It was a lovely afternoon to take in some classic fair rides!

The Haunted Mansion was the same as usual with its props turning on late or them not working at all. haha


	Around 2pm I decided to get in line for the Giant Wheel to take in the views that it offers.

With the Crazy Mouse being the only roller coaster on the main midway, it had quite the crowd all day long. Hopefully the Blitzer makes a return next year to lessen the wait time for the Crazy Mouse.

Looking down Ferris Wheels is always quite interesting.

From the Giant Wheel you can get a great view of the CN Tower.

The Polar Express is a must ride when visiting the CNE.

At 3pm I went on the CNE Heritage Walking Tour. It looked at various buildings on the ground, providing history of the buildings.

The Princes' Gates have been an iconic fixture on the Exhibition Place grounds since 1927.

The Administration building is a historical building on the Exhibition grounds that has been home to the CNE offices for quite a few years now.

The Kiddie Midway was home to two new rides this year, one of which was the Raptor Run.

The other is the Double Deck Carousel.


	Of all the funhouses at the 2022 CNE, the Wacky Shack located in the Kiddie Midway was by far the best with all of its features working.


	My third and final ride on the Skyride for the day was a nice one as the breeze had gone down a bit.


	Cliffhanger rises above some of the games on the midway.

I always love watching the expressions on peoples' faces as they ride the Mega Drop.

The Pharaoh's Fury was swinging high into the air throughout the day.


	From the Skyride, you can catch a glimpse of a high speed ride on the Polar Express.

The after work crowds sure made the midway a busy place!

In the late afternoon and early evening the midway games became a popular choice for visitors to the CNE.

As always, there are a lot of games to choose from!

Ring Toss is one of the most popular games on the midway!

In a way it is good to see a crowd on the midway at the CNE after two years of there not being a CNE.

From the Mardi Gras fun house you can get a great view of the Ring of Fire ride.

The long lines for many of the rides were making it hard to navigate the grounds in the evening.

My final ride of the day was on the Polar Express. While waiting in line, the ride before me was coming to an end and the ride operator said "If you want to go faster, you'll need to get in line again!". I think the people on the ride were a bit disappointed. lol