With the start of two Halloween events less than a week away, Canada’s Wonderland has been working hard to get everything ready while simultaneously sending off another year of Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest
I love this annual event at the park, but I think I should start avoiding the last day. The staff seemed a bit stingy with toppings for lunch and then ran out of multiple items by the time I grabbed my dinner. The entertainment is still very suitable, though I didn’t see Keg Tapping listed on the screen this week so it’ll continue to be a mystery.
Of course I had to indulge in my annual stein. I brought one from a previous year but left it in the car for the morning. I didn’t feel like making the trek back to the car to grab it so I bought a new one. (It was only four dollars more than a refill.)
My sister (Amanda) and her husband (David) joined me for lunch and a couple rides with their season passes. Amanda got the same as me (chicken schnitzel with perogies). David got the Polish sausage which he said was good, but he didn’t eat all of the plain hot dog bun. He also said the potato salad had no flavour (which I’ve felt in years past) and the perogies were better.
Chicken Schnitzel with Perogies
The sauerkraut seemed a little less flavourful this week but otherwise it was another stellar meal!
Toronto Ty Taste Tier: A
Fried Chicken on a Pretzel Bun with Perogies
Honestly I was considering the spicy chicken sausage, but they had no more pretzel sausage buns and (at the time I ordered) said they were also out of hot dog buns. There was no potato salad nor spaetzel left, nor tomatoes at the topping bar (with diced red onion replacing it in the tray despite there already being yellow onions on offer). So I asked for the same thing I got earlier that day…
But I can’t in good conscience call this schnitzel. It was fried chicken. I know it was a busy day and supplies were running low, but the park shouldn’t have substituted without letting guests know what they were getting. The bun was rock hard on top and the perogies had no seasoning. It was a rather disappointing final meal for this year’s Oktoberfest.
Toronto Ty Taste Tier: C
Haunt Prep
The floral flag is still fully in place. I feel like it’s usually gone immediately after Labour Day to prepare for the harvest display so I’m a little concerned we may not have that by Friday evening.
The familiar Haunt shack has a new sign celebrating the event’s 20th anniversary! Originally opened as FearFest in 2005 (but staying closed in 2020), Halloween Haunt has seen a lot of changes over the years.
At the entrance to The Grande World Exposition of 1890, the country flags have been replaced with new banners for past mazes.
Unfortunately they scream AI generated, and so do the guests.
While taking photos of these banners, I heard guests in three different groups saying “That s*** looks so AI,” “Ugh, they’re using AI now?”, and a kid probably around nine years old or younger said “why is it all AI, man?”
While I usually try not to assume how something was made, the fact a banner for “Clowns at Midnight” has the name written as just “Clowns” is particularly telling. (Methinks an algorithm interpreted the prompt as “Clowns” at midnight.) Blood Shed was always a great pun, but doesn’t work as well when it’s written as one word.
Haunt is built on artists, whether they be actors, make-up artists, costumers, set designers, and so many more. Celebrating the event’s anniversary with AI generated banners is inexcusable in my honest opinion. The average guest will notice and they do care how something is created. It would have been much better to use the original maze logos on a black/red background and called it a day.
CarnEvil has some props out. I still prefer the old plaza, but these clown faces on the lampposts look great!
Adding a new sign for a show that isn’t returning is an interesting choice…
Streets of the Undead seems to be fully assembled.
The Head Bangers show has some extra flair this week. I don’t remember those X details last year.
I think this is a new sign for Demons of the Deep? The neon aesthetic is a bit striking, but kind of works in my opinion.
Wicked Hollow is set up a little differently this year, with this log house now placed between Vortex’s entrance and exit. I don’t understand this change as it will be inaccessible for the scarers on busy nights. Considering my main issue with Wicked Hollow is how open it is, this feels like moving in completely the wrong direction.
Tricks and Treats
I keep wanting to call this event by the former Camp Spooky name. The map stations for the Trick-or-Treat Adventure look much blander and more generic with the new white-background Tricks and Treats logo. Hopefully decor on this stand will appear by this coming weekend.
Playhouse Theatre’s stage is set for Snoopy’s Tricks and Treats Adventure! (Not to be confused with the Trick-or-Treat Adventure where kids collect candy from various stations.) This location will also host comedy juggler Craig Douglas and The Magic of Aaron Matthews, depending on the day.
The bonus stage next to Flying Canoes is almost fully prepared with a nice set as well. I’m looking forward to seeing Monster Bash, The Pumpkin Patches, and The Spectral Sisters all back this year!
There are also many photo ops throughout the kids’ park, mostly in KidZville.
It seems Spooky Tales with Snoopy is no longer at the park which is a shame. Sally’s Dance Party is also missing from the event guide. Thankfully the PEANUTS Costume Party is back, each day of the event at 3:30 p.m.
I’m glad Cornstalkers is no longer listed as such, though Corn Maze is a bit generic and somewhat misleading. Wicked Hollow and Trick or Treat Street aren’t on the guide but I’m hoping they’ll still offer friendly characters to meet during the day.
Other Updates
The new deep dish Pizza Pizza location has covered up the old screw design of the pillars. I’m hoping there’s a bit more decorative elements to be added, but this is a good start.
The soccer game in The Grande World Exposition of 1890 now has a name! The sign is pretty terrible in my opinion, but The Pitch is a decent name.
The park seems to be adjusting the new pathway under Yukon Striker’s first Immelmann, seemingly making it have a slightly wider entry from the main path.
Rides
I took flight on The DareDeviler to confirm there’s just the one visible orange stake left near Kingswood’s exterior entrance. I also managed to get a front row ride which was nice.
One ride on Psyclone later, I met up with Coaster Circuits to ride Minebuster, Yukon Striker, and Tundra Twister, the latter of which had a very lacklustre cycle.
After lunch, Amanda and David joined me for rides on Krachenwagen and Behemoth. They headed home after that.
I managed to also get on Wilde Beast, Drop Tower, Wilde night Mares, and Vortex by myself, bringing my total ride count for the day to a respectable 11.
Until Next Time…
I wish I could say I was super enthusiastic about this year’s Halloween offerings at the park, but I’m left wanting even more than usual. With no Freak Show and no new mazes or scare zones, I had hoped for some significant improvements to the existing lineup. Instead I’m feeling a bit concerned over the open spaces for Wicked Hollow and CarnEvil while being dismayed by the 20th anniversary banners.
For Camp Spooky Tricks and Treats, the new name is more generic and confusing with the individual attraction names (Snoopy’s Tricks and Treats Adventure, Trick-or-Treat Adventure, and Trick or Treat Street) and seeing the bland logo in person is an even bigger let down. (Though at least it’s not AI generated.) There’s nothing new for this event and seemingly less than in previous years.
Oktoberfest was a bit of a letdown thanks to insufficient stock, but I still had a decent time. Hopefully my first visit to Halloween Haunt and Tricks and Treats will be better than I expect.
Leave a Reply