On the last day of this year’s Brew & BBQ, I made it back to the park to get one last taste.
Food
Smoked Salmon Candy & Potato Salad
For my first meal, I got what absolutely should have been called candied smoked salmon. It was very good, with just a hint of sweetness over a well cooked pair of salmon cutlets. The potato salad was also fantastic! If either of these were offered all year, I’d get them on a regular basis!
Toronto Ty Taste Tier: S
Popcorn Chicken (Korean BBQ) & Fries
The chicken itself was good and about what I expected, though I had hoped for a larger portion. The sauce was a little sweeter than I anticipated but still good. I was surprised to see shoestring fries, though. Thankfully they weren’t over-salted like usual, but they were rather limp and far from crispy. Still, I think I may prefer these over the other fries I’ve had at the park this year (other than the fresh-cut fries at Apres Poutinerie of course).
Toronto Ty Taste Tier: B
Ride Count
I had a bit of a headache during this visit so I didn’t go on very much.
Psyclone x1
Behemoth x1
Tundra Twister x1
Vortex x1
Wilde Beast x1
I-Street Updates
International Street now has brilliant orchestral music, which is phenomenal! It really captures the epic vibe guests should feel when the enter the park! When I first stepped through Front Gate, it was a quieter moment as a new song started up, but it was awesome to hear it building as I looked around at Leviathan, the floral flag, Wonder Mountain, and yes even AlpenFury’s Skyflyer Loop. I love this music and hope it sticks around forever! Hopefully in the future we can have more themed music to match each themed area!
I also noticed a longer set of stanchions for the ICEE stand by Front Gate. It’s definitely needed most days, so maybe we could get a permanent railing installed for next year?
I feel like the park changed something about this patio. Maybe the tables are closer to the Royal Fountain?
Regardless, the pathway feels much more open and pleasant to walk through! There is slightly less room to sit though, since the tables are blocking the high curb behind it, but I don’t think that’s much of an issue on this side of International Street.
Grande World Expo Updates
There were some ‘80s and ‘90s cars outside Grande World Eatery, promoting a car show in the area. While it doesn’t fit in The Grande World Exposition of 1890, it does kind of go along with Brew & BBQ. I think it was also only for Father’s Day, which makes sense. The patio being fenced off also kept a respectful distance between the guests and the cars.
On the first day of Brew & BBQ, I spotted The Funny Waiter outside of Grande World Eatery. I didn’t see a sign, but that’s since been fixed. The show was also shifted to be inside the Festival Plaza proper, though that may have just been because of the car show promotion taking over Grande World Eatery’s patio.
In any case, this spot worked pretty well from what I could tell. The audience clogged the patio a bit, but no more than the other location. In previous seasons, The Funny Waiter and audience both took over Grande World Eatery’s patio, relieving almost all the congestion from the main pathway.
The DareDeviler seems to have a couple new notches cute out of the support columns leading into the brake run.
Interesting the park is just doing this now, after they did test runs with the new trains and after fully painting the track. If it’s something the other Vekoma SLCs have had when getting new trains, I would think the park would have known about this before getting to this point. Regardless, hopefully we still don’t have long to wait for The DareDeviler to open.
With Kingswood down to just one exterior building, I thought I’d look at what was once the floor of one of the removed ones. Turns out it was pavers!
Antique Carrousel is still missing three horses by my count.
Action Zone Updates
Sledge Hammer had some visible progress! Panels on the gondolas were open, with a stool sitting by one of them. Hopefully it’ll reopen soon.
More of a request than an update: I wonder if the park could remove this section of fence and put a short path between Behemoth’s exit and the Fast Lane entrance?
It would make marathons easier for those who enjoy them (not that I’m one of them). Based on the grass (or lack thereof), I’d say people are currently hopping the fence so having a proper pathway would be safer.
Backlot Stunt Coaster is now running three trains for the first time this season. Great to see increased capacity as we head into the summer.
Two more new planters, these on the Orbiter path. Very nice!
Frontier Canada Updates
Yet another look at the new Dippin’ Dots stand across from Canyon Trader. The placement feels so strange to me and I really wish the park had just put Dippin’ Dots directly next to (or in place of) the bar instead. Using the bar’s structure would have looked much nicer than the multicolour stall in my opinion.
White Water Canyon has working geysers again, though they are no longer guest-operated. I’m not sure if they’re triggered by a sensor or if the tower attendant has control over it. Either way, geyser three still needs some adjustments since it currently gurgles more than anything.
Speaking of the tower, some construction fences have been put up around there. I’m guessing this is for added safety around the kiosk behind Canyon Trader, used my associates to sign in and out? (Side-note: I’d really love these blue kiosks to be more subtle.)
Kids’ Park Updates
I’m surprised this window on the new KidZville Refresh Centre is still blank and seemingly unfinished.
Meanwhile, the Planet Snoopy Refresh Centre has a new sign! The lettering fits the PEANUTS comic inspiration perfectly.
I always raise an eyebrow at merchandise reading Camp Snoopy.
I’m glad the park is offering so many character meets this year, with them up by Front Gate, by the Snoopy statue, and here in Character House where I saw Franklin and Snoopy!
Medieval Faire Updates
A large tree near King’s Feast fell recently. It looks like the ground could no longer support its weight. The tree seemingly fell across the stream and landed behind Medieval Funnel Cakes. Some new bushes may be in order for this area.
Another small request: Can the park put some decorations around this mini balcony in Jester’s Courtyard? I just think it would be fun and draw more attention to this great interior detail.
The doors to King’s Feast were stoppered open. This should be standard so people realize it’s open.
Thirsty Dragon has been relocated! This placement makes a lot more sense for the bar in my opinion, with a little patio out front looking quite appropriate!
I will say, once Watchtower (the new Arthur’s Baye show) opens, it may be best to move these tables closer to All’s Well Hall (see photo below) since they currently make some of the waterfront seating a little awkward.
There’s also the bizarre look of a bar in front of another building. I’m guessing this is temporary and the small stall (previously used for Henna or small jewelry) will be removed, possibly over the off-season.
AlpenFest Updates
The flags over AlpenFest are looking quite aged and faded already. Once again, I feel there must be a better bunting option that won’t look so cheap and worn out this quickly.
Tiny Tom Donuts has a small plastic shed behind its backstage fencing. It looks… not great. To my eyes, the white really stands out amongst all the more natural elements and rustic features of the area. Maybe this too is temporary? I hope?
I can’t forget to mention the lovable AlpenFest goat, unofficially named Sherman, is sporting a Team Canada jersey during the World Cup. I’m surprised the park hasn’t leaned more into that event, but this is nice little detail!
TL;DR
Once again I have to mention how thrilled I am Brew & BBQ was revived this year! I hope to see it back in future seasons, hopefully with a broader menu and maybe two or three Fridays added. The change in music on International Street is absolutely perfect and some of the other small changes around the park give me hope for an even better Wonderland experience moving forward!
While some of the park’s off-season projects are still in progress (Antique Carrousel, The DareDeviler, and Sledge Hammer), the summer lineup of shows is starting on Saturday and I’m so excited to check them out! …but I can’t make it back to the park until Monday at the earliest and since Canada Day is on that Wednesday, I think I might wait until then for my next visit.
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