{"id":384,"date":"2026-04-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/?p=384"},"modified":"2026-04-18T00:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T04:12:12","slug":"who-needs-a-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/who-needs-a-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Needs a Map?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Canada\u2019s Wonderland released it\u2019s 2026 park map<\/a> last week and anyone who knows me will know how much I love cartography! So join me as I go through the good and bad of this year\u2019s map, with particular focus on the changes from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s New?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Starting out with the big new thing for 2026, Flight Deck\u2019s drab grey track and support colour has been switched out for a bold green shade as it takes on its new name: The DareDeviler<\/strong><\/a>! Based on the concept art and the colour swatches left on the map (whoops), I believe the supports will be painted green and the track will be more of a tawny shade to better fit the new name and theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also have Sweet Shoppe and Sugar & Spice Pastry Shoppe replaced by the simply named Sweet Spot (previously referred to as \u201cThe Sweet Spot\u201d by the park<\/strong><\/a>). The Beavertails location on International Street has been relocated to the former La Cantina location which makes sense due to the renovations to Sweet Spot. Both locations will now have more space which hopefully means more guests can be served tasty treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"List<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kidzville [sic] Coca-Cola Refresh ICEE is also itemized on the list instead of just having an icon like other Refresh Centres, which is interesting since the same didn\u2019t happen with last year\u2019s new Planet Snoopy location (nor any other Refresh Centre as far as I can remember). I also find it odd the Beavertails on International Street is listed as new considering it\u2019s just being relocated, but perhaps Wonderland\/corporate wanted to have as many \u201cNEW!\u201d listings as possible? Regardless, I\u2019m happy to have confirmation this location will serve ICEEs and I think it\u2019s a good idea to highlight new Refresh Centres in their first year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of the clearly marked new items, Victoria Falls High Dive, Goldrush Desserts, Alpine Outfitters, SNOOPY Dippin\u2019 Dots, and Splash Dippin\u2019 Dots are now listed. The main oddball of this group is Goldrush Desserts, which I\u2019d assume refers to the funnel cake stand at Goldrush Junction, however the icon appears to be in Tundra Twister\u2019s queue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Goldrush Desserts is icon #30.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a new bar icon in AlpenFest, placed on the mountain. I imagine it\u2019s replacing the snack stand between Grab & Go Market and AlpenFury\u2019s dive into Wonder Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One other thing: Mess Hall now lists chicken bites instead of tenders, and includes \u201cFried Fish,\u201d which is a welcome change in my opinion! Last year you could only get fish from Dockside in Splash Works, which wasn\u2019t very convenient. This year Dockside has switched out the fish for hot dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Missing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well\u2026 Speed City Raceway. It\u2019s gone from the list of rides and no longer visible on the map at all. It\u2019s always sad to lose an attraction, especially with no advance notice, but I\u2019m holding out hope this is a temporary removal due to the high cost of fuel. I\u2019ll have more to say about this topic if\/when I\u2019ve confirmed the ride\u2019s status with a park official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More baffling is the lack of text for Thunder Run and Riptide Racer. I\u2019m sure this was just an oversight (especially since both rides are still listed on the second page), but a bit embarrassing if I\u2019m being honest. On that note, The Fly no longer has a FunPix icon on the map, but it still has one in the list of height requirements. This is despite the photo building having been demolished during AlpenFury\u2019s construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"AlpenFest<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bar icon in front of Grande World Eatery has also vanished, which makes sense since it seemed even less popular than most bars in the park. It does mean the closest spots to get The DareDeviler IPA are further away from the ride, though. The baffling \u201cDogs with Grill\u201d in Splash Works has also been removed. Also absent is Treetop Refresh, which makes sense with the addition of a proper Refresh Centre in the same area. For the sake of coffee-drinking parents and guardians spending their days in the kids\u2019 park, I hope coffee becomes available at School House Snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of dining locations, Chicken Shack now has a grey overlay around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With Coasters Drive-In now serving chicken tenders in an efficient cafeteria-style setup, I\u2019m guessing the park doesn\u2019t see a need for another chicken place in the same area. Based on how it was listed as Pizza Pizza on last year\u2019s map and didn\u2019t even have a sign or menus up for a good portion of last summer, I\u2019m guessing this has been in the works for a while. Time will tell what the future holds for this location, but honestly I wish the park had spent the money upgrading Chicken Shack and its patios instead of doing the major renovation on Coasters in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most glaring omissions is the park\u2019s new chaperone policy. You\u2019d think the park would want to have that listed somewhere considering how drastically it impacts guests, but it\u2019s nowhere to be found amongst the 15 \u201cPark Information\u201d headings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Same, but Different<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few minor things have been rearranged from last year\u2019s map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dining plan icon has been updated and a new snack plan icon has been added. The simplified circled letters make sense (M for meal; S for snacks), but the snack icon just looks like a dollar sign at first glance in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the note of the map\u2019s legend, the park has fixed last year\u2019s \u201cPrestigue\u201d misspelling and changed \u201cDrink Program\u201d to \u201cRefill Stations\u201d which I think sounds much better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mobile app prompt now shows the Six Flags App\u2019s loading screen, which seems fitting. The image of the app in action behind it still shows The DareDeviler\u2019s old colour, and I\u2019m sure the \u201cFilters (81)\u201d is referencing how many rides there were at the park last year\u2026 however let\u2019s pretend it\u2019s an easter egg referencing the year the park opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The list of mobile app features has also been simplified with no mention of \u201cLive Entertainment & Show Times\u201d (which is most commonly why I use the app) nor \u201cSafety Protocols & Policies\u201d (which seems like a good opportunity to remind guests about the code of conduct and new chaperone policy). Instead, the park is promoting \u201cSingle-Use Fast Lanes,\u201d and \u201cExclusive Offers and Much More!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cookie Cafe has moved from AlpenFest to Frontier Canada (which really bothers me, but so does Lazy Bear Lodge being considered part of Frontier Canada). The Action Zone Dippin\u2019 Dots has been placed in Grande World Expo (with a more accurate icon placement\u2026 which ironically makes it seem even less like it\u2019s part of Grande World Expo). Action Zone\u2019s Pizza Pizza icon is also back to being over the correct building (instead of on Chicken Shack like last year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few of my favourite changes: Yukon Striker’s FunPix icon has been moved to Klondike Outfitters, which makes a lot more sense. I also really like the park name being more prominent at the top of the map and the social icons fill out the former Kingswood space quite nicely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ERROR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve mentioned a few of these already, but the number of errors is a little concerning. Moosehorn Falls has no path leading to it, there are visible colour swatches presumably for The DareDeviler, FunPix is listed for a ride with no photo building, and two ride names were somehow left off the map!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some errors from last year are still here too. Tiny Tom Donuts is still erroneously listed as \u201cTiny Tom\u2019s Donuts.\u201d There\u2019s a bar icon at School House Snacks for some reason; I don\u2019t believe it does (nor should) sell anything alcoholic. I-Street Hot Dogs lists \u201cFarmers Sausages\u201d which should have an apostrophe. Shockwave has no visible entrance and Alpine Outfitters doesn\u2019t fully cover the unedited former pathway. And of course The Fly\u2019s photo building is still depicted despite being demolished during AlpenFury\u2019s construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then there are more preferential things\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • How can you have a map of Canada\u2019s Wonderland without the floral flag?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The Beavertails location in front of Minebuster is clearly in Frontier Canada, not Action Zone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cookie Cafe, Lazy Bear Lodge, and International Showplace should be part of AlpenFest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Treetop Adventure\u2019s label is too far away from its entrance to be useful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The \u201cLemonade\u201d subheading on International Street\u2019s Pizza Pizza location makes it seem like Lemonade is served from the Pizza Pizza instead of being a separate location. One hopes no guest waits in line at Pizza Pizza for lemonade by mistake\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Arcadium Arcade is redundant, especially when the colour key already marks it as \u201cGames.\u201d At the very least, write it as \u201cArcadium: Games of Skill\u201d like the signs in the park do.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Why is Leviathan\u2019s Lair the only indoor photo\/merchandise shop not listed?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Why is Ye Soccer Tournament listed, but the soccer game in Grande World Expo isn\u2019t?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Dippin\u2019 Dots shouldn\u2019t be listed individually, but could have a unique icon like the Refresh Centres.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Multiple icons seem to be far enough off the mark that they could be misleading for an unaware guest. If it\u2019s a matter of cramped spaces on the map, why can\u2019t things like Goldrush Desserts and Mess Hall or Tiny Tom Donuts and Grab & Go Market share a numbered icon like International Street\u2019s Starbucks and Subway?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Let me be clear: Designing a map that\u2019s accurate, easy-to-use, and visually appealing is no easy feat. But this map could definitely have used another round of edits. Maybe next year Wonderland could send me the map a week early so I can suggest some edits before it goes out to the whole world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The park map and all associated copyrights therein belong to the respective owners. Screenshots are used for the purposes of review and commentary.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Canada\u2019s Wonderland released it\u2019s 2026 park map last week and anyone who knows me will know how much I love cartography! So join me as I go through the good and bad of this year\u2019s map, with particular focus on the changes from last year. What\u2019s New? Starting out with the big new thing for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[18,25],"class_list":["post-384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reactions-analysis","tag-18","tag-park-maps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=384"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":399,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384\/revisions\/399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}