{"id":597,"date":"2026-05-21T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/?p=597"},"modified":"2026-05-22T12:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:26:16","slug":"prepare-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/2026\/05\/21\/prepare-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepare Yourself – Victoria Day Fireworks Night"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Victoria Day long weekend is considered the unofficial start of summer and Sunday\u2019s heat definitely felt like summer! Meghan (girlfriend) and I endured the afternoon heat so I could do a full update between food and fireworks. We knew crowds would be bad, but I think that was only exacerbated by the low-low price of 2026 season passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RIDES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though we didn\u2019t expect to ride anything, the heat was getting to us around 6:00 so we hopped in line for White Water Canyon. It just opened for the season a couple days prior and had about a 45 minute wait. Thankfully the queue is very shaded by tall trees so we didn\u2019t really mind the wait. The ride was a nice reprieve with both of us getting splashed by the rapids. Thankfully the waterfall wasn\u2019t on as that probably would have been a bit too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOOD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our first meal, we headed to King\u2019s Feast for the beef sliders\u2026 but they were out and we didn\u2019t feel like waiting for more to be prepared. Meghan got chicken tenders and I tried the foot-long corn dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

It was crispy but otherwise fairly standard. I really wish it was all-beef. It was very unstable on the plate and in retrospect I should have squirted the condiments onto the plate instead of putting them directly on the corn dog. I think they should have little cups for the ketchup and mustard to make dipping easier, though. The fries were over-salted as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toronto Ty Taste Tier: C<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

For our second meal, we wanted something quick and easy to eat on fireworks hill, so we each got a slice of pizza. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s just because it\u2019s always very fresh, but pizza from the park\u2019s Pizza Pizza locations always tastes better than the ones outside the park in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Slice<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One piece of garlic bread was a bit too toasty. There has to be a better way to serve this that doesn’t involve the garlic bread being placed right on top of the pizza slices, though…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toronto Ty Taste Tier: B<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SWEET SPOT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big update for this week is Sweet Spot! The newly-renovated candy shop on International Street opened its doors and I got my first look at all the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Right off the bat, this is a huge improvement to the layout and flow of the building! While Sweet Shoppe had three distinct areas (in-house treats, pre-packaged candy, and merchandise), the new layout is completely open from end-to-end. It feels bigger and just more open in general, which is great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instead of having two counters across from each other and multiple checkout areas, everything (including registers) is now along the one long wall (further from the Royal Fountains). It feels better and makes so much more sense logistically. It also seems to have even more room for employees behind the counter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s still merchandise at the far end, which surprised me a bit. Some of it is at least related to candy though, such as ICEE sets and plush fruits with faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Merchandise<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ceiling tiles have an inset pattern, which is a nice detail\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But unfortunately everything else is very bland. When I think of a candy shop, I think of fun colours and whimsical energy. This is the exact opposite. White and dark grey throughout with no kinetic energy. It\u2019s sterile and uninviting. Perhaps it\u2019s a matter of taste (no pun intended), but I truly don\u2019t understand this direction at all and so far haven\u2019t heard a single positive reaction to the new look of this shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sweet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The name hasn\u2019t grown on me at all either. Sweet Shoppe had much more character and felt more appropriate for Wonderland. Sweet Spot sounds generic and corporate while also having an unfortunate word association for my sister. (I won\u2019t be going into further detail.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fudge<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m very grateful for the structural upgrades to this shop, but I\u2019m already looking forward to the next time they change the name and refresh the aesthetics of the interior\u2026 Another thing to mention in future surveys I suppose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTHER UPDATES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “Show Times” sign boards outside Canterbury Theatre have been painted. The colours fit into the area much better. Also a good reminder of how much better physical signs look than screens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Canterbury<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ICEE stand in Action Zone has been painted and now features a sign! This is a huge improvement and really helps it STAND out! (Apologies, but this pun was intended.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Action<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like every ICEE stand on Sunday, this one had a long line throughout the day. I\u2019d be okay if the park built a few more dedicated ICEE stands in the coming years, which of course can double as hot chocolate stands during WinterFest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Line<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The KidZville Refresh Centre no longer has its construction fencing, so it should be opening very soon if I had to guess. Right next to it, the water bottle refill station is already open! People were filling up quickly, meaning a line barely had time to form! While I didn\u2019t use it during this visit, I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll come in handy for me soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"KidZville<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Refresh Centre mostly fits in well, though I think the giant orange Muskoka chair kind of clashes with the red walls (and fences). Perhaps the chair can be painted another colour to blend into the area better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Orange
Due to the crowds,<\/em> I couldn’t get a good photo on Sunday so I took this photo during a short visit on May 21.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In AlpenFest, a new game has opened! The sign is probably my favourite in all of AlpenFest, and continues the trend of being larger and more attention-grabbing than AlpenFury\u2019s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Farbspiel<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Farbspiel (German, roughly translating to \u201cColour Game\u201d) is what I\u2019ve always referred to as a whiffle ball game. You get a whiffle ball (or several) and toss them onto the table. The coloured hole your ball rolls into determines your prize. I didn\u2019t ask for further details about this iteration of the game, but the sign indicates you\u2019re a \u201cwinner every time,\u201d which means I\u2019ll probably try my hand at it before too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Farbspiel<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moving over to AlpenFury\u2019s station building, a new plaque has appeared on the ground level, honouring Heather Hill, the park\u2019s (now former) VP & General Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Plaque<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heather started as a ride operator at Zumba Flume when Canada\u2019s Wonderland first opened in 1981. She had several roles over her 45 years at the park, leaving an undeniable impact on the park, its employees (past and present), and countless guests. Heather\u2019s dedication to service and the guest experience only enhanced my appreciation for the park and the team responsible for making it all happen. I\u2019m truly grateful to have known and worked with her. For more on Heather\u2019s retirement and her legacy of service, I highly encourage you to read this Six Flags blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the plaque\u2019s text, \u201cZumba Flume Riverworks\u201d makes sense in reference to Heather\u2019s first role. \u201cBuilder of Leaders\u201d is completely justified. I\u2019m a little confused by the last line, though. \u201cFrom the Rapids\u201d could be referring to White Water Canyon (the first ride built at the park after it opened) or possibly to Zumba Flume (which I never experienced, but probably had some elements vaguely resembling rapids). But then does \u201cto the Ridge\u201d somehow refer to AlpenFury, or is it alluding to something else? Regardless, I\u2019m thrilled something in the park acknowledges Heather\u2019s contributions to the park\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of which, I\u2019ve been informed some employees have come up with an affectionate name for this new pathway on the hill next to Lazy Bear Lodge: The Heather Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The pathway may be subtle and overlooked by most guests, but it has a clear mission to improve the guest (and employee) experience. I expect all of you to spread the word and exclusively refer to this new path as \u201cThe Heather Hill\u201d from now on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

I really am thrilled the park went to the effort of establishing The Heather Hill path and it seemed to function quite well before and after the fireworks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

FIREWORKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On that note, the fireworks themselves were good and the music choices were fine. Some of the songs weren\u2019t as upbeat or bass-heavy as I think should accompany a fireworks display, but part of the reason I feel that way may be due to the absurdly low volume. I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019re using different speakers, or if they\u2019re wearing out, or maybe someone literally just didn\u2019t turn the dial all the way up, but it was unacceptably quiet. Half the time I wasn\u2019t sure music was playing at all. Bringing back the massive speakers on Timberwolf Falls\u2019 exit ramp might be a good idea as well, especially for those guests sitting closer to Vortex\u2019s station. Hopefully the park can address this before the Canada Day fireworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fireworks<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The other issue was leaving the park. It\u2019s usually a bit of a pain after the fireworks, but this time was particularly bad. Some of you may remember Wonderland Store\u2019s renovation in 2024, adding a set of doors exiting out of the park into the exterior entry plaza. Sadly these doors have now been turned into emergency exits and apparently what I\u2019d estimate was ~50,000+ guests leaving the park all at once doesn\u2019t qualify as an \u201cemergency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emergency<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These doors were seemingly added with the express purpose of adding another way to leave the park so I\u2019m sad to see this is no longer the case. And when you\u2019re dealing with such huge crowds, this means everyone who enters the store has to then squeeze out through a single door perpendicular to another sea of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I understand there may have been some concerns over theft or guests attempting to let others in through these \u201cexit-only\u201d doors, but both can (and were) mitigated through added security\/police monitoring around these doors. With theft, these doors were more closely monitored than the other store doorways. With attempted admission bypass, a single guard should be able to prevent this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My point is, crowd control is more important than almost anything on fireworks nights. In my opinion, opening these doors for guests to exit would relieve some of the pressure on Front Gate without significant security or loss prevention risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL;DR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite simply, it felt like the park wasn\u2019t prepared for these crowd levels. I believe that\u2019s in part due to the way Victoria Day fell a little earlier in the season, but the park still feels like it’s operating at previous years’ preview day levels… except with fireworks crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Line<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Line<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lines for food and beverage locations were absurdly long with Coasters\u2019 line stretching out close to SlingShot, and yet Grande World Eatery and Chicken Shack were of course still closed. (Part of the problem is the fact Lazy Bear Lodge closes early for fireworks due to the VIP viewing experience.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chicken<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leviathan was still running with only two trains. Minebuster, Sledge Hammer, and The DareDeviler haven\u2019t opened for the season yet. And the bargain-basement price for a season pass just puts extra stress on every area of the park. Add to that the lacklustre musical accompaniment for the fireworks and it was far from the best Wonderland visit. Some things probably aren’t going to get better this year, but I still have faith things will run a little smoother by Canada Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Victoria Day long weekend is considered the unofficial start of summer and Sunday\u2019s heat definitely felt like summer! Meghan (girlfriend) and I endured the afternoon heat so I could do a full update between food and fireworks. We knew crowds would be bad, but I think that was only exacerbated by the low-low price […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[18,28],"class_list":["post-597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trip-reports","tag-18","tag-trip-report"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597","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=597"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":634,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597\/revisions\/634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandweekly.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}