Bragging rights up for grabs on Canada's Wonderland's new Guardian ride

YorkRegion.com
June 13, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

SPOILER ALERT

The newest attraction at Canada’s Wonderland is proving to be very popular, especially with families.

“It was awesome,” Ryan Tieman, 8, said while exiting Wonder Mountain’s Guardian, the amusement park’s innovative new ride, which combines elements of a roller-coaster with 3-D animation and an interactive gaming experience.

Thomas Nobrega, 7, thought it was really good.

And so did their moms.

“It was really cool,” Tara Tieman said.

“I thought it was great. A lot of fun,” Tiffany Nobrega added. “A great family ride.”

Riders slip on a pair of 3-D glasses while climbing aboard an eight-passenger train made up of two four-seat cars with four riders facing forward and four backward.

Riders clutch the laser gun mounted in front of them in preparation for the pending battle against the myriad beasts guarding the dragon’s treasure.

The train winds along the coaster track that wraps around the outside of Wonder Mountain before heading into a pitch black cavern, where you encounter a giant interactive screen from which an assortment of deadly creatures - bats, crabs spiders and lizard-like archers - attack you.

The three-minute ride culminates in a fierce battle against Lord Ormaar, a massive red dragon, followed by a stomach lurching, plummet into pitch darkness.

You emerge from the darkness to see how well you did compared to your fellow riders.

The best shooters have their photograph and score displayed in the Wonder Mountain’s Guardian Hall of Fame.

This is a family-oriented ride.

The height restriction is a little bit lower on this one. It is 42 inches accompanied, and taller 48 inches is unaccompanied, which makes it great for kids that are looking to get their first taste of a roller-coaster, Wonderland spokesperson Dineen Beaven said.

“Families and thrill seekers alike are finding different things that they like abut it. Our families like it because it’s something they can ride together. Mom and dad don’t always want to ride Leviathan or Behemoth, but this is the type of ride they can go on and experience with their kids and really build those memories. Our thrill seekers, I think they really like it because it’s different than everything else we have in the park.”

Canada’s Wonderland is at 9580 Jane St., in Maple. Call 905-832-8131 for hours and rates or visit them online at canadaswonderland.com.