Flat rides at Canada's Wonderland

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The majority of rides at Canada's Wonderland are not roller coasters, of which there are just 15, but the flat rides.

[edit] Grand World Exposition of 1890/Action Zone

  • Antique Carousel
Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Model name: Carousel #84
Added: 1981
Built originally in 1928. This is the oldest ride in the park, and comes to Canada's Wonderland by way of Happyland Hastings Park (Vancouver, BC: 1928–1934), Palace Playland (Old Orchard Beach, ME: 1934-1945), Palisades Amusement Park (New Jersey: 1948-1971). It was purchased by Taft Broadcasting, who were 50% owners in Canada's Wonderland when it was built, and was moved to Wonderland in time for the 1981 opening.
  • Jet Scream
Manufacturer: Intamin
Model name: Starship
Added: 1990
A "swinging boat" type ride that goes through a full 360 degree loop as opposed to mild back and forth swinging. The ride is designed to look like a spaceship and features over the shoulder harnesses and lap bars. There is a very large counter-weight attached to the pivot-arm opposite the ship; it helps the ship complete its full rotation. Its propulsion system is similar to that of "The Rage".
  • Psyclone
Manufacturer: Mondial
Model name: Revolution
Added: 2002
The 3rd and last piece of the Mondial trifecta. First model of the Revolution built by Mondial, and the 3rd flat installed by them, 3 years in a row. The ride consists of a large rotating disc mounted to the bottom of a long swinging pendulum arm. Riders are seated on the outside of the disc, facing outwards, and are propelled up to 120' in the air while slowly rotating around the arms axis. Seats face a consistent direction at the apex of each swing; ie. if you are facing out towards the midway when the ride starts, you will always face up towards the sky at the highest point of the arc, creating a nice sensation of weightlessness (zero-g).
  • Sledge Hammer
Manufacturer: Huss
Model name: Giant Jump 2
Added: 2003
The first Huss ride to be added to the park since its inauguration, Sledge Hammer is a jumping ride which takes riders through accelerated jumps and freefalls. Contains six "claws", each having eight seats.
  • Swings of the Century
Manufacturer: Zierer
Model name: Wave Swinger
Added: 1981
A low impact swing carousel, originally named Swings of Siam.
  • The Orbiter
Manufacturer: Huss
Model name: Giant Enterprise (Skylab)
Added: 1981
An enterprise-type ride, originally called Sol Loco until 2001.
  • Xtreme SkyFlyer
Manufacturer: Skycoaster, Inc.
Model: Skycoaster
Added: 1996
One of the only pay-per-ride attractions at the park, and Canada's largest free-fall swing. Up to three riders are raised to the top of a 170 foot (52 m) tall tower and then pull a ripcord to begin a pendulum swing that passes over the midway and at one point is just 6 ft (1.8 m) above the ground. Riders experience extreme g-forces and weightlessness, with speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph).

[edit] International Festival

  • Klockwerks
Manufacturer: Huss
Model name: Swing Around
Added: 1981
Multiple arms hang down from a centralized point. The centralized point begins to rotate, then in groups the arms lift outwards.
  • Krachenwagen
Manufacturer: Lusse
Model name: Auto Scooters
Added: 1981
Krachenwagen is equipped for expert drivers and hard-hitting, bumper car action. The driving area is circular, but a small platform in the middle is the source of many traffic jams, which causes many drivers to hardly move during the duration of the ride. There is a child-oriented bumper car ride, called Rugrats Toonpike, in Nickelodeon Central. The name is, even if not grammatically correctly translated, German for "banging cars".
  • Shockwave
Manufacturer: Mondial
Model name: Top Scan
Added: 2001
Single arm holding several passenger gondolas. The six gondolas are attached to the arm at a central point. As the arm turns, so do the point where the gondolas are attached. Each gondola is free to spin on its own, as well. This ride suffers from chronic PLC programming issues, which results in a few maintenance calls a day. This is due to the ride not being able to find its zero point on the 'Z' axis when returning to its load position.

[edit] Medieval Faire

  • Riptide (formerly known as Cliffhanger)
Manufacturer: Mondial
Model name: Splash Over
Added: 2000
This is one of many flat ride additions to Wonderland. In 2000 Cliffhanger was introduced and in the following two years, flat rides were added. The ride features a water fountain to give guests a special treat! This ride features two programs: a 'dry' and a 'wet' cycle. The wet cycles are only run on hot days, at the duty manager's discretion.
  • Drop Tower (formerly known as Drop Zone)
Manufacturer: Intamin
Model name: Gravity Tower
Added: 1997
Tower that sends riders up with legs dangling from seats, then drops them from over 230 feet (70 m) in the air. The drop achieves speeds of over 100km/h (62 mph).
  • Night Mares
Manufacturer: Huss
Model name: UFO
Added: 1981
Riders are "caged" in, standing upright along the perimeter of a large rotating wheel, facing inwards. The wheel is mounted on a large lifting arm that pivots up to vertical and back down again; the riders are rotated around with enough force to hold them to the back of the 4 person cage. There are 12 cages, for a total of 48 passengers. The ride was originally named Wilde Nightmares.
  • Speed City Raceway
Manufacturer: n/a
Model name: n/a
Added: 1997
This pay-per-play attraction was added in the 1997 season, during the Medieval Faire renovation that saw the addition of Drop Zone. A fairly standard go-kart track, the route features twists and turns, and includes an underpass. Speed City Raceway, Drop Zone and the Drop Zone plaza was built on a formerly undelevoped area of park used as an employee soccer pitch.
  • Spinovator
Manufacturer: Mack GbmH
Model name: Calypso
Added: 1981
A "teacup"-style ride, where riders are seated 2 to a "basket" (which had its handles clipped a long time ago). 4 freely rotating baskets are attached to another controlled rotation point, which is mounted atop a large rotating disc sitting at approximately 35°. There are 5 groupings for a total of 20 cars and 40 passengers. The ride was originally named Quixote's Kettles.
  • The Rage
Manufacturer: Huss
Model name: Pirate|Swinging Ship
Added: 1981
A standard "swinging boat" type ride. Riders are seated 4 across in one of 9 rows (5 face front/4 back). A large boat is hung pendulum style from a pivot, 50 feet (15 m) in the air. The boat swings backwards and forwards to approximately 45°. Its motion is driven by 2 sets of rotating tires mounted underneath the ship; each set of tires are mounted to a hydrolic system that shift each single direction pair up/down depending on which direction the boat is swinging. An air compressor is installed in the aft of the boat; it is used to control the lap bar locking mechanism, and can often be heard switching on and off during the ride. The ride was originally named The Viking's Rage.