Cathy MerrittCool Family Aattraction for Hot Toronto Summer
If you are looking for a day full of fun, leisure and excitement, Ontario Place is the perfect spot for you.
Update: Ontario Place is closed for major revitalization from 2019-2016. Toronto will celebrate the grand re-opening of new Ontario Place in 2017. However, the Ontario Place Marina, Molson Amphitheatre, Atlantis Pavallion and parking lots WILL REMAIN open and available for various purposes.
It is very popular summer recreational destination and an ideal place to chill out.
Located on the stunning Lake Ontario waterfront, this family attraction provides wide range of amusing activities and events from exciting slides in Froster Sock City to audacious rides in Adventure Island.
You can also watch a movie at the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre or enjoy a musical concert at a huge outdoor Molson Amphitheatre right in the middle of Ontario Place.
Stretching on 96 acres of land, Ontario Place opened to the public in summer of 1971. It is made up of three artificially built islands. The massive geodesic dome along with five steel and glass pods give it distinguishing ‘space age’ look from distance. The pods are suspended on four pipe columns above the lake. Each of the pods is linked to one another by steel bridges.
Various attractions are spread evenly throughout the amusement park. Here I have grouped them by designated sections to give you better idea.
Market Square
Market Square has many attractions specially targeted for kids of all ages.
Free Fall is a thrilling ride for kids as well as adults. It takes you to the top of the tower and then drops from there in no time.
Enjoy a smooth ride of First Flight, a replica of hot-air balloon.
If your kids like to play golf, Mini Greens provides ideal opportunity for them to check their skills. It is a two 9-hole mini golf course built into the hillside of Ontario Place.
Power Wheels Track is a small track for kids to enjoy the mini-cars.
Cyclone Speedway, Mini Bumper Boats and Super Slide are other fun-filled rides for the children in the Market Square.
The Treehouse Live! Stage offers children live presentations of some of their beloved cartoon characters like Fifi, Thomas & Friends, Barney and Bob the Builder.
Froster Sock City
Froster Sock City is Toronto’s only downtown water park. It is a wonderful place to cool off from summer heat.
Rush River Raft Ride is one of the most exciting slides of the water park. It provides lots of thrill at every twist and twirl. This massive waterslide offers an accelerating experience for the whole family.
If you like extreme speed, Hydorfuge is really great ride for you. Shoot down a tube on a thin sheet of water reaching speeds of up to 50 kph and fall into a six foot deep pool. Oh boy, what an exhilarating experience!
The other thrilling and adventurous waterslides are Pink Twister and Purple Pipeline.
Tipping Bucket is the tallest of its kind in Canada. It pours over 1000 litres of water every few minutes from over 100 feet.
Kids can enjoy in the children’s Waterplay area.
So don’t forget to bring towels and swimwear for wet and wild fun in the water park. Change rooms are available at the Froster Sock City.
Marina Village
The Cinesphere is the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre with single large screen as big as six storey building. You can enjoy Hollywood new releases or variety of educational and documentary films on different subjects.
It is really worth to watch a movie here. So I suggest you to inquire about the show timing once you go there and ensure that you get a seat for your preferred movie.(The admission is on first come first served bases and it can accommodate 752 viewers at a time). This is the only attraction of the Ontario Place which stays open year-round.
Cool Hoops is a game of basketball for players of all ages. It gives innovative twist to the game of basketball which tests your skills and intelligence.
Prize Arcade offers an array of stimulator games like skiing, driving etc. in an exclusively themed environment.
Bumper Boats is for the thrill seekers. Take a charge of the boat and sway it as you wish, either fast and furious or slow and composed.
Adventure Island
Wilderness Adventure Ride is a breathtaking boat ride that takes you through the picturesque forests and canyons of Northern Ontario. It’s one of the largest fully animated flume rides of the world. For me, it’s the most unique and best attraction of the Ontario Place. Don’t miss it.
F/X Adventure Theatre offers truly spellbinding ride that you must not ignore. Join the specially trained Earth Science team on their crucial operation to save ‘Tony’, Earth’s only remaining T-Rex, before Dino Island is ruined by a volcanic eruption. This 30-seat motion simulator ride puts you in the steering mode with this animated venture, as you travel underwater, through dangerous terrain, and finally find yourself face-to-face with the ‘giant’ himself. So hold on to your seat because your’e in for a wild ride.
Wild World of Weather provides an amazing educational experience of various incredible weather phenomena like hurricane, foggy conditions, rain, snow etc. If you have not experienced any earth quake so far, you will get a chance here to feel the shake of a massive earth quake!
The Go Zone
H2O Generation Station is an outdoor soft play climbing structure for kids, which is the largest of its kind in Canada. It’s very popular attraction among the kids. Children can run, climb, creep and slide through several activity points like towers, tunnels, slides and more. Your kids will certainly love it.
Pedal Boat Adventure offers cool and relaxing way to explore the Ontario Place and to see the ducks from very closely. Get into the pedal boat, lay back and enjoy gentle ride with your family or friends.
The Atom Blaster is a large structure featuring spongy, multi-coloured form balls coming out of several fountains, blowers, tipping baskets and canons from different directions.
Events and Live Entertainment at the Ontario Place
Ontario Place hosts series of spectacular events and programs throughout the summer. Some of the notable events which you can enjoy at the Ontario Place are Canada Day celebration, Festival of Fire, Caribbean Carnival Toronto and CNE’s International Air Show.
Watch the Toronto skies illuminated with myriad colours on the tunes of finest music during Festival of Fire. The Festival of Fire is celebrated in the first week of July and shows start at 10.30pm.
Ontario Place is the excellent venue to catch the breathtaking Canadian International Air Show held for 3 days during Labour Day weekend (first week of September). This is one of the most exciting air shows in the world. If you are planning to visit Toronto during Labour Day weekend, don’t miss this show.
You will also get a chance to enjoy amazing sounds of calypso, various dances, authentic Caribbean food, concerts and a parade during Caribbean Carnival Toronto.
The Molson Amphitheatre is a huge outdoor spot for fabulous music concerts and plays. Many famous entertainers have performed at this theatre located on grounds of the Ontario Place. However, the cost of these shows is not included in regular Ontario Place pass. You have to purchase separate ticket for the concerts.
Refreshment Options at the Ontario Place
In case, if you are exhausted after so much activity and fun (I’m damn sure you will :)), there are several choices for you to rejuvenate.
For the fast-food junkie there are hot and fresh pizzas at ‘Pizza Pizza’, mouth-watering salads and chicken varieties at ‘Chicken Chicken’ and several tasty dishes at ‘The Marina Grille’. If you want to try delicious Canadian pastries, ‘BeaverTrails’ is an ideal place for you.
You can enjoy your favourite ice-cream at ‘Baskin-Robbins’ and several ‘Nestle’ kiosks. And if you are health conscious, you can have healthy fresh juices at ‘Booster Juice’. Last but not the least, there are few coffee shops for those who love the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
Yummy-yummy!
Feeling recharged now?
Ontario Place – Tourist Information
Location: 955 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Toronto, M6K 3B9
Phone: 416-314-9900, Toll-free 1-866-ONE-4-FUN (Outside the GTA)
Hours of Operation:
May – 10am to 6pm on last two weekends
June-August – 10am to 8pm daily
September – 10am to 6pm on first two-three weekends (subject to weather)
Best time to visit: July, August and September
Price:
Toronto Star Play All Day Pass (includes unlimited use of most rides and attractions)
Child 3 and under: Free
Child (4-5) and Seniors (65+): $16.90
General (6-64): $31.90
Family (Group of 4 people between 6 and 64): $99.05
Canadian Family Play All Summer Pass (Season pass, allows multiple entries)
Buy 1 – $56.19, Buy 2 – $52.38, Buy 3 – $47.62, Buy 4+ – $42.86
Ground Admission (does not include rides or attractions)
Child 3 and under: Free
Child (4-5) and Seniors (65+): $11.19
General (6-64): $16.90
Please note that price doesn’t include any taxes. You will be charged the 13% HST on the listed price.
Tip: Your best bet is to buy Toronto Star Play All Day Pass which includes unlimited use of most rides and attractions. This will save your $$$ and time.
You can purchase the pass and tickets online at http://www.ontarioplace.com/en/03_prices/pad.html or at the entrance gate of the Ontario Place.
Payment Method: Cash, Debit Card, Credit Card (Visa, American Express, Master Card)
Transit and Driving Directions:
TTC:
Take the Bloor subway to Bathurst Station, then the Bathurst 511 streetcar south to Exhibition Place. From Wilson Station or Dufferin Station take the Dufferin 29 Bus South to Exhibition Place. From Union Station, take the Harbourfront 509 streetcar to Exhibition Place. From Exhibition Place it’s 5-10 minutes walk.
Driving Directions:
From the East
Take the Gardiner Expressway and get off at the Spadina Ave Exit, drive west along Lake Shore Blvd and follow signs to Ontario Place.
From the West
Due to bridge rehabilitation the Jameson exit of the Gardiner Expressway will be closed from May 15 through November 2018. Use the Lakeshore Blvd exit and follow Lakeshore Blvd eastbound to Ontario Place.
Parking: There are 3 parking lots available for public parking. Parking charge is $12(regular parking) and $20(event parking).
For more information visit www.ontarioplace.com
