When I arrived at Wild Water Kingdom (WWK) after 3pm to take advantage of their “Twilight Discount Rate”, I thought I was doing WWK on-the-cheap. However, after I arrived, it was a completely different story.
Admission after 3pm was ~$20. (Not too bad considering that I can’t do a water park for longer than a few hours.) Keep in mind that the park closes at 7pm on a Saturday night.
Parking was $10/car and since it’s in the middle of nowhere, the fee is basically mandatory.
Renting a locker was another $5 — a $10 deposit with a $5 refund upon return of the key. Take note of the “we are not responsible for any lost or stolen items” on the sign where you rent the key. Gee, that really gives me confidence that my valuables will be kept safe in your locker!
And the last expense was $5 to rent an inflatable tube — $8 deposit with a $3 refund upon return of the tube.
So in summary, here’s the breakdown — excluding food/drinks at the park: $20 (admission) + $10 (parking)+ $5 (locker) + $5 (tube) = $40!!! And here I was thinking that $20 was going to cover an afternoon of fun in the sun. 
(I did manage to save a bit of money by going with 2 other people, so we split the cost of the parking/locker.)
I found the expense of the inflatable tube the most annoying of all because for certain things like the Lazy River and the Wave Pool, the tube definitely enhances the experience. The river’s not exactly “lazy” if I crab walk the entire lap! And how fun is the Wave Pool when I’m constantly being bumped by other people’s inflatable tubes, kicked in the head by feet, and swallowing floating bandages and stray hairs while “jumping” the waves??!!
Aside from those attractions, there were also some water slides that required the inflatable tube. There were a few courtesy tubes so if you don’t rent, you basically had to wait ’til one was available, i.e. for the lifeguard to chase someone down and ask them to hand over the free tube for others waiting.
I was told that there were also free tubes for the Lazy River, but I saw less than a handful of them. And since there wasn’t anyone monitoring those tubes, you can take a catnap on the tube while it slooowly does one lap upon another. And before I could grab the 1 unoccupied tube that I did see, one lady pulled it right out of the water so she could use it as a hemorrhoid doughnut!
Perhaps if the park was better maintained &/or had some new upgrades, I wouldn’t be as irked as I was with all these hidden costs. So maybe with free grounds admission, the water park at Ontario Place would be a better deal?
Wow, I am so sorry that happened to you.
I sort of know how you feel (disappointed at WWK!)
Last Monday my work (& some more along the branch I’m sure) had a crew outing to go to Wild Water Kingdom.
Because of the massive huge and crazy thunder storms at 4:30am that day, our adventure was canceled. Not by my work, but Wild Water Kingdom had closed.
Everyone was so upset because we relocated to my house and IT GOT SO HOT THAT DAY FROM THE SUN — I GOT A SUNBURN AT THE POOL WITH MY FRIENDS.
All I’m saying is come on Wild Water Kingdom, smarten up. Please?
Oh, & if you’re going to be closed, don’t advertise Wild Water Kingdom on the news that day. Okay thanks!
everybody was so upset SO**** we relocated to my house
Can you bring your own tube?
It’s pretty much the same at West Edmonton Mall Waterpark (minus the parking). I think this is pretty typical for any amusement-type place.
Sounds pretty standard these days.
Wild Water Kingdom has been getting crappy reviews for the past 5 years and getting worse each year. I took my nieces there about 5 years ago and will never go back a complete waste of money. Ontario place is good but for the same money (based on 4 people) $150 you can get a hotel room and 4 passes to the indoor waterpark at Niagara Falls.
I still had fun, but just felt as though all the hidden expenses would’ve been justified if the park updated/added more stuff.
The last time I was there was quite a few number of years ago and it looks pretty much the same. They may have improved the kids’ section, but that doesn’t apply to me!
I don’t know if this helps…but you can save 20% on mid-week Water Park Day Passes (of course this wouldn’t have applied to you since you went on a Sat) when you print off this coupon:
http://visa.ca/visaperks/shopping/wild-water-kingdom/coupon.jsp
and pay with your Visa. Hope someone finds this info useful!
I miss the waterpark in Las Vegas. Nothing topped it.
At least they took out that disgusting jacuzzi that used to be in front of the water slides. I’m sure that kids and adults alike used it as a toilet!
@Michelle — I’m not sure if you can bring your own tube. I don’t see why not, but it may not be worth it to go out and buy a new one to use it that one time. Didn’t see anyone with renegade tubes tho’!
Wow! At the water park near where I live, the parking is free and you don’t have to rent a tube. They just have the appropriate sized tubes at each ride. You just pick one up at the end of the ride, carry it with you through the line up and get on when it’s your turn. There are no life guards chasing people around. They are doing their jobs, making sure everyone is safe. Why do rent them anyway? Do you have to lug a tube around with you all day?
The only thing I hate about it is that you aren’t allowed to wear anything on your feet because they don’t want footwear falling off on the slides and hitting people. I burned the bottoms of my feet really badly one day, walking around on the hot pavement in the parking lot and on the paths throughout the park.
Ontario place has free ground admission and just for the water park is $10 plus HST. And no you wont have to rent a tube for the slide!:p
The one time I went to WWK I was kind of disappointed. For the 1.5 hr drive it took to get there, I expected a lot more than a couple of slow waterslides you get stuck on as you go down.
For the lockers and tubes, if you can catch someone leaving and buy their key off them you can save yourself and that person some money. The cheapest way I’ve found to hit the waterpark has actually been to buy a Wonderland pass and use it to just go to the waterpark for the day. Yes, it gets a little busy there, but it sure beats shelling out close to $100 by the time you’ve paid for two people’s admissions, parking, tubes, lockers, lunch, etc. and for the cost of the pass you can go as many times a summer as you want
icoke sent out an email that said you get 1/2 off but you need to print the email. It’s for weekdays. Go during the week it’s a bit better than weekends.
So you are upset because you did not do your research? Parking, Lockers, Tubes… that information is all on their website. This should not have been a surprise.
Wondering why you keep saying they are ‘hidden’ fees? Surely a good consumer, especially a SmartCanuck, would do some research!
I used to be the lifeguard manager for 5 summers…
I can understand how people can get frustrated… but here are some tips..
If you don’t like long line… Don’t go on the weekends or really hot days… 2,000 people on weekdays compared to 8–10,000 people on hot summer weekends…
If you don’t want to spend money on lockers… leave your stuff in your car… do you really need your iPhone? Just bring in a towel, and if you need money, walk back to you car.. it would be like a 3 min walk max.
Hot tubs are gone! thanks god! people would pee and poo in there all day! Whats wrong with them!?
Some slides may seem slow, if you dont know how to ride them… always ride on your shoulder blades and heels while arching your back.
The water park can get really dirty, the maintenance staff has always been lazy. The pools get dirty cause a lot of dirty people go there, swim and dont shower before going in the pool…
again go on days that wont be busy… so you can use the tubes that are free…
it’s one guy that owns the park… its not a big business that owns it like six flags…
buy a season pass for wonderland… they have a water park that is nicer and cleaner (wave pool sucks though), but you have two parks…
and pack a lunch and eat it outside the park… why spend 8 dollars for a pizza or 5 dollars for corn on the cob!
parking is parking.. you have to pay for parking everywhere… if you want to beat the parking… go there just over an hour before the park opens… parking staff is not there yet…
free grounds admission??? lol, how would anyone get paid?
in short, go on a weekday (tue-thur)
and/or just go to wonderland.…
since i “retired” and got a career i havent been back…
im sure i would get in for free…
but wonderland has so much more
but a great place to work
I research as far as Admission + Parking. If you visit the site, under PASSES + PRICES, then FAQ it states that “lockers are available for a daily rental fee”. No cost is quoted. Same goes for the tubes, no specific cost mentioned.
So YES, I do consider these hidden fees if they’re not right on the page that mentions pricing!
We had seasons passes last year and again this year, No you cannot bring ANY inflatables into wild water kingdom, though they do allow water wings, that’s it. As a word of warning, I myself was badly injured on the tube ride suffering form the injuries of whiplash for the past year, this year my partner and niece went on the tube ride in a double tube and flipped over, he broke his toe and she has a massive bump on her head and a ton of bruising. I caution everyone who goes there against the tube rides.
yes, its crazy expensive… thats why we went once and never went back. but like someone else said above i guess thats the norm these days.
and its not in the middle of nowhere its at finch and steeles ;P
I slipped and broke my arm there 2 years ago. They were cleaning the pool deck with soap and didn’t bother to put a sign up. When I feel there were several people who worked there around no one came over to see if I was ok. When I went to speak to someone about it they gave me an ice pack and told me not to let it ruin my day. The 17 yr old manager said if I could move it it wasn’t broken! I’m an er nurse and wanted to know where he got his medical degree. We left went to er and yes it was broken! I emailed wild water kingdom and no one ever bothered to ever email me back . I would not go back to that place ever again . It is also so filthy dirty it should be shut down .
This negative review doesn’t belong on the site, because it doesn’t even explain how the rides were and what the park was really like. Everything written is negative; it’s completely bias.
All I read were complaints related to the prices that could have been found out with a quick phone call. $40 is pretty standard (not high) for water parks.
I find it hard to believe there is nothing good about this park or it would have shut down by now.
Stephania, you clearly did not research properly, and read the FAQ’s all the way to the end
“TIPS AND ADVICE
Weekends are usually busier … especially when it is hot and humid.
Always have a planned meeting place for those in your group if you become separated. The areas surrounding the Wave Pool and Caribbean Cove are recommended.
Make sure you leave all non-essential items at home or keep all valuables in a secured place. Wild Water Kingdom cannot be held responsible for stolen or lost items. For your convenience, we provide locker rentals for $5.00 per day ($5.00 refundable deposit is required).”
Oh look, locker costs!
Pretty much all places with lockers cannot be held responsible for stolen things, Wonderland doesn the same thing. Imagine if they didn’t have that, how many people would try and sue them for ‘lost’ or ‘stolen’ items.
Bottom line is it’s a waterpark, it’s going to be expensive anyways
We bought season and parking passes for Wonderland when they were onsale at the start of the season. The water park is much nicer and a lot cheaper! You can bring a lunch and eat it in the picnic area.
This is really interesting to me because I love water parks but I just moved to toronto and havent been to any yet. If WWK is not too good, where would be the best place? Is there somewhere expensive that is really worth it? or is a cheaper/good value place worth visiting?
My friends and I went to WWK a few years back and had such a bad experience we haven’t been back since. It wasn’t so much the expenses that irked us, it was the upkeep of the park (it seemed really dirty and unkept in general) and the fact that each of us sustained injuries from the water slides (couple of sprained toes and several head injuries). We’ve had better experiences at Wild Waterworks in Hamilton (again a few years back so not sure what it’s like now), Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, or just a pool in someone’s backyard.
@waterparkquestion — It seems as though many ppl like Canada’s Wonderland’s waterpark the most, as per these comments. Keep in mind that admission is ~$56, but allows you access to the entire park.
For Wonderland, you do hafta pay for locker rental as well and I remember it being crazy expensive, like at least $10. You can resell your key, covertly, so you don’t end up paying that much. And you either don’t need a tube OR one is provided for you.
The wp at Ontario Place is $11.70. Admission to grounds are free, so you can check out the rest of the park. Not sure about the other expenses!
‘hemorrhoid doughnut” haha you never fail to make me laugh
What’s with the rude comments? Stephania is simply posting about her negative experience in the hopes of saving others from having the same experience. If her information is incorrect, then by all means post a correction, but is there any need for the rude criticism (Mike and Natalka)? This website is all about Canadians helping other Canadians. Please don’t bring it down with your mean attitudes.
I don’t think I’m being negative. I’m just stating the facts and hopefully informing people, especially families, of all the costs involved.
That’s all. Take what you will about the info.
No, Stephania, if this was a review, it would also talk about the rides, not just the prices and all I can tell is that it was too expensive for you.
Thats how they get ya, all the extra fees. Seems every attraction has these these days.
Did any feature get shut down for a code poo?
Apparently pooping in the water is the new fad.
They had to evacuate The water park at African Lion Safari for that. Makes a water adventure so not fun.
It seems everytime i come on this site its Stephania on her high horse thowing acusations about to everyone but herself. Almost every place in the world is like this! Wonderland is no better! The Zoo is the same, all places will charge for parking, and why would you even need a locker? You clearly didnt research or think through your trip and are complaning about nothing but your own stupidity right now.
I once again, dont feel the site is the place for this. Its good to be able to share tips and opinions on things being over priced, but i dont think these are hidden fees as its not like they are forcing you to pay them, you choose to park, and choose a locker, every place that has lockers will charge for them, and of course they cant protect the items in the locker, its exactly the same as leaving it in your car.
Days out, in the end, are what you make of them, if you cant afford to go — dont go, you can go to wonderland and pay $33.99 + tax and thats all you pay if you make wise decisions, ie walk to the park, dont get a locker, and the same is true about this place. You claim it is badly maintained and a bad place to go.…so why go?!
I am sorry I am ranting, i know this is Stephania’s soapbox and not mine!
I’ve never been to Wild Water Kingdom, but I have heard mixed reviews. But after reading some comments, it makes me feel like I don’t want to go to any kind of public pool or water park. Poop in the pool? Really, there are toilets, and even if it is cleaned, it just makes me think of those times when I’ve accidentally swallowed water in the pool. Reading through the comments did tell me about things I do know but would rather not think about, like pee in a pool. But I guess, some people just, purposely or not, ruin the experience or fun of going to a water park for others.
Apparently it happens all the time, even places like great wolf lodge, theres poop watchers who watch for it. What I dont get was AFS had all kids 5 and over in that section… really? Where are the parents.
Yum…floating bandaids and hair, totally worth the $40.
Sounds like somewhere I will avoid. Thanks for the info.
I lifeguard for about 10 years… every pool i ever worked at people peed in it! gross…
the park needs a good clean… go to google maps… look behind the wave pool and around that back parking lot… so much garbage…
still is a fun place… but wonderland is better for sure…
too many people on this site think the park should be like 5 dollars to get in… crazy!
its like complaining about going to the movies… saying that when you paid for the movie.. you had to pay extra money for popcorn, extra money for pop… and when you left to go to the wash room they wouldn’t pause the movie for you…
I got $5 off per person coupon for Wile Water(Brampton, ON) from Mark ware house cash register. I totally agree with Phil to book One Night Family Waterpark Package at Niagra Falls, it include 4 two days waterpark passes.
http://www.niagarafallshotels.com/index.php?utm_source=microsoft%2BAdcenter&utm_medium=Niagara%2BFalls%2BHotels&refid=951
BONUS: Reserve a stay for arrival June 17, 2011 — September 4, 2011 and receive the Ultimate Family Package featuring $300 in dining, show and attractions passes for 4!
You cannot take your own tube and whatever you do make sure that your top doesn’t fall off on the slide as your not suppose to retrieve it. My sister’s friend dove into get it and one of the life guards thought he was crazy ans was trying to hurt himself.
Does anyone know if Great Wolf Lodge has a day-rate, for people who aren’t staying the night? The website seems pretty family-focused.
And does Wild Waterworks (Hamilton) compare with WWK??
Just to clarify, Stephania, my comment was not aimed at you but rather the people who left you rude comments. I was not at all saying you were being a negative person. All I said was that your experience with WWK’s “hidden costs” was a negative one and that you should not be criticized for trying to inform others about it.
My boyfriend and I went to WWK last summer and it was so gross that we left after about an hour. Fence posts filled with cigarette butts, garbage everywhere, filthy bathrooms, garbage floating in the water. I don’t understand how the place is still in business! This past weekend we went to the Calypso water park located between Ottawa and Montreal on the 417 and it was the best waterpark I have ever been to! Sparkling clean, awesome rides, tons of boards for the lazy river etc. Would definitely recommend it to everyone!!
Wherever you go you’ll get MILKED for going in the WATER!
@Stephania
I’m Niagaran. Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls does not have a day rate. You must stay at the resort in order to have access to the water park.
If you’re going to go to Wild Water Kingdom, make sure you watch your stuff. We went a couple of times a long time ago and both times we had stuff stolen. The first visit, our camera was stolen. The second time, someone stole our tube while we weren’t looking. When we reported the stolen camera the staff wasn’t very helpful and reacted as if it happened all the time. We’ve never been back since.
I’ve never been to wild water kingdom but have been to wild water works in Hamilton (confederation park) and it was a good cheap day. I took my younger brother and a friend. It was a couple years ago so prices may have changed, but at that time I did not have to pay for parking. Admission was cheap. No renting of tubes needed. Lockers where available to rent if required. Best of all grounds were kept clean and they had clear and maintained site rules and regulations posted at the enterance to the water park. Staff was also friendly and helpful.
Suck it up! If you want free evetything…take a walk toyou local creek, river, stream, pond… And cool off there. No parking fee and no admission fee.
People complain too damn much.
You could buy a condo with a pool .… But your condo fees will still be there if you useor don’t use the pool.
You could buy a house with a pool … But the city will billyou for the water you need to fill it … And the hydro company will bill you to heat it and to run the pumps.
… So either or WWK, Ontario Place, Canada’s Wonderland … Not a bad price for a one time use.
You could also go to one of the many YMCA or community centres… They usually run at $4.75 — $8 for 1–3 hours and includes parking (free) and a locker (you supply the lock though).
So there are options .… Stop *%#+^% complaining people and explore your options!!!
Canada’s Wonderland and Ontario Place have better systems. It’s annoying to have to pay for so many different things. At Wonderland and Ontario Place you don’t have to worry about pulling out your wallet so much once you’re there. Otherwise Wild Water Kingdom is a pretty cool water park.
We use pools as well but it’s not the same as going to a water park.
I’ve never been to Wild Water Kingdom — the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark is pretty decent. Good idea to get in all the water park fun while you still can before the winter comes!
world waterpark in edmonton i go to,and also wild rapids in sylvan lake alberta is very cheap…lockers are 1 dollar i think and tubes are free but again you have to fight for them…at waterpark you buy a tube and 9 times out of ten it gets stolen if you want to say go on a slide where no tubes are allowed…best to have a friend sit on the sidelines at waterpark but what is the fun in that?