Canada's Wonderland responds to criticism over WinterFest

It seems that Canada's Wonderland may be off to a rocky start with its annual WinterFest.

The yearly attraction transforms the theme park into a winter wonderland, complete with seasonal entertainment and rides tailored to the winter weather — Sledgehammer, Psyclone, and a handful of other rides are open throughout the season.

And yet, some guests who've already attended this year are describing their visit as simply subpar.

Hot off the heels of what some people were calling a disappointing Halloween Haunt, Canada's Wonderland was set to deliver a standout WinterFest to make up for it, complete with seven million LED lights, a holiday market, and thousands of anticipated visitors.

This year's attraction appears to be generating some negative chatter amongst parkgoers already. Some attendees have shared concerns on social media about the number of lights in operation and the overall value for the cost of the visit, both allegedly putting a damper on WinterFest 2025.

One Reddit user made a very precise observation: "Nearly 62 per cent of the park lights weren't even on. You can see the wiring in the trees, and some Christmas lights are supposed to be connected but weren't." 

Another user supported this stance: "This is COMPLETELY valid. A lot of lights were missing or not working; like for the tunnel to the Christmas Market, only half the tunnel was lit."

Grace Peacock, Director, Public Relations at Canada's Wonderland, however, confirms that the tunnel leading to the Christmas Market is "now fixed" and that guests can continue to enjoy the full display.

Another recurring concern is the additional costs for certain experiences that are not included in general admission. With many influencers posting about the event online, visitors often turn to comment sections to clarify what is and isn't covered.

One user asked on a creator's Instagram reel, "Do they still charge you a lot to get in? More than 50 bucks?" Others responded, "lol parking is $40." The thread continued with users noting that parking is not included in the entrance fee and expressing frustration by labelling Canada's Wonderland as "scammers." 

Screenshot via Instagram. 

Food pricing has also been part of the conversation.

While theme park food is generally known to be expensive, one parkgoer described a dissatisfying experience on Reddit.

"At one place, I ordered a mint hot chocolate and the dude gave me a cup of hot water. He didn't once look at the liquid coming out of the machine, but just pushed the button, put the lid on, and handed the drink out the window," they wrote. 

Although the park's representative didn't address any of the food-related comments, Peacock says that the park aims for transparency regarding pricing and communications, addressing misconceptions about any hidden fees. 

"You can find pricing details on our website, including the cost for skating," she says in response to the Instagram users surprises that the Snow Flake Lake Ice Skating comes with an additional $12 charge.

Screenshot via Instagram. 

The same Instagram user shared a handy cost-saving tip for anyone interested in pictures with St. Nick. "Pics with St. Nick is free if you just want to take a photo with your phone; otherwise, you may pay extra for a printed/ digital package." 

WinterFest at Canada's Wonderland runs from Nov. 15 to Jan. 3, 2026, and is located at 1 Canada's Wonderland Dr. in Vaughan, Ont.