Your Guide to Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland 2024
Welcome, fellow thrill-seekers and Halloween enthusiasts! If you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping, spine-chilling experience this October, you’re in the right place.
Canada’s Wonderland once again transforms the theme park into a park of terror. If you have never been to this October event before, you may be wondering if Halloween Haunt is worth visiting.
With monsters, scare zones, haunted mazes, terrifying performers, shows, and thrilling rides I can honestly say that an evening at this spooky event is certainly worth considering.
For those new to Halloween Haunt, I’ll share all you need to know about visiting Canada’s Wonderland Halloween Haunt this October.
Address: 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, Vaughan ON
When does Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland Open?
Halloween Haunt opens on Friday, September 27, 2024
Halloween Haunt’s final day is Sunday, November 2, 2024
It continues to run on select nights throughout the month of October. In general Haunt is open Thursday-Sunday evenings 6 or 7 p.m. to midnight.
Be sure to confirm specific dates and Halloween Haunt hours on the Canada’s Wonderland website.
What Can I Expect at Canada’s Wonderland Halloween Haunt?
Halloween Haunt Highlights, but in summary you can expect.
✓ Th park is transformed into a haunted wonderland at night including mazes, scare zones, shows and entertainment
✓ 21 rides including several roller coasters
✓ 7 scare zones
✓ Fog machines to create an eerie ambiance
✓ Staff dressed in zombie-like characters that jump out and chase visitors throughout the park
✓ Long lines
✓ Lots of teenagers and young adults
✓ Recommended for those age 13+
What Makes Halloween Haunt Special?
Essentially, Haunt is an opportunity to explore Canada’s Wonderland at night, go on rides in the dark, and get scared out of your mind.
It’s a really popular event for teenagers and young adults.
A trip to Halloween Haunt includes access to many of the traditional roller coasters and amusement park rides, Halloween-specific attractions, mazes, and Scare Zones. Actors dress up in costumes and wander the park, scaring visitors and creating a fun ambiance.
While I did find Halloween Haunt to be surprisingly busy, I had a lot of fun walking through the park. I enjoyed checking out the mazes, scare zones, and interactive rides designed to send shivers down your spine.
Things to Do at Wonderland’s Halloween Haunt
Here are some of the attractions and experiences included in the cost of admission.
1. Rides are Open During Halloween Haunt
Visitors to Canada’s Wonderland Halloween Haunt often wonder, “Are rides open during Halloween Haunt?” The answer is yes!
Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland doesn’t just offer scares; you can also enjoy 21 rides, including roller coaster favourites like Tundra Twister, Yukon Striker, Behemoth, and Leviathan. It’s the perfect blend of adrenaline-pumping coasters and spooky attractions.
While not every ride is open, you will be able to enjoy most of the rides during Haunt.
Splash Works water park, water rides, and the kids areas are closed during this event.
2. Halloween Haunt Mazes
There are seven haunted mazes throughout the park. Each maze has their own unique theme and terrifying surprises lurking around every corner. One of the new mazes for 2024 is the “Demons of the Deep” deserted marine lab!
When I visited, the lines were quite long, although they moved very quickly. I went through The Crypt, which was fun but not particularly spooky. The scariest moments came when someone jumped out at you.
I did not get a chance to go through the Cornstalkers or The Ruins, but I heard from other visitors to the park that these attractions are better than The Crypt.
3. Halloween Haunt Scare Zones
As you wander through the park, you’ll encounter lots of terrifying scare zones scattered throughout. These are mostly located at the entrances to different areas of the park.
Staff dressed in zombie-like costumes roam these zones, and fog machines create an eerie atmosphere that’ll keep you on edge.
I found the Scare Zones to be my favourite part of Halloween Haunt. I thought the actors did an excellent job scaring visitors and staying in character. The costumes were great, and these monsters would sneak up and scare you (or chase you) at the most unexpected times.
4. Halloween Interactive Rides
There are several immersive rides, like “Zombies!” that appear to be a lot of fun! I did not, however, get to go on these rides as the lines were so long! C
learly, most visitors felt it was worth waiting in very long lines for these haunted Halloween experiences.
Pro Tip: Head directly to the Haunted Attractions as soon as you arrive and before the lines get too big.
5. Halloween Entertainment
Beyond the rides and haunted attractions, Halloween Haunt has some excellent live shows and spooky performances.
Be sure to check out the times of each show in the Wonderland app, as the schedule varies depending on the day.
Canada’s Wonderland Halloween Haunt Tickets
Now, let’s talk about how you can get your tickets for Halloween Haunt at Wonderland.
Halloween Haunt Ticket Options
There are a few ticket options to choose from, depending on your preferences. You can typically purchase a single-night admission ticket. This grants you access to all the haunted attractions, rides, and entertainment for one evening of spine-tingling fun.
Purchase individual tickets online for $49.99 plus processing fees. Season Pass holders can purchase a “Bring-A-Friend” ticket online for $39.99. They must enter their Season Pass number when they purchase the ticket.
Buy Your Halloween Haunt Ticket Online
The best time to buy your Halloween Haunt Tickets is if you purchase your 2025 Gold Season’s Pass between August and September, 2024.
Not only do you get the 2025 season, you will get unlimited visits to Wonderland, Halloween Haunt and WinterFest for both 2024 and 2025. It’s great value!
If you don’t have a season’s pass, you will want to buy your tickets online in advance. This not only guarantees your entry but can also save you some money compared to purchasing tickets at the gate. The gate price is currently listed as $85.
Season Pass Holders: If you’re a season pass holder for Canada’s Wonderland, you might be in luck. Sometimes, there are special offers or discounts available exclusively to season pass holders for Halloween Haunt.
Unlimited Halloween Haunt entry is already included with a Gold Pass.
Fast Lane Pass Tickets
If you want to make the most of your visit and minimize wait times for the popular attractions, consider adding a Fast Lane Pass to your ticket. This pass lets you skip the regular lines on some of the rides and haunted attractions, ensuring you experience more thrills in less time.
The Fast Lane passes are an additional fee on top of your entry ticket. Fast Lane passes for Halloween Haunt cost $99 on Thursdays and Fridays and $109 on Saturdays.
Is the Fast Lane Pass for Halloween Haunt Worth It?
If you are going to Halloween Haunt on a Friday or Saturday, I would certainly consider the Fast Lane pass for this event.
I found the lines for Haunt longer than the lines for rides during the regular season. It is impossible to go through all the mazes and on many rides in one visit without the Fast Lane pass.
If you do purchase the pass, you will still need to line up inside the park to redeem your ticket for a lanyard. This line was also long. Go to the park early and head straight inside the park to pick up your fast passes.
Parking at Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt parking costs $30 in the Wonderland parking lot.
Halloween Haunt Age Restrictions
A common question is if there are age restrictions for Halloween Haunt. Canada’s Wonderland does not recommend this event for children under the age of 13. However, it is up to the parents’ discretion.
In my personal opinion, I do not feel Haunt is appropriate for younger children, and I think the recommendation of 13 years is an appropriate one. There may be some exceptions for 10+, but if you are thinking Haunt is a traditional Halloween party where children dress up in costume for Halloween, you may have the wrong impression of this event.
Beyond the scare factor, there are a lot of young adults wandering through the park. They are being teens – screaming, laughing, being silly, having fun – and they are not watching out for young children. It’s one of the few Halloween events in the city that is ideal for teenagers.
Camp Spooky is Open During Regular Park Hours
For much younger children, Camp Spooky is open during regular park hours in the daytime. I highly recommend visiting Canada’s Wonderland Theme Park during regular hours for children under the age of 10.
Halloween Haunt Operating Dates and Times
Halloween Haunt typically runs on select nights throughout the spooky season, from late September through October.
Opening and closing times vary depending on the day of the week. In general, it opens at 7 p.m. and closes at midnight. Check the official website for specific dates and times.
On dates where Wonderland is open to guests in the daytime, the park will close at 5 p.m. and everyone will need to exit the park. Haunt is considered a new event and will require a specific Halloween Haunt ticket to enter.
Tip: Visitors can enter the park for Halloween Haunt 30 minutes before the rides open, so arriving early is highly recommended. When I spoke with the security guards during my recent visit, they highly recommended arriving at 6:30 to go through security and get on the rides and attractions early.
Rules and Guidelines to Enter Halloween Haunt
Before you head to Halloween Haunt at Wonderland, it’s essential to be aware of some important rules and guidelines as they differ from the normal Wonderland rules.
Halloween Haunt Bag Policy
- No bags or backpacks allowed during the event.
- Small clear bags (under 2”x12”x6”) and non-clear clutches (under 5”x8”x2”) are permitted.
- No lockers outside the park, so plan ahead for storage.
Can You Wear Costumes?
- Costumes and face paint are not allowed.
- Guests in costumes or makeup will be denied entry for safety reasons.
No Re-entry Policy
- Once you leave the park, you cannot re-enter.
- Make sure to have everything before entering to avoid getting stuck outside.
Last Entry Time
- Arrive before 11 p.m. (10 p.m. on Thursdays) to be admitted.
- Late arrivals will not be allowed in.
Is Halloween Haunt Wonderland Scary?
The level of scariness at Halloween Haunt can vary from person to person. One of the most frightening aspects of the event is the staff, who dress up in various costumes and actively engage with guests by chasing or surprising them as they explore the grounds.
Wonderland staff members are often dressed as zombie-like monsters and can provide intense jump scares.
Additionally, some of the haunted mazes at Halloween Haunt can be quite terrifying for certain individuals. Inside these mazes, characters often jump out at you from behind props and deliver startling screams to heighten the fear factor.
It’s important to note that everyone has a different tolerance for scares, and what one person finds frightening, another might not.
No Boo Necklaces
To accommodate varying comfort levels, Halloween Haunt offers “No Boo” necklaces for purchase. These necklaces serve as a signal to the actors not to directly yell at or chase individuals wearing them, allowing guests to enjoy the event at their own pace and comfort level.
In summary, while Halloween Haunt does have elements that can be genuinely scary, your experience will depend on your personal tolerance for fear and your willingness to embrace the spine-tingling atmosphere of the event.
How Long are the Lines at Halloween Haunt?
The length of lines at Halloween Haunt can vary, but it’s not uncommon for them to be quite lengthy. During my visit, the lines for some rides, particularly the Halloween attractions, were so long that I did not wait in them.
Some of the mazes tended to move relatively quickly, however, the lines for the rides and the haunted attractions were considerably longer and slower.
I found wait times for rides and haunted attractions ranged from approximately 30 minutes to as long as 90 minutes. Wait times can vary depending on the night you visit and the popularity of specific attractions.
Using the Canada’s Wonderland App and planning your visit strategically can help you make the most of your time at Halloween Haunt despite the long lines.
Is Halloween Haunt Worth It?
My answer to the question, “is Halloween Haunt worth it?” is maybe. The answer largely depends on your preferences and expectations. It’s important to consider a few factors before making your decision.
Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland can be a very busy event, with notably long lines for rides. While the scare zones provide a thrilling experience, some visitors may not find the mazes as impressive.
If you’re a fan of the park’s regular season, which includes access to all rides and Splash Works for one entry price, you might see more value in visiting during the regular day and season.
However, Halloween Haunt can be a great choice for teens and young adults who enjoy being scared and going on rides.
There are limited Halloween events in Toronto that cater specifically to this age group, making Halloween Haunt a unique experience for them. During my recent visit, I spoke with some teenagers who were having a blast and weren’t bothered by the lines at all.
While it may not be for everyone, Halloween Haunt can provide a fun evening of entertainment for those seeking a unique and spooky experience.
Final Thoughts: Spooky Fun at Wonderland’s Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt at Wonderland offers a fun and thrilling experience for those seeking spine-tingling scares and spooky entertainment.
The level of scariness can vary, with some visitors finding the scare zones and mazes genuinely frightening. Long lines for rides and haunted attractions are common, but early arrival and strategic planning can help you make the most of your visit.
From the eerie attractions to the haunted mazes to the thrilling rides and entertaining shows, this hauntingly good event is a must-see.
So, grab your tickets, prepare for the fright of your life, and spend the night uncovering the secrets of Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland!
Before You Go: Learn More About Canada’s Wonderland
Now that you’ve read this post and have decided to visit Halloween Haunt, you may be interested to learn more about Canada’s Wonderland Amusement Park and Wonderland’s water park, Slash Works.
WinterFest at Canada’s Wonderland is also a fantastic annual holiday event worth visiting with friends, family, or even a first date.
And for those coming from out of town, you may want to consider booking accommodation close to Wonderland. My post describing where to stay near Wonderland will give you my top hotel picks for the area.
