Great Wolf Lodge trip:

 

Prologue:

 

            In Niagara Falls, Ontario, there’s a hotel which is part of a chain called “Great Wolf Lodge”. It’s not only a hotel, but also has a water park, an arcade, and other attractions. I saw another one of their locations on my previous trip. I wanted to check it out though it is pretty expense.

 

            I decided to spend a single night in January during the week as it shouldn’t be so expensive. I also got a $100 gift card to Great Wolf Lodge for Christmas from my sister who also informed me of an additional discount online that allowed PRESTO card users to get discounts if they stay on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

 

            I would go on January 23-24. I would take the Maple Leaf both ways. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

January 23, 2024:

 

            I got to Union station around 7:30 am. I bought a chocolate bar and Pepsi from a store near the subway. I joined the line for VIA train #97.

 

            Boarding began shortly after 8:00 am. I was seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82808. I saw VIA trains 52 and 62 on the track next to us.  I pulled out my laptop. The train left one minute early. I began working on this report.

 

            The train slowed as we passe the Exhibition grounds. My ticket was taken. The café car was apparently already open. The train began to pick up speed as we passed an eastbound GO train. We passed the equipment that would be today’s VIA train #40 to Ottawa but I was unable to film it.

 

            I filmed the equipment in VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center. As we passed the Long Branch GO station, I saw a large crowd of people on the platform waiting for a GO train. Train #97 slowed as we passed. West of Long Branch, we passed an eastbound GO train so the crowd won’t have much longer to wait. The train picked up speed.

 

            It began to snow. I was told we’d get some snow today. The train stopped at Oakville. A CN freight passed us. The train stopped at Aldershot.

 

            After leaving Aldershot, we passed another CN freight. As we passed through Hamilton, the snow made it hard to see far. This made me glad that I chose to take the train instead of driving to Great Wolf Lodge.

 

            We passed a GO train. We passed the CN yard in Hamilton. I photographed some CN power at the west end of the yard.

 

 

            The train slowed as we passed through Hamilton. I photographed CN switcher #7304 which I’ve seen on previous trips.

 

 

            I bought a Kit Kat from the café car. The train passed non stop through Grimsby. The café car closed. The train stopped west of Grimsby. We started moving a few minutes later.

 

            The train passed non stop through St. Catherines. We passed over the Welland Canal.

 

            After passing over the Welland Canal, the crew announced we were 15 minutes from Niagara Falls. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            I could see Great Wolf Lodge from the train. I attempted to photograph it.

 

 

            Train #97 arrived into Niagara Falls 12 minutes late. We had to make a double stop to change engine crews. I got off and walked over and photographed the train.

 

 

            I filmed the train pulling away. I then walked to the bus terminal. I bought a day pass for WEGO. I just missed a bus so I had to wait 30+ minutes for the next bus. While waiting I photographed Niagara Falls Transit Nova LFS #2114.

 

 

            I also phoned home and let my mom know I was in Niagara Falls.

 

            The next WEGO bus arrived. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to Clifton Hill. I got off and filmed the bus pulling away.

 

 

            I remembered that there was a Wendy’s on Clifton Hill. Sure enough, it was still there. I had lunch before I took a walk. While eating lunch, I photographed the Casino Tower; formerly the Kodak Tower and before that the Oneida Tower.

 

 

            Prior to this trip, I’ve stayed at five places overnight in Niagara Falls. My aunt’s house which I stayed at for both when I rode the Breeze in 2005, the time I saw John Schneider and Tom Wopat at Fallsview Casino in 2011, and my 2013 trip to Washington DC. I’ve also stayed at my grandma’s house when she was still alive. My family also stayed in two hotels on Clifton Hill. However, it one of them has since been demolished and the Sky Wheel is where it stood. The other hotel is still around though. The fifth place was a motel on Lundy’s Lane. That motel is still there but has changed ownership.

 

 

            I walked to the WEGO stop. On the way I photographed the American Falls.

 

 

            I got to the stop. The bus came a few minutes later. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the Spanish Aerocar which is the closest stop to Great Wolf Lodge. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I also took some pictures of the whirlpool.

 

 

 

            The Spanish Aerocar wasn’t running at this time of year. I filmed the WEGO bus pulling away and took one more photo of it with the Great Wolf Lodge in the background.

 

 

            I then walked to Great Wolf Lodge. I had to walk along the road because of the snow that had fallen.

 

            I soon made it to Great Wolf Lodge. I went to check in. I ended up getting a free upgrade to my room! My new room was called a “Wolf Den”. I had also bought a “Wolf Pass” which had various perks which I will go over in due time.

 

            I took the elevator to the third floor. I photographed the waterpark which is included in my hotel stay.

 

 

            When I checked in, I got a wristband that not only got me into the waterpark but functioned as my room key as well. I thought it was interesting. I went to my room and phoned home. My room faced towards the Niagara Helicopter Tours; another tourist attraction in Niagara Falls. I went online and worked on this report some more. I took some photos of my room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            A little while later, I went to the waterpark. The waterpark has 13 waterslides of various sizes, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a water play structure. I ended up going on 9 waterslides though two of them I had to share a tube with others because they didn’t take single riders. There was also a hot tub that went outside that was open to guests despite the fact it was in winter.

 

            There were a large number of elementary school kids in the park despite the fact it was a Tuesday in January.

 

            I eventually left the park and went up to my room. I worked on this report some more. I then went out and had dinner at one of the places in Great Wolf Lodge. I then went back to my room.

 

            Some point later I went to the laser tag. My “Wolf Pass” Gave me up to four games. One game had finished but there was no one else waiting at the time. I was told to come back between 8:00 and 8:30. I went into the arcade. My Wolf Pass also got me a $100 arcade card and 4000 tickets. I played a few games though there were no prizes that interested me.

 

            I bought some milk from another restaurant in the lodge and quickly took it to my room before returning.

 

            When I got back to the laser tag, there were players gathering and I was able to get into the game. Prior to 2020 I would often play at Laser Quest; a chain of laser tag places. When I was going to SAIT, I even played in a Laser Quest in Calgary! Sadly, Laser Quest was a victim of the pandemic.

 

            This laser tag game had codenames randomly assigned. The code names were of Great Wolf Lodge “Wolf Gang” characters. Some characters are Sammy Squirrel, Rachel Raccoon, Oliver Raccoon, Wiley Wolf, and Violet Wolf. My codename was “Hooty the Owl”.

 

            In addition to tagging other players like at Laser Quest, you could also target bases and other targets for additional points.

 

            At the end of the game, I ended up winning with a score of 9400 points. I photographed the scoreboard.

 

 

            I went to the arcade and got some pictures from various slides in the waterpark I had taken earlier. They were also included in the Wolf Pass. I then went to the lobby where kids were having a sing along.

 

            I eventually went back to my room and worked on this report. I asked for a wake-up call at 8:00 am but also set my phone for 8:01 as a backup. I called it a night.

 

January 24, 2024:

 

            I didn’t get my wake-up call, but woke up with my cell phone alarm. I got dressed and went to breakfast. I had gotten a breakfast voucher. After breakfast I went back up to my room and went online as I started to pack. I went out shortly after 9:30 and visited the gift shop. I bought a mug and hoodie. I also photographed one of the “Wolf Gang” characters, Brinley Bear.

 

 

 

            I went to my room and finished packing. Check out was automatic so I just left. I asked the front desk if they sold WEGO passes however I was told they didn’t.

 

            I walked to the Spanish Aerocar station and waited for a WEGO bus. One came going the opposite direction I intended. It was driven by one of the drivers from yesterday who remembered me. I scanned the pass I bought the day before and found out it was valid today as well! It just saved me $13. I rode the bus to the Butterfly Conservatory. On the way I saw how foggy it was. You couldn’t see across the river. We did drive by an outdoor rope course.  It was obviously closed, but I could come back in the future.

 

            The bus got to the Butterfly Conservatory and stayed there for a few minutes. We headed back south. I rode to Table Rock before I got off. I photographed the bus before I filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            I waited for the WEGO red route. The next bus on that route was due in 10 minutes. Unlike the bus I rode on the green route, this was an articulated bus. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode the bus up Lundy’s Lane. I got off and photographed the bus as it pulled away before I could film it.

 

 

            I had gotten off across from the Flying Saucer restaurant. I photographed it before I went inside.

 

 

            I had seen the Flying Saucer restaurant since I could remember going to Niagara Falls. I only ate there for the first-time last May. This would be the second time I would eat there.

 

            I ate lunch and paid. I then walked to the bus stop. I photographed the next WEGO bus that came.

 

 

            I rode to Clifton Hill and got off. I photographed the bus before I filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            I looked around Clifton Hill. I visited a candy store. I also saw a model train museum which was only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I looked into other stores but didn’t buy much. I eventually walked to the WEGO stop and waited for a bus. A bus on the red line came.

 

            I rode to a few stops before the Flying Saucer and got off. I attempted to film the bus pulling away.

 

            I went into a Shopper’s Drug Mart for a few minutes before I walked to the bus stop. I photographed the next WEGO bus on the red route before I got on.

 

 

            I rode the bus to Table Rock. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

 

The above and below pictures show how foggy it was that day.

 

 

            A driver stopped and asked me if I was waiting for an UBER. I said no. It turned out the UBER was for two people standing at the terminal.

 

            I filmed the bus pulling away. I decided to check out the incline railway, I had ridden it as a kid in its original configuration, but not since it was refurbished to be accessible.

 

            The incline railway was open. I decided to buy a round trip to be safe since I wasn’t 100% where the top would end up if I could get to the train station in time

 

            I photographed the incline railway before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the top and took a couple photos.

 

 

 

            I then got back to ride back down. On the way down, I attempted to photograph the other car going the opposite direction.

 

 

 

            I got off and went to Table Rock. I stopped inside for a few minutes to charge my camera and my Ipod. I then went out to catch a WEGO green line bus to the train station. It came right away. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            It was the same driver as this morning, but a different bus. I rode to the station and got off. I photographed the bus.

 

 

            I filmed the bus pulling away as well as a Niagara Falls Transit articulated Nova LFS. I then photographed it.

 

 

            I then walked to the train station. The Maple Leaf wasn’t there yet but I still believed I would leave on time.

 

            A security guard asked me what I was doing, but I was able to easily convince him I was ticketed for today’s train #98.

 

            When train #98 arrived, I attempted to film it pulling in from the station. I saw that while it had a different P42, the coaches were the same as what were in the train I arrived into town on. I then walked out of the station and photographed a sign about railways in Niagara Falls.

 

 

            I then photographed the Maple Leaf in the station.

 

 

            I then walked back to the station. I worked on this report some more while I waited to board the train. Passengers began filling the station. I waited to board the train. However, Customs seamed to hold the train because we didn’t board until after the scheduled departure time.

 

            When boarding began, I was once again seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82808. The boarding was done rather quickly as we departed 7 minutes late. Shortly after leaving I saw lights from Great Wolf Lodge. My ticket was taken. The café car was now open. The bridge over the Welland Canal was down.  I went to the café car for dinner. I took my dinner back to my seat. The train stopped at St. Catherines. After departing St. Catherines, I saw a Niagara Regional Transit Nova LFS on route #415 at a railway crossing. The VIA crew announced we’d be into Union at 7:55 pm if all went well.

 

            All the passengers were in coach #82808. The three Amfleet 2 coaches were empty which makes them pointless to have on the train. The train stopped at Grimsby. We soon departed.

 

            Outside of Hamilton, we passed a GO train. We passed the CN yard in Hamilton. We passed another GO Train. We passed non stop through Aldershot. East of Aldershot we stopped. The HEP went out for a few minutes. The HEP soon returned. The crew announced we were waiting for a GO train to pass. The GO train passed on the right-hand side. We started moving again shortly after. 10 minutes later, we stopped at Oakville. A westbound GO train pulled in as we pulled out.

 

            As we passed by VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center, I attempted to film the equipment in the yard. I saw one of VIA’s new trainsets pulling into the yard. I know that on certain departures between Toronto and Ottawa have been using the new VIA trains. However, they should have gone east on train #48 to Ottawa on Wednesdays. I’d have to look into it.

 

            We were getting close to Toronto Union Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. We passed two GO trains and stopped outside Union to let a VIA train depart. We then pulled in 25 minutes late. I could see VIA train #67 on the track next to us. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs and phoned home. I got on the subway which was slower than normal. I met my dad at Finch and we headed home making a quick stop on the way.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Other than not getting my wake-up call, Great Wolf Lodge was excellent! I’d go there again if it wasn’t so expensive. I might even spend two nights there if given the chance. I just wish there was a bit more to do in Clifton Hill.

 

            As for me, my next trip will be in the next month or so when I attempt to ride on VIA’s new corridor trains. Until next time…