Marineland Theme Park
7657 Portage Rd.
Niagara Falls ON L2E 6X8
Tel: 905-356-9565
www.marinelandcanada.com
Mailing address: Marineland, 8375 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls ON L2E 6X8

Hours: Marineland is open from Canada’s Victoria Day May 24 to Thanksgiving in October. Summer admission hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in the off-season from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park always closes at dusk.

Admission in Canadians funds: Children 5-9 yrs. $28.95, adults 10 yrs and up $33.95. Persons with disabilities are admitted for $15.50 upon request. Admission cost provides unlimited access to all shows and rides.

For an extra $5 per person you may purchase a Fun Card, which allows you unlimited access to the park and all of its attractions for the entire season. Marineland accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Debit Card (Cdn.) Taxes are extra.

Parking: There is ample parking at Marineland, one of the main attractions in Niagara Falls and a special designated parking lot for visitors with disabilities. This area is staffed with attendants who will monitor parking for side-loading vehicles. All of Marineland’s 380 seasonal staff are instructed in addressing persons with disabilities, explained Angus Matthews, director of operations and our guide for the afternoon.

The park encompasses approximately 1200 acres. Although currently only 700 acres are developed, construction is ongoing for a $160 million expansion. This will be a multi-domed aquarium complex covering 20 acres and featuring sharks, stingrays, and starfish among other ocean creatures. Currently, the entire area is accessible with the only exception being the lower level of the Aquarium Theatre building, which is used for marine mammal training and educational sessions. Some of the dozen or so rides are considered accessible using the exits to enter. However, guests with disabilities who can use the rides must ride with a companion. Also, several of the rides have height requirements.

One of the first things we noticed was how clean the park was and how easy to get around as the beautiful paved walkways are almost like roads. Along with the numerous attractions, the park features two licensed, cafeteria-style restaurants (beer only) and a number of food service wagons throughout the park offering ice cream, waffle cones, popcorn, hot dogs, soft drinks etc. Bank ATM machines and low pay telephones are located at the Whale Shop one of the park’s three spacious gift shops.

It should also be noted that visitors are allowed to bring food and beverages into the park for a picnic but no alcohol or glass bottles. During the summer you can also enjoy the music of Grammy-winning local celebrity Walter Ostanek and his orchestra in the bandstand at the huge picnic area.

Near the bandstand is the guest services station that includes: First Aid care, nursing mothers facilities, stroller and wheelchair rentals, lost children. There is a microwave here for warming baby bottles. All EMS (Emergency Services) are set up, including blood pressure, oxygen and diabetic services. The cost of rentals: double stroller $12, single stroller $8, wheelchair $8, taxes included.We've mentioned that it might be of interest to the disabled public to have electric scooters available to rent and our suggestion was received with interest. Here's hoping. It is suggested you reserve what is available ahead of time.

There is also a picnic area at the south entrance to the parking lot off Portage Road, which is free to the public.

There is a microwave here for warming baby bottles. All EMS (Emergency Services) are set up, including blood pressure, oxygen and diabetic services.
The cost of rentals: double stroller $12, single stroller $8, wheelchair $8, taxes included. It is suggested you reserve ahead of time.

Attractions: The purpose of a visit to Marineland is, of course, the wonderful attractions, including the marine shows. King Waldorf’s Theatre stars walruses, sea lions and dolphins. There is a special two-tiered covered viewing area set up for guests in wheelchairs and scooters but there is also a ramp available for those who wish to view from the top of the stadium. Guests in the special section are acknowledged by the performers in the show. Friendship Cove gives visitors a chance of getting up close and personal to feed and touch the killer whales, which are actually very friendly mammals. The pools are surrounded by walkways for above water and dramatic underwater viewing of these beautiful creatures, including Kiska, the 4700 lb. mother whale and her six-week-old (at the time of our visit) baby, Athena. Arctic Cove is home to the exquisite beluga whales, otherwise known as the canaries of the sea. There are 20 belugas at Marineland. The underwater viewing area here gives you the feeling that you’re actually in the pool with them as all the windows are curved. These whales can hold their breath for almost 20 minutes, Angus explained, pointing out that there are six million gallons of seawater in Marineland pools and the park has its own huge water filtration plant. They also use about 1500 lbs. of fish a day to feed the marine mammals. The Aquarium Theatre stages training and education sessions and has designated seating. The underwater viewing area in this theatre is the only inaccessible part as there are steps down.

As you continue around the park you can stop by the bear park and watch the 40 black bears sleeping on rocks or swimming in the pool; visit the buffaloes, elk and red deer, all in their own pens and enjoy feeding thousands of fish from the bridges crossing the fish-feeding lake. Of special enjoyment is the deer park where you can see several hundred fallow deer. This is a lovely area, especially for the children, as the deer will eat right out of your hand. And the entire deer park is exceptionally clean with wide paved streets and a full-time sweeper. Angus informed us that approximately 1500 trees are planted each year in park development.

Amusement park rides: The newest ride, which opened July 1, 2004, is the Sky Screamer, the world’s highest triple tower ride, which carries you 450 feet straight up then drops you down at speeds up to 96 km/h (60 mph). We’re told the scenery from the top is incredible; imagine viewing the falls from this elevation. The ride is accessible if you can manage the long sloped ramp up to the ride (482 steps). The entry gate is accessible but you would probably need to be lifted onto the ride if you are mobility impaired. The Flying Dragon requires upper body strength, and the Dragon Mountain, the longest roller coaster in the world at close to a mile long, is accessible if you can lift your leg approximately 14 inches over the lip to get into the seat. Guests with disabilities always ride in the front seat, Angus explained. Whether it’s the Wave Swinger, Sky Hawk, Kandu’s Twister, or Space Avenger, accessibility will depend on each person’s level of disability.

And if you need a break from all the thrilling rides, you can enjoy all the action in the huge arcade where you buy tokens to play.

Washrooms: We audited four very clean washrooms in the park. These were located in the Deer Park, the Whale Gift Shop, the Adult Ride area, and the Aquarium Theatre. Although the stalls were accessible, the only washroom with a sink cut out below was in the Deer Park. All the washrooms have sensor sink faucets. In all washrooms the mirrors were too high for a seated person and in most we found the toilet paper was hard to reach. However, Angus made written notes of all of our suggestions.

A trip to Niagara Falls wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Marineland, but keep in mind you need the best part of a day to enjoy everything it has to offer.

Audited September 2004