A Close Call on Leviathan
A visit to Canada's Wonderland turned scary for one guest recently after they say a fellow rider's iPhone came loose during a run on Leviathan, one of the park's tallest and fastest coasters, and nearly struck them as it went flying. The guest shared their account online, and it's since reignited a long-simmering debate among park regulars: is it time for Canada's Wonderland to get serious about loose items on its biggest rides?
Not the First Time
Anyone who's spent time in line at Wonderland knows the drill — phones, wallets, and loose change are supposed to stay locked up or zipped away before you board rides like Leviathan, Yukon Striker, or Behemoth. But enforcement has long been a sore spot for visitors, who say staff don't always check pockets closely before dispatch. This latest incident is fueling calls for the park to go further, with some guests specifically floating the idea of metal detectors or wand checks similar to what's used at airports and major concert venues, to catch phones and other objects before they ever make it onto a moving coaster.
At speeds topping 148 km/h and heights over 93 metres, Leviathan generates enough force to turn even a small object like a phone into a genuine hazard for anyone nearby, whether they're riding, working the platform, or simply walking through the queue below.
What Wonderland's Policy Already Says
Canada's Wonderland, like most major amusement parks, already technically requires guests to stow all loose articles — phones included — before boarding roller coasters, and most rides offer bins or lockers near the loading area for that purpose. The park has also rolled out phone lanyards and locker rentals at some attractions in recent years specifically to cut down on this kind of incident. Still, critics argue that without consistent physical checks, those rules are only as good as guests' willingness to follow them, and Leviathan's popularity means long lines and quick loading times that can make thorough checks harder to enforce.
Why This Matters for Ontario Day-Trippers
For the many Ottawa and Ontario families who make the trip down the 401 to Vaughan each summer, Canada's Wonderland is one of the province's biggest seasonal draws, pulling in millions of visitors annually as Canada's largest amusement park. Safety incidents like this one tend to travel fast on social media precisely because so many Ontarians have ridden Leviathan themselves, and any policy change the park makes — from added bins to actual metal detectors — would affect pretty much anyone planning a summer visit from across the province.
Wonderland hasn't announced any formal policy changes in response to the latest incident, but with the debate picking up steam online, pressure may be building for the park to revisit how it screens riders before they climb aboard its biggest thrill rides.
Source: MobileSyrup
