Vortex (Canada's Wonderland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vortex |
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View of the ride portion that extends over the pond at the park.
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| Canada's Wonderland | |
| Location | Canada's Wonderland |
| Park section | Frontier Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°50′30.89″N 79°32′36.44″W / 43.8419139°N 79.5434556°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opening date | May 12, 1991 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Suspended |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Model | Suspended Coaster |
| Track layout | Terrain |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 27.8 m (91 ft) |
| Drop | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Length | 719.5 m (2,361 ft) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Duration | 1:36 |
| Height restriction | 122 cm (4 ft 0 in) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
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| Vortex at RCDB | |
Vortex is an exciting suspended roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario. It first opened to the public in the spring of 1991.
Unlike regular roller coasters, Vortex's ride cars hang below the track. This allows them to swing freely from side to side as you zoom along! On Vortex, riders are lifted high up through the park's mountain. Then, they drop at super fast speeds. During the ride, the cars swing very close to a river that runs through the park. This makes it feel like you might even touch the water! Vortex is one of the fastest suspended roller coasters in the world. It shares this title with Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Both rides reach top speeds of about 89 kilometers per hour (55 miles per hour). It is also the tallest suspended coaster currently operating, reaching a height of 27.8 meters (91 feet). Because its track follows the shape of the mountain and river, it's known as a terrain roller coaster.
Experience the Ride
Just like other suspended roller coasters, the cars on Vortex can swing widely from side to side. After you leave the loading station, the train immediately begins to climb the 30-meter (98-foot) tall lift hill. This lift takes riders right to the very top of Wonder Mountain.
Once you reach the top, the train slowly turns to the right. This builds up the excitement for the big drop coming next! The train then quickly dives off the side of the mountain. It passes under the track of another ride called Wonder Mountain's Guardian. Next, it sweeps to the right and climbs up a special "fan-turn" part of the ride. This section flies right over guests walking on the midway below!
The track then sweeps back down over the grass and above the river. You'll swoop left and right at speeds of about 89 kilometers per hour (55 miles per hour). The train then dives into a downward spiral, called a helix. Here, the cars swing just a few feet above the water's surface. This part of the ride wraps around the first drop of Yukon Striker.
As you return to the station, the train swoops left and right a few more times. Finally, it charges into the brake run. The strong swinging motion as the train enters the brakes can make the cars keep swinging even after the train has stopped! The ride then turns right back into the station, ready for the next group of riders.
Similar Rides Around the World
There is another ride called The Bat at Kings Island, which is a sister park to Canada's Wonderland. The Bat opened in 1993. It used to be called Top Gun and Flight Deck. This ride has a very similar layout to Vortex. However, there are some small differences. For example, The Bat has slightly different speeds and heights. Also, each train on The Bat has an extra car, allowing it to carry 28 passengers per train, compared to Vortex's 24.
