点评:Originally opened in 1983 as Fantasyland, the country’s largest indoor amusement park was forced to rebrand after a legal dispute with Disney over naming rights; thus, Galaxyland was “born” in 1995. The space-themed overhaul also saw a new mascot, “Cosmo,” come online (yeah!). Also of note: Galaxyland was once home to the world’s tallest and longest indoor rollercoaster, the “Mindbender.” It opened in 1985, but was decommissioned in 2023. Future Premier Danielle Smith famously rode the Mindbender with Rick Mercer in 2010!
In any event, it had been well over ten years since I last patronized Galaxyland. The prices have gone up (as they have everywhere else), and I couldn’t help but notice the “Hasbro” branding all over the place. I didn’t recall this being present in Galaxyland when I was last here. A quick Google search reveals that, thanks to a major licensing deal, Galaxyland is now technically called “Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro” as of December 2022. As a result, pretty much all rides and attractions are “Hasbro-themed.” Consider: Sorry! Slider Bumper Cars, Dizzy Doh-Dohs, Micro Machines Aero, Monopoly Railroad, Simon, Barrel Of Monkeys Bananza, GI Joe Ninja Training, Monopoly Flight of Fortune, Hungry Hungry Hippos Feeding Frenzy, Operation, and Potato Head Spud Squirt, to name but a few. The space-themed mascot, Cosmo, is still around, but he appears to have been relegated to one entrance. Now, Mr. Potato Head, My Little Ponies, and Mr. Monopoly (his name is actually “Rich Uncle Penny Bags”) are promoted as “mascots;” thus, I think it’s only a matter of time before Cosmo flies off into space.
My disappointment at Galaxyland becoming a shill for Hasbro notwithstanding (seriously, it reminds me of that great clip from the Simpsons . . . “put down those entertaining Mattel products!”), we spent a couple hours here ambling about and enjoying some of the rides. While there’s no more Mindbender, we still rode the Monopoly Flight of Fortune, Flight to Equestria, and the Monopoly Railroad. Of these rides, I think the “Flight of Fortune” – a giant swing set that moves in a circular motion – was the highlight because it is definitely far more intense than the one at Vancouver’s Playland. Seriously, the swings here @ Galaxyland swing straight out, and you move a lot faster! I felt a little dizzy afterwards, but it was a good time.
General admission is $67, which is getting up there in price, but it can afford you several hours of fun! Of note, once you get your tickets, you can come and go as you please throughout the day. The lockers on site are also good for storage, though you should make sure to collect your goods before Galaxyland closes.
And, hey, if nothing else be sure to take a selfie with dear old Cosmo before he gets consumed by those entertaining Hasbro mascots . . . ;)
翻译:这座加拿大最大的室内游乐园最初于1983年以“Fantasyland”之名开业,后来因与迪士尼发生命名权纠纷而被迫更名;于是,“Galaxyland”便在1995年应运而生。这次以太空为主题的翻新工程还引入了一位新的吉祥物——“Cosmo”(太酷了!)。另外值得一提的是:Galaxyland曾是世界上最高、最长的室内过山车“Mindbender”的所在地。该过山车于1985年开始运营,但在2023年正式退役。未来的省长丹妮尔·史密斯曾在2010年与里克·默瑟一起体验了“Mindbender”过山车,这一事迹广为人知!
不管怎样,我上一次光顾银河乐园已经过去十多年了。物价上涨了(和其他地方一样),而且我不禁注意到到处都有“孩之宝”的品牌标识。我记得自己上次来时这里并没有这些标志。简单搜索一下就会发现,由于达成了一项重要的授权协议,才出现了这种情况。自2022年12月起,Galaxyland在技术上被命名为“由孩之宝赞助的Galaxyland”。因此,几乎所有的游乐设施和景点都带有“孩之宝主题”。比如:Sorry! Slider碰碰车、Dizzy Doh-Dohs、Micro Machines Aero、大富翁铁路、Simon记忆游戏、Barrel Of Monkeys Bananza、GI Joe忍者训练场、大富翁命运之翼、Hungry Hungry Hippos喂食大赛、Operation外科手术游戏,以及Potato Head Spud Squirt等等。那个以太空为主题的形象大使Cosmo也依然活跃着。不过他似乎只被安排守在其中一个入口处。现在,土豆先生、我的小马驹们以及大富翁先生(他的真名其实是“有钱的潘尼巴格斯大叔”)都被宣传为“吉祥物”;因此,我觉得科斯莫迟早也会飞向太空。
尽管我对Galaxyland沦为孩之宝的宣传工具感到失望(说真的,这让我想起了《辛普森一家》里那个经典的片段……“放下那些有趣的美泰玩具吧!”),我们在这里悠闲地逛了几个小时,还体验了好几项游乐项目。虽然已经没有“Mindbender”这个项目了,但我们还是玩了“大富翁:命运之旅”、“飞向艾斯崔亚”以及“大富翁铁路”这几个项目。在这些项目中,我觉得最精彩的要数“命运之旅”——那是一个做圆周运动的巨型秋千设施。它绝对比温哥华Playland游乐园里的同类项目刺激得多。说真的,Galaxyland这里的秋千直接向外摆动,速度也快多了!之后我有点头晕,但那是一段愉快的时光。
普通门票价格为67美元,这个价格算是偏贵了,但它能为你带来数小时的乐趣!值得一提的是,一旦买了票,你便可以在当天随意进出。现场的储物柜也适合存放物品,不过记得一定要在Galaxyland闭园前取回自己的东西。
还有,嘿。无论如何,一定要在可爱的科斯莫被那些搞笑的孩之宝吉祥物“吞掉”之前,和他拍张自拍照哦…… ;)