La Ronde General Discussion

[farfeather]

I went to La Ronde today and it was stupidly crowded for a Tuesday, and the operations were excruciatingly slow. I got on 4 rides in about 6 hours.
I went on:
Vampire, which was a pretty good invert.
Monster (track one), a kinda rough and a bit strange wooden coaster. It's got a really cool entrance though.
Goliath, actually a really good mega coaster. I got a lot of airtime over all those hills. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this ride
Ednor, I don't know why I thought this one would be good. Waited forever in a line that wasn't even that long for a very headbangy ride in the rain.

I honestly kinda assumed the park would be pretty empty, or I would at the very least be able to get on everything. Boy was I wrong.
I really want to like this park, but they are not making it easy.

 

[northdetective]

sounds exactly like my time there, I don't understand why weekdays are so insane

I'll be back in Montreal soon once my stolen car is fixed ! Incredibly easy decision to not revisit this hellhole

 

[farfeather]

Also, there is absolutely no way the Monster is better than X2 or El Toro or Nitro

 

[outhikn]

I went to La Ronde today and it was stupidly crowded for a Tuesday, and the operations were excruciatingly slow. I got on 4 rides in about 6 hours.

I visited La Ronde the day after you (on Wednesday 8/12) this week, and had a very similar weekday experience to yours.

Just entering the park was super frustrating with a line of many hundreds slowly funneling through a single security scanner checkpoint, baking in the sun with a long meandering line with not a hint of shade. Note: the park had a second security scanner that day prioritized for Prestige pass holders (which my family and I eventually discovered and utilized much into the wait). But even if more scanners were deployed, I doubt they’d make too much difference in how security and ticketing is so compressed on top of each other at the park entrance.

With FastLane that day, I was only able to ride a grand total of 5 coasters/rides; all due to some of the most completely uninspired ride operators I have seen in quite some time — where it almost seemed like their goal was to take the previous 6-minute coaster dispatch, and “outdo” it, finding how to make the next go longer (by either checking their phones, or casual conversations with other operators on the platform).

At first I thought the ‘lacking’ operations might be limited to just the rides department. But after my family spent nearly 50-minutes waiting for food, sadly realized that it seemed to be a park-wide initiative.

This was my first visit to La Ronde, and have no prior visits for a baseline. So not sure if my account here, as well as others this season, has to do with the EPR Properties / Premier Parks transition... my family is in complete agreement, that it was one of the most frustrating visits we’ve ever had to a regional park, and have absolutely no desire to return to La Ronde again.

(So on our next visit to Canada, as part of a big road trip park odyssey, we will certainly spend it at the MUCH better Canada’s Wonderland.)

 

[TPoseOnTantrum]

I have had two visits to La Ronde and there's no reason for me to go back now that it's off the pass. Probably only if they ever get a new coaster in my lifetime.

The first was October 2024, couple of friends and I took the train in and did a full operating day. It was a bit of a miracle that we rode all the major coasters and drop tower in 9.5 hours. It was ridiculously crowded and operations were frustrating across the board. At least we had the good grace of showing up too early so we could get out waiting out of the way before security opened up.

My second visit last August I was in Montreal for literally every single park/waterpark EXCEPT La Ronde but decided on my last morning I could go in for a bit. I showed up way too early again and in 75 minutes rode six attractions including my missing kiddy credit before making the 8 hour drive home. Half of that was in Goliath's station. I left the moment things began getting inconvenient across the board. This was by far the better visit.

La Ronde is a decent park in theory, just needs more money put into it. The rides are great, coasters are mid at worst and excellent at best, but problem numero uno is that it's operated so incredibly poorly across the board. Premier managing it won't change anything, they're just there to rope it into regional dominance with Calypso and Valcartier. The only way that park improves is if you wipe out all staff and local leadership and breed a new in-park culture from scratch. But they won't because the park has always been like that and the locals accept this and don't care. La Ronde does not aspire to be anything greater than it currently is.

 

[jscll]

Sadly, my visit was not much different last week. I first knew something was wrong when the traffic was backed up onto the Jacques Cartier Bridge at park opening time. It took 30 minutes to get from the bridge until we were finally able to pay for parking. From there, there was no delay in parking and a quick entrance into the park by Goliath. The line for the restrooms by Ednör was enormous, so we moved on and found no one at the ones by first-aid. Had no issues or long lines at the food stands (ate early and latter), and were quite happy with the food.
Only got five rides in on the day due to the crowds and slow operations. Monstre was down most of the day due to maintenance, finally coming up two hours prior to park close, which is where we spent the last two hours in line for track 2. It was running one train per track. All of Accès Rapide (Fast Lane) merges with the line for track 2, where there was no merge attendant, it was just a constant squeeze into the station. The only ride that a we did not wait long for was Ednör.
I have been to this park three times before, and one of those times the park closed early due to low attendance (rain threatinging all day). The other times the park was busy, but not crazy, less than 30 minute waits. All of my prior visits were in June. (I think the local schools may still have been in.)
Monstre is an amazing coaster in need of some love.
The ride lines at this park close before closing time, due to requirements with the local labor union.
Hopefully, the park someday will get the 1885 galloping carousel (Le Galopant) restored, it is absolutely gorgeous.