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bmmtommwtaatafem bystefaniarizzi staff writer he grounds were a dead calm cars minivans or jeeps jwere not packed like sardines in jjthe parking lot and there wasrio stampede at the entrance gates v there was no traditional- soundingtheme park music waft- jng through speakers r inot a squeak was heard from running coasters or children squeals of delight filling the air j there wasnt even an hourlong wait in the queue line or the dis- tinct and pleasurable smell of fun- a rielcake t trees lay unplanted in the lime- stone streets garbage rangers were overturned and four men from northern lights painting and decorating were painting flower bed rails in front of a merry-go- round in hannabarbera land several mechanics were sus- pended along die track of a childs coaster adding final touches beside the pizza pizza location at zoom zone an electrician was taping lip wires while jrthefcon- tractorswere layingthe cement over at the bat landscape architects were laying the final two umestonesinplaceonasquare shaped sectionof the pathway while welders kept busy at shockwave securing together a piece of the rides queue line that was the state of canadas first national theme parkori a windy and partly cloudy tuesday but all that changed last week end sunday was the first day paramount canadas wonderland opened its gates tothe public for the 2001 season i yearold or a teen and deter mine what is fun and funky and fashionable for them for example williams said park researchhas shown brandname labels such as nike and reebokor pizza pizza and yogen fruz are what guests want r and the park has been catering to that demand for the past four or five years she added 1 park employees at character house in hannabarbera land were busy stocking store shelves with paraphernalia such as key- chains stuffed scoobydoos and dinos tshirts stickers and water bottles we dont just have the local souvenirs but other staples as well williams said we also have staff photosmike barrett all is ready for opening day at paramount canadas wonderland aboveglen vranckxright replaces damaged stones in time for the more than three million peopleexpected to pass through the parks gates this season- jbutfprthe 120ddd days the ivaughanbased park is open it takes months of preparation and research to get ready for trie more than three million people who will visitthe 379acre park this year the ideaistokeep giving diem a reasqrijocome back said park commumratipris andspecial eyenmmagevkriswiuiarns addffigardund 60 per cent of yisi the branded items consumers aire tors are season pass holders v looking for if they want to shop iwe tryand understand what theyu shop h v r c 4 our guests are looking for welltry williams said the more than ml and get into the mind of a four- v fulltime and 4000 seasonal staff vp ff p membersarec6rittt6provid- switch opening day zing guests wjatiie ultimate v jithemeparklexpejience its nof just a jobfor them what they do comes frpmthe vheart and they want to do some- thfogsatisfyingtopuf guests said i the spokesperson explaining full- iitime staff will begin preparing for cthe 2002 season mid-summer- vjdepiartniwhsfictits ifss fattr1jc6nisoodmerchdisebr units are removed from the track arid reassembled if its not safe its not fun thats the bottom line williams said- r weneeii to be ready in every ij for thrill arid adyehtureseekers this season promises to be an exciting one this year marks the first time the park vriich celebrates its 20th armiversarytlrishioiithwill offer more new rides thanever before new attractions include shockwave the worlds greatest feet in the air while rotating and iesertalrinlntiothrdu tengthy prepatory process where ingmverted kids coaster with a 4easohal stafftiich as studoiteor hel silver streak and legendary cucx-j- urj j 4j comic book creator stan lees 7th portal a 3d ride simulator based for those who dont like hairpin rums or gravitydefying twists not to worry williams said the park offers something for everyones enjoy- f mentincluding new entertain ment shows such as scoobydoo and the ghost in the attic and graveyard shift which features singers and dancers performing ghoulist hits from classic rock to contemporary j j j williams dismisses the idea a person has seen or done all the theme park has to offer every year we set the bar to try and outdo ourselves from the year before she said we know through research what we have to doto provide the best entertain- tment value and i think we do that for more information about season passes or operating hours call 905 8327000 v r i l s i 3 i a a it j tl i n fl tl j j ioi wlyzjiuzytuji zvrjiii it i il hi 41 vc- v