The Grande World Exposition of 1890 was a section of Canada's Wonderland theme park, centred around the concept of a historic World's Fair. In park's opening 1981 season, it featured Chinese, Dutch, Egyptian, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Persian, and African theming. A Canadian-themed roller coaster was meant as the teaser for a separate, later aborted Canadian section. When Kings Entertainment Company sold to Paramount Parks, the latter's movie-theming strategy conflicted with existing attractions. After Cedar Fair Entertainment Company acquired Wonderland in 2007, Grande World Exposition was merged with Action Zone for the 2008 season. Some theming elements have survived over the years, though they are mostly unacknowledged.
Rides edit
- Zumba Flume
- Shiva's Fury
- Great Whale of China
- Pharoah's Eye
- Swing of Siam
- Sol Loco
- The Mighty Canadian Minebuster
- Carousel
- Persia
- Flavoury Fried Vegetables
- Moroccan Bazaar (Calcutta Trader, Congo Curios, Far East House of Imports, Pleasures of Paradise, Haberdashery, Ali Poof)
- La Fiesta Mexicana
- Ring Its Neck
- Can-Can
- Information and Ticket Booth
Retail edit
Crystal Arcade edit
Food edit
A Toronto Star food section review both applauded and criticized the variety of selection of food in the park, pointing out the fact you could be "stuck" with a certain type of food, depending what area of the park you were in, particular within Exposition.
In the opening season, Ginza Gardens was the only full-enclosed and heated eatery in the park, built for 484 people, smaller than All's Well Hall with 528 seats, contemporarily Marketplace Buffet. Designed as a Japanese pagoda, it featured tempura chicken and beef teriyaki. The licensed restaurant served wine and beer.
The building housing Dutch Treats was designed as a windmill, and offered breaded sole or apple-raisin pancakes. A small taco stand was named Tacos.
Entertainment edit
Similar to the gypsy band on International Street, the wizards and ladies in waiting in Medieval Faire, or the Hanna-Barbera characters in the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera, Grande World Exposition had its own wandering entertainment in early seasons. The opening season featured Good Times Bande, a Dixieland group that would play at the Grande Bandstande. Their show Surprise Symphony would play six scheduled times a day, at the same location.