Niagara Coupons/Waiting Lines
 

I get the impression that to avoid long lines to MOM and JBTF and COTW that you have to go first thing in the morning but we only have so many mornings available! ha. Don't want to wait in long lines. Any thoughts?

Is there somewhere we can go locally for coupons and discounts?

There are no long lines because the tours are running all day and have large capacities... you will have to wait for the preceding boat to empty for the Maid, but everything moves quickly... the US lines are faster but nowhere near the wait you would have for an amusement park ride... the discount books are available right at the Goat Island Park ticket office and that's where you catch Maid and Cave attractions... no big lines there either... relax have fun and plan on getting wet...

thanks! our friends came back from vacation and said they missed the JBTF because there was like a 2 hour waiting line - i didn't want to run into that. I guess you play it by ear at some point! Thanks for the great info!

Boy, garyt22 must be a tour operator!

We went Canadian Side last Aug. and we ditched both the Maid of the Mist and the walk under the falls! The line ups I think would have been over an hour wait!!!!

I found Marineland surprisingly fine! We went in the a.m. (around 10) and got straight into all the shows and my kids enjoyed a few rides.

We've done the maid of the mist a dozen times in the past several years and have never waited more than 20 -25 minutes tops -and it is definitely worth the wait, even iit was an hour......

cheers

Jerry

I agree with Jerry. I didn't wait that long for MotM or JbtF. MotM, I was able to choose what time I wanted to go, got a timed ticket, and didn't worry. 1/2 hour before the departure time, I went over and got in line and I was onboard within about 15 minutes. Not bad at all. For JbtF, it was a bit longer of a wait to get on the elevator, but I'd rather wait 1/2 hour than be crammed into the elevator like a sardine. Of course, it also depends on the time of day. JbtF is quicker in the morning - if you have a morning available, use it for that. For MotM, ask for a timed ticket (I believe they still offer them). I also agree that MotM is very much worth the wait - don't miss it!

SeasonJoy
garyt22 does not sound like a tour operator. Just a smart traveler.
From your other posts you obviously did not enjoy Niagara Falls. It sounds like the whole place was a turn off for you. Sorry you did not get Niagara Falls but not everyone will come away with the same feelings as you even if they have to wait an hour in a line. Don't be such a killjoy.

No I'm not a tour operator, but I always advise Niagara visitors to come to the US side for the Maid and Cave attractions.... they are WAY less crowded and better nature experiences... walking across the Rainbow bridge is very easy, adds an extra special photo op (you can straddle the US/Canada Border with the flags behind you) and besides, relax... you're on vacation, take it easy, talk to some of the people on line, they're from all over the world.... that's what life is really all about...

Good point! Vacation is to be relaxing right? :-) Thanks again.

Annik - that response sounded rather arrogant and also judgmental calling me a killjoy.

I didn't say I hated my whole trip there. I am being realistic when I say that we went to the Under the Falls line and the timed ticket wait was 1 hr. 45 min. in a mid-week afternoon. That didn't include when you come back and then line up for the elevator.


Can Gary really say there are "no long lines". Friends of mine from BC just stopped in and said they also forwent the MOM because the line was horrendous. That was mid-week last week. Have an open mind.

IMO better to be prepared than to be let down.

If you re-read my post you will see I enjoyed Marineland.

haveag8day-
I just returned from Niagara Falls. Spent July 15 and 16 there. The height of the tourist season and the lines were just as gary22 describes. It sounds like you have the right attitude as well.

Seasonjoy-
What I've learned from reading several of your posts is that you "ditched" tours because the wait in line was too long. Well that tells me you missed a great experience. It also indicates that you can't give positive feedback because you didn't actually do the tours. I also learned from your other post that you feel the falls are like a "mini -disney". Yet you enjoyed Marineland.
That was all you had to offer about visiting one of the 7 great natural wonders of the world.
Let's just say I will not be seeking any travel advice from you.
Annika

Annikany - nannanana boo boo - nor me your advice! So there!

You have your reality, I have mine. Ever thought of just being practical?

The line ups were as long as I've indicated when I was there and my entire family was witness, AND, that was the topic of the discussion as posted by this poster.

The reason I indicated that elsewhere was the poster had an itinerary that sounded just ideal. Yes, I had such an itinerary too. The poster was also going to pre-buy tickets. I mentioned the lines to indicate she could get disappointed if she is unrealistic in her expectations, and she may even lose money if she can't use her prepaid tickets due to running out of time. I was actually meaning to suggest she allow more time in between.

My friends just returned July 19 from Niagara. They also "ditched" the MOM and the Under the Falls for the same reasons as I. My friend commented it was like Las Vegas.

Once a natural wonder, now a commercialized wonder.

I'm not regretting the trip. I was just being truthful.

Seasonjoy-
I stand by what I said even more now.
Don't be such a Killjoy.
Annika

That's exactly what I mean by enjoying the company of other travelers while online for attractions... we could rope off an area next to the Maid of the Mist dock and watch you two slug it out!

Thank you to everyone for their advice and help! I have my notebook of advice ready to refer to as needed. We are going to do the jet boat and found online that if you make your reservation online for a 10am trip you save $10 per person! WoW! My neighbor went and told me about how horrible the people mover was and she ended up having to use a taxi. I am resolved that there will be some waiting. ha. It's good to know to plan -We are going to do the "big" attractions first in order to accommodate possible waiting times and will fill in with the smaller "no biggie if we miss them" attractions as time allows. We will plan for big lines and be happily surprised if there are not. Fingers crossed! Regardless.. we MUST see MOM and JBTF and COW. Now the trick is to go with the flow and enjoy the moment no matter if it fits my "schedule" or not. :-) I get moved just by the pictures of Niagara so i can't wait to go. Thanks again!

Gary22-
Let's let you have the last swing on this.
Annika

Haveag8day - sounds like you've got the right attitude for this trip. Your plan is a solid one and I think you'll be happy with it regardless of wait times.

SeasonJoy - I'm just wondering... You mentioned that:

"we ditched both the Maid of the Mist and the walk under the falls! The line ups I think would have been over an hour wait!!!!"

I'm wondering that if you hadn't had ditched them, that you might have discovered that they weren't as long as you thought they were. They move surprisingly fast. When I went, the lines looked horribly long, but for JbtF, I waited no more than 15 minutes, and MotM was 1/2 hour while the prior tour got off the boat. If you go again, you might give it another try, I think you'd be surprised.

We are anxiously awaiting your visit to the Falls and will do our best to clear the lines... your choice of Jetboats is a wise one as this may be the best of all of the attractions... prepared to get very wet and bring a clothing change... but only after completing the Maid, Cave and Jetboats....Have fun!!!