Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

This forum has been developed to discuss aviation related topics.

Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog

Post Reply
digits_
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 6720
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:26 am

Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by digits_ »

Hi all,

Thinking about visiting Canada's Wonderland this spring/summer. I'd like to fly in somewhere with a small plane. Looking to park for about a week. Now that Buttonville is close, there are 3 options that I can find:

CYYZ: closest, but how do they deal with private tiny planes nowadays? Do I run the risk of bumping into NOTAMs closing airspace for small planes or slot requirements that I might not meet? I can go IFR, so the standard VFR notam shouldn't affect me.

Billy Bishop: bit further. Love to have the airport in my logbook at some point, but their website doesn't seem to like airplanes parked there for a long time.

Brampton: Getting a bit far away

Is there anything I'm missing? Any other recommendations? Perhaps private fields that are not listed on any map that would be open to visitors? I'd need at least 2200 ft, but 2800 ft would be more comfortable.

Thank you all!
---------- ADS -----------
 
As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
LongBranch
Rank 0
Rank 0
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2021 10:52 am

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by LongBranch »

-YYZ you will be paying an insane landing fee, parking fee, and I think you need prior notice.

-YTZ will do overnight parking and everything, call the Porter FBO for prices. It will wont be super cheap but definitely under 500 bucks I would have to guess.

-CNC3 would be possible, no FBO service or car rental a bit of pain honestly. Sometimes also a problem getting such a long block for a parking spot for a non-club owned or member operated aircraft.

Other options I can think of Oshawa or Burlington but they would be even worse for distance. Either good luck with finding a viable GA airport in GTA.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
rookiepilot
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 5043
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:50 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by rookiepilot »

Barrie. Seriously.
---------- ADS -----------
 
2112
Rank 3
Rank 3
Posts: 169
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2017 2:33 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by 2112 »

Rookie is right, Barrie is your best bet. The GTA airports are not at all GA friendly and Brampton is pretty congested in my experience.
---------- ADS -----------
 
digits_
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 6720
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:26 am

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by digits_ »

Thank you all, looks like it might be Barrie or YTZ. Lots to look into!
---------- ADS -----------
 
As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
User avatar
Sulako
Rank Moderator
Rank Moderator
Posts: 2403
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:01 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by Sulako »

Burlington Airpark isn't super close, but it's a nice little airport. It's about 45 minutes by car from Canada's Wonderland if you take toll highway 407.

Lake Simcoe Regional (Barrie) is also a decent small airport that would be maybe half an hour to Canada's Wonderland assuming traffic isn't terrible on highway 400.

Oshawa might also be an option for you but I haven't flown in there for years and don't know the current scoop.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Heavy Rayn
Rank 3
Rank 3
Posts: 164
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:04 am

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by Heavy Rayn »

If you’ve never been to YTZ and it’s something you’d like in your logbook I’d recommend you go there. It’s one of the best cityscape approaches in the world, arguably the best in NA, especially right after sunset. Visually stunning. Porter FBO was my preference when I used to fly into the island on a near weekly basis.

Definitely do not go to YYZ unless you want to pay a grand just for putting your wheels on their runway. Expect the FBO’s to charge you a ton as well.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
rookiepilot
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 5043
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:50 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by rookiepilot »

Do an arial tour and low and over at YTZ. Toronto terminal will guide you down there.

Park in Barrie and save a ton of dough.
---------- ADS -----------
 
CaptDukeNukem
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1986
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:33 am

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by CaptDukeNukem »

rookiepilot wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:40 pm Do an arial tour and low and over at YTZ. Toronto terminal will guide you down there.

Park in Barrie and save a ton of dough.
This ^

Best way to go
---------- ADS -----------
 
matt foley
Rank 3
Rank 3
Posts: 118
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:42 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by matt foley »

When you say Barrie, you may want to clarify if you're talking Barrie CNA3(in Barrie) or Lake Simcoe Regional CYLS(10 minutes north of Barrie). Barrie has no services, security, FBO or lights and the runway maybe narrower than what your used to. It's 45 minute Taxi to Wonderland and bring your own tie downs etc.
Simcoe Regional has most things but add another 10 minutes to get to wonderland.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
rookiepilot
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 5043
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:50 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by rookiepilot »

matt foley wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2025 8:08 am When you say Barrie, you may want to clarify if you're talking Barrie CNA3(in Barrie) or Lake Simcoe Regional CYLS(10 minutes north of Barrie). Barrie has no services, security, FBO or lights and the runway maybe narrower than what your used to. It's 45 minute Taxi to Wonderland and bring your own tie downs etc.
Simcoe Regional has most things but add another 10 minutes to get to wonderland.
CYLS I think is a good choice.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
BGardner
Rank 1
Rank 1
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:09 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by BGardner »

You can used Edenvale Aerodrome CNV8, between Barrie and Collingwood. They waive the day or overnight parking fee if you buy gas.
---------- ADS -----------
 
khedrei
Rank 7
Rank 7
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2016 2:27 pm

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by khedrei »

CYLS is best option for services and distance. Hands down best option.

But if you are staying a week, you can land in CZBA, rent a car and wonderland is not very far. Crappy runway (supposed to get paved in a couple weeks so check notams). No one really collects parking fees but it's first come first serve, not very organized. Self serve gas.

CYTZ. $60 per day for parking last time I went. Could be more now. Not GA friendly but an awesome experience for the day but i wouldnt stay there all week. Walk through the tunnel and visit the city for the day. Have lunch. Parking is cheaper if you dont stay the night .
Landing fee used to be 17 bucks.

*edit. I was curious so I looked it up. Landing fee now 28 bucks.

Brampton is much closer to wonderland than you might think. Parking might be a pain. Never stayed there any length of time.

YYZ... yeah... 350 to land, probably 200 per day to park if you are lucky. No Av gas that I know of. You'd probably have an easier time getting in VFR than IFR according to a controller I talked to. Unless you have lots of money, count this one out.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Inverted2
Rank 11
Rank 11
Posts: 3876
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:46 am

Re: Visiting Canada Wonderland by small airplane - CYYZ?

Post by Inverted2 »

If you could go back 45 years Maple airport was next door to Canada's Wonderland. I think it closed around the time the park opened.
Image
---------- ADS -----------
 
DEI = Didn’t Earn It
Post Reply

Return to “General Comments”