TORONTO — Canada’s Wonderland is under growing scrutiny after a Vaughan mother raised concerns that recent changes to the park’s accessibility policy are negatively affecting visitors with complex disabilities—particularly her 14-year-old autistic daughter.
Monica Matheson has been visiting the park every summer for nearly a decade with her daughter Jessica, who is non-verbal and lives with autism and an intellectual disability. For Jessica, Wonderland is a sensory haven. But Matheson says that a new pass system could turn their beloved trips into highly distressing experiences.
Previously, the family relied on Wonderland’s “Plan Your Day” pass, which allowed them to access rides every 30 minutes—providing structure and manageable intervals for Jessica, who struggles with transitions and has difficulty waiting. That system, however, was quietly replaced in 2025 by the “Attraction Accessibility Pass” (AAP), which issues return times based on current queue lengths for each ride.
While the AAP still spares guests from physically waiting in line, Matheson said it lacks the flexibility and predictability that children like Jessica rely on to avoid sensory overload or emotional meltdowns.
“Jessica is a sensory seeker. She thrives on movement, so she loves all the rides,” said Matheson. “But when she becomes fixated on one, she can’t move on to anything else until she rides it.”
During their last visit in May, Matheson said her daughter had several meltdowns when told they couldn’t access rides as they had in the past. Despite explaining their situation to staff, she said they were told the park no longer offered the older pass and that her only option was the new system—or not to visit at all.
“I was told, ‘This is the blanket pass for all disabilities. If it doesn’t work for you, you don’t have to come,’” said Matheson, recalling the response from park staff.
Canada’s Wonderland, now part of Six Flags following a 2024 merger, responded to CTV News Toronto, saying the new AAP is meant to accommodate both cognitive and mobility impairments. “Guests do not have to physically wait in line and can explore the park until their assigned ride time,” said Grace Peacock, Six Flags’ regional PR director. She added that internal review suggests the incident may have stemmed from “a misunderstanding.”
However, accessibility advocates say the issue is larger than a misunderstanding. Under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, organizations are legally obligated to provide disability accommodations up to the point of “undue hardship.” This includes offering individualized support—not just one-size-fits-all solutions.
“It’s very concerning,” said Ilinca Stefan, staff lawyer at ARCH Disability Law Centre. “An accommodation has to be tailored to the individual’s needs. Business inconvenience or administrative ease is not an acceptable excuse.”
Bruce McIntosh, director of the Ontario Autism Coalition, echoed the sentiment: “Disability accommodations should remove barriers. Removing a pass that worked only adds more.”
Matheson said she plans to try the new pass again and document her daughter’s experience. Her hope is not confrontation—but collaboration.
“I’m just asking them to work with me, to understand what my daughter needs,” she said. “We’re not asking for special treatment—just for the chance to make memories like every other family.”