This summer, Travelocity.ca gave a group of Canadian bloggers the opportunity to literally go seize the summer! Armed with codes to go online at Travelocity.ca we were able to book hotel stays in our location of choice, to enable us to experience summer adventures with our family and, of course, report back to you, our readers!
Part one of our adventure took us to Edmonton, Alberta. We love West Ed Mall and everything it has to offer but undoubtedly the World Waterpark is #1 on our list! This water park boasts the world’s largest wave pool and more than 17 waterslides and play features! There’s literally something for everyone and you most definitely have to schedule an entire day to spend at the park because you’ll want to take in everything it has to offer – and we certainly did this summer!
Infants and young children have two great areas to enjoy as well – Caribbean Cove is a multi-level play structure with buckets of water dumping periodically, spraying water all the time, and three waterslides for little ones to venture down. Both my girls were the same age visiting the waterpark for the first time (age 2) and both were leery about this area at that age! My 5 year old, upon visiting now for the second time, loved it. So I’d suggest it’s best for kids 3-7 but it depends on your child and how much they love the crazy fun of water spray and play.
The Dolphin Kiddie Pool is great for babies and toddlers. With 3 dolphin slides ending in shallow water and a play area that encourages team work, the warm water is inviting to little kids and tired parents who sit along the sides observing the water play. It also happens to sit right below the landing-area of the Linetech Zipline so it’s fun to watch people as the kids are playing.
This was our second time visiting World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall, and we can’t wait to go back! There are a few things to note and suggest, should you plan on a visit this summer!
1) Read the World Waterpark map and slide information carefully. The majority of the slides are for riders 4″ tall, minimum. While my 5 year old is a daredevil and not scared of trying out the slides, she was not allowed to ride on the ones she really wanted to with her big brother because she is not quite tall enough. I promised her we would take her back next summer (and suggested that she eat all her vegetables to ensure she grows taller in the meantime!)
2) Reserve a pool-side cabana if you have young kids. It’s $60 for the full day but when you consider it gives you a room of your own to change, eat, rest, and regroup I find it’s more than worth the price. There are Beach Front Patio areas as well for $80 and while really pretty looking, I prefer having a closed-door area to use when needed. Plus, you get a key to a bathroom for cabana/patio users only.
3) If you don’t rent a cabana, find a few patio chairs near the water and plant your towels/bags there early in the day if you can. The majority of the time we were there, the chairs were holding towels and not actual people which is highly frustrating when a family would like to sit down and relax by the water for a bit. I realize my suggestion is a can’t-beat-them-join-them kind of mentality, but until they actually enforce any “no holdsies” rules, this is the way to go.
Click here for more information on pricing and hours at World Waterpark West Edmonton Mall!
Need a hotel recommendation in Edmonton? We booked our hotel through Travelocity.ca and it’s the one we always stay at when in the city. The Holiday Inn Express At The Mall in West Edmonton offers great, clean, rooms (we booked a suite) a pool and fitness area and my favorite – free continental breakfast each morning. Note that this hotel isn’t right at the mall, despite it’s name, but it’s just a short distance away.
We went to the mall a couple weeks ago for the first time! It was so cool. We didn’t go the waterpark or galaxy land though. I did take my oldest son to the marine life exhibit and he loved the touch tank with the stingrays. He was there for at least a half hour.
Wow, very impressive! I wish we lived closer…
I’ve been to the EM water park before and it is SO much fun! Very good choice on making it a stop 🙂
The photos of the kids are adorable! 😀
Enjoy!
Ahhhhh it looks so fun! I’ve never been to the WEM but I’d LOVE to visit some day 🙂
We visitied the WEM in the 90s when my kids were tweens and had a blast. There’s so much more there now. We’ll have to take our grandson now! We’re only a days drive from Edmonton. I looked at their prices and see there’s a 5-day family pass. With that we could even take a little friend almost for free!
One question: In the waterpark was it humid…like when you’re at an indoor pool and it’s stuffy???
Hi Cindy! It’s warm (I think the temp is listed as 28 degrees) but not balmy/hard to breathe. My son has asthma and the humidity didn’t bother him at all which it sometimes can. It’s so huge and the ceilings are so high, that there’s plenty of ventilation. Hope that helps!
Thanks, that’s what I was hoping to hear!
This looks so great. We are going to be there the end of August. Better make sure we pack our suits!!
HOLY COW that slide looks fantastic! I would try it in an instant.
If I was in Edmonton, I would go there and do that. Sweet.
Looks amazing. I’ll be adding it to places to travel to with my babies.
If I lived near, I could see me becoming a ‘mall rat’..lol…an old one though lol
wish i lived closer
I remember when the mall opened, phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 bringing the waterpark to Edmonton was such a big deal, it doesn’t look like it has changed much, but poolside cabanas, now there is a great idea!
This looks amazing. I live in Ontario, but I have been lusting over this mall for years!
I LOVE the West Ed waterpark! I was able to go a couple times as a child and hope that one day (when my son is a little older) I will be able to travel to AB and take him as well.
I would love to get in a trip to west edmonton mall to end the summer it looks like great fun!
Love West Ed! We like to take our kids there as well!
Oh wow I never heard of that park before, seems so awesome… Live too far away but would love to visit it someday if I go to Edmonton
That is one awesome water park! Great way to spend the summer.
I live in Edmonton but don’t go to WEM often, usually when I have visitors. Looks like you had a great time!
if I ever went to that mall I think I would be overwhelmed
looks fun 🙂
That waterpark looks amazing and so much fun!
Wow i have heard about this awesome mall while growing up in Australia. Absolutely amazing!!
i remember hearing about this awesome mall while growing up in Australia. Looks absolutely amazing!
wow this looks awesome!!!
The one and only time we were in Alberta we didn’t make it as far as Edmonton
Love West Edmonton Mall, we enjoy the rides and the wave pool.
Sounds like an amazing place to visit!!
I live in Edmonton so I know WEM is awesome, next time you will have to try a theme room right in the mall they are amazing
I have relatives living in Edmonton but have never been there myself. I would love to go there one day and see all there is to see in this mall. Looks like you had a wonderful time.
We go every March and have a blast. I can’t wait to try the zip line. I have always wanted to do one
have been twice to West Edmonton Mall and watched others in our party take the rides and do the
water slides; not me, as I’d get sick, lol.
Kudos to whoever can stomach the fun
I haven’t been to West Edmonton Mall since I was a teenager, maybe I will have to add it to my list of possibilities for family vacation next year.
That place looks amazing!! If I ever get the chance, I’d love to take my kids there 🙂
Looks like such a fun place to take a family trip! I’ve been to West Ed Mall twice but both times my kids weren’t with me. Maybe I’ll look into planning a trip out west next summer with them! Thanks for sharing your review!
Definitely, on our family bucket list! Thanks for the tips!
looks like a great place!
wow fun! my kids would love this!
I would love to take my kids there!
Love the waterpark at West Edmonton Mall!
This place looks awesome.
I visited this for the first time with my husband a couple years ago. It was a blast for us and I can’t wait to take my children there! We (unlike many people) actually like to visit Edmonton!!!
Looks like you and the children had a great time! I have never seen or been the the West Edmonton Mall but have heard about it for years. It is certainly NOT like any mall I have ever been to. I’ll get there someday, I hope. 😉
This is amazing! My son would love this!
This looks like a blast! would love to go!!
I just gotta say this is amazing!! There is nothing like that in Ontario, if there was I know where I’d be!! I hope to one day visit the West Edmonton Mall!
I haven’t been for a while but I love WEM
We went to West Edmonton Mall a few years ago and I could not believe how huge it is. We were only there for one day and it was not enough time although the kids really had a blast. Looks like your family had a great adventure also, next time I hope we can take the time to book a hotel and get in more fun.
Wow it looks huge! That’s awesome your family had fun.
I’ve always wanted to travel here, it looks like a ton of fun! 🙂
West Edmonton Mall is fantastic, we loved it when we visited a couple of years ago. I could not get over how big it is, especially the waterpark, I love the wave pool.
I’ve always seen pictures of the waterpark after family and friends visited it and always wanted to go. One of these days!
It’s been over 15 years since I’ve taken my kids to West Edmonton Mall, but I was there for dinner and shopping with friends this summer. It was great!
That looks totally awesome! I have never ventured to that side of Canada before but if I do, the West Edmonton Mall is one of the first place I would visit. I have heard of it and seen pictures but I guess it is something to experience.
looks like fun!
The waterpark looks like such fun i have never been but want to take the kids soon!
We always went to the West Edmonton Mall/Waterpark when we lived in Alberta! Great fun!
I always wanted to go to that waterpark….hopefully in the near future, while my kids are still young enough.
We had so much fun going on all the water slides when we went to WEM. There is one slide that is so scary though for me lol. Such an awesome place to bring the kids for hours of fun!!
Fantastic water park!
I loved West Edmonton Mall. You could spend all day there.
This looks like tons of fun, I’d love to visit it one day!
I have never been nor heard or seen anything like this until now =) Wow this would defiantly be the place I would Love to take my children =) Thank you
I drove there in my 20s…stayed for over a week. I am sure that there have been many changes since then. The videos and pictures look like you had a wonderful time!
I went to the west Edmonton mall about 8 years ago, absolutely loved staying at the hotel in the mall!
I’ve been there, but that is a crazy awesome mall! lol
<3 the waterpark. We havent taken our 19month old yet, but soon enough!
I actually spent the summer in Edmonton, and I regret not visiting this waterpark 😛
This is my hometown. I gotta go back to visit! I left when I was 2 yo.
The price u charge for a 3 year old is 37.65 which I think is not acceptable also if u offer lockers for $8 then provide change to use them . A family of 6 which included a 3 year old cost $273 and not buying any extras so bring lots of money at that price u can only swim at the mall for the day to get your monies worth and than don’t plan to shop