LINES ARE TERRIBLE!!! read 2nd half. Such a great ...

LINES ARE TERRIBLE!!! read 2nd half. Such a great experience to get upclose. Hard to move around so many people packed on. You get really wet!!! We were on lower deck off the right front.

20 minutes to get tickets and we thought that was long, oh where we so wrong. It took an hour and 20 minutes or more before we got on the boat. And the full hot sun, nowhere to go, packed in like sardines with other people that are not happy either. Literally taking baby steps at a time to move up. Lots of times foreigners would push their way through and separate our family. That is frustrating because then nobody wants to let you get back with your family. We were just excited to finally get on the boat even though they pack everybody am we just wanted to have the experience after such a long hot wait. I had to use the restroom the whole time and never could until after we got off the boat and back down past the ticket booth. However! Be warned!! That we thought once we get off the boat we were free and can move on with our day oh how did we have the horror and shock standing in another line that was over an hour and 40 minutes long in the full hot sun again, no water no bathroom breaks pushed up against people taking baby steps again but now with even more people very very unhappy like us. Being separated at times fighting to be back together. All because the park has failed to put steps in that would lead out as an exit for emergency situations or for abundance a visitor situations. There are four elevators that take only 13 people at a time up. It takes forever. You have thousands of people trying to leave the boat as the boats just keep bringing them back in and dropping them off quicker than people can get back up and out from the elevators. They finally saw the need of the Heat and people needing water they brought a standout that had Tiny Little Dixie cups to pass out water but not until you got close to the elevators. We felt bad for 1 gal a teenager passed out look like from heat exhaustion on the ground. There certainly was no from what we saw urgency at all from the staff to get her out and help. We were so upset, are children ages 7 and 10 or upset and exhausted. What was supposed to be this great family moment and experience turned into a Unforgettable horrible memory that they will have forever. Because we did not want that we decided to visit Canada side the next morning for an hour and a half and build them a greater memory. Canada side is so lovely and beautiful and well kept. The crowds are not anything like on USA side. I talked to people getting on and off the boat they said it was only about a 20-minute wait and when do they are released from the boat they can walk up stairs to get out. If I would have had to do this over we absolutely would have skipped the USA side. Canada has the best view in anyhow. Again be warned about the lines. Take a back pack of snacks/water but know you may have to hold it/bathroom break for up to 3 hours. The bathroom was gross. Super smelly, wet, and dirty. Good luck and hope your experience is nothing like ours.