Family Guide · Edmonton, Alberta
Is West Edmonton Mall
Worth Visiting?
A complete family guide to North America’s most entertaining mall — Galaxyland, World Waterpark, Ice Palace & beyond
Our verdict: Yes — with the right plan
West Edmonton Mall opened in 1981 and was, for a time, the largest shopping mall in the world. Today it sits among the world’s five largest by size — but its enduring appeal for families has little to do with retail square footage. What makes WEM genuinely extraordinary is the density of its entertainment: North America’s largest indoor amusement park, the world’s largest indoor wave pool, an NHL-sized ice rink, an underground aquarium, a three-level go-kart track, and over 800 shops and restaurants — all under one roof in Edmonton.
This guide covers every major family attraction in detail: what to expect, who it suits, and how to make the most of your visit without overpaying or feeling overwhelmed.
800+
Shops & services
27+
Rides in Galaxyland
17+
Waterslides
10+
Attractions on PlayPass
✓ Short answer: Yes — absolutely worth it for families
WEM is far more than a shopping centre. With North America’s largest indoor amusement park, the world’s largest indoor wave pool, and a dozen additional entertainment attractions clustered under one roof, this is a genuine multi-day destination. The key is planning: buy the Multi-PlayPass, visit on a weekday, arrive at opening time, and budget more time than you think you’ll need.
Best for: Families with children of all ages · Winter or rainy day visits · Anyone wanting a full-day (or multi-day) indoor entertainment experience
The Major Family Attractions
WEM’s entertainment is divided into distinct zones. Here’s what each offers, who it suits best, and what you need to know before you go.
Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro
North America’s largest indoor amusement park · 27 rides & attractions
All ages
Galaxyland is Canada’s only Hasbro theme park, recently reimagined with rides and zones drawing on beloved brands including Monopoly, My Little Pony, and Micro Machines. With over 27 rides across beginner, intermediate, and thrill categories, it genuinely has something for every age — from gentle toddler attractions to the Space Shot, a 100-foot vertical launch tower. This is the centrepiece of a WEM family visit and deserves a full day on its own.
- 27+ rides including 8 beginner, 9 intermediate, and 7 thrill rides — covers all ages from toddlers to adults
- Space Shot: 100-foot vertical launch and drop tower — the park’s signature thrill ride
- Hasbro-themed zones bring Monopoly, My Little Pony, and Micro Machines to life with immersive rides and games
- Family day pass: CAD $149 weekdays / $199 weekends for a family of 4 — covers all-day access
- Weekdays offer dramatically shorter queues — often no wait at all on off-peak mornings
Buy the all-day pass rather than individual ride tickets — the value difference is enormous if you plan to spend more than two hours in the park.
World Waterpark
World’s largest indoor wave pool · 17+ waterslides · Retractable roof
All ages
World Waterpark is the world’s fourth-largest indoor waterpark, built in 1985, spanning 20,903 square metres. The park has the world’s largest indoor wave pool, generating waves up to two metres high. The park was renovated in 2018–2019 and features a retractable roof that opens in summer for an open-air experience. The highest slides — the Twister and Cyclone — are each 25.3 metres high. With dedicated toddler areas alongside adult thrill slides, it works for the whole family.
- World’s largest indoor wave pool — six wave bays generating waves up to two metres high
- 17+ waterslides including the 25-metre Twister and Cyclone for thrill seekers
- Dedicated toddler and young children splash zones with gentle features
- Private cabana rentals available for families wanting a more relaxed base
- Retractable roof opens in summer — genuine open-air waterpark experience in warm months
Arrive at opening time — the wave pool and tallest slides are most enjoyable in the first hour before the crowds build significantly.
Ice Palace
NHL-sized ice rink · Public skating · Hockey events
All ages · Skate hire available
The Ice Palace is a scaled version of an NHL regulation-sized ice rink in the centre of the mall. The Edmonton Oilers occasionally practised at the Ice Palace during the 1980s. Today it hosts public skating sessions, hockey leagues, skating lessons, and tournaments. Ice skating inside a shopping mall, surrounded by café and restaurant levels looking down on the rink, makes for a uniquely memorable family afternoon — especially in Alberta’s long winters.
- NHL-sized rink in the centre of the mall — a genuinely unmistakable setting
- Public skating sessions regularly available — check schedule in advance as it varies
- Skate hire on-site — no need to bring your own equipment
- Skating lessons and children’s hockey programmes available
- Upper mall levels provide great viewing for non-skating family members
Check the Ice Palace schedule before visiting — public sessions vary and the rink is sometimes closed for tournaments or private events.
Marine Life — Sea Life Caverns & Sea Lions Rock
Underground aquarium · Daily sea lion shows · Paddle boats
Best ages 3–12
Marine Life is WEM’s underground aquarium complex, featuring Sea Life Caverns with fish, rays, and diverse marine habitats, and the Sea Lions Rock habitat where California sea lions live and perform. Sea Lions Rock is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2pm on a first-come, first-served basis. The Birds of Paradise attraction lets you ride swan-shaped paddle boats around the marine area — a firm favourite with younger children. Marine Life is included in the Multi-PlayPass.
- Sea lion performance: Friday–Sunday at 2pm — arrive 20+ minutes early on weekends for a good spot
- Underground aquarium featuring diverse marine species including sharks and rays
- Birds of Paradise: swan-shaped paddle boats on the indoor lagoon — young children love it
- Sea Lions Rock habitat gives close-up views of California sea lions throughout the day
- Included in the Multi-PlayPass — excellent value when combined with other attractions
The sea lion show is the highlight for young children — arrive at least 20 minutes early on weekends to secure a good viewing spot. The show fills up fast.
DRIVE — 3-Level Indoor Go-Kart Track
Three floors of racing · Junior & adult tracks
Ages 4+ · Height restrictions apply
DRIVE is a thrilling 3-level indoor go-kart track — one of the most exciting newer additions to WEM’s entertainment offering. The multi-level layout creates a genuinely exhilarating racing experience, with upper levels providing a dramatic view over the course below. Separate tracks for younger children and older kids and adults ensure everyone can participate at an appropriate speed. Note that DRIVE is not included in the Multi-PlayPass and is priced separately per session.
- Three-level track — genuinely exciting multi-floor racing experience unique in Edmonton
- Junior track for younger children with appropriate speed limits
- Adult tracks with more powerful karts and sharper turns for older kids and adults
- Not included in the Multi-PlayPass — priced separately per race session
- Advance booking strongly recommended for weekend visits
Book DRIVE online before your visit on weekends — it sells out on busy days and walk-ups are regularly turned away.
🎟️ Passes & Tickets — What’s Best for Families
Family Day Pass — Galaxyland or Waterpark
CAD $149 weekdays / $199 weekends for a family of 4. Covers all-day access to one major attraction. Best value for a focused single-attraction day.
Multi-PlayPass
Covers Galaxyland, World Waterpark, Sea Life Caverns, Ice Palace, Ed’s Bowling, The Ship, Dragon’s Tale, Crystal Labyrinth, Professor WEM’s Adventure Golf, and more. Season pass options available. Best value for a multi-day visit.
Individual Attraction Tickets
Available for all attractions. Significantly less cost-effective if you plan to spend a full day at Galaxyland or the Waterpark. Better for short visits or single attractions only.
Not included in passes
DRIVE (go-karts), Splatterverse, and the Alien Outbreak Escape Room are not covered by the Multi-PlayPass and require separate tickets. Book these in advance.
Check wem.ca for current pricing — rates are updated seasonally. The Multi-PlayPass also includes 10% off food and non-alcoholic drinks at World Waterpark and Ed’s Bowling.
Top Tips for a Great Family Visit
Go on a weekday
Galaxyland and World Waterpark are dramatically less crowded on weekdays. Queue times that reach 45 minutes on a Saturday can drop to under 5 minutes on a Tuesday morning. If your schedule allows, a weekday visit is a completely different experience.
Arrive at opening time
The first two hours of the day are always the least crowded — especially at World Waterpark and the major Galaxyland thrill rides. A family arriving at 10am on a weekday can complete more rides before noon than one arriving at noon will manage in the entire afternoon.
Book DRIVE and the Escape Room online in advance
These are not on the Multi-PlayPass and sell out on busy weekends. Book online the day before to avoid disappointment — walk-ups are regularly turned away on Saturday afternoons.
Plan two days if you can
Trying to do Galaxyland, World Waterpark, Marine Life, Ice Palace, and DRIVE in a single day will feel rushed and exhausting. Two days — one major attraction cluster per session — is the ideal family pace. The Multi-PlayPass makes this cost-effective.
Eat outside the main attractions
WEM has over 100 dining options across all price points. The food courts are significantly cheaper than the outlets inside Galaxyland or the Waterpark. Head out to the main mall between sessions — you’ll eat better and spend considerably less.
Wear comfortable shoes
WEM is enormous. A full circuit of all major attractions can involve several kilometres of walking across different zones. Comfortable footwear is not optional — especially with young children in tow.
Is West Edmonton Mall worth visiting for families? Absolutely — but only if you go in with a plan. Buy the Multi-PlayPass, visit on a weekday, arrive at opening, and allow more time than you think you’ll need. This is not a shopping trip that happens to have some rides. It is a multi-day entertainment destination that happens to also have 800 shops.
Have an amazing visit · West Edmonton Mall
