About 175 daycare children have had their holiday visit to Ripley’s Aquarium Canada cancelled and frustrated ticket holders have complained of two-hour waits in frigid temperatures because the new attraction has been overwhelmed by crowds.

“This is our first holiday and the crowds have been tremendous,” said general manager Peter Doyle. “We’ve been just overwhelmed with the response.”

Groups from two Toronto daycares were to visit the downtown attraction Friday but had to reschedule because aquarium staff are struggling to keep up with demand for the 135,000-square-foot attraction, which boasts more than 16,000 marine animals.

“It is so crowded and for young kids, a daycare, it would not be the best experience. Holiday time is that way. We thought we were acting in everyone’s best interest.”

Toronto mom Jennifer Hicks says her 8-year-old Rylan is “really disappointed . . . She really was looking forward to the (aquarium) as one of the high points of her holiday.” Hicks added, “This has left a really sour taste in my mouth.”

The trip was booked in November and cancelled Monday, which left Allenby Daycare scrambling to make other plans, said Hicks; now the children will go bowling Friday. “These kids were really excited about the trip downtown to the aquarium. Bowling is nice and everything, but it’s not going to make up for that.”

Doyle noted that 500,000 tickets have been sold to date by the aquarium, which opened in October at the base of the CN Tower.

The reason for the crowding is that people can purchase anytime tickets or timed tickets in advance, or buy them at the door. Staff has been overwhelmed with the number of ticket holders and non-ticketholders showing up at the same time.

The lineup can extend outside, where heaters have been set up.

On social media, there are complaints of two-hour lineups and being turned away, despite having bought timed tickets. “Very poor planning and lack of concern for people in line waiting for 2 hours in -15 C weather with elderly and babies,” wrote one poster from Mississauga on Trip Advisor.

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Much of that online frustration was related to disorganization specifically on Monday, when “our system did not handle (things) correctly,” said Doyle. “Today we are back on track,” he said Tuesday morning.

This was Rylan’s second failed attempt to get in to Ripley’s. . “I was looking forward to the aquarium myself and have told my daughter we may have to boycott it,” said Hicks.

Responded Rylan: “Can we please visit one time before we start the boycott?”