Vancouver residents are reacting to a recently announced Harry Potter experience, and some of the reactions would make the titular wizard go, “Wingardium Levi-uh-oh-sa!”
While there has been considerable outcry surrounding the associations between the Harry Potter event and the author behind the beloved franchise, much of the recent reaction has nothing to do with the J.K. Rowling scowling.
Instead, people are pretty upset about the Vancouver Harry Potter event’s pricing, especially compared to Bright Nights, which will no longer be taking place. The new Harry Potter experience aligns with the Vancouver Park Board’s updated strategy to explore new revenue-generating opportunities.
The touring Harry Potter nighttime outdoor immersive experience has already welcomed millions of people worldwide, with stops in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, and the United States. Now, Vancouver residents and tourists alike will be the first in Canada to walk its illuminated trail. Time-entry tickets officially go on sale tomorrow at 9 a.m.
According to the event’s FeverUp page, tickets start at $49.50, and children under the age of three are admitted free of charge. However, some individuals who have pre-sale access, which can be obtained by joining the waitlist, are sharing significantly more expensive ticket prices. Some are even suggesting that “surge pricing” is in effect, as certain times are priced considerably higher.
According to some comments on a Reddit thread, some tickets go for as high as $84 per person, depending on the time. That’s before GST is taken into account. In comparison, Bright Nights cost $15, and the proceeds went to the Firefighters Burn Fund.
Some don’t feel the price is worth the 60 to 90-minute experience.
Posts from the vancouver
community on Reddit
Posts from the vancouver
community on Reddit
Some aren’t surprised by the prices, and as we indicated earlier in this article, this aligns with a new strategy for the City and Vancouver Park Board.
“Just want to point out this is exactly what Ken Sim said they were going to do,” one Redditor said. Others said that while the cost of entry might be high, they also don’t expect the cost of food and drink during the event to be reasonable, further adding to the price of the event.
Some are also upset about the trend of Vancouver spaces that are becoming “taken over and commoditized.”
While you can purchase tickets online, tickets will also be available on-site, pending availability.
In a statement to Daily Hive, the Vancouver Park Board addressed some of the concerns surrounding the author, stating that it was “pleased to be hosting this event.”
“We understand some community members have concerns about this event given he author’s personal statements. Our focus remains on celebrating the stories themselves and the positive values they represent that resonate with families across diverse communities.”
We also inquired with the Vancouver Park Board about pricing, and they referred us to the event organizers, the Brandlive Group. We’ve contacted Brandlive and will update this story when we receive a response regarding pricing details and their response to some of the concerns.
What are your thoughts on the event prices? Are they too expensive or reasonable? Let us know in the comments.
With files from Kenneth Chan
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