The organisers of the Barbie Dream Fest weekend in Florida are issuing refunds to attendees after customers complained of a lacklustre event.
The creators of the event promised unforgettable experiences, and advertised a roller rink and disco with a caption that read: Join us for three days of glam, nostalgia, and dream-big energy made for Barbie fans of every generation.
But ticketholders, who paid up to $450 (£340), say it was far from that. Photos of the event show a grey convention centre space with pink cardboard cut-out Barbie signs.
Mattel, which owns the Barbie brand, said that full refunds would be given to everyone who purchased tickets.
One attendee, Michael Gorey, who flew to the event from Ohio for a spring break trip with his daughters and wife, told the Times that upon entering the concrete event space, he thought: Is this it? Like, did I miss something?
Others took to social media to air their complaints. This event sucks, wrote one user on Reddit. The 'life size Barbie dream house' is a cheap backdrop with a picnic table on some fake turf/grass.
Hell Hotel, a burlesque group who attended the event, told the BBC that they were expecting much more based on what was advertised to us through their social media channels. They noted that many experiences were height restricted and aimed at children up to eight years old, contrasting the advertised inclusivity.
Barbie Dream Fest was created by Mischief Management, which licensed the Barbie brand from Mattel, organizers stated. We are working with Mischief Management, who are managing attendee feedback and issuing complete refunds. We want every fan experience to be an excellent one.
A day pass to the event cost $72 for adults and $33 for children, with three-day passes reaching as high as $250, including a swag bag with minimal merchandise.
Some attendees compared their experiences to the poorly received Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow, recalling similar disappointment and unmet expectations.
