Guests dubbed the underwhelming ride the ‘new Willy Wonka Experience’ – which was so bad it left parents seething and caused international attention in the city last year
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Glasgow: Inside Grinch Christmas Adventure ride at Winterfest
Thrill-seekers were left massively underwhelmed after paying £5 to ride a minute-long ‘Grinch Christmas Adventure’ ride – which they say was covered in “decorations from Primark and Home Bargains”.
The ride, featured at Glasgow’s Winterfest Xmas market, was slammed by families as “a cart to take you round and show you the Grinch section of Primark”. Others have dubbed it the “new Willy Wonka Experience”, which last year promised a “journey filled with wondrous creations and enchanting surprises” only for guests to arrive to a lacklustre set in a filthy and almost-empty warehouse.
Elizabeth Hunter, 25, spent £5 to go on this year’s Grinch ride – and said it was terrible. She said: ”After spotting the posts online I was intrigued to see what the ride could have in store.
”I imagine the ride operators have also seen some of the posts – a hand-written note on the glass of the ticket booth reads “this is NOT a ghost train – this is a Christmas light ride!,” as well as multiple warnings that phones should not be used while the ride is active.
”After paying my £5 entry fee – £1 for every ten seconds I spent on the ride – I hopped into a cart shaped like the Grinch’s head and began my journey. The cart thudded into motion, as the safety bar flailed wildly and the whirring and clunking sounds of heavy machinery filled the ride – perhaps some Christmas music might have been more fitting?
”As the cart chugged along, I was greeted by two hanging jumpers and some socks with the Grinch’s face on them, and an inflatable Grinch light taped to the ceiling – which looked eerily similar to a 6ft outdoor decoration found at Home Bargains for £25.
”Within 20 seconds, the cart had reached the upstairs level which provides you with a split second look over the market – and anyone unlucky enough to be waiting for their turn on the ride – before whizzing down a ramp and hitting a complete stop.
”I took the time to look around – a solitary plastic figure stood in the corner, draped in green fur and donning a Grinch mask and Santa suit, arms outstretched in front of him.
”Despite the warnings that this is definitely not a ghost train, a closer look at the ride will reveal glow in the dark skulls decorating the walls – artfully hidden by a size small elf costume hanging in front of it.
”I briefly thought the ride had broken down, as I sat there for seconds as the whirring intensified to an uncomfortable degree – but the ride turned a corner back into the daylight, and my cart crashed into an empty one in front, before an automated voice told me to get out of the ride.
”With that, I left the ride, less than a minute after climbing on board – £5 poorer and in slight disbelief at the audacity. It seems the operators of the ride have taken a leaf out of the Grinch’s book – and not just when it comes to their decorations!”
Winterfest organisers have been approached for comment.
