Wolf Trap - Never Again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, people on this thread are so unkind. Is it really hard to believe that OP genuinely had a bad experience? For some of us $250+ is a lot of money. I'd have been disappointed not to see anything, too!

+1

OP, you are allowed to vent. I don't understand some of the PPs. I know exactly what you are talking about - the lawn isn't great (compared to other like venues in other metropolitan areas), the people are ill behaved, and the parking - God forbid you have to work and are not able to camp out for a parking space and seat. Plus, who wants to miss the end of the show??

Ridiculous. Do better, Wolf Trap.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re either a lawn seat/general admission standing in a crowd person or you’re an assigned seat person. I became an assigned seat person in my mid-30s - I cannot have a good time otherwise and it’s not anything any venue can do to change it.

OP, I think you’re on team assigned seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re either a lawn seat/general admission standing in a crowd person or you’re an assigned seat person. I became an assigned seat person in my mid-30s - I cannot have a good time otherwise and it’s not anything any venue can do to change it.

OP, I think you’re on team assigned seat.

Those seats are not so great, either.

[Anonymous]

Do better, how? Name me another venue with complimentary parking. Tell me another place that doesn’t have backed up parking or exiting - Jiffy Lube anyone? Some of the people who work there are senior volunteers and students. It has its own culture, and if you have lived here long enough - you get the folksy, low key atmosphere. It is a landmark. Where else can you see Mavis Staples and Art Garfunkel at the Barnes to Belle and Sebastian, Head and the heart, Ringo and Jethro Tull? Not where I live I can assure you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do better, how? Name me another venue with complimentary parking. Tell me another place that doesn’t have backed up parking or exiting - Jiffy Lube anyone? Some of the people who work there are senior volunteers and students. It has its own culture, and if you have lived here long enough - you get the folksy, low key atmosphere. It is a landmark. Where else can you see Mavis Staples and Art Garfunkel at the Barnes to Belle and Sebastian, Head and the heart, Ringo and Jethro Tull? Not where I live I can assure you!

Other places have this, I don't think people in the know want to share, which is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - to be clear - I bought the tickets from wolf trap’s website, not a reseller. The prices were Wolf Trap’s prices. $40 something per ticket plus of course the fees. It ended up over $50 a ticket. Total waste of money, time, and disappointed kid on top of everything. I mean….when your kid is noticing how rude the people are….

Oh. I understand now. This was mismanaged expectations. I'm sorry, OP. Lawn seats are a bit of a cattle call. Did you arrive late? Or even mid to late?

No, over an hour in advance and still got stuck in horrendous traffic on way in.

you have to be there when they open the doors and send someone in with a blanket only - to walk quickly and spread it out. Then the ones with the bags and coolers can come.

We do the lawn seats when we care more about listening to music than seeing something on stage. Otherwise we buy seats and picnic in other areas before.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed it for the Brandi Carlile concert, which I guess probably wasn’t as popular as the one OP went to ($60 lawn tickets). Far from perfect view but I loved the vibes. I preferred it to Merriweather Post Pavilion where getting out of the parking garage is a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Ok, haven't been in a while. Not on the lawn, but what's parking advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I am a boomer(although don’t feel like one) and love the venue. I always arrive early just to ensure I get a parking place and always leave before the end (this is key - follow the set list) I have been to Wolf Trap for countless shows but have never sat on the lawn. I took my son to shows when he was little but he wanted to leave early because he is young and rather be at Tyson’s Lego store. The venue is great at night after it cools down and the acoustics are magical. Don’t give up on Wolf Trap. I never realized how much I miss it since I moved from dc. I recommend going to the orchestrated movies there - that my boys loved.

I love the orchestrated movies there, too! I took my kids (6&9) to Encanto at Wolf Trap last summer. I hadn't been in a while, and it was great! My kids were meh about it, though, which was disappointing, but I still had a good time.

[Anonymous]

Not worth the drive, traffic or parking regardless of seat or lawn. I feel the same way about merriweather and the Wharf, or whatever the eff it’s called.

[Anonymous]

I had a great time on the lawn recently at a sold out show. Got there early, open parking lot, had fun in line for 30 minutes before the gates opened, got a prime spot on the lawn and was easy to get out afterwards. Going to a venue like Wolf Trap or Merriweather takes some patience with parking and lines, but its great to have outdoor concert venue options.

If you become an Encore member at the $4000 level you get reserved parking and lounge access for before and after the show. I don't do that but its a great option if you want the benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

In 1990, maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

I know you've taken your toys and gone home now -- sorry, meant to say, you've exited the thread -- but...

If you were there for the princess show in the seats, you surely saw the lawn layout. But you didn't realize that from the lawn, unless you're seated at the very front closest to the building, you wouldn't be able to see the stage? Did you not see a crowded lawn behind you, when you were there for the princess concert? I can't imagine the Studio Ghibli concert lawn was MORE packed than the lawn for the uber-popular princess concert, unless it was actively raining during the princess show.

Well, dig deep into that imagination of yours because….it was. Much more packed. It was completely sold out seats and lawn. Princess concert was not. We were front center at princesses and could see all the building behind us. Princesses was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full, seated. Lawn had a lot of people but nothing like tonight. That was why I was totally unprepared for the mess that was tonight. I, unlike you apparently, was actually at both events.

Also, you sound like a moron above with toys thing. Grow up.

Knock yourself out defending the place. But it was not a good experience, and people should know what they could be in for going there. God, even just trying to walk back to the car, which we ended up parking on the side of the road back into a neighborhood- in the pitch dark - dangerous and so not worth it. No thanks. Sure, you might luck out and get a good night like princesses, but you could also end up with a mess like tonight. No thanks. And now for real, good night and good bye.

Wait, weren’t you leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, Op. You had a bad experience. It sounds like you got there too late and therefore had to park far out and there was not much lawn left to spread a blanket on. I’ve only ever purchased pavilion seats, but have been to other places where lawn ‘seats’ are catch as catch can and folks who get there early get very protective of their claimed space. This year though I found that the police and ushers were oozing with niceness. The police lady told us where to park to exit quickly after the performance and a thoughtful usher actually radioed to the gift store to see if they sold an item before I mad the trek up the big hill. Another usher was friendly and helpful when it rained. He shared with us that they get training and recognize that everyone wants a good time. We had a really awesome experience and an amazing time with very excellent customer service.

Sounds like you work in Wolf Trap's public affairs dept. No matter what you say, OP had a bad time and it is not all her fault.

LOL! You sound like OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

I know you've taken your toys and gone home now -- sorry, meant to say, you've exited the thread -- but...

If you were there for the princess show in the seats, you surely saw the lawn layout. But you didn't realize that from the lawn, unless you're seated at the very front closest to the building, you wouldn't be able to see the stage? Did you not see a crowded lawn behind you, when you were there for the princess concert? I can't imagine the Studio Ghibli concert lawn was MORE packed than the lawn for the uber-popular princess concert, unless it was actively raining during the princess show.

Well, dig deep into that imagination of yours because….it was. Much more packed. It was completely sold out seats and lawn. Princess concert was not. We were front center at princesses and could see all the building behind us. Princesses was maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full, seated. Lawn had a lot of people but nothing like tonight. That was why I was totally unprepared for the mess that was tonight. I, unlike you apparently, was actually at both events.

Also, you sound like a moron above with toys thing. Grow up.

Knock yourself out defending the place. But it was not a good experience, and people should know what they could be in for going there. God, even just trying to walk back to the car, which we ended up parking on the side of the road back into a neighborhood- in the pitch dark - dangerous and so not worth it. No thanks. Sure, you might luck out and get a good night like princesses, but you could also end up with a mess like tonight. No thanks. And now for real, good night and good bye.

OP, I thought you were stepping back from the thread?

Ooh you just want her to stop talking don't you it kills your marketing efforts! Free speech is getting in your way.

No one on this thread works for Wolf Trap or has “marketing efforts.” Please stop embarrassing yourself.

Oh, and go back to high school government class and learn about what the first amendment does and doesn’t mean.