Wolf Trap - Never Again

[Anonymous]

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.

Wait, weren’t you leaving?

Good night and good luck - Edward Murrow

[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.

"And now for real, good night and good bye" -- so you're going off in a huff a second time.

And no one who tosses off "moron" at someone else should be telling anyone else to "grow up." You seem very sensitive about how not everyone is backing you up here. I agree! Your experience for one show was bad for you. And your experience for another show was good. You seem fixated on shouting about the negative. Next time something you want to see is at this venue, you now know: Seated tickets or don't go.

We are not corporations' cheerleaders we don't need to speak "positively" about them, no obligation to do that. More gaslighting here. Yes the OP can make a choice to go or no go again, but you seem so so offended that she is expressing her thoughts. It doesn't matter what you think.

Hi, Free Speech Confused Person! Yes, OP can whine about her experience (much of which was a result of her own poor choices and overinflated expectations) on a privately-run message board, as long as she stays within its published terms of service. She (and/or you) DOESN’T have the right to do that and demand that people not respond in ways she doesn’t like or agree with. Yay “free speech!”

Oh, and it “doesn’t matter” what *you* think either.

[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!

I completely agree with this. OP shows up 1 hour before a SOLD OUT show with first-come, first-serve seating. Waaaaaaah!

Also it’s IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. Of course exiting takes time. And they don’t charge for parking so that’s rare.

[Anonymous]

Op, lesson learned. You cannot show up late and expect everyone to move their blankets after they have been sitting there for an hour or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

"And now for real, good night and good bye" -- so you're going off in a huff a second time.

And no one who tosses off "moron" at someone else should be telling anyone else to "grow up." You seem very sensitive about how not everyone is backing you up here. I agree! Your experience for one show was bad for you. And your experience for another show was good. You seem fixated on shouting about the negative. Next time something you want to see is at this venue, you now know: Seated tickets or don't go.

We are not corporations' cheerleaders we don't need to speak "positively" about them, no obligation to do that. More gaslighting here. Yes the OP can make a choice to go or no go again, but you seem so so offended that she is expressing her thoughts. It doesn't matter what you think.

Hi, Free Speech Confused Person! Yes, OP can whine about her experience (much of which was a result of her own poor choices and overinflated expectations) on a privately-run message board, as long as she stays within its published terms of service. She (and/or you) DOESN’T have the right to do that and demand that people not respond in ways she doesn’t like or agree with. Yay “free speech!”

Oh, and it “doesn’t matter” what *you* think either.

You actually prove my point. No matter how much you want her and other to stop talking badly about wolf trap you can't, despite your insults and your asking slyly "why are you still here (on this message board".

[Anonymous]

I love Wolf Trap! We usually buy pavilion tickets, but I have sat on the lawn on occasion, most recently for Charlie Puth and you must get there super early to grab a good spot. I love that you can picnic and WT allows you to bring your own drinks. It’s a lovely experience if you do it right. I always park in the paved lot across from WT and park so I’m facing the exit lane. Took us 5 min to get out the last time. Never park on the lawn-you’ll be there forever. I’ve never had a negative experience with WT employees-many are volunteers doing this post-retirement. Not to mention, they are very generous with their wine portions. They fill those cups to the brim. Sorry you didn’t like it OP but sounds like you got to the lawn late in which case you’ll be packed in like sardines with seats that don’t provide a view of the stage.

[Anonymous]

The wolf trap lawn experience is the best!!! I’ve never had a bad experience but I do leave right before the end so I’m not stuck getting out.

[Anonymous]

I go to wolftrap, usually on the lawn, several times a summer. I also volunteer in the gift shop so I am there another few times a month. We have it down to a science... here are my observations...
- when we are sitting on the lawn and know a show is going to be crowded, we typically aim to park half an hour before gates open and get in line. We are usually able to sit towards the front of the lawn with no issues.
- We like to park near the entrance/exit of the paved lot across the street (through the tunnel). That makes getting out MUCH easier.
- I do agree that the prices this year are ridiculous. Yacht Rock was like $30 years ago and $45 this year. Maybe that was because of Kenny Loggins but up until the pandemic and even 2021 lawn tickets were $20-$30 and now they are $40-$50.
- The lawn does seem more crowded this year during sold out shows. Not sure why that is. They are not selling more tickets as far as I know.
- Pro tip: If you buy tickets at the box office they don't charge fees.
- FWIW the princesses didn't sell well (I actually got a comped ticket as a volunteer). I thought about taking my son to Studio Ghibli... we ended up having plans but I was surprised to see it sold out. You can see on the website when a show is sold out or limited availability, or call the box office, and plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go to wolftrap, usually on the lawn, several times a summer. I also volunteer in the gift shop so I am there another few times a month. We have it down to a science... here are my observations...
- when we are sitting on the lawn and know a show is going to be crowded, we typically aim to park half an hour before gates open and get in line. We are usually able to sit towards the front of the lawn with no issues.
- We like to park near the entrance/exit of the paved lot across the street (through the tunnel). That makes getting out MUCH easier.
- I do agree that the prices this year are ridiculous. Yacht Rock was like $30 years ago and $45 this year. Maybe that was because of Kenny Loggins but up until the pandemic and even 2021 lawn tickets were $20-$30 and now they are $40-$50.
- The lawn does seem more crowded this year during sold out shows. Not sure why that is. They are not selling more tickets as far as I know.
- Pro tip: If you buy tickets at the box office they don't charge fees.
- FWIW the princesses didn't sell well (I actually got a comped ticket as a volunteer). I thought about taking my son to Studio Ghibli... we ended up having plans but I was surprised to see it sold out. You can see on the website when a show is sold out or limited availability, or call the box office, and plan accordingly.

Great post, PP. I want to say, thank you for volunteering! I think some people on this thread are assuming that Wolf Trap is a gigantic money-making business enterprise, but as one poster noted, it's a national park and most folks whom audiences see "working" there are volunteers like you. So thank you. People need to exercise some grace toward folks who are volunteering their time at a national park, I think.

Others should heed your tips above--they're great. We also always park on the surface lot across the road, facing out, and as close as possible to the end of a row as near the exit as we can. We can usually exit very speedily. The box office tip is great too. My DH goes on the day when the box office opens for in-person sales and gets in line (I think it's usually a Saturday morning?) a bit early, not hours!, and gets tickets to multiple shows without any service fees. Of course super popular shows sell out to season ticketholders first and that's fine -- it's a perk of being a season subscriber!

[Anonymous]

It's just not a fun time - ever. Pain to get into/out of and lots of restrictions. And the no talking for the inside seats it ridiculous - it's an outdoor concert wtf!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just not a fun time - ever. Pain to get into/out of and lots of restrictions. And the no talking for the inside seats it ridiculous - it's an outdoor concert wtf!!

Sorry, I'm not paying for an actual seat inside a pavilion (so, not as "outdoors" as you think) so I can hear you chatter while someone is performing, live, on stage. You have zero respect for the performers, as well.

If you consider all this a pain, please do feel free to stay home where there are no restrictions and you can talk all you like.

[Anonymous]

You need to go early - now you know. The whole point of the lawn is to go early, get your preferred seat, and eat your picnic. If there were not good spots, that’s not the venue’s fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re:the comments that you can’t see the stage from parts of the lawn — which parts? Because I went to a Prince tribute show years ago, lawn was packed, and we sat at the back of the lawn (kind of to the middle right) and could see just fine. Is it the sides you need to avoid?

No - because we sat on the hill on the side, across the sidewalk from the main lawn area, for Avett Brothers and we had a great view.

[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.

If you are parked on the road, you arrived WAY too late. I am guessing you were running late, had to walk down the road without sidewalks with a kid in tow, and were all pissy and stressed out before you even went through the gates. If people were rude, it’s probably because you brought that Karen energy and the people you were interacting with could sense it.

Your lack of planning is not WolfTrap’s fault.

[Anonymous]

If everyone goes early then nobody is early.