This place is really magical! We got there around 1:30pm and didn't leave until 9pm! My son loves the rides so much that he doesn't wanna leave! The zero gravity ride was his favorite. There's a carousel, inflatable slides, and lots of beautiful Christmas trees. Theres different lights everywhere and it's so beautiful. They also have few arcade games to keep the kids busy and entertained. Inside there's a north pole area where they are selling hot cocoa's, cookies, pretzels and different snacks, they even sell liquor. At night, they have a band singing holiday songs at the stage, that was nice. There's an entrance fee of $30 per person plus service fee and tax. The reason I'm giving it a low rating is because, their guest service is a little shady! We purchased the tickets online by scanning the QR code posted at the door before entering the building thinking we won't be allowed inside without buying the tickets that way. I allowed him to make the purchase on his phone, but after clicking the, "processing payment" it did not go through, it says error so I tried it again using my phone with the same card and it did went through. A couple hours later, I received emails on my phone with two receipts showing two separate transactions with the same amount of $73.68 each! So, both transactions successfully went through and I was charged double. I went to the guest services and explained the situation. He seemed very nice and understanding but jokingly said, "are you sure you do not want to donate it to nonprofit organization?" Which I replied, "I wish I could if I have a lot of money". We both laughed. He asked me to leave him the confirmation# and the last 4digits of my card and he will process it "later" when he gets a chance, I asked how long is later and he said, "in just few minutes". I said okay and thanked him and we continued to enjoy the rest of our day. It took hours later, before the refund came and when I checked the receipt, he only refunded me for one ticket which was $36.84, so I came back to the guest services. I spoke to him again and explained "again", he said okay, he misunderstood the problem and said, he will give me the full refund "later"! We waited for what time is "later" until it's already 9pm! We came back to the guest services again before leaving to make sure the refund is issued but he was not there anymore, only his colleague! They were talking on the walkie-talkie and he wanted me to know that he did not forget about me, he will process the refund later when he's not "busy" and provided me his email address to contact him if i have more questions. I have no other choice so I got his email address and we left, back to our hotel. I waited for days, and I still did not get anything until we flew back to San Diego! I sent an email to the email address they provided and I got no response either, It's been 12days ago. I filed a dispute to my bank hoping I will get the funds back. It was very shady that they would try to scam people like that! read more

Winter Wonderfest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

WINTER WONDERFEST @ Chicagos Navy Pier. A TIME WAS HAD!! This was our first time and it was definitely worth it all! Ice skating, Rides, slides, snacks, hot cocoa, popcorn, chocolate and GIGANTIC winter photo props! My family and I had a time! DJ was rocking the music while the kids and us adults just jammed the night away! The party didn't stop till 10pm! We were leaving @ 8ish and people were still parading inside for the festivities! Downtown Chicago always knows how to have a great time for a long time! My family analways have a ball! read more

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Another yelper mentioned this place is what you make of it and that's so true. I am normally a cup is half full girl but this place just grated on my nerves!! I'll start with the positives--the decorations were really beautiful and impressive. Huge Christmas trees and reindeer and lighted up ornaments and a sleigh as beautiful backdrops to take photos. A couple of carnival rides. An ice rink. So many inflatable slides and bouncy houses. This place is enormous. Ok onto the negatives...when we came in there was a medical emergency and an EMT crew was on site evacuating someone from the ice rink so that was a strange first thing to see when we walked in. There seems to be no thoughtful planning ahead of time as to how crowds flow through this place. We waited for so long for every ride/attraction and saw a huge family of 10 cut in front of a few ahead of us at the kids train ride. Staff overall were either dismissive, uncaring, or on the rude side. My daughters and nieces, between 5-8, were not allowed into the bouncy house area because they were too tall. I was stunned at this. After spending so much money I had to console a crying daughter who was excited to bounce but was told no. There was a DJ which was kind of cool but he was blasting 80s and 90s music so loud!! Could barely hear ourselves. There were no water fountains anywhere. The snacks and drinks were highly priced. Definitely plan to eat your meal before or after coming here. They had face painting and caricature art you had to pay extra for. I could smell whiffs of marijuana. Regardless of your political or medical beliefs, a family friendly kids venue is not a place to smoke. It was just a strange not enjoyable time but the one saving grace was the Ferris wheel ride that's included in the ticket. The spirit wheel is always worth it day or night to see the beautiful Chicago skyline. We would not come again to winter wonderfest! I honestly think we would've had fun doing just the wheel and the maze in navy pier. read more

It's fun good ice cream great face painters and photographers and drawers. Many rides and pictures and lights and bouncy houses and slide. Very fun read more

Horrible...they let too many people attend to make money and the lines are Horrible. If your lucky you might be able to ice skate and do a couple rides. Don't waste your money! All it is is a money trap read more

The whole event is advertised to be family friendly, this year your unable to take strollers down to the field making it very different to enjoy the event when you want to take younger children, past years you've been able to enjoy it with strollers and use elevators. We met a very kind and helpful man named RICH!! He was one of the nicest employees we interacted with all night long and even as we were leaving he was very polite. read more

Terrible scam!!! Costs $85 for two people to go ice skating. Not only do they refuse to give you your skates that you payed a ridiculous amount for, they don't let you skate until a certain time. Why am I paying almost $100 to just sit here and not even skate. read more

Most of the employees are rude for starters. Then, we waited over 20 minutes to get skates, then another 15 to switch sizes. As soon as we got to the rink we were told it would be an hour before they allow people to get on the ice because they decided they had to clean the ice 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Had to repeat the process with an even longer wait to get our skates(40 minutes.) Lines for rides are super long as well. Everything is ridiculously expensive, even for Chitown prices. read more

Loved that we got to take a picture with Santa! And the staff was great! I'm really happy with the entire situation, really reminds me of holiday cheer read more

I spent $108 on the 14th. One of the kids get sick and we had to leave. This company refuses to honor the tickets for another day and wouldn't refund. Basically told me on shit out of luck. I will never attend any event they host again read more

Veryyyyyyyy enjoyaableeeee! Would definitely recommend thissss!! any agess wouldd enjoyyy thisss placee! read more

it sucked sooooooo badly. please take this down and put something worthy. spend well over a hundred on tickets let's alone another $30+ in parking. had to redeem it to the kids by going to the children's museum which was another $21 each person. lights sucked, exhibit sucked, was too short. i want a refund. read more

I love that this exists. It takes something kind of cool for me to go to Navy Pier, and Winter Wonderfest with it's rides, ice skating, Christmas tree and decorations did just that. Tips: - Buy your tix online for a discount - Buy your tix with a Bank of America credit card at the door for buy one, get one 1/2 price (check back in future years to see if this is still applicable) - Don't be cheap, do the coat check! - Best for kids under 2-7 years old - If you're not ice skating or doing rides, you don't have to pay My son is too old for a lot of the bouncy slides, and stuff, but we still loved the festive atmosphere of the tree, the Father Christmases from around the World, the Sky Glider ride that whips you around and up, the Ferris Wheel, and especially the indoor ice skating. It's all indoors inside Navy Pier. What we did not like were the really long lines for very short, lame rides like the Zip Line. Lines we can deal with, if the payoff is worth it! Winter Wonderfest was great because we could skate as much as we wanted, indoors during a very cold and blustery day! A great time! read more

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The Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier is a huge indoor play land for kids of all ages. It runs throughout the whole holiday season and past New Years Day. After reading some prior reviews it seems the keep jacking the price, which in turn leads to shorter lines. The admission was high: $28 for adults and $18 or so for kids. Admission is charged via height and they check it on every single attraction. They constantly enforced the height requirements and ensured kids did not bounce if they were too short. You also get a wristband that you need to show at the entry - a lot of younger kids snuck in without paying and were not allowed on the rides. I had no idea where there parents were! The selection of bouncy castles, rides and attractions is pretty good. They also have bumper cars, an indoor sled hill and an ice rink. There were short lines for all of the attractions when we visited, but based on the set up I figure it gets much more crowded on peak days. The staff was helpful in getting us around and making sure everyone was safe. This is a good way to kill and afternoon when it is cold out, but it ended up costing around $100 for a family of four with the $28 on site parking. The kids were ready to leave after about 2-3 hours. read more

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Lets be honest, these type of events are what YOU make it. I have faithfully brought my kids here since 2012 and have yet a negative thing to say. We have a blast every time we go! Between the decorations, the Ice Line Express Zip Line, the swirly spinning Hot Cocoa Cups, the Indoor Ice Skating Rink and inflatable bounce houses galore there is enough entertainment at Winter WonderFest to keep you occupied for quite some time. Yes, these things cost money. And... Yes, it does get busy, especially on weekends. But come on! All this should be expected. Plan ahead. Go mid-week if you can. Overall, this is a great way to spend time with your family. And the fact that all of this is indoor is enough for me to continue coming back. read more

My daughter is a winner baby she absolutely loves winter activities It only cost us $20 a piece because we took part of a Hilton hotel promotion We've been here before but I did notice a three-person glider that's installed now and that was pretty cool you feel like you're soaring or doing some type of hand gliding favorite ride I so we went in January when the Crowds Are Not at their Peak We took the trolley beer and back which is also another great draw to the pier when you don't have to worry worry about expensive parking all the traffic leading to the piers front door so I'll definitely suggest taking the trolley we were staying downtown anyway and our Hotel was on the trolley route so it made it a no-brainer to utilize The crowds weren't too bad so we maybe waited 20 minutes the longest to get on the ride we're able to get in and out of there two and a half hours and I'm going to enjoy other things at the pier read more

Went for the first time on a Saturday morning around 11:30am. The festival is at the east end of the pier. Upon arrival, we paid for our tickets which were super pricey but well worth it for the children since they utilize the premises more than an adult. They also have a separate line for coat check. There are a few food options to choose from, they had brats and pierogis in one tent, further down they have a concession stand with few items to choose from which has a few large round tables but not enough to where people are sitting and eating on the floor because others are inconsiderate and use the tables as a holding place for their items. Lockers are placed near the ice skating rink. There is also a tamale/taco stand. They have Dippin' Dots and a stand with Elephant ears, funnel cakes, etc. The prices are sky high in my opinion, more than an actual fair which brings me to say, this is basically a carnival inside. Lines for rides move fairly quickly but not any faster than a normal carnival. Overall, I'd recommend this place for a first timer, but I wouldn't make it a tradition with the outrageous ticket prices and the lack of food choices. Very magical for young kids. read more

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It's unfortunate that they charge such high prices for entry and the food inside. But to also have to charge for kids who are over 36 inches but have 3/4 of the kid's rides for kids 42 inches and up to ride? Only 1 small section was available for kids 36 inches and under which was 2 bouncy houses and a foam ball pit. Definitely not worth the money to go if you have small children. Then the fact that it's winter wonderfest and no sign of a Santa for kids to take pics with besides the $26-$48/3 picture package deal they offer. What a joke. Never again. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bought tickets to Winter Wonderfest on Groupon for a weekday, hoping to beat the crowds for some wintery fun with my 3 year old nephew. There are actually a good number of rides/attractions for the shorties in Navy Pier's Festival Hall turned winter wonderland. Carousel, train ride, ferris wheel, multiple jumpy inflatables, inflatable slides, power wheel cars, ice rink. Definitely made for the younger crowd. The attention and energy of a 3 year old comes from a very limited bank, so all the time waiting in lines was very frustrating at the end of the day when I was only able to take my nephew on a handful of rides. We didn't even ice skate because of the long line for skate rental and the ice rink itself....and this was on a Monday! They do have scattered "picnic" areas and allow you to bring in outside food for your kiddos if you don't feel like spending an arm and a leg on crappy food. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thoroughly enjoyed our last minute NYE entertainment for the kids before our late night party. Not too crowded because we got there at 4 and so much fun, they enjoyed the centrifugal ride very much. Food @ the food court is very expensive but its the convenience that people give in and purchase anyways. Uptown Shakedown was belting out classic numbers and we enjoyed some adult beverages while the kids were ice-skating. Perfect end to the last day of the year with this family outing. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Centriugal ride, really cool - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I will give this a 3 because we had kids that were almost 14. We went on a Wednesday night. We got there at 6:30 and they closed at 8 so did not have much time. But we had never ice skated before so it was nice because it was not busy and it was fun. Thank goodness they finally told people to put their phones away because people were just out there making videos and doing ridiculous things w their phones and they were not even allowed. After this my kids did the hang glider thing. We did not run into lines but I Thai k that is bc it was a Wednesday. If you have older kids there is not much for them to do. There were some cute photo things like a giant rocking horse and giant chair but the price is $21-$30 ummmm no thanks. It is adorable in here. Not cheaply done. I would say unless you can get the Groupon price you will get swallowed up w extras. Also I would not pay the $5.00 per item for coat check get a locker indies they at $7 and up depending on size. Santa was not there when we were there. read more

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Indoor carnival... plenty of children and adults. I found some adults who were quite age-inappropriate (cursing on rides and obviously loud enough for everyone to hear on the ride). They have expensive food at the stands (expected). The awesome part is they allow people to bring outside food/ drinks. They really need more seats though. If you move, you lose. Same goes for the rides. It was pretty awesome to try some rides. Just the limited space is quite scary for some rides (cliff gliding). I had a fun time. If you just want to walk around for a few pictures, it's definitely worth it. (please steer the children away from the stereotypical "Christmas" around the world... I'm Chinese and I never heard of "dun che lao ren" it just literally translate to "ton car old man." Perhaps known as his sleigh being a ton? Funny how Christmas is known as "Sheng Dan Jie" so why can't Santa be known as "Sheng Dan Lao Ren" -_-.. Sorry for the rant) read more

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$5 now they charge for look around & take pictures w/ the Christmas trees Really Over price junk food Bottle water Sides Churros Etc etc Getting worst every year $12 for a fennel cake Sunday Lol A new adicion Dunkin dougnut So $$$ read more

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Not everything it sounds like. Mostly it's great for very small children who probably couldn't play outside in the snow on their own. My 10-yr old was bored. Only two rides were worth it to him. The lines were very long. Longer than most carnivals. It really was just a carnival indoors. Food options were carnival-themed and priced. So if you are searching for an expensive carnival day - and you have smaller children - GO! Otherwise you are better off going to Six Flags for a day! I only got upset when they told me I couldn't wait in line with my son. I had to watch him from the side. read more

Attended Winter Wonderfest today with five children, ages 2 to 12. I'm happy to report that everyone had a great time. The decorations were beautiful, the staff members were relaxed and friendly, and the attractions were worth the $25 price to get in. My 2 year old really enjoyed the carousel, train, and toddler play area. The older children had a blast ice skating and riding the indoor attractions. The space is not too large and was well-staffed so I felt comfortable allowing the older children to explore on their own a bit. The food selection was limited, typical carnival food (hotdogs, nachos, popcorn, churros, etc.), and was over-priced. We paid $12 for a funnel cake. We've visited so many amusement parks and birthday spots that the food prices were not surprising to me at all. I was hoping for a higher quality of food. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Happy this is a winter option in Chicago. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Carousel for the little ones. - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Family friendly, but not for an adult only outing. It is basically an indoor fair. You may feel you have wasted $28. Also, be prepared for a long walk depending on where you enter. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is perfect for kids and families with children. I went with my wife at the suggestion of friends. We walked through the entire space than quickly left. Not the place for adults without children. read more

I tried to send this to the Customer Service email, but conveniently, I kept getting error messages, so I have to post this here. I am writing to share my experience at the Winter Wonderfest this past Saturday, December 9, 2017. This was my second year in a row I attended, and unfortunately, the customer service was such that I won't make this a priority for my family to attend next year, if we go at all. Again this year, the lines for ice skates and returns were long, but it seemed this year, it was ridiculously long. This severely takes away the time we could be spending elsewhere in the event. The first time we skated (we went twice), the girl holding the ice rink door open was hunched over it, looking like she was going to fall asleep. So, I told her "thank you" in the hopes to pep her up a bit, but all she said was "you're welcome," and didn't budge. I just thought it was really off-putting. Then, when I got chips at the middle concessions area, my son said his bag felt all crumpled and wanted another bag. The lady reluctantly gave him one with MUCH attitude and shook her head at him and said "They're all the same, they're all the same." Very, VERY rude! Finally, we went down the tube slide, and I specifically told the lady very nicely that I just wanted to go straight down - that she didn't have to spin me like the kids (because I have a history of vertigo). She nodded her head, smiled, and said, "Alright, you all come back now, you hear!" ... and spun me. As you can imagine, I was livid, but I didn't want to waste the time to go back in line up there and give her a piece of my mind. This was about 3 p.m. and she was on the far lane closest to the rink. I figured I would just write this letter describing my experiences so they know what kind of people they have employed there, if they don't already. I hope others have a better experience than I did. This event is a lot of money for a family of 4. I live in the West Suburbs, about an hour away, and there are at least two other ice rinks I can go by me at an $8 matinee price, so I really don't have to drive out there for that. And, not to mention, there are a ton of other holiday events as well, such as Morton Arboretum Illuminations, Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic, Naperville Christkindle Market, etc. read more

Way overpriced just to look at lights me and my family have gone in the past and had a really great experience with an "indoor" carnival atmosphere but this year 2021 were just a light display with a nice skating rink very disappointing read more

Winter Wonderfest 2017-18 is very worthy of a 1-star rating but because the interior is decorated nicely I've given an extra star. I've been coming here for the last 12 years with my daughter and recently my second child. For whats inside, bouncy houses and lights it was an absolute sensible trip worth taking given the price(even with garage parking). Initially for adults was free and you pay for a child. Then in the last couple years adult pricing was around $15 or so, etc. Point is, it was very affordable and worthwhile. So....when my family and I decided to visit once again this year, on a whim, I was more than surprised to see the price inflation of $27/$28 for adults (and older children)! My husband and I literally walk our kids around watching them so the thought of paying nearly $30 to do this is astounding. Buyer beware, visit at your own expense. read more

Great way to spend time with the kids. I was really lucky when we got here there were hardly any lines and the kids could sail straight through. As the day progressed there were so.e delays at the skate rerun but not too bad. Basically this is a bunch of bouncy houses and mid way rides in Navy pier. great way to burn of steam My only complaint is the cashiers kept asking me if I wanted to leave them a tip on a $4 bottle of water that they barely moved to get. read more

Beware parents Even if you are here at this place to supervise (because you have to be), tickets have TRIPLED IN PRICE from last year. AND there are less places to sit, which is essentially all i am doing AND it's a lot smaller for the kids, too Boooooo Navy Pier Boooooo Fifth Third Bank (the new 'sponsor' who I am told is the reason for the price increase) read more

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So...the bad reviews are more about the reviewers' lack of patience and less about the actual festival. You would think people who live in the third largest city in the country would realize that there are going to be hundreds of other people who want to do exactly the same thing they want to do. Grow up, you entitled jerks and teach your children the virtue of patience. As for the actual fest, my daughter and I have a great time every year. There are tons of activities - some requiring additional fees - beautiful decorations, and typical carnival rides perfect for children under 12. Older children may be a little bored but the indoor ice skating is a good time - yes, there's a wait for skates. Honestly, my ex-husband and I went (pre kid) and had an awesome time. Yes, the festival is expensive (buy a Groupon) and parking can be a pain in the ass but nothing ruins a kid's good time like a complaining adult. Get over yourself and have fun. read more

This is the 2nd year visiting with my family. Unlike last year, we came on a weekday about 4pm this time and found the parking, lines for the rides and bathroom to be pretty tolerable. There's a coat check or you can just leave coats in the car; it's cool and a little breezy but not cold in the area where the fest is. I recommend one of those options if you don't want to wear your coat or get stuck lugging it around for the duration of your visit. The decor is large, colorful and magical; they play popular music, adding to the festive mood. It's nice they allow snacks to be brought in and don't insist on their food and drinks to be consumed. My son has food allergies and it is a relief I can carry in snacks for him. If you want carnival food, this is a great place to eat; funnel cakes, hot dogs and the like, at prices one would expect at such a venue. You will not find anything of nutritional value to eat here, as everything is either fried or highly sugared and sometimes both. Aside from getting a random snack here, we go eat meals elsewhere. One thing badly needed is more seating. There were many open spaces and people just sitting on the carpeted floor. A few dozen benches, scattered throughout, would be helpful. On the opposite end of the arena, there is a stage and ample seating but you have to go out of your way to get to it. Many people are waiting for others on rides and it's not possible to walk all the way down to one end just to sit down and possibly lose your party. The town area that has facades is really pretty for taking photos and the people they have dressed up in costumes that are a combination of holiday festive dress and Hunger Games characters from The Capital, add to the entertainment. Overall, it's something to do in winter if you are looking for an indoor family amusement and someplace to take the kids while on winter break. read more

This place is so worth it if you can manage to sneak in through the exit door. Otherwise, don't bother spending $29 on a weekend night.

So I bought the Groupon so my family of 5 could attend-2 adults, a 4.5 year old and 27 month old twins. Everyone said we were crazy to try it but I am really glad we did. We went on Monday and were blessed with small crowds and no school groups. I think this place would be the 7 level of Christmas Hell on a weekend but our day was great. We did not have to wait more than 5 minutes for any activity except for the train and the ferris wheel which we decided were not worth the long wait. Visit with Santa was probably the longest line and we still only had to wait maybe 10 minutes. No lines for the carousel at all-we would ride, get off and walk right back through to ride again! My little ones all loved the little kid area. Yes, a tent full of foam balls isn't the most high tech entertainment but boy did they have a blast! And the bouncy house was a big hit-again, there were no lines so we could just keep playing past the two minute time limit. We had a really great day and with the Groupon and $14 parking it was an affordable full day of fun. Tip-bring water because it is super dry and chasing the kids is thirsty work! read more

For little kids, this is great. The typical bouncy houses, miniature golf, snow globe, small train, etc....but for a 9 year old the only things that kept his interest were the climbing wall, ice skating rink, and inner-tube slide. Each of these three "rides" had over an hour wait in line. We purchased tickets online hoping that would save us time. It did save $6 for the two of us, but we still had to wait in a half hour line to get our wristbands. Then after receiving our wristbands, we waited in a half hour line to enter the area. Lines are just too long for the shortness of the return. No thanks. We'll skip this next year. After having said that, I will say that it was beautifully decorated and kinda cool to have typical outdoor rides inside. There was a ferris wheel but we didn't brave the two hour wait. We went to Harry Caray's and ate instead! read more

Well we bought the premium wristbands and went on a Saturday...I dont really know what I expected BUT it was crazy busy. I mean crazy. Plus, the event is technically free and you pay for rides, food, etc. All walks of life....thats for sure. The food is overpriced. The lines are ridiculous. The rides are ok and the employees are useless. Overall, I probably would try to go on a weekday. I think it would be way better. Also, if I went on a weekend, I am not sure I would buy the premium wristband. The line to ice skate was so long, it looped around. We didnt even try to wait for it. The zip line took 1.15 hours to get to the front. I would have rather just paid $10 and let them get to the front if that was an option. It is a nice little scene, but overall way too crowded with very rude people. My nephews had fun, but got wore out from waiting in lines all day. read more

Overpriced rip off!! 25$ per child?? and general admission $10.. boring ..unless you are 6 yr old.... Mostly bouncy houses, a horse, train ride, ice rink , tilt whirl, Tea cup and ferris wheel..food expensive, parking 20$....most rides charge an addtl $21 if you want a photo.. read more

Winter Wonderfest - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The idea of a winter wonderfest is great but the actual experience was just okay. Firstly make sure you come early as possible. As soon as afternoon hits the stragglers, late sleepers and the ghettos start coming in and the lines get so out of control it's not worth it and you want to leave. The ice skating rink was very uneven and it hurt to skate. The coolest part was the zip line which was a whopping 2 seconds of semi enjoyment. Also not worth 30 minutes in line. All and all I probably would give it another shot, as soon as they open their doors in the morning. read more

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