Stanley Park Christmas Train is once again running for the holidays, but many excited fans may be left at the station during the winter season.
Tickets for the popular Vancouver holiday attraction went on sale online starting Friday, November 8 at noon.
However, many Vancouverites took to social media to vent their frustration with the ticketing process, describing it as “very disappointing.”
“This whole thing is yet another giant fail,” said Kristen Lemke on Facebook. “I really hope you guys figure it out for next year because this year has been a complete nightmare for so many people. So disappointing.”
“Breaking family traditions with this horrible system,” added Eva Siu. “So frustrating and sad that the kids won’t have the train again this year.”
The ticket experience for the @stanleyparkrail is terrible. The queue time jumps from “more than an hour” to a specific time and back again—super frustrating. Disappointed that after all these years, this still hasn’t been figured out yet, @parkboard. #Vancouver #StanleyPark
— Christian Alexander Mosley (@sea_mosley) November 8, 2024
Many people shared that they experienced long wait times, pages not loading properly, and experiences of “line paused.”
Several Stanley Park Christmas Train fans shared that they were able to get tickets and urged others to be patient.
Showpass told Daily Hive in an interview that they are aware that some people are encountering longer wait times when purchasing tickets for the Bright Nights train.
“We’ve been personally interfacing with tens of thousands of Vancouverites over the phone and through our chats,” said the ticketing provider. “With one of the largest support teams in the industry, our crew has definitely been busy servicing the fans of Stanley Park trains.
“Showpass, as a customer-first platform, has been optimizing for large on sales like this, where hundreds of thousands flock to high-demand events like Bright Nights. Right now, we’re equitably distributing the tickets according to the queue; because the demand is so high and the experience of choosing your preferred slot is being prioritized, these wait times are higher than usual.”
The City of Vancouver also told Daily Hive that tickets were still available and were being processed in as timely a manner as possible.
“Due to the high volume of people entering the queue, our ticketing provider temporarily paused the site to manage demand,” a Park Board spokesperson said. “The site is now back to processing, and ticket sales are ongoing. Demand remains high, with many people still in the queue.”
Univaded Fox/Flickr
Similar ticketing issues occurred last year, with hundreds of families being left disappointed by long wait times and tickets selling out just 90 minutes after going on sale.
Tickets to ride the vintage 1961 train will not be sold on-site, though a recent petition is calling on the City of Vancouver to once again sell in-person tickets for rides on the Stanley Park Railway.
Bright Nights is the single largest fundraiser each year for the Burn Fund, which provides life-saving, life-supporting, and life-enriching services to people in BC. The Park Board has donated over $2.5 million to the Burn Fund since 1998.
Programs supported include Burn Camp and the Home Away Program, which provides accommodations to survivors, firefighters, and their families who must travel to Vancouver for medical treatment.
When: November 29, 2024, to January 4, 2025 (closed on December 25)
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance
Tickets: Christmas Train $12-$16, free for children 2 years and under. Purchase online starting on November 8 at noon. Bright Nights admission by donation