Ticket rush for new Banksy ‘Bemusement Park’
The website for the new Dismaland Bemusement Park by British street artist Banksy crashed after it received more than six millions hits.
People struggling to buy tickets to the attraction in Weston-super-Mare posted messages on social media asking whether the website problems were all part of the experience of the show, which puts a sinister spin on the theme park concept.
Ticketing will be available again on Tuesday and in the meantime the only way to get in is to pay on arrival. On Saturday hundreds of people queued for the park, some waiting up to four hours.
Dismaland, on the site of the derelict Tropicana lido, has a Jimmy Saville-themed Punch and Judy show, a crashed Cinderella’s carriage surrounded by paparazzi photographers, and a model boat pond with vessels packed with asylum seekers.
The project also has work from other artists, including Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, and Jimmy Cauty.
In an apparent dig at conventional theme parks, the website says: "Dismaland – a festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism.
"Are you looking for an alternative to the sugar-coated tedium of the average family day out? Or just somewhere a lot cheaper? Then this is the place for you.
"Bring the whole family to come and enjoy the latest addition to our chronic leisure surplus."
And it warns: "Contains uneven floor surfaces, extensive use of strobe lighting, imagery unsuitable for small children, and swearing.
"The following are strictly prohibited in the Park – spray paint, marker pens, knives and legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation."
The attraction will be open for six weeks and costs £3, either for a day ticket (11am- 6pm) or evening ticket (7pm-11pm).
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports