From Niagara This Week:
It could soon cost a few bucks for car loads of winter revellers to enjoy the twinkling lights along the Niagara Parkway.
Dino Fazio, general manager of the Winter Festival of Lights, told This Week his staff is looking at the possibility of charging admission to take in the annual lights festival, which will celebrate its 26th anniversary next year.
“I think if we want to stay in the top two lights festivals in North America, which we are, we have to look at other revenue sources,” said Fazio. “I think we have reached the point we are a bona fide attraction and we are worth an admission fee.”
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Keep makin it harder and harder…
The kiss of death!!
I don’t understand how they could charge for anything other than Dufferin Islands… everything else is just along a public walkway.
Honestly, I know a few families that go up for WFOL every year and while Im sure they wont charge much (hope), its Christmas time!!! Thats the hardest time of the year to come up with extra $$$.
I just re-read the article. I missed the 15-18 reference of the other diplay they are comparing to. If they do this at that kind of price (and being a tourist area it will probably be more). Like Drafty said, KISS OF DEATH.
Some interesting data:
Every tour operator that enters NPC property must pay fees. Every day tour companies are $150/yr, less than 2 day/wk companies are $100/yr (both of these also require a licensed guide @ $50/yr) and charter tours (large buses) $40/day. The Festival attracts over 1000 buses yearly for a payout during that period of over $40000 to the NPC. Also during the Festival, city hotels, restaurants and attractions benefit greatly from the increased numbers of people.
The Winter Festival of Lights is a not for profit organization that is apparently struggling, even with a large number of very major sponsors and the money making parts of the Festival (concerts, donations, etc.). It would seem to me that the tourism industry in Niagara Falls, which reaps huge benefits from the Festival, needs to step up their contributions instead of even considering charging people to drive through the displays, because, in the end, they won’t pay and will just stop coming and that will be the end of the Festival.
This article has bugged me all morning, very badly. You are 100% correct when you say people will not pay, I truly do not think they will. And on the WFOL site, I remember seeing TONS of big name $ contributers. Why is this about being one of the biggest light festivals in the world? Who cares ,the people like myself who love NF dont care if its the biggest or the best, we come because we love it. Im so tired of the operators, attractions, and business owners in the area pricing themselves out of visitors. This needs to stop! Who is going to want to pay 15-20 bucks for the WFOL? I love it but, add in hotel cost (gouged in late nov./Dec), paying for hotel parking at MOST (not all) NF hotels,food etc… this is rough.
Just another example of monetizing everything. It is getting so commercial it’s ridiculous.
What is next, a barricade along the parkway with turnstiles to view the falls?
Shhh dont say that they might get ideas:)
I think i remember reading in Burton’s Niagara this was the case long ago!
wow..i couldn’t believe it when i read it…i agree with niagara and probably the rest of you..we just love the area..the lights..the kitchy attractions..hotels..etc…who cares WHERE it’s ranked in the world?..i myself go thru the lights at dufferin island at least 4 times during the WFOL..i have never left any less than $10..ok..i’m only one person..but i don’t HAVE to pay..i WANT to because i really enjoy it…the idea of turnstyles at the falls?…YIKES!!!..now that’s scary…we went under the falls last monday on the holiday..i was kinda surprised (dunno why) that it was still $10 per person this time of year..mind you..some of the pics and video i got was priceless to me..but now they take yur picture as soon as you walk in and you can buy it on yur way out…stopping for a 30 second pic is ok this time of year..but can you imagine the hold up in the line during july/august?????..oh..and last sunday night..we ate at kelsey’s..hadda seat looking right out into the intersection..amazed at the amount of people mulling around..and we noticed the large amount of people going into criminals..that guy sure had the right idea with the $5 admission…anybody know how/if his business has improved since he started that?..the rest of them should try it…
just my 2 cents..
I actually saw people going in the criminal HOF when I was there!! Thats a GREAT idea for the winter especially for them, because Im sure its hard to atract any type of business right now.
are they saying you have to pay to LOOK at the lights?! Are you KIDDING ME!!!!!
it sure is Niagara…but he started the $5 admission back..well..probably mid-late august..that about right graham?..i know you had a post about it..just don’t remember when it was…
o ok, i didnt know that. i home criminal hof is around forever, its on of the most unique attractions in all of niagara falls.
never been in it…i don’t like that creepy stuff…lol…read about it..ok…see it…NOT!!…lol…..i’m the ULTIMATE chicken exit person….lol
Its actually not “scary” at all to be honest. Its a lil gory, but every display gives a really nice write up on what the person (s) did. If ya ever get up your courage, I highley suggest checking it out, very unique.
This bothers me too, the more we monetize everything the more we drive off families who are seeking vacations with some value. People won’t come back to a place that nickel and dimes them to death. I really wish businesses in and around the falls would give year-round discounts to those who are local (who provide a valid Niagara Falls drivers license), since the prices are artificially inflated for tourist reasons. Basically no one around here goes to any of the attractions because the prices are horribly inflated, maybe if they lowered prices they would get back some business and maybe even make more money! We shouldn’t have to pay extra for everything just because we live in a touristy area. I am on the American side and its not like incomes are increasing over here.
good points sara..but as in mine and chris’s case…we both live in hamilton..but spend ALOTTA time in the falls…why notta ??(so many) mile radius?…i just booked a room for my granddaughter and i for next tues and wed night..middle of the week..middle of winter….comfort inn..clifton hill…$74…i think it should be back at the $55 rate like it was last year….
74 middle of the week this time of the year?!?! OUCH, what the heck is going on here?
I guess its still a good deal because they are one of the few hotels that do not charge for parking.
I think I saw a few months back on the TA forums, that some hotel was charging to park everytime you leave or return (cant remember) for paying guest.
we found out a few months ago that the embassy…as nice as it is…they have a sign up for $20 valet parking service…BUT…they DON’T tell you that it’s PER DAY!!!…..but..well…the view makes up for it….lol
Such a sad thing going on with all the high prices. I dont know how people can afford it.
I just feel it necessary to point out that no amount has been specified. Let’s not jump to conclusions. It may be something as simple as charging a set amount for Dufferin Islands. Maybe they will put a bit of a fence around Queen Victoria Park and charge a token amount to get close to the lights. Any sort of option like that I’m sure would be acceptable to visitors, and would bring in a fair amount of money. I just can’t see them trying to charge $15…
The only reason I mentioned 15-20 was because thats the ref. in the article. I also would find it hard to believe they would charge that much or more. Still, any charge in my opinion is ridiculous.
me too nigara…that could be their idea graham..but where the hell is the parking for it?…$18 at the peak(for winter) for table rock parking?..that’s still a pretty fair walk…i could see the people mover being put into use for the winter during WFOL…charge $5…$2 for kids under 5..drive thru the lights..including dufferin falls..maybe even a 15 minute stop there to get out and see the ducks…yup..they’re even lookin for food at night…lol)…seriousely…i’d pay to go on the people mover to see the lights…providing there’s a decent parking rate for where i leave my car…
I am 100% anti admission for WFOL. Like I said before, this nickle and dime stuff is getting out of hand. Enough is enough. I guarantee if they charge admission they better prepare a lane for people to turn around and go the other way, because I think that many will. If WFOL has survived this long w/out admission then why start charging now? To stroke the ego of the person/people in charge to make it one of the “biggest”!?!?
I completely agree with Drafty and Niagara. The idea is bad in my opinion and will cause even more problems. They would also have to take into account the decrease in advertising revenue to all the sponsors who drop due to lower attendance. Let’s keep this attraction free.