A US fast food restaurant that seriously underestimated the cult following of Bluey has been slammed by outraged parents after hosting a themed event that left children in tears.
Families were invited to celebrate the popular Australian children’s cartoon, which has a cult following worldwide, at the Dirt Dog Las Vegas store on May 11.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: New Bluey attraction set to open in Brisbane.
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Parents were promised a marathon of Bluey episodes, a meet and greet with Bluey and friends, face painting, games and special Bluey treats for free. More than 3000 people RSVP’d.
However, attendees were quickly disappointed when they arrived to discover lengthy lines, with many reporting the face painting and games ended by the time they made it inside.
Some parents complained Bluey was simply “a guy in a onesie” rather than a character costume.
“He sat there with no emotion ... I can’t even tell you how many little children were upset,” one mother said.
“Thanks for ruining my three-year-old’s day,” another said.
One mum joked: “When you order your bluey event from Wish.”
Frustrated parents likened it to the disastrous Wonka Experience in Glasgow, where families were left sorely disappointed when the promised chocolate experience was little more than an abandoned, empty warehouse with sad-looking props and actors in costumes.
Instead of the promised chocolate fountains and “chocolatey delights”, children were offered a small ration of jelly beans and half a cup of lemonade for the £35 ($A66) experience.
Parents were equally disappointed at Bluey Day, slamming the event as “wrong as hell” and “horrible and a waste of time”.
Many said the event left their children in tears.
Restaurant responds
Responding to the outpouring of backlash, Dirt Dog Las Vegas said it was “truly sorry” the event was not the expected experience.
“We take pride in putting on community events for you and your families to enjoy,” it said.
“We have staff play out host characters for an added personal touch.
“We were overwhelmed with the turn-out to this event.
“We will continue to improve on our events so we can ensure nothing like this will happen in the future.”
The restaurant apologised several times, saying it hoped to repair its relationship with the community.
Brisbane’s Bluey World
Closer to home, Australian fans of the beloved children’s cartoon are gearing up to step into the world of Bluey in Brisbane.
The Bluey World attraction will open on November 7, with operators promising an immersive experience into some of the locations and scenes that have made the TV show iconic, including the Heeler family’s home and backyard.
“We’re inviting fans to come and play in Bluey’s iconic home, which will be an unforgettable day out for all ages,” Bluey’s World producer Andrew Kay said.
Tickets to the attraction, which will be hosted at the Northshore Pavilion precinct in Hamilton, will go on sale on May 21.
BBC Studios’ Kate O’Connor said: “The magic of Bluey isn’t only in the universally relatable characters and storytelling. It is also in the setting.”
“We are so excited that fans will finally get the opportunity to step inside and play in the Heeler’s iconic family home in real life.”
The Queensland government expects some 200,000 people will visit Bluey’s World in its first year, bringing an estimated $18 million into the state’s economy.
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