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https://www.reddit.com/r/ExpectationVsReality/comments/1s5dwqs/barbie_dreamfest_more_like_barbie_fyre_fest/

This was branded as an event where you’d get to interact with a life-size Barbie dreamhouse, participate in a disco themed roller rink experience, and have access to an amazing marketplace.

That is… not what it was. Our "swag bag" was a hand sanitizer.

The event planning company running this is called Mischief Management, they ran this for Mattel. This event was promoted by Mattel as the first Mattel Barbie convention (as opposed to the fan run one that happens every year).

“We are thrilled to announce Barbie Dream Fest, as a new offering designed to delight the brand’s growing fandom,” said Julie Freeland, Vice President of Global Location Based Entertainment, Mattel. “It’s incredibly exciting to provide fans, families, and collectors with a curated and unique space to gather, learn, and create all while celebrating the iconic Barbie brand.”

ETA: I paid $250 for this. The highest tier pass was $400. They got a plastic hairbrush in addition to the sanitizer as their swag bag. See the comments for more photos of this disaster.

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[-] ElChapoDeChapo@hexbear.net 36 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like things like this and the Fyre festival are some kind of distinct marker of western decline and will be studied by future historians hundreds or even thousands of years into the future

[-] EstraDoll@hexbear.net 20 points 2 weeks ago

an empire held up on bread and circus that hit such a point of capitalist decline that this is what qualifies as a circus

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 13 points 2 weeks ago

It's one of those Certified :debord-tired: Moments for me. I hate when a simulacrum has too many layers to it and these events are like slop pilgrimages to shrines with fake relics.

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 32 points 2 weeks ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/roadtrip/comments/1rqnb24/19m_first_solo_roadtrip_with_extremely_flashy_car/

Here's someone taking their first road trip, driving 17 hours during an oil crisis, in a Barbie SUV to attend this $250-400 dreamfest.

[-] tocopherol@hexbear.net 22 points 2 weeks ago

Omg this is the car they drove too Photo of a bright pink and black-topped Landrover SUV with a large 'Barbie' wordmark on the side

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 20 points 2 weeks ago

A Range Rover Velar, with a fuel economy of around 24mpg. 19 year-old with a $60-80k SUV.

[-] supdawg813@hexbear.net 10 points 2 weeks ago

lmfao let the gas prices rise

[-] Rom@hexbear.net 12 points 2 weeks ago

More effort was put into that car than into the entire event

[-] Enjoyer_of_Games@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

those lens flares like the camera cannot even process that much pink

[-] RNAi@hexbear.net 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Amazing,but why

[-] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

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[-] Acute_Engles@hexbear.net 26 points 2 weeks ago

If this wasn't an event for kids I would be so entertained.

We should host a harry potter themed scam or something

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's the one big downside. Make it a Pokemon event so that most of the guests are over age 30.

[-] Acute_Engles@hexbear.net 11 points 2 weeks ago

I don't have the funds but if i did i might get tricked by pokemon fyre fest

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 17 points 2 weeks ago

Pikachu is literally in my garage and you can meet him for $300. You cannot turn on the light.

[-] AnarchoAnarchist@hexbear.net 12 points 2 weeks ago

You cannot turn on the light.

Joke's on you, Pikachu can learn the HM flash!

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

It only listens to me. That's why I can interact with it in the room, but you can only stand there and listen to him make all the fun noises you like from the cartoon. Its voice sounds like my voice but you cannot record them to compare.

[-] Acute_Engles@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

FAAAWWWKKK

Still don't have the money though

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 8 points 2 weeks ago

For $20 I'll stand in front of any building and tell you there's a pikachu inside but it's immunocompromised so you can't see it.

[-] Acute_Engles@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

I'd rather buy pokemon cards

[-] Speaker@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

The saddest $20 I've ever spent.

[-] Evilphd666@hexbear.net 15 points 2 weeks ago

Do they even review these things before they hand out offical licensing?

[-] Kuori@hexbear.net 18 points 2 weeks ago

probably asked chatgpt to look it over

[-] supdawg813@hexbear.net 14 points 2 weeks ago

Where is the ball pit

[-] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 13 points 2 weeks ago

Oh no...poor kids.

[-] WIIHAPPYFEW@hexbear.net 13 points 2 weeks ago

The unstoppable Dashconification of the American sphere of influence

[-] invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

What's happening is that the people running these companies are going full AI and don't have any staff. They just use the AI to make it seem like everything's alright and do nothing.

The Wonka one was the same.

[-] ClassIsOver@hexbear.net 11 points 2 weeks ago

Oh sweet, they've even got the Barbie B6 Silo!

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 9 points 2 weeks ago

I appreciate that they could have moved the exhibit over slightly and avoided it looking like she lives in a fracking site, but they didn't.

[-] JustSo@hexbear.net 10 points 2 weeks ago

One day some parent is going to be a really bad sport about all of this.

[-] GalaxyBrain@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

New Glasgow is a small town in my province and the title had me really confused for a bit

[-] Johnny_Arson@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

More like Chief Mismanagement

[-] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

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this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2026
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