Some Scottish children were lucky enough to experience an immersive Willy Wonka event recently, complete with the intense feelings of disappointment and even fear that most of the kids on the factory tour likely felt in the Gene Wilder classic.


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Police were called to Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow over the weekend by parents who were furious at having been misled about the quality of the experience, thanks in large part to the use of A.I. in promotional materials. The event organizer charged up to $45 a ticket to the experience based on 2023’s Wonka movie, itself based on the classic Roald Dahl story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.



The promotional materials, which, again, were A.I.-generated, showed giant candy canes and chocolate fountains alongside audiovisual effects that would create an immersive experience, complete with resident Oompa Loompas. The reality was closer to Fyre Festival than a world of pure imagination, including the Oompa Loompas, who stood behind counters decorated with chemistry sets and looked like they’d just been cooking meth rather than candy. The decorations were sparse, cheaply made and poorly laid out, and no exciting or immersive audiovisual elements could be found, although there was a small bouncy castle at the back of the warehouse.



The event reportedly left children in tears and was canceled halfway through, prompting the calls to police, as well as the establishment of a Facebook group where families who bought tickets are working together to try and get their money back.




An actor who was hired by the organizers to play Wonka has spoken to the media about his experience to speak his truth; he told STV News that it was impossible for him to complete his job as instructed because none of the promised props or special effects were there. Instead, he was told to improvise, adding, “My heart sank looking around … I just felt sad because I was aware of how many kids were going to be coming through. We were told to hand the kids a couple of jelly beans and a quarter cup of lemonade at the end.”



While the experience does sound terrible, it could be worse – a child could have ended up trapped inside a television or drowned in a chocolate river. Always look on the bright side, kids!