UPDATED AUG. 22, 11:55 BST
LONDON -- It's been billed, by its creators, as "the UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction," and it's causing widespread dismay online.
Banksy's Dismaland opened to the public this weekend and, thanks to huge demand from visitors and a potential wry joke thrown in by the subversive artist, it's making a lot of people downcast.
Tickets for the "bemusement park" in Weston-super-Mare went on sale Friday at £3 ($4.70) per person, but eager visitors encountered a host of problems, and on Saturday the website said online ticketing was unavailable "due to unprecedented demand."
For the weekend of Aug. 22 and 23, tickets are only available on site. There's a 2,000 person capacity and then it's one in, one out, once the limit is reached. Online bookings will resume Aug. 25.
Hundreds of people joined the queue Saturday morning and some speculated that the difficulties in securing tickets were all part of Banksy's plan.
The #dismaland queue estimated at 2-3 hours although hard to judge. First people to go in soon. pic.twitter.com/8zsZ6HSUng— Weston Mercury (@WSMERCURY) August 22, 2015
Eager visitors have faced a variety of obstacles to getting tickets. For starters, they couldn't get the website to work.
Me waiting for #Dismaland tickets to go on sale pic.twitter.com/Hd2zH2cEMU— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) August 21, 2015
Trying to get tickets for #Dismaland. #Banksy #WestonSMare pic.twitter.com/MWLgYP5nJD— M_tt Sims (@Mercifull) August 21, 2015
Trying to book tickets to #Dismaland like... pic.twitter.com/ham6ljfTjG— F.TAPE (@ftape) August 21, 2015
When they did, they quickly realised the calendar page was actually a jpeg, not a usable form.
Come on. Confess. How many of you have been clicking on the calendar jpeg to try (and fail) to get tickets to #Dismaland #Banksy #veryfunny— LovelysVintage (@LovelysVintage) August 21, 2015
People trying to get #Dismaland tickets and wondering why they can't click on an image file of a calendar to buy tickets....— Robert_Cop (@Robert_Cop) August 21, 2015
Get this far on the page and thats it... #dismaland tickets pic.twitter.com/rTqIG9lgga— Vix Chan (@Vix_Chan) August 21, 2015
Everyone started wondering if it was all part of the dismal experience.
It looks like nobody has been able to get Dismaland tickets. Funny how even trying to get tickets is just as Dismal as intended...— brandon (@ARTPOPBRANDON) August 21, 2015
I'm guessing the struggle to get hold of tickets is all a part of the dismaland experience #Dismaland #Banksy— Ellis Maton (@EllisMaton) August 21, 2015
I'm guessing the comedically terrible experience of trying to get tickets for #Dismaland is pretty much exactly what Banksy was going for.— Stacy Bias (@fatfeistyfemme) August 21, 2015
It seems Banksy has managed to perfectly recreate the misery of buying tickets for theme parks too... #Dismaland pic.twitter.com/9UAxQgU4Kz— TallManwithGlasses (@stuartwitts) August 21, 2015
Others questioned whether they were being pranked by Banksy.
I'm 99.9% sure the idea you can buy tickets to #Dismaland is a complete lie... but I can't stop hitting refresh just in case I'm wrong!— Gemma Francis (@GemmaFrancis72) August 21, 2015
If you are searching for #Dismaland tickets you are very much part of the exhibition already— Phil Cross (@Photomagraph) August 21, 2015
What if Banksy never intended to sell tickets to Dismaland? — jason ilagan (@jasonilagan) August 21, 2015
Pretty sure the upside down cart is meant to represent that there are no tickets. #theywontstayinthecart #Dismaland— Tina (@tinaiac) August 21, 2015
Not sure if this #Dismaland #Tickets are real or if #Banksy is just messing with us. pic.twitter.com/coTrBYP4pl— Thirsty Bstrd (@juliensurdeau) August 21, 2015
Local residents, meanwhile, were allowed into the park if they had a copy of a local paper Friday, and massive queues built up on the seafront all morning.
They've got their tickets - the excitement is really building now! #Dismaland #Banksy pic.twitter.com/4KDNpni4QR— Weston Mercury (@WSMERCURY) August 21, 2015
About 2km queue for #Dismaland for locals day pic.twitter.com/xI3rZuQuIT— LucyBeauvallet (@LucyBeauvallet) August 21, 2015
Wristbands were indeed handed out.
The first tickets for #dismaland are being given out now! pic.twitter.com/aEzatXAsgP— BBC Radio Bristol (@bbcrb) August 21, 2015
Finally, the ticket section went live and people started getting those precious tickets.
It IS possible to get #dismaland tickets, keep trying people! xx #dismalandtickets I got some dismalness tickets!!! pic.twitter.com/pMkZFntORb— Ariana Bodd (@ArianaBodacious) August 21, 2015
Before long, the selfies from the public inside the park began.
A #Dismaland selfie pic.twitter.com/Sum95XBAcN— Julia McKenzie (@turquoisejulia) August 21, 2015
Sessions for Dismaland run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. if you manage to beat the masses.
Tickets can be bought on the day from a cabin opposite the park, with a limited number available.