Has whistler changed much since vail bought it?

It seems like it just keeps expanding, the town has just been getting bigger and bigger and I think it is safe to say it is definatly more touristy. More tourist attractions and more tourist in general. It's kind of sad some of the people who travel there don't even ski. I'm not sure if it's because of vail it seemed to be developing even before vail bought it. Hopefully they don't make it too big, it was kind of nice when it was a little town.

**This post was edited on Mar 6th 2018 at 12:50:52am

emrennot a subject ive seen much about on NS

I scrolled through some recent reviews of whistler on facebook and its pretty evident that a lot of people strongly oppose the changes being brought about by vail. And i also recently read somewhere that vail formally acknowledged that they had made mistakes in their first year of taking over whistler, which is indicative of some serious mismanagement. I find it odd that i haven't really heard much discussion about this topic on newschoolers.

It's worrying to think what the future for whistler will be like. At least vail won't effect the quality of whistler's terrain, but climate change will probably see to that eventually.

this was a public review someone wrote, i think it sums things up pretty well:
"the only thing whistler has keeping all its locals around still is the the fact that the mountains are great for riding. Other wise this town has gone to total trash. Paying all your hard working employees minimum wage meanwhile we pay up to 1000 for a shared bedroom with 2 or 3 others plus utilities is ridiculous. Half of us have to work 60+ hours a week to survive never mind enjoy what this town is supposed to offer. The season passes having a deadline for November is ridiculous, not having a spring riding pass, and the single day pass is $200.... complete rip off.
Ya’ll need to get yourselves in check because at this rate your going to lose way too many of your locals and employees due to your selfishness and greed."

The people there just to drink from Vancouver are the coolest people. Its other skiers/borders that fuck shit up and make the lift lines long AF.

I'm not buying the Icon this week my paycheck is going to other shit and they are jacking the price up and I miss Stowe so I will be on the Epic next winter.

Prior to Stowe and Whistler being bought by Vail I got half off Whistler via the Stowe pass and had 2 epic trips looking forward to another next winter. Won't go the custy ass weeks. Off the slopes is just as much fun. Hope the Canadian dollar is still worthless by that time.

chef_boyardeethis was a public review someone wrote, i think it sums things up pretty well:
"the only thing whistler has keeping all its locals around still is the the fact that the mountains are great for riding. Other wise this town has gone to total trash. Paying all your hard working employees minimum wage meanwhile we pay up to 1000 for a shared bedroom with 2 or 3 others plus utilities is ridiculous. Half of us have to work 60+ hours a week to survive never mind enjoy what this town is supposed to offer. The season passes having a deadline for November is ridiculous, not having a spring riding pass, and the single day pass is $200.... complete rip off.
Ya’ll need to get yourselves in check because at this rate your going to lose way too many of your locals and employees due to your selfishness and greed."

That review is funny. Locals shouldn't even know what a day ticket costs. If you live in the Squamish-Pemberton corridor you either have a seasons pass or you don't touch the ski hill. And the rest of it is all the same old, same old. The limited time I spend living in Whistler was 15 years ago and it was too expensive then as it is now. (sure, it is more expensive now, but literally everywhere desirable to live in southern BC has gone up respectively. You aren't allowed to live in Whistler and complain that it's too expensive. You are literally choosing to live in the most expensive town (as opposed to city) in the province (no source - total assumption). The whole corridor has been out of control for way too long. Squamish is fucked, Pemberton is showing signs of fuckedness. None of that matters though - it's Whistler... people will ALWAYS want to be there.

Unless you were upper/mid management of the ski hill pre Vail takeover, there's really nothing that can or will change to anyone. Low level seasonal workers aren't going to be affected. Actual locals are niche professionals or dedicated lifestylists (think of the folk who live in the hipster neighbourhood of any major city that pay more to live there because it's the only option), they aren't concerned with who the resort owner is. A number of people I know that have something in Whistler had it through the family from when it was called Alta Lake. And as a visitor/tourist, it doesn't matter either. Pre Vail had speed police, expensive day tickets, high living cost, etc... Only difference I think now is the fluctuating day ticket price, but ain't nobody goes to world class ski resorts and actually buys their day tickets from the ticket window... you buy that shit online in advance.

You can’t get a 1 day edge card anymore which sucks. Has to be 3 days minimum

Im concerned about the new lift plans they’re putting in place. They’ve upgraded Emerald chair to a 6-pack; good it always gets rammed and is the best chair to lap whis park and gets all the other traffic.
Putting a high speed quad in where catskinner was could work but that was a great park chair.
The gondola they’re putting in where magic and solar coaster we’re imo is just going to make getting on the gondi at base 2 (not the excali bass 2) so hard at the start of the day coz it’ll have all the uploads from the base.
They’ve also changed the park policy where rails over a certain length have to be panelled. That massive downrail and waterfall are gone now.
I know some locals who don’t like it. I can’t see too many positives from where I’m sitting.
I’m an English holiday skier who’s skied there my whole life and did a season there. So that’s where my view comes from.

Whistler Blackcomb Resort Lift Tickets | Most Current Pricing
Day Child (7-12) Adult (19-64)
Weekday CAD$ 78.00 CAD$ 156.00
Weekend CAD$ 78.00 CAD$ 156.00
Half Day - -
2-day pass CAD$ 156.00 CAD$ 312.00

156$ a day ... seriously Vail can suck my dick.. I moved to Whistler when I Was 16 I met Ian Macintosh and PY Leblanc at the World heli challenge and PY said come to whistler.. after living in Fernie for 2 winters Whistler was the so amazing, I moved into staff housing in early Jan lived on a million couches in every hostel and had the most amazing time over 4 winters.. Whistler then was expensive but it was worth it.. you could sneak on the lifts .. you could buy cheap sandwiches at certain places and selling weed on the "block" kept my rent paid.. Whistler used to be heaven on earth to me and I haven't been back i about 5 years and it sadness me to think that the ski capital of North America has become just another Vail mountain. 156 dollars for a lift ticket is just wrong..

The town is going to become way to expensive, just like Jackson hole

Was anyone here actually born and raised in Whistler? If not then you're also part of the problem.

iambusyskiingI've heard mostly negitave things about vail's impact on whistler (ex it's somehow become even more touristy)

but if if any locals or transplants wanna throw in their two cents of personal experiences on a pre vs post vail whistler then I'm super interested to hear!

not a subject ive seen much about on NS

AHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHA

10 day """"SPRING"""" pass for over $260

VAIL BE DOIN DA MOST ON GOD

**This post was edited on May 22nd 2019 at 12:42:29am

TRVP_ANGELAHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHA

10 day """"SPRING"""" pass for over $260

VAIL BE DOIN DA MOST ON GOD

**This post was edited on May 22nd 2019 at 12:42:29am

ON JAH*

DrailThat review is funny. Locals shouldn't even know what a day ticket costs. If you live in the Squamish-Pemberton corridor you either have a seasons pass or you don't touch the ski hill. And the rest of it is all the same old, same old. The limited time I spend living in Whistler was 15 years ago and it was too expensive then as it is now. (sure, it is more expensive now, but literally everywhere desirable to live in southern BC has gone up respectively. You aren't allowed to live in Whistler and complain that it's too expensive. You are literally choosing to live in the most expensive town (as opposed to city) in the province (no source - total assumption). The whole corridor has been out of control for way too long. Squamish is fucked, Pemberton is showing signs of fuckedness. None of that matters though - it's Whistler... people will ALWAYS want to be there.

Unless you were upper/mid management of the ski hill pre Vail takeover, there's really nothing that can or will change to anyone. Low level seasonal workers aren't going to be affected. Actual locals are niche professionals or dedicated lifestylists (think of the folk who live in the hipster neighbourhood of any major city that pay more to live there because it's the only option), they aren't concerned with who the resort owner is. A number of people I know that have something in Whistler had it through the family from when it was called Alta Lake. And as a visitor/tourist, it doesn't matter either. Pre Vail had speed police, expensive day tickets, high living cost, etc... Only difference I think now is the fluctuating day ticket price, but ain't nobody goes to world class ski resorts and actually buys their day tickets from the ticket window... you buy that shit online in advance.

This^ . Whistler locals love to get on the winter page and bitch about Vail every two seconds but what none of them realize is that all of these same conditions were around before Vail for years. I have noticed however that the "upgrades" vail has been putting in seems to help other local business more easily justify some stupid changes (I'm looking at you marketplace parking lot).