JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Reaction to the Sea and Sky Spectacular at Jacksonville Beach Saturday afternoon seemed to be very positive, but the same couldn't be said for the shuttle service getting there.
Many people took to Facebook complaining over how long it took to get on a bus and to the show from the FSCJ South Campus. Some said they never made it in time to see the action.
"We got to stand in line for 2 1/2 hours to watch the Angels for 45 minutes," Gabriella Schwarz said. "We spent more time waiting to get here than we actually had during the event. It was a letdown at that."
Schwarz and her mother, Gina Juras, were outraged. They said food and water were not allowed, but after waiting for hours in the hot sun, that's all they could think about.
"When you advertise you can't bring food or drinks, you have to make it adequate for your guests, all these people coming through, because it's dangerous," Schwarz said. "They brought a paramedic out because they saw how hot it was and they anticipated someone getting sick."
They aren't the only ones upset. On the event's Facebook page, several people commented about the shuttle service. And the ride back after the show wasn't much better.
Schwarz hopes there will be more buses Sunday.
"I would like to see more buses. I know they can't control traffic, but they should have gotten on that escort a lot earlier if they're going to have shuttle buses," Schwarz said.
Schwarz's hope was heard; the city posted to Facebook, "In response to a higher than expected demand for the shuttle service from the FSCJ South Campus to the Sea and Sky Spectacular, the city of Jacksonville Office of Special Events has more than doubled the transportation capacity for tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 25. Shuttle service will begin at 10 a.m. and the last shuttle will leave Jacksonville Beach at 6 p.m."