A good family Christmas experience, but damn, those crowds...
Given the nature of the location in the Distillery District and the close proximity of the buildings, there is really no place for the crowds to disperse. It's nobody's fault really... well maybe the planners/architects way back when. The crowds can be downright intimidating at times. The excess foot traffic is compounded by people who just stop where they're walking for a chat or to daydream or randomly stare at things. If you hate crowds, perhaps this place is not for you.
I had some enjoyable eats (schnitzel, grilled cheese sandwich, giant pretzel) at the food stands, but it's hard to keep any food warm when it's hovering around freezing, so the last bites of your sandwich are... how should I say... iceberg-esque.
Parking... wow, parking. You thought the crowds were bad? Parking is a beast. If you can, use transit. If you cannot, park at Parliament and Lakeshore and be done with it. Do not do as I did and circle the nearby Green P for half an hour. That's a stupid waste of gas and I am ashamed of myself for it.
The ATM near the washroom near the kitchen/household store had no lineup and lots of great cash to extract.
The outdoor beer garden is also fun, but again, those crowds... getting the theme here yet?
Pro tip: Don't bother lining up for places like SOMA Chocolatier, unless you like being herded like cattle and told how to browse the store (here's looking at you door person yesterday- I won't cause you any further displeasure and darken your door again. You are rude and quite frankly, lining up for a run-of-the-mill cafe is lame)
I do not regret going and I will go next year, perhaps during the week when the crowds should be thinner. And I will take transit.