Guests paid thousands for “resort takeover” only to find no rooms, no refunds, and eerie Fyre Festival parallels
Orlando, FL
What was supposed to be a weekend of poolside DJ sets and bass music during EDC Orlando has turned into a full-blown festival fiasco, leaving attendees stranded at hotel lobbies with nowhere to sleep and thousands of dollars in limbo.
The HomeBass Festival, scheduled for November 7-9, 2025, has effectively collapsed after the DoubleTree Hilton Universal Orlando canceled the event’s room blocks—citing non-payment from organizer Brian Thomas.
$2,200 Packages, Zero Rooms
For many festival-goers, the nightmare began when they tried to check in. Despite paying between $1,800 and $2,200 for “all-inclusive” packages nearly a year in advance, guests discovered their reservations didn’t exist.
“I’m trying to check in, I paid for a room and early passes for $2,200 almost a year ago and the hotel is saying I have no reservation there,” one furious attendee posted online. “Your number goes straight to voicemail. You won’t respond to emails or comments. You’re giving Ja Rule Fyre Festival fail.”
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed exhausted attendees sprawled across the Westgate Resort lobby floor, surrounded by luggage, with hotel staff unable to help.
“Find Your Own Room” — The Email That Sparked Outrage
Late in the day, Brian Thomas sent an email to ticket holders that only intensified the chaos:
“We’re currently working through a major issue with the hotel. Please go ahead and secure your own room; we’ll be refunding you for tonight’s stay value ($350) in full.”
Thomas claimed that everything would be “resolved by tomorrow” and that HomeBass staff would be in the lobby at 11 AM to issue updated Westgate confirmations.
But by then, the damage was done. Attendees had spent hours trying to contact organizers with no response, and trust had evaporated.
A Pattern of Broken Promises
This isn’t the first time Brian Thomas has left festival attendees in the lurch.
In September 2025, Thomas organized the Dirtybird CampINN at the same DoubleTree hotel over Labor Day weekend. According to multiple reports, Thomas failed to pay the hotel bill, resulting in attendees—who had already paid Thomas for their packages—being charged again by the hotel.
“Despite Dirtybird CampINN’s repeated claims this past week that the hotel bill was being resolved, DoubleTree confirmed today that no payment has been received,” The Festive Owl reported at the time.
Attendees were forced to choose: pay the hotel a second time or lose their rooms.
Unpaid Bills, Missing Wages, Disconnected Phones
The problems extend beyond hotels. Multiple sources report:
- Unpaid wages to staff and artists dating back to September
- Outstanding vendor bills from previous events
- Unanswered communications — Thomas’s phone numbers are disconnected, emails go unanswered
- Suspicious location changes — At one point, the ticket website mysteriously listed the event location as Binghamton, New York (a small city with one direct flight per day)
#FyreFestival2 Trends as Frustration Boils Over
Social media erupted with angry posts, memes, and Fyre Festival comparisons. Attendees shared screenshots of unanswered emails, disconnected phone calls, and the surreal experience of being told to “find your own room” after paying thousands for a supposedly all-inclusive experience.
The hashtags #HomeBassFail and #FyreFestival2 began trending as the scope of the disaster became clear.
What Happens Next?
According to HomeBass’s own FAQ page, refunds would only be issued if the festival was canceled. Since Thomas hasn’t officially canceled the event—just told people to find their own accommodations—it’s unclear if attendees have any recourse.
Several attendees reported filing complaints with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, though it’s not clear if an investigation is underway.
As of publication, Brian Thomas has not responded to media requests for comment. His phone numbers remain disconnected, and his company’s social media accounts have gone silent.
“There’s Only One Person That Needs Shamed, and That’s Brian”
One social media comment summed up the sentiment shared by many:
“I feel so bad for all of these people who booked. Many booked early, and held out hope. Many testimonies from years past that validated it was real. Others have tried to get refunds and communicate to no avail. Some people can’t afford to have thousands held up, they scrape together what they have for their passion and love… There’s only one person that needs shamed, and that’s Brian.”
For the hundreds of music fans who trusted HomeBass to deliver an unforgettable EDC weekend experience, that experience has turned into a cautionary tale about festival scams, broken promises, and the importance of verifying event organizers before handing over thousands of dollars.
UPDATE: WFTV Channel 9 has reached out to Thomas through his listed contact information but has not received a response. The DoubleTree in Binghamton, NY (where the event was briefly listed) also did not return calls for comment. (Venue issues: The Home Bass website promoted an Orlando experience, but the map on the ticket website pointed to a DoubleTree in Binghamton, New York).
