Grotto booked via The Hunger Games

[ThomasRichard]

I managed to emerge from the website-crashing, phone-line jamming scrum with tickets for the DC to see Father Christmas at the local garden centre on Christmas Eve. There was a Facebook storm, a queue of angry customers causing a traffic jam on the local roads and appeals for calm on social media.

Yikes.

[AlfAlf]

Wow, you were quick off the mark its fucking well the 4th of September

[ThomasRichard]

Too right. Christmas Eve slots sold out in less than an hour.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

I'm not letting mine see him on Christmas Eve in case they throw in any curve balls

[duckbilled]

I booked mine yesterday too, also for a local garden center! I haven't been before but other people rave about it.

[ja9r]

lol Jennifer - that's v v wise!

[Wilberforce2]

Our garden centre's ticket booking system crashed two days running causing a whole loadof local panic and sending the poor garden centres rating on their FB page from 5 stars to 2! They have suspended all sales now until the 15th, anyone would think it was bloody One Direction tickets on sale!!

[ChristmasZombie]

I've just looked at our local (chain) garden centre...completely sold out!! Tickets for breakfast with Santa and tea with Santa go on sale 1st December. I just wanted to visit the grotto, not all the other faff!
I checked a localish farm, but their tickets went on sale 27th April!

And I thought I was organised for Christmas!

[ThomasRichard]

Poor garden centre losing its good rating!

I did boggle a bit at the people on Facebook wailing that their child's Christmas was ruined or muttering about not being happy if their child missed out. I mean, ok it's supposed to be a good Santa but really? It's hardly the end of the world if precious Lola has to go to Wyevale instead.

[glenthebattleostrich]

Our local farm has just launched theirs. It's ace. If you don't book by first week in Sept you have no chance of getting anything from the 20th onwards.

Am I the only one picturing dramatic mothers clutching gin bottles telling little Lola and Archie that Christmas is CANCELLED this year as they can't get to see Santa!