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Christmas

Lapland UK?

21 replies

Littlemousewithcloggson · 18/09/2015 14:40

i registered for priority booking and tickets went on sale yesterday. Am still humming and haahing about it as its a lot of money. £300+ for the whole family which is the same as a whole weekend away or 2 nights at Chessington with a Santa visit.
This is probably the last year my sceptical nearly 8 year old will believe so I wanted to do something special.
I have read lots of reviews but most of them are either press reviews or for when it was in Kent, not Windsor.
Did any mumsnetters go last year and , if so, what did you think?

OP posts:
clairemum22 · 18/09/2015 16:22

Not very helpful, but we're in exactly the same situation as you, and have booked it for the same reasons - a really special one for what may be the last year of believing. A friend went last year and said it was lovely, so fingers crossed it's worth the money.....!

Littlemousewithcloggson · 18/09/2015 17:13

That's good to hear, thank you

OP posts:
kiwidreamer · 18/09/2015 18:07

We went last year and the year before, it is fabulous, a really special day out. I couldn't justify going again this year as we are going to Hawaii in Jan for my brothers wedding and if I'm being a teeny bit critical its that the structure is identical year in year out and I think the kids will start to ask questions a third year running... So instead FC is going to be inviting them to come join him on his day off at Legoland!!!

If you can afford it and you love Christmas - Do It!!!!

Crazypetlady · 18/09/2015 19:20

Really sorry to hijack for a second but I was planning on taking my 6 month old for the pictures a bit pointless? Or do you think he will enjoy the lights? Sorry again o.p

Crazypetlady · 18/09/2015 19:26

I meant he will be 6 months, also O.P the gardens of light in bournemouth are meant to be amazing at christmas

clairemum22 · 18/09/2015 20:15

Thank you so much kiwidreamer!

kiwidreamer · 18/09/2015 20:25

crazypetlady I wouldn't bother this year --or the next couple either yes it's a fabulous day out if you get a buzz from watching your kids max out on the magic... your sweet babe will just be cold and over stimulated and you'll look nuts icing a biscuit on his behalf--

You will be much better off finding the nicest stately home / national trust property that goes all out for xmas. We have been to Blenheim Palace at Christmas and it was lovely and perfect when the kids were younger, 15mins in a nice grotto and some photos for prosperity --mulled wine and mince pies for the grown ups when babe sleeps, bliss--

autumnintheair · 18/09/2015 22:20

Little I have agnosied over it too, I read they treat you like a production line, and some things the kids make they are not allowed to keep? One review said they could feel staff breathing down their necks for them to fin the craft, so they could get the next batch in. Then they were held for ages in cafe type area where the cakes and drinks were £30 for only 4 people????

It put me off.

I have not actually got to the bottom of what they actually do for that money.

I can only assertain they make ginger bread?
They make something else?

Write a letter?
Have a story by Mrs Santa?
Have access to an ice rink.

See Huskys then go and see santa?

I know its done very nicely and is very pretty but cannot assertain how its better than legoland or longleat or other such places.

On another thread someone mentioned Copenhagen, looked at flights for all 4 and its about 180 quid, Tivoli gardens ( oldest theme park n world) is supposed to be amazing ...amazing..I mean for not much more you could go there!

autumnintheair · 18/09/2015 22:23

crazy it depends on how much ££ you have, if you are v rich and have oodles, go! If you are not so rich then NO there are tons of other amazing stuff to do, loads...and loads of brilliant photo op, save for when older.

kiwidreamer · 18/09/2015 23:05

If you think of it like a full participation theatrical show that kind of gives you a starting point. Your 'experience' is time allocated and scripted, it would be chaos otherwise and wouldn't seem 'real' to the kids. It's built from scratch each year, beautiful detailing, excellent theatrical staff in full character.

There is a bit of scene setting initially, an introduction, bit of elf fun. Then change locations for the kids put together some toys to help out FC, after that move locations again to decorate a gingerbread man and listen to a story / have a chat with Mother Christmas. Free time after that, ice rink, post office, restaurant (over priced yes, deal breaker no way), husky dogs/trainers to chat with, magic keys to buy if u don't have chimney, nice toilets, gift shop if u want to buy a decoration.

At your FC time you are shepherded to another marque to wait for your elf escort, all in hushed voices double check kids details, escorted thru winding, tree lined snowy paths to a log cabin and FC, so wonderfully done, he checks they are on the good list, talks to them about the special details you register when u buy tickets, a few photos taken, gorgeous husky dog soft toy given.

Escorted from log cabin, walk snowy paths to exit, on way see real reindeer and life size sleigh. Into exit cabin to collect your photos (not free but lovely) and off back out into the car park.

I'm seeing Wicked on stage soon for £50 and that show runs night after night for years. I think it's understandable that a show that only has two months to run each year will be quite pricey.

The level of detail is breathtaking.

kiwidreamer · 18/09/2015 23:11

The location is vast, only an impatient grinch would call the free time period like being 'held' as in holding penn?

I like detail, 99% of the time I feel let down by these kinds of experiences, LaplandUK has blown me away both times. There is a level of magic you can elevate to when the 'buy in' by the kids is 100%

Littlemousewithcloggson · 19/09/2015 10:54

Thank you everyone.
Sounds like it's worth it. Couldn't bring myself to pay the most expensive prices though so I am being a very bad mummy and taking my children out of school for a day. For the same price as lapland weekend tickets we are now going straight after school, doing Kew Gardens at night, staying in a hotel and then after a morning doing whatever we fancy we are doing lapland U.K the next afternoon . Am very excited!

OP posts:
liquidrevolution · 22/09/2015 12:05

crazypetlady paid £20 to take my 6 month old to see the best santa around (he has a real beard and it included a breakfast for us).

All fine until her turn with the big man. Oh how she screamed. And she was the happiest baby ever, completely chilled with strangers so this behaviour was a complete surprise to us although with hindsight the red outfit was probably a little scary.

We got the best pics and memories from wondering around the christmas department of our local (large and very stylish) garden centre. She loved the lights and the animatronic reindeer. And it was free.

liquidrevolution · 22/09/2015 12:06

sorry to hijack thread! Lapland Uk sounds better than I expected.

autumnintheair · 22/09/2015 12:17

kiwi thanks for your detailed descriptions! Have you been anywhere else to compare it too?

autumnintheair · 22/09/2015 12:18

littlemouse sounds wonderful, will you come back and update us please!

LittleReindeerwithcloggson · 21/01/2016 11:35

Know it's now January but for anyone thinking of Lapland UK this year, I can't recommend it enough!

It started by walking past an elf house, a wooden lapland sign and into the entrance hall. We got checked in by an elf and changed our money into elf jingles. Each child was given their jingles in a velvet pouch. The attention to detail at this stage was amazing, felt like a station. There was a reasonably priced cafe there.

We were split into 2 groups and walked through a magic walkway into and elf woodland area where we learnt the story about elves and did some singing. Woodland with lights and very pretty and magical.

A huge door then opened and we were taken by elves through a snowy path to the toy factory where the elves explained we needed to help Father Christmas, who kept "phoning" throughout the session to check progress! The toyshop was amazing with toys moving around the ceiling, hatches to put the finished toys in and the elves entertained through out. The kids loved putting the toys together and then the elves taught them a song on the xylophone which they all played.

Next to mother Christmases kitchen where they iced gingerbread and she read them a story and told them about Father Christmas.

After that there was time to spend in Elf visit. Huge ice rink there with Christmas tree in the middle. Wooden buildings and "snow" all around, we felt like we were in a magic land. We went to the elf post office and sent postcards, visited the toy shops and sweet shops, made magic keys and reindeer shoes in the elf forge, ate in the restaurant and had great fun on the ice. More than enough to do.

Finally we walked through a woodland, beautifully lit trail, to a cabin where the elf asked our names (and called me forward separately to ask if there was anything else Father Christmas should know). After a short wait we were led to Father Christmas cabin. My children were astounded, especially when he mentioned the swimming badges they had got the day before (thank you elf!) and knew their pets names. He also showed them their names in the "good" book which was a lovely touch.

The toy was a lovely Husky dog and then it was time to leave.

Very magical day, summed up by my 6 year olds awed whisper "mummy it's magical and he's REAL!"

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 22/01/2016 11:00

I wonder if op can come back and update!!

So their gift is husky dog....ummmm......

at longleat, older dd got some sort of large hamma bead type thing + a cute shiny cat toy, that was really pretty. I was impressed they gave her two items. younger dd got a really nice WOW toy....car with three or four other parts to it.

LittleReindeerwithcloggson · 22/01/2016 14:55

I am op, still haven't changed christmas name back yet!

AllTheMadmen · 24/01/2016 21:39

oh wow thank you op. do you you think very bright older child would enjoy it?am thinking of taking younger one only....younger would be 4 older is 9...and probably wont believe this year.

LittleReindeerwithcloggson · 24/01/2016 22:37

There were a couple of older children there with their younger siblings. They seemed to be having a great time and took part fully! Both my husband and I had a great time too and really enjoyed it. Obviously it won't have the same magical awe for a non believing child but it was a fantastic family afternoon out for all of us

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