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What is going on? Lots of people posting slagging it off - all new posters with no previous messages. Is there a smear campaign going on?? Can anyone who has a history on here and has been to Lapland New Forst post, and let us know their opinion? It is looking very odd, and I am wondering about some kind of underhand activity by a rival to the New Forest site, trying to use the Net for nefarious ends... Or am I just being oversuspicious?
Right. OK. Just done a search for reviews on Lapland New Forest . OMG! I suggest you have a look if you are thinking of going (Facebook has a group for eg) Photos have been posted and it looks abysmal. Whether or not someone was trying to smear it, it doesn't need a dirty tricks campaign - it looks absolutely dire!
its like, £25 pp and the same price for kids, its outrageous, i thought about takings dc's, until i realised it was £25pp not £25 per family. They should be ashamed, also makes you laugh when it says "free present" for every child, hmmm, not really free though, and for £100 for a family of four Id want dc's to receive something that cost AT LEAST £20 each. disgraceful company and not suprised in the slightest to hear its sh*te
C & P from another forum I visit- can't do a direct link as you have to be an approved member to read posts on it. (Oh,I am definitely not a new poster here!!)
Lapland November 27 2008 at 10:28 PM # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waste of time basically. Half the things where not open when they should have been and not really worth the money..... £30.00 as well for about an hours entertainment
Re: Lapland November 28 2008, 9:37 AM
would a 5 yr old enjoy it? We're booked to go on the 17th December, do you think it'll be more operational by then? You did go on the opening day so as much as everything should have been open, most things/places do have teething issues. You have me worried now!
Re: Lapland November 29 2008, 4:46 PM
Hello
I am sure your 5 year old son will enjoy it. It was the first day and the special needs children who i work with did not enjoy it.
The snow is pretty cool though and there is real live reindeer, wolves and donkeys
We just got back from this scam! It was the BIGGEST waste of money I have ever had the misfortune of spending. There is not a great deal of snow and only the trees in the area are snow covered. The area itself is small about a football pitch. The tunnel of lights is just some xmas lights strung across the trees for about 50ft. There is little shelter if it rains. There are several burger / fast food stalls. The fun fair is outside of lapland and you get a hand stamp to come back in. The rides cost between £1.50 - £2.50. The queues for santa were a joke with typical waits of about 2 hrs out in the cold and wet. You can't take photos yourself and they charge £10 for one of their photos. We had seen and done everything in about 40 mins and were totally unimpressed. The huskies are in a pen though there were one or two on leashes to stroke. Save your money, everyone we spoke to was disgusted and were complaining of being conned. Oh, and the ice rink was closed and we were told wouldn't be open until 9pm.
Don't go. It's a complete scam. We've just returned feeling utterly conned and dissappointed. Absolutely nothing like it purports to be. Turns out to be an extension of the fairground and run by the same. Took us 10 mintues to get round and the content was laughable - only we didn't laugh because it cost us £125 for 5 of us. The nativity scene was a painted board in the middle of a gravelled field propped up on some kind of scaffolding. The 'elves' were dressed in shabby costumes and didn't look like the sort who would endear themselves to children. In fact, they looked more like they hadn't showered for a week and would ask you to shout if you wanted to go faster (if you know what I'm saying!). There was a pen containing howling huskies, a couple of chained reindeer, and a couple of other animals. We didn't even hang around to see what 'tat' Father Xmas was handing out. We met several people in the car park who felt exactly the same and were completely disgusted. Don't waste your time or money.
Yes the one in Kent is £75 but it was not a rip off - you could see where the money was spent. Food was hot a filing, gift was lovely toy husky dog, activities were all well planned and timed, was not over crowded, didn't have to wait ages to see santa and was with him for about 15 mins no the usual 2 mins in and out
All staff happy and helpful, we were there for about 5 hours - all in all a fab day out
Yes, as I said it is expensive, but if you can afford it it's a great day out. This other place sounds a rip off. I would rather pay more and get my money's worth rather than pay less and feel disappointed.
Apparently, (if you believe what you read on the Net) Watchdog, BBC news, Trading Standards, and all the local press from Sussex to Somerset are investigating and runing the story tomorrow. Rumour also has it that it will be closed down very soon, in which case, getting your money back (if you paid via credit card) will be easier. What a shame for the children though - there must have been hundreds of disappointed little ones there over the weekend...
Oh dear, I was hoping it was some kind of smear campaign but sounds as if not. I'm glad I waited for the reviews before getting tickets, sorry for anyone who has them and have my fingers crossed that you can get refunds.
I really miss the Father Christmas at Stapehill Abbey and had been hoping this would be a good alternative but sounds like it is back to the drawing board.
We held off buying tickets until the planning permission had been tranted, but by the time we looked all the tickets for the weekends had sold out. Sounds as if we had a lucky escape.
we went to something similar ar the NEC years ago and were really disappointed, for the price it was rubbish. Since then we have avoided anything similar, it makes me so cross that people are still ripping families off in this way.
The reports on last years Lapland UK (Bedgebury) were, in the majority, dire. This year it is a Bewl Water, which is owned by a very savvy local businessman, I cannot think he would allow it to be so poor.
Quint, what did they do this year for the 'transport' many of the complaints last year were regarding how bad this was - tent like affair with a few benches and chairs and a few grainy shots of the Snowman film. Doors were not closed and even the youngest visitor could see that no 'travel' had taken place.
They were reporting on Wave 105 radio this morning that people who have been are not happy with it.
If you're local, the grotto at Plowmans Nursery is ok and it's all undercover. It's on the way to Hurn airport at the Parley end. You get a little train ride and the gifts were pretty decent. Certainly costs a lot less than Lapland and they use it to donate to a local charity too. My parents took all the grandchildren last year,ages ranging from 18 mths to 12 years and it was suitable for all.
If it's really as bad as people are saying I can't imagine it being allowed to stay open.
I imagine the one in Kent is better, but can't imagine it being worth £75 per person - you could go to lego land/alton towers for that and get a night in a hotel as wel.
THe 'travel' this year is a walk through an enchated forest. First the elves take the group to the gatekeepers house and there's a bot of panto kind of thing going on, then we're let in and its like going through the woods with great lighting and sound effects, an elf meets us part way through asking if we're the children that FC has asked to help him (the kids get a fantastic invitation about 3/4 weeks before hand asking them to come and help the elves - DD1 was a picture when I read it out to her) we then carry on on the walk, it starts to get colder and everything in covered in 'snow' - it was really lovely. When you got outside it was snowing lightly and everything was covered with what looked like a heavy frost - very pretty.
I completely agree that £75 is expensive, but honestly you could see where the money was spent, the gift was a decent gift, you got to spend about 15 mins with FC, no limit on the time at the skating, a warm and filling lunch. Even DH who is a complete cynic said it was great and he could now see why it was so expensive.
Hello! i am absolutely gutted to hear all this about lapland new forest. im really stuck with what to do now? i have paid £110 in total for my family to go on the 16th dec and am now in two minds whether to go or not. if i dont i feel i have just handed them that money to put in their pockets but if i go i am just going to be dissappointed anyway and come away more upset than i am now. i really dont know what to do for the best? any suggestions. i have contacted my bank as i paid by debit not credit card and they say i can dispute a debit as the tickets have been sold to me under false pretenses its classed as missold i think the guy said. so hopefully might be able to get money back? there is no way lapland are going to refund anyone as in small print they have covered their backsides. but hey we shall have to see what trading standards say and we have all been misled! anyone else in my situation, has tickets and doesnt know whether to go now?
it said on the news links that people wanting to get their money back should call consumer direct.
Tbh I wouldn't go, but maybe that's just me. if it's really as bad as it appears to be I'll be surprised if it doesn't get shut down. It's clear misselling. The manager guy they spoke to on that link sounded an arogant twat.
Yeah he definately sounded a right old arrogant BEEP!!!!! Ive decided not to go and put the family through it. it would be a different story if there were actually some good reviews but theres not! plus i dont want to be scarred for life with their poor excuse for a magical experience. they will have whats coming to them im a firm believer of fate and what goes around comes around!!! i think im going to go to hyde park winter wonderland as its free entry and just over 20 quid to get there via train...not bad hey! and good reviews about it.will be contacting comsumer direct in the morning when they are open and fingers crossed can sort this mess out.
I am totally gutted about this. I have tickets to go and take my 4 year old on Christmas Eve. Do you think it will be any better or worse by then? If I don't go, I am not sure how to get my money back. Any suggestions anyone?
hi rachmartluke. i have tickets to go on the 16th and have decided not to go as i dont want to put my family through the hassle and joke of the experience. i have contacted my bank today and they said i can claim my money back on visa debit transactions with whats called charge back. i have to write a letter to them which they sent me a template and go from there. sounds positive. also consumer direct have said this morning that lapland is in no breech of contract as of yet and to keep watching the media for updates of the investigation. and all i could do is write a letter by recorded delivery to the company wanting a refund and see if they get back to me? you stand better chance of getting your money back if you have actually been to the event as there is more to go on apparently? thats what the lady from consumer direct said this mornign on the phone. im adament im not going but its up to you. im writing a letter to the company and going through the bank also. hope you can figure out what your going to do and hope this helps.
i think after kent last year and the bad reviews and now this makes you realise theres only one lapland and no one can recreate it.they just end up being expensive rip offs.theres plenty of places that offer a nice christmas day out i live in norfolk we took my daughter to thursford they have santas magical journey which was really nice and the gift from santa was good.most theme parks etc have some kind of christmas event.plus i,ve learnt its not about spending loads of money kids enjoy even the smallest of things even some of the big garden centres have a nice grotto with real reindeers etc.
Breaking news is that it is closing as of today... Those paying by credit card should get their money back. Nor sure about those who paid by direct debit . Anyone see the news that Alton Towers are also offering a free day to those with Lapland New Forest tickets - was in the Times yesterday I think?
"“It is chaos at the moment because the traffic situation is really bad and customers are turning up expecting Lapland to be open. There are going to be a lot of disappointed people.”
