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As the costs vary so wildly for all the different opportunities.
DD is happily aware that some are FC's helpers, whilst other places have special visits by the real man himself.
So, where has been the best place, how much and why was it so good?
For 6y DD I think so far it was this year. She went with school on Monday to a farm live nativity. I was there as a volunteer (I help at school anyway).
For just under £10 (parents paid £5 each, school paid rest) the children got: * to dress up * to take part in the live nativity with live animals * to cuddle lambs * to have a donkey ride * to have a drink and home made biscuit * to visit Father Christmas and recieve a gift
The FC was the best by far. DD says he was definitely the real FC himself. He was so jolly, with ruddy cheeks, a nice round tummy, a shock of white curly long hair and beard and a lovely deep but gentle voice. He spent a long time with the children, asking them all about themselves, and aso telling them about his home in Lapland, and his reindeer, etc. He knew about things they'd been doing at school and apparently the head teacher had passed on good reports of them all so he had them on his "nice" list.
DD got a lovely age appropriate gift - a clay modelling kit. The girls got different gifst deending on their age range, and not all the girls in each class got the sae. there was a good range.
Altogether it was lovely. I got to go into the grotto with some of the girls and they all came out buzzing. Even the most sceptical of them seemed very pleased and happy afterwards, and it was all they could talk about o n the coach home.
Either in John Lewis Oxford Street last year - free, could take as many photos as you like, he spent loads of time with DD1, own beard, no gift but DD1 was totally enthralled.
Or in Lapland UK last year, expensive but great fun. Great costume, again spent lots of time with DD1, not own beard but great fake one!
Just took the children to Painshill Park tongiht to meet Santa, they loved it. You walk through the woods all light up, then meet the elves in the wishing tent. They take you into the grotto, a series of caves and tunnels with an underground lake with stalegtites/stalegmites all lit up(manmade but really spectacular). Great realistic santa, decent gifts, book a 30 min slot, very little waiting (only downside is they charge £7 per adult and £8.50 for the child -it is the adult part I resent)
just been to an NT property and had a lovely time. dcs wrote letters and drew pictures whilst we waited and then had five minutes with the big man. they loved it.
two years ago we went to hatton country world and met santa and his reindeer. could take loads of pics and got age appropriate non-tat pressies.
DS1 pointed out to me the other day that he can't have met the real Father Christmas as he would never let children see him as he only comes at night time when they are asleep.
Very sensible for a 6 year old I thought and saves me the bother and expense of taking him to see yet another pretend Santa.
