Lapland disappointment

[AbagailsFancy]

I know this is a first world problem but am upset and need to get perspective so would appreciate some common sense.

Took the kids (8 and 6) to see the real Santa in the Santa Village in Lapland this week. Long trip and some hard saving to get there. Lovely day in the snow, saw reindeer etc but kids were both in tears after Santa visit - huge queues, he just nodded to them and asked they sit for a photo. We tried to talk a bit but frankly were caught on the hop as he said nothing!

I’m really gutted. Not only did it put a huge damper on the day, but both are very meh about Christmas now. Am just so disappointed that this is what they’ll remember for years and just can’t shake it off.

DH thinks I’m being ridiculous and overly obsessed with everything being magical. I know (somewhere deep deep down) that he’s right but can someone please just give my head a wobble? Thank you!

When our older 3 were small we brought them to lapland. Years later the youngest one had to be told Santa wasn't real as she was insisting to her friends that she knew he was real as she had seen him for herself in lapland.

The older dd was incredulous when she found out Santa wasn't real, her first response was - you knew he wasn't real and you brought us to lapland?

Am surprised Santa was a grump, not really fair on the kids especially after all that expense and anticipation.

Yes, I second the National Trust Father Christmases. They have the real Father Christmas and not just one of his poorly dressed helpers that are everywhere else!

By so do Canterbury Travels! But like at Disneyland; MM is always there and never at lesser—fake— parks

I can't believe some posters are trying to make excuses for this like he's tired and might not be able to speak everyone's language! If he can't/won't do it he's the wrong person for the job!

I completely get why you feel disappointed. It's a massive thing. Definitely make a complaint. And try and big up the good points to the children

That sounds rubbish & YANBU to expect him to do his job! Agree with others you need to focus now on the other magical stuff. I know people who went and said Santa was great - knew their names etc.
How much is a Lapland trip?

I tell DS though the faker Santa’s are minions of actual Santa. I also used to explain the sleigh to present conundrum by saying that every Toys r Us was a refuelling station.

I’m sorry but I cannot help thinking if you make Christmas magic dependent on Santa, it’s never going to be truly magical.
Agree take the somewhere like a NT place next time but maybe add in a candlelit carol service or trip to Trafalgar Square standard in the rain listening to a choir then Father Christmas at one of the big stores.

converse Santa knew DS’s name and what was on his list. Given DS was 10 and a bit beforehand it got us another year of pretend

I was going to add that I walked down through Covent Garden into St Martins Lane and stopped at Trafalgar Square last week. The lights were truly magical. The sounds were joyous and fun despite it pouring down. There were a few stalls for a cheap souvenir.
There seem to be a Father Christmas in Fortnums who was well received.
ALl much cheaper than Lapland even with a hotel stay.

We did the Lapland thing about 5yrs ago.
It was amazing but bloody expensive.
Friends paid less than us for a 5 day stay - ours was £600 more and lasted just 3days!

Difference was friends trip was like butlins in snow, with massive groups - the "meet santa" was basically like a school hall complete with strip lights tables and chairs everywhere along with fast food for all tastes.
Ours was being dragged through woodland, in a sleigh pulled by reindeers, out into the middle of god knows where, eventually came to a wooden hut, complete with elves dancing (kid you not) Inside the hut was santa beside a open roaring fire, his boots off showing his big woolly socks.
Our sons letter to santa had been given to the elves at the airport and my sons face lit up when santa reached up and pulled my sons letter off the mantlepiece and read it aloud!
Unbelievable doesn't even begin to say how fantastic it was. The after noon was spent racing snowmobiles and the next day we were off with our own sleigh complete with 5 huskies. Ice bars,Ice hockey, snowball fights, sledging etc etc.

It was the most incredible 3 days I've ever had. My son (now a non believer) still brings it up every xmas.

Like you OP, it cost a fortune (£2.2k) for the 3 of us. But looking back I'm so glad we paid the extra and brought back incredible memories and photos.

I can honestly say it was worth the huge cost, it took ages to save up but it was magical. Perfect!

The poster didn't know what to expect but didn't like what she paid for what was she expecting santa to do you get a few minutes and a photo with santa what else was there ?

YABU Santa is not real.

I never really understand the visit Santa twaddle. Of course it was shit - fake Santa with a fake beard in a Christmas theme park. Even if it was good it would still be tacky.

It’s something your kids will laugh about when they’re older.

Oh gosh I've been looking at Lapland but only the ones were you get a sleigh ride to Santa's hut! Looking at around 4 grand mind 🙈🙈🙈 think will wait until DS2 is 4 and ds1 6.

We went on the polar express this year which was amazing! Just magical! But my sons are almost 2 and almost 4 so at the perfect age!

This is precisely the kind of trip that ends badly. I know everyone wants to make days that kids remember for ever but us adults always manage to get them over excited and its always a disappointment because there's no way it can live up to the hype.

Everyone assumes kids love Santa. But mone wont go anywhere near strange blokes dressed up. I doubt they are alone. In fact santa or not I think encouraging kids to approach strangers when they cant see their faces and sometimes be in enclosed spaces with them or sat on their lap well the erosion.of boundaries will.last longer than their belief in.santa will.

Save your money next year. Take them ice skating or something instead.

It's ok.to.not do all.this, they just want to.spend time.with you.

The ‘problem’ with these trips are the expectations.
There are hundreds wanting their time with Santa so it’s always going to be rushed.
I worked for a big company and we stopped doing the one day trips to Lapland as it was too rushed. Only did 4 and 5 nights in the end.
We had a complaint (that went to court eventually) where the complainant was unhappy that we’d not use ‘people of restricted height’ to be the Elves and Santa did not look EXACTLY like the one on the coca cola van.

The one in Thursford, Norfolk is good. Not much queuing when we went due to allotted times. Depending on the age of your dcs, there is also a paid show. There’s also a Lapland uk that’s supposed to be good.

That’s awful op, it’s not hard to do excellent customer service, and when you pay that amount there’s no excuse. Your children’s experience did need you to lead the response though, if you’d been positive and jollied along then I bet it would have been largely washed over.

wtaf is wrong with people? Spending 4k to piss aorund in sleighs and meeting some random bloke in a beard in a Finnish forest?

I'd have to be a multi-billionaire before that made it onto my list of things to waste money on.

Shame you weren't impressed. How much did it cost OP?

We went to Chessington for the santa sleepover the weekend it opened. All the elves and Santa were very chatty and cheery. It was a fab weekend and only cost £179 for all 4 of us. Hotel room overlooking the giraffes with bunk beds, breakfast, 2 days in the theme park, zoo and sealife centre, biscuit decorating and a gift from Santa. Excellent value. We paid about £50 for dinner in the hotel but some people went to the Beefeater next door.

Sounds rubbish, he should get the sack

The dc are probably following mummy's disappointment tbh. You are the adult you get over the disappointment and make a huge deal of having met the real Santa, not one of his Santa helpers you see in town at home etc etc

Thing is it’s Lapland, you were never going to get to see/talk to Santa for long to many dc for that to ever happen.

Now take them to see more reindeer or something.....

my DH doesn’t buy into magical Santa Christmas

Maybe you should do the same. They will not remember the guy dressed up as Santa but the will definitely remember hanging out with Mum and Dad in the snow.

@M3lon - Why do you have to be a billionaire? Is it that only billionaires are allowed to waste "Their" money. But if you're lowly workin' class and save up t'is better to squander it on fags an' booze eh' How about a trip to skeggy instead eh'.
LOL - some people want to buy shite used RR Sports and think they've moved up in the world, or buy cheap designer shite manufactured in the same fucking warehouse as primark ...so they think they're a cut above!
How about dropping 4K on a shit All-inclusiv at some shite costa del resort. Stuff yerself senseless...

Blah blah blah
But...dear god don't ever consider of just being completely selfless and thinking of others before yerself..that's the bottom line init!!

fuck me!!