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!

[tillytrotter1]

The 23rd doesn't have a special name? Our granddaughter has decided that it's Christmas Eve Eve and she wants a friend called Eve so she can say to her it's Christmas Eve Eve, Eve
I can also recommend Thursford in Norfolk, the FC part is very well done but you need to book early, the actual show is supposed to be amazing, an old fashioned stage show, very glitzy.

[ebeneezergood]

We got back from a 3 night trip to Lapland yesterday with Canterbury Travel and can’t recommend booking with that company enough. Whole experience was truly magical - no queues or crowds whatsoever , elves appearing at quieter times to play and interact with all the children in our group to keep them busy, private meeting with Santa who was holding our children’s letter to him in his hands and talking about it, husky sledding, reindeer sleigh, snow mobiles, tobogganing to breakfast .... never mind the children, I had the best time ever! Yes it was expensive (we saved for a long long time and was very nervous beforehand that it would be a let down) but it was worth every penny and in reality the Santa part was just a bit of the overall experience

[Trooo]

We have been lucky enough to go twice to 2 separate resorts. Both times santa was great very realistic and Finnish so didn't speak much at all. My children now believe that is how you know he is the 'real' santa so anytime they see another one anywhere else that speaks English they say 'we know he is just a helper the real one speaks finnish' try and turn it into a more positive meaningful thing than be disappointed. Tbh the second one we saw stank of alcohol but we just talked about how much is left out for him to drink and now my children leave milk or water to help keep him sober whilst he's driving 😂😂😂😂

[Ellisandra]

@tillytrotter1 nope, no special name.
But I also have a child who has been using Xmas Eve Eve - and we even had Xmas Eve Eve Eve And a similar conversation as you, as there are Eves, Evies and an Eva, Ewa and Ava in her school.

My favourite, “mummy, when Eve’s mum says “it’s Xmas Eve!”, Eve can say “yay, it’s Xmas, I’ll open my presents!”

I tried to turn that into a teachable moment (SATs year, use of commas) and she said did a faux scream and ran away

[Janicejaniceahmfallin]

Sorry your experience wasn’t as you’d hoped, OP, but agree that you need to let go of your own annoyance and disappointment and focus on the positives in front of DC (sounds like they’ve already moved on anyway!).

As much as it comes from a good place, when you strive to ‘make memories’ with small children, the only certainty is that you will remember what you did. I’m always surprised at what my (much older) DC recall from their childhoods - often completely inconsequential or mundane things in forensic detail, and other stuff I put a lot of effort into, not so much ... .

Enjoy your Christmas.

PS I second Portable North Pole - it’s brilliant for little kids and kept my youngest believing for a couple more years.

[doublecheeseburgermediumfries]

I don't know if this will make you feel better or not but my boyfriend went to Lapland about 20 years ago? He doesn't talk about seeing Santa I don't think his actually remembers seeing him but what he does remember is wearing reindeer ears and singing Christmas songs and carols on the plane home and everyone on the plane laughing and enjoying it. He has never been a singer before or after but it's a memory with his family he treasures.

[doublecheeseburgermediumfries]

Reindeer antlers**

[salsamummy]

We went for a few days when ds was 5 years old. It was absolutely magical but ds now 13 hardly mentions it. It's only dh and I who frequently talk about it. DH thinks it was the best holiday ever.

[Alicatz66]

I’m with your DH .. you are being ridiculous.. give your head a massive wobble and put stuff in the food bank for the kids who will never dream of doing something like this ... FYI .. he ain’t real !!

[JS06]

Ah, I feel for you.

It's such a lot of organising/pain/money to make a trip anywhere in December and having done it, for the children, and then to be disappointed is pants.

I hope you can, in time, take comfort that you mad a huge effort for the children's benefit and enjoy the more positive memories.

I remember doing that years ago (our kids now 21 and 22) and it was magical in northern Finland. But, whatever the trip, you remember all sorts - for us it was the oil tanker in the ditch just after our coach left the airport, that made my hair stand on end. My husband went to get breakfast one morning ahead of a coach trip and I was chivvying him on, he was shuffling but at a slow pace and it was because his snow suit, tied round his waist, had failed down and his trousers were round his ankles! Ha ha. Also on another trip out I slipped on the ice, fell flat on my back and a very ungallant gentleman and his son guffawed like billyho at my expense. Even my husband and son had the good sense to help me up rather than laughing at me. I also remember handing out nurofen at the airport to the mums who had just had enough and were heading home with kids in tow and who were worried about the rest of the organising to do when they got home.

Hope you manage to make some meaningful complaint and then let it go, confident in the knowledge that you did the best for your children. Maybe in time there may be other options to celebrate in a different way.

Sending festive greetings! x

[Zoejj77]

I’m sorry to hear that. My friend said their experience was amazing and Father Christmas talked to them about school and what they had been doing in the year etc - I wonder why the experience was so different. She said no q either

[minesagin37]

It seems like a whole load of expensive hype. Couldn't you have done something a bit more local?

[PandancerandRabbitoplh]

We went for a 3 night trip in 2012 and absolutely loved it but we were advised not to do the Santa in the Santa Village. Instead we had santa arrive at a special dinner on a sleigh with reindeer in the snow then they put fireworks on. The favourite part for the children were the reindeer and husky rides but also loved the hotel pool, spa and children's playcentre. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Ours cost £2.2k but was worth it, I would love to go again.

[DieSchottin93]

I went when I was 8 and the thing I remember most from that trip was the playful white husky rolling about in the snow I can't even remember talking to Santa. I also remembered all the snow and the big pile of snow DBro and I kept toboganning down. Your kids will probably have similar memories.

[onegiftedgal]

It's an absolute waste of money and the whole thing sounds commercially obscene. You can create your own Christmas magic and memories by educating your children into what is important in life. Flying to Lapland, adding to the carbon footprint to meet a dressed up twat with a beard and spending a fortune in the process is fun?
The only reason people do this is because they feel the pressure to do it from others. Your children do not care and probably won't remember any of it. They want time with you and family memories - these are often the simplest too.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience op, I guess I just don't 'get' the whole thing. However, in this case, yes, you should definitely complain and take this further because you paid for something that you didn't receive.

[busyhonestchildcarer]

As someone who cared for children for many years there is always something magical and positive u can make of most situations.if your children are very young make up a reason why santa had a grumpy day,something funny! If older then maybe they are beginning to question his existence anyhow...on facebook there was a lovely explanation for this.he is just a token for what we all should be..giving and jind and when we stop believing its because we are beginning to gain these strengths ourselves,beginning to understand the santa we all have in us

[Alicatz66]

@onegiftedgal . Well said .

[Babysharkdoodoodood]

I used to work for this company https://www.ski-finland.co.uk/holidays/exclusive-santa-holiday-in-lapland-2020/ Not the best employers (I couldn't make it through a full year ) but they did some amazing holidays. The Santa experience was fantastic but you really have to be in the money to do it!

[BarkandCheese]

Off topic, but the 23rd December is Festivus en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

[womenspeakout]

Honestly, I'm gonna be brutal.

People are living on the streets this Christmas, the kids won't be 'meh' about it when they get their presents and have all the nice food.

You chose to spend an awful lot of money and fly over there for what was only going to be a few minutes meeting him, it surely must've been about the other stuff too?

Tell yourself you're really lucky and you had a lovely time in the snow and with the reindeer. Some people will have to rely on foodbanks this Christmas and hundreds of thousands of children will spend it without a home or a bed to call their own. give their heads a wobble and tell them how bloody lucky they are.

At Christmas my mother always made me chose what to give to charity and I was always reminded how lucky I was.

You're really making it a problem you had a luxury holiday....

[Skyejuly]

Great post PP

[SurfingGiantess]

Maybe he didn't know any English???

[Caledoniahasmyheartforever]

I have always told my children that Santa was far too busy to actually be out meeting lots of children this close to Christmas. And that he has lots of different helpers (Elves) who dress up like him, to bring the magic of Christmas to children all over the world.

I ended up saying that the Portable North Pole Santa was the real one and that as he calls/ video messages them every year, not to be too disappointed at the representative Santa in Lapland. You could say that you are reporting that Santa to the real Santa- as he wasn’t kind or even friendly. You could ask Your dc to write a letter themselves. I would also put some recent photos of your Lapland trip on a personalised PNP video and your kids will be fine. That’s if you want to continue with the fun (magic) for a while longer.

[TSSDNCOP]

The only reason people do this is because they feel the pressure to do it from others.

You are really quite incorrect. As an adult with enough money to pay for it I made a decision all by myself and we had a riot.

[ladybirdm]

We went this year for the first time. The Santa was so fantastic he made me cry (I know, I get emotional very easily) x I’d give them some feedback. They send you an email. Xx