Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lapland disappointment

197 replies

AbagailsFancy · 23/12/2019 08:44

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!

OP posts:
bossyrossy · 24/12/2019 18:54

I visited Lapland about 20 years ago and the thing that impressed me the most was that Santa spoke several languages. Standards have slipped I guess, even in the North Pole.

Itsnotalwaysme · 24/12/2019 18:54

As others have said just say something like oh santa was very stressed today wasnt he he must be very busy! Let's make sure to leave him a nice treat tonight to cheer him up

Followed by a letter of appreciation left by santa on xmas!

countrygirl99 · 24/12/2019 19:10

Most Finnish people speak a good level of English so I doubt that was the problem.

Horsemad · 24/12/2019 19:16

Sorry you had a rubbish experience. 🙁 Years ago when we went (different area of Lapland), we had a great time and it remains a magical memory. In fact, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. 🙂

Not sure what you can do to 'rewrite' the memory, maybe just emphasise the lovely reindeer and snow, etc?

E17Stowmum · 24/12/2019 19:17

Maybe he didn't speak English?

Spacebowlisback · 24/12/2019 19:25

Write a letter from Santa apologising for grumpiness. One of his elves had run off - can they find him?

Something like that.

Havaina · 24/12/2019 19:26

Unbelievable doesn't even begin to say how fantastic it was.

Sounds like an icy hell.

deste · 24/12/2019 19:27

I took my now 33 year old DD when she was eight. We also went to Rovaneimi and we still speak about it yet. When it got dark it was truly magical. I can still remember the smell of candle wax as all the paths had candles in brass pots all along them. Our favourite part which we both agreed was the best thing we had ever done was the husky ride through the trees in the

It wasn’t all perfect because it was really cold and we had booked a meal outside which we couldn’t eat. The reason being it was served on paper plates and we couldn’t take our gloves off to hold them. Saying that it didn’t spoil a brilliant experience. Our Santa also knew a lot about our home city and spoke for a few minutes with each child. My DD thought he was the real Santa.

Ashs89 · 24/12/2019 19:27

We visited Lapland with 3 children and paid 6k

Our Santa experience was at our hotel in a rural snowy location, he arrived with fireworks and a sleigh.

It seems you opted for the more commercialised option which is quite similar to what we have at home.

It’s all about chance or good research to get what you are looking for.

Ashs89 · 24/12/2019 19:28

Oh and I doubt they will care for your complaint, you may get £100 off the next visit if you’re lucky, it’s hardly worth it...

womenspeakout · 24/12/2019 19:35

paid 6k

Jesus, wow!

It's crazy, I couldn't have imagined anything more magical than my childhood and memories of Santa, and I never even saw a department store one (I used to be scared of them, but not the 'real'one).

Wow, that's a hella lot of money though.

sophe · 24/12/2019 19:37

Make a joke out of how awful it was. You will soon have every one in the family laughing and it will become a happy memory, the mention of which will throw everyone into giggles.

Toooldtobearsed2 · 24/12/2019 19:38

@ChinUpChestOut thank you, you have made me grin the biggest grin 😁

Toomuchtrouble4me · 24/12/2019 19:38

Please put the company on trip advisor. I live Christmas magic and I would be exactly the same, I would emphasise that Santa couldn’t say much as he doesn’t speak English.
I took to mine to see Santa in a garden centre once ( we didn’t go for that but they happened to have a grotto so we queued, paid and went in. Santa, no word of a lie, was fairly drunk, stank of fags and after being told that my son was a boy, not a girl, he said “well he needs a bloody ‘air cut then” Thankfully DS was only 2 so we had time to make new memories!

Toomuchtrouble4me · 24/12/2019 19:41

blue25

I just don’t see the point of blowing so much money on a trip like that. Almost bound to end in disappointment

Well Op isn’t asking for your advice on how to spend her money, maybe it’s not a lot of money to her, all relative. I just don’t see the point of your miserable comment.
Merry Christmas Grinch.

SmileyClare · 24/12/2019 19:42

I'm baffled a to why the children were in tears? Is it because you cried OP?
Santa wasn't nasty to them or anything, he was just quite busy and there was a queue? Confused

Perhaps the whole thing had been over hyped by you and they expected a flying sleigh ride and an XBox One.

SuperMumTum · 24/12/2019 19:50

I think you need to rethink what the 'magic' of Christmas really means. For us its spending real time as a family, visiting relatives, games, a walk in the woods. I'm not surprised you're pissed off but placing such high expectations on a package tour is possibly not wise. Anyway, I hope you and your family have a great Christmas and manage to put this behind you, maybe dial down the excitement next year and let the kids enjoy the simple things more?

Catwaving · 24/12/2019 20:01

What a gucking waste of money, there is so much magic to be had close go home

You live and learn I expect

SmileyClare · 24/12/2019 20:11

This really confirms my belief that Father Christmas is best kept as a mysterious figure that parents are quite vague about. Any questions answered with "I don't know how he (eg) delivers to the whole world in one night, I think it's magic"

It's all gets too much when you can track Santa online, ring him on a premium phoneline and visit the real him in the flesh.

Some things are best left to children's wonderful imaginations.

SandwhichGenerationGal · 24/12/2019 20:12

YANBU. I took my daughter a couple of years ago and Santa was fab and even a bit cheeky. He asked me if I had been a good girl 😉

duckme · 24/12/2019 20:17

We did a Lapland day trip a few years ago. The day was magical. Worth every penny. However, I do agree with you. The Father Christmas was not what I expected. I felt that this was a low point as it was clear he wasn't the 'real' one. The costume and beard were not the luxurious and realistic ones I was expecting. My kids were really underwhelmed too. I think it made them question the reality of Father Christmas even more as we had told them they would be seeing the real one.
Fortunately the rest of the day was out of this world and the fun they had with us all and the activities we did are what they talk about now.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/12/2019 20:39

I think it made them question the reality of Father Christmas even more as we had told them they would be seeing the real one

I just can't get my head round anyone telling their kids that.

Marmablade · 24/12/2019 20:49

I mean this in the kindest way but that's hardly Christmas ruining.

dippydeedoo · 24/12/2019 20:51

I think as a poster said on the first page do your research and find a good local experience - my partner does Santa ing at the school he is involved with and various other community events ( I’m the elf!!) and he really is fabulous with it, the shy children, the none believers, even the kids did teenager will have a photo and a chat ( if only to please their mum) - it is almost magical how a child who is initially hesitant will hold his hand and chat to him and enjoy the experience ......, what is also interesting is the amount of Mums wanting to sit on his knee and ask the elf to take pictures !!!.

Jack80 · 24/12/2019 20:58

I would say even Santa has a bad day like mum and dad and say I bet after all the mince pies, milk and other treats set out for him. He will be happy and bring presents on Christmas Eve.