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!

I would never bother going - my idea of hell

We came back from Rovaniemi yesterday. There was no queues to see Santa. He asked where we are from and after mentioning that we are from Liverpool he started to tell how he is Liverpool fc fan and knew how they doing. Kids were amazed. Dc did mention afterwards that Santa didn't ask what they want for Xmas but we said that elves have told him that already.

We did ice fishing, snowmobiles, husky and reindeer rides and loads of sledging. Kids loved it.

I would be annoyed too given that's what the tour companies market the trips on. We're just back from a 4 day trip to Luosto and it was worth every (expensive) penny for the magical memories, awesome scenery, different winter experiences and precious time with family (we took Grandparents too.) Meeting Santa was only a fraction of the overall holiday and I was conscious not to make a massive deal about meeting him in case he was rubbish (he wasn't) and to make it more about being in a Narnia like, snowy paradise. Would love to go back to Lapland one day, even without Santa involved.

You have my sympathy. 13 or so years ago when dd was 5 we saved hard gir a Disney trip yo Floruda. Dd was into all the princesses but Belle was THE one she was obsessed with. When we did the photo shoot with the princesses Belle was a right miserable cow with a face like a slapped arse. She eas the only princess not to smile and the only photo not worth printing off and framing.
DD was quite sad about it for a while after.
I mean she's nearly 19 now and fully over it but it wasn't the magical experience we anticipated thanks to Belle having an off day!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Tue 24-Dec-19 20:39:51
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.
...........
Me too!

@Flower246, I'd definitely go back and without children too, although mine are adults now.

Just been chatting about our time there with my DC and they both remember it so clearly, even though it was 15 years ago.

I'm so sorry, that wasn't our experience a couple of years ago and shouldn't have been yours. How disappointing. I think you should write and complain!

@contentedsoul I’m sold! Where do I sign up?

It’s worth it! I don’t think it’s a yearly trip but a must do if you can afford it, we had two nights / 3 days for 6k. Tried everything to get the price down but couldn’t, we spent about £750 on trips there as they were quite expensive but again needed to get the full experience. I’ve seen online the smaller companies offering everything included in one price which is more obviously but I think it’s cheaper overall. Merry Christmas!

I worked as an elf for Canterbury Travel twenty odd years ago. It was the worst job I ever had. We were treated appallingly by the company. Many of the clients complained and I didn’t blame them; so much about it was a mess. They had paid so much money, and expectations were so high - it was all incredibly fraught.

A lot of people seem to recommend CT nowadays so I can only assume they’ve got their act together now, but there’s no way I’d take my own dc on one of these sort of trips. They are a monumental rip off.

Lapland was beautiful though. I’d go back there, but steer clear of all the Santa nonsense.

YABU. The whole point of Father Christmas is that no one ever sees him. That’s what’s magical.

And then you learn there’s no “real” Father Christmas. YABU

Who did you go with (agency wise)? I’m gutted for you - we went about six years ago and it was the most magical experience. I cried my eyes out as the Santa was so realistic.

I would definitely complain and leave a Trip Advisor review. But also think about how you can look on the positive side for the kids ‘Santa must have been having a bad day so close to Xmas etc’.

Wishing you a merry Christmas.

I would have been upset too. Perhaps Santa had 'lost his voice' due to too many Ho Ho Hos? Or did he simply not speak english!!! I would have expected some interaction. If complaining doesnt get you very far, let them know you are sharing on social media which are putting people off going......Well as parents we have to create the magic and it costs money! Surely we deserve more than a nod? I think you need to make up a story for the children here. Tell them you heard back from Santas elves and Santa had a sore throat! Santa sends a special letter with tickets to Frozen 2 to aplolgize? Write outvthe letter and get thw tickets and do whatever it takes......

Kids will forget about it, the problem is that it's burst your Christmas bubble. I know we're supposed to be grown ups but that kid inside us still wants the magic back. It's crap but we are all responsible for our own magic, make light of it - 'he must have had a row with the elves' then make your own magic memories and don't rely on santa for the magic next time .

Dolarabel completely agree. Father Christmas is best as a mysterious magical figure. I prefer to leave the rest to children's imaginations.

For a cheaper version people can take a normal holiday to Lapland and ask the locals where to find a Joulupukki for hire - around 50-80 euros (probably cheaper as it wouldn't actually be on Christmas Eve which is the premium day for this) and you get someone to come to your hotel/cabin/wherever, slip them a sack of presents outside the door, and they bring it in and properly chat to your children and give them the presents. More money left to spend on the fun stuff like husky safaris and reindeer sled rides!

Just say Father Christmas is from Lapland so doesn’t speak English. But he does know what is in your heart and his heart is full of love. Sit together silently for a while feeling the love and then release it into the world to all. They will remember
that far more than a few missed words!

Maybe he didn’t speak English?

YANBU. You paid a lot of money for a very specific "magical" experience and you didn't get it.

It was a disappointing experience and ultimately not value for money so I would discuss this with the tour operator.

Just make light of it with the kids and if you want to do something fun next year book a Christmas market. These are affordable and you know exactly what you are getting.

We spent a couple of days in Krakow and for 4 people, flights, accommodation, 4 star hotel with breakfast and transfers it cost £500 and half that in meals etc.

Doesn't sound much fun for the huskys and reindeer though 😢

I remembered from being a kid myself, that magical moments come in all shapes and forms. Magical to me was my dad taking me to pick up my Mum at the hospital where she worked as a nurse, wrapped up in a blanket on a cold night, looking at all the Christmas decorations on the front of houses that folk had put up, or our tradition of KFC for lunch and cheese and crackers fr dinner on Christmas eve that I continued with my own children....you have put way too much pressure to make it perfect, when the perfection comes from happiness and time enjoyed together, not from how much you spend and where you go.
Luckily happiness doesn't always have to be something thats bought. The more you make a huge deal out of this, the more they will grow up to think that nothing is good enough.

Ha ha is this a spoof?