If things open back up In December, will you be taking your kids to Christmas days out?

[Viv0321]

If things open back up In December, will you be taking your kids on Christmas days out?

Such as theme parks done up for Xmas, safari parks, Father Christmas visits, holidays even?

Yes of course. We have panto booked so we really want to go and support the theatre as they're having a terrible time. We also have a winter lights thing booked.

I would love to but will aim for the zoo or NT or local park attraction

Really hoping the Santa train will go ahead. It's private compartments for each family. Might even get us a Christmassy Face Mask each.

Places have gone to a lot of effort to make things as safe as possible.

No, we won't have the money spare.

Nope. Wouldn't do them anyway, most of them are pointless cash grabs from companies. We might do Christmas sessions at the local soft plays, or a trip to the cinema. But non of those pay £100 per head to walk around a grotto for a bit, decorate a biscuit then briefly talk to santa experiences.

Yes, I think it’s important to try and keep the economy going and people in jobs.

No, but to be fair, we've never done these. They're busy and crowded and overpriced. I do enjoy a Christmas lunch out (like the pub sort with turkey and the trimmings and christmas pudding and a fire - but one I don't have to cook and not on christmas day). But I wouldn't do that this year either. Our garden centre does an amazing display and we usually always go there, but it's very closed in, like a warren of halls, no ventilation, so happy to give it a miss for another year.

Yes, we've already booked a theatre show and a Santa visit. I'd also like to do a different Santa visit and a Christmas lights trail, and anything else that is on offer for DD's age group (she's 2.5 so too young for a lot of things). But I'm quite pessimistic about any of them going ahead.

I'll make the most of anything outdoors so long as it isn't over crowded - which we usually achieve by doing things ridiculously early and when most normal people are enjoying a lie in.

Yep!
Have The Harry Potter studio tour booked for mid dec and then Legoland on the 20th dec.
Haven’t booked a Father Christmas visit this year , have paid for a virtual one from our local garden centre instead so she’ll get a cuddly toy, personalised video message from FC and some sweets .

@NotQuiteUsual

Nope. Wouldn't do them anyway, most of them are pointless cash grabs from companies. We might do Christmas sessions at the local soft plays, or a trip to the cinema. But non of those pay £100 per head to walk around a grotto for a bit, decorate a biscuit then briefly talk to santa experiences.

Pointless how? Surely making children and their parents happy isn’t “pointless”

We've got a winter woodland themed walk booked - we did it last year and it was wonderful. It's outside, you can move around people or step back and will probably be the one time I'd be more than happy to put a mask on as it'll be chilly. For once my glasses won't fog up!

I probably wouldn't do an indoor type thing, but we've got a few ideas for stately home garden walks after Christmas which we can book up nearer the time.

The bookable garden things are open during lockdown anyway and I really enjoyed our local ones during the first lockdown as we actually managed to see bits that were usually jammed with people.

We’ve all had covid and we were all fine, so we’re carrying on as normal. I’ve got panto tickets and I’m praying it goes ahead

Yes, but outdoor stuff and booked for after schools break up - I don’t want any additional risk of having to isolate until then. I won’t tell the children until the day and if it doesn’t happen and we don’t get a refund we can afford to “waste” the money supporting local attractions etc anyway. I definitely wouldn’t be flying or spending the kind of money Lapland involves though, although I wouldn’t do that in a non pandemic year either!

Ah, I misread. I see you meant Lapland U.K., which while not my thing doesn’t seem quite as crazy a prospect!

Yep, depending on what's on I'll be delighted to be doing NT/EH type things. Not so much the Santa's Grotto thing but only because we never have done.

We have tickets for Paultons Park and I'm desperately hoping we can still go. There's no Santa grotto, it's just a cold day out with rides tbh but I love a theme park

Every year we do the pottery paint a Xmas bauble and would want to do that. DC 14 years went ice skating with friends last weekend of half term. After they bought hot chocolate and sat out side socially distance drinking it. He is sensible so I won't stop him going out if things open again. Hoping he will still have Swim club Xmas party and cricket club Xmas evening. I would let him go if they are put on. We will still go to Xmas tree farm to choose our tree and buy Holly and Mistletoe.

The plan was to be doing a fair bit as i have some spare money I don't usually but with covid effecting a couple of my major plans it looks like we will be doing the walking round with cocoa in insulated cups and looking at the lights we usually do. I am hoping little one gets to see Father Christmas at some point but am struggling to find a way to get him to one.

Yes absolutely. We've got a train ride booked and I hope to be able to do some other things too

Yes. Weve got a couple of days our booked so will do them if we can.

I'm in a tier 1 area though so assume with the lockdown rates will be even lower by mid-December.

We have Christmas at Kew booked, hopefully tha5 will go ahead.

Have also booked panto. Normally my daughters would have been performing, but no panto babes this year due to COVID. Not certain that will go ahead. They were due to open in November so have already lost over a week of the run.

No, doesn’t seem worth the risk and would rather not be ill for Christmas. Essential places only for us. Will do shopping early so all he deliveries arrive in time and have gift sent direct to others.

Outdoors yes. Indoors no.

Yes, we are a family that thrive on activities outside the house so will be doing everything that is permitted.