To say this was an unsatisfactory meet Santa gift?

[TellerTuesday]

Curious to hear other people's opinions.

The experience cost £87.63 for one child and one accompanying adult.

Can't fault the Santa experience and the stately home walk round I was more than happy with that but I don't think the gift was commensurate with the cost and calibre of the outing.

I have emailed the company as I honestly think it's just a peg doll and a box of grass moss but interested to hear if others would agree with me.

Absolutely not good enough for me! We paid £42 at weekend for 3 adults and my son to meet Santa on a plane and he got a selection box, a book worth £7, a toy plane and a glider toy, plus a pass the parcel sweet and a cookie. We also were originally only allowed one of us to do the main activity and in the end, all ended up being able to do all of it at no extra cost.

Have to say that’s poor for the price. I’m really sorry for you OP :(

I knew this would be Castle Howard before you said! Local fb group has been complaining all week about it, they changed their wonderful Santa and got a new one, claiming rising costs, and have been giving out these gifts. Personally I'd be gutted after paying that and getting reindeer food or something like that. Castle Howard had been considered the place to see Santa, be interesting if it's as popular next year...

Who do you think you are? Honestly even John Lewis santa was £20 with a Lego Duplo gift

Honestly even John Lewis santa was £20 with a Lego Duplo gift

Lego Duplo is a great gift!

In places like this you pay for the experience, and a gift is just a small token at the end. I just checked on Social media and it the place looks magnificent.

I'm sorry OP I can't stop laughing at that gift!! Not even sure what it's meant to be. It was a lot of money to pay and truly I would have expected better!! You're right to get in touch n tell then so!!

Castle Howard right? Agree!

Howard family are taking the Michael. You was robbed.

OP I do think that is too far up the eco friendly chimney! I am someone who was happy to fork out for my DCs back in the day. Took them (plus dear late parents) to Lapland UK the year after it opened and it was magical. Real huskies, reindeer, believable snow and cookie making, even Santa in a little house. Superb.
We also made several visits to Chatsworth House Santa over the years- they found a Santa with a real beard, and it made perfect sense to my DCs that he would visit the late Duchess just before Christmas.
Funniest, and cheapest Santa visit is this. Took 3 yr old DD to Harrods. She was dressed in M&S red coat with velvet collar, matching hat and bag. Patent shoes. Are you getting the Shirley Temple vibe? Arrived to be told they were full. Sad little one walking away when an elf ran up to say they had room for one more - hurrah! Went into the inner sanctum and there was a snaking queue with jugglers, singers, fairy dancers and elves handing out bottles of water and cookies to the kids and parents. Got to see Santa. Now this Santa might have been to RADA. Very dramatic and my little one soaked it up. Then he said, "Would you like a photo with Santa?" I whipped out the camera from my pocket and snapped away. He became flustered, but still managed a "merry Christmas". I had flaunted the system as they made their money selling the pics to the parents!! lol. Final score: Parent 1 Harrods nil. Although they will have made a profit on the shopping we did :) ... Better luck next year OP.

In places like this you pay for the experience, and a gift is just a small token at the end. I just checked on Social media and it the place looks magnificent.

But the gift should still actually be something nice that a child would enjoy, even if inexpensive - not something that looks like a 'my first drug trip' kit in a pizza box.

That’s a terrible gift! Can you give them some feedback?!

Oh my goodness!! Nearly 90!!! I paid £20 for three children at a local church fair and the experience was two minutes and a book I thought that was bad enough!! Can’t believe how much some places charge! I’m not surprised you’re annoyed with the price and the present

I think you missed the bit where she did give them feedback and got a patronising response about being eco friendly

Oh no! I missed that! What rubbish for kids seeing Santa!!

I knew this would be CH, we've been lucky enough to enjoy the Santa visits over many years when they started out (£20 springs to mind) as it was a great experience and each year they would build upon it so it got better and better. The price's started to rocket though, but our DC thankfully got too old before it got too pricey.
For me, the actual cost, the fact the adults pay too, parking fee (CFers). Would put me off. It was always a decent present though, so that peg doll would just be the last straw.

We went to Cockfields farm, and it was around £50 for an adult and child.
They get a passport that they collect stamps.in after each experience.
1 2 1 with santa.and he gives them a gold.coin to spend in the toy shop.
The toys are really good. You get taken through to the elf workshop to collect your toy.
Theres a special postbox and area for writing to FC. Story time with an elf, decorating gingerbread cookies with mrs claus, a show, build a reindeer bear, meet the reindeer, free drink for the parents, making reindeer food for Christmas eve, alongside having use of the playground and meeting all the animals.on the farm.
No time limit you can stay all.day.

Atrocious for that kind of money

If you're local, last years CH Santa, who was apparently not invited back this year, is on Look North this evening- he's gone viral on social media with a 'Beatbox Wrap' that's had 25m views!