Are you still planning to visit Father Christmas this year?

[Mumtumwobble]

As the title says really - are you still planning to take your dc to visit Father Christmas this year? I’d usually be booking our visit around now, but there doesn’t seem many options out there yet. My kids will be 8 and 5 so this could be the last year that our eldest might want to do this. Also concerned about Covid/social distancing so not even sure if we should be booking anything? In the past we’ve booked Father Christmas in a woodland setting, Father Christmas train ride and Father Christmas at National Trust places. I’ve seen Harvester are doing breakfast with Father Christmas, but not sure if this would just be a bit naff. I’m near Liverpool if anyone has any recommendations. Thanks everyone.

I can’t see many going ahead. Most towns have already cancelled Christmas lights switch ons and big events.

Weve booked Chester Zoo lanterns where you can meet Santa on his sleigh outdoors. I know that was almost fully booked when I booked a few weeks ago though.
Dobbies always has a good reputation, think they do a breakfast with Santa that's supposed to be really good and if you are up that way the one in Speke Hall is amazing but gets booked up very very quickly. They havent released any details about Christmas events yet though. They usually have one at Liverpool 1. Also check out nearby garden centres. Our local one has a little grotto and Santa that we visit each year

Our garden centre has announced no grotto this year but they are staying open until 8pm twice a week so you can enjoy the Christmas shop in the dark with all the lights which is definitely better than nothing and I want to support them.
Our village Christmas fayre has also been changed to a lights competition, homes and businesses so again better than nothing.

We’ve booked tickets for Kew, as well as Lapland UK. I’d be happy for both to move bookings to next year when hopefully both events can happen as normal

No - we’re planning to do some evening walks to see people’s lights/decorations. There’s talk of people doing a trail of decorations for the kids to spot (like some people did with pictures of Easter eggs).
Otherwise everything will be at home really.

Not anymore, as our Santa train was cancelled yesterday.

We booked Dunham Massey lights walk as a back up option, just in case, so we still have that, just no Santa.

[quote Mumtumwobble]@waitforitwaitforit have you been to Dobbies before? What’s it like? Do you end up standing in a massive queue? Thanks.[/quote]
I booked Dobbies online both times. We've done the grotto and breakfast with Santa. We queued for about 5/10 minutes for the grotto and waited about 5 minutes for the breakfast thing to open. Both were lovely.

They opened for booking a couple of weeks ago for card holders so they're probably open for the general public soon.

There was loads of Dobbies' availability for breakfast yesterday when I looked (card holder), other than Christmas Eve which was sold out. I didn't look at the grotto.

We have tickets for a Santa train. We had to book a whole compartment, but still doubt it will happen. We also have tickets for a local light display, but again, who knows?

I’ve booked Santa’s arrival breakfast, and Santa’s Grotto at our local Dobbies. And breakfast with Santa at our local Harvester. We’ll see if any of it goes ahead!

I haven’t booked Dobbies this year as I don’t like the gift and don’t think it warrants the cost. It’s usually brilliant though.

If the garden centre do their then we will. They have a lovely big grotto and do very small groups of 5 or 6 kids, who go into the grotto, sit in a semi-circle, chat with Santa and Mrs Claus, sing a couple of Xmas songs and then they go through to the workshop and pick their own toy. They have real reindeers outside that they can visit with too.

It suits social distancing perfectly and is a really lovely experience that wouldn't feel watered down like it might if people are used to 1:1 and sitting on Santa's lap for a photo.

We booked Christmas at centre parcs again (booked over a year in advance) we usually see Father Christmas there but doubt that will happen! I’m a bit annoyed I booked it as half the activities will be closed and can only use the pool twice during our visit.

I haven’t booked Dobbies this year as I don’t like the gift
Every gift from every Santas grotto throughout the history of time has been shit. It's part of the Christmas tradition

If anybody lives near Brigg, Brigg garden centre is amazing at Christmas, it includes a train ride, a virtual 4D sleigh ride (it’s amazing) a visit to Father Christmas, story time with Father Christmas and crafts! It’s worth every penny, I think it was around £10 but lasted over2hours.

@FelicityPike

I haven’t booked Dobbies this year as I don’t like the gift and don’t think it warrants the cost. It’s usually brilliant though.

Isn't it fairly standard that the gifts are worth £1-2 and are generally tat but your kid still thinks they're amazing because Santa gave it to them then they promptly forget it 10 minutes later.

Last year DD picked a little plastic doctors kit and the year before that a plastic frying pan with a handful of cheap plastic veggies in. Both would have been found in a pound shop.

Isn't it fairly standard that the gifts are worth £1-2 and are generally tat but your kid still thinks they're amazing because Santa gave it to them then they promptly forget it 10 minutes later

Definitely. Usually a slinky, bubbles, crap art set that they love for 10 mins then discard. Besides, Dobbies is £12 for a full breakfast and drink, activities, santa visit and gift so not exactly going to walk away with a PS4

We usually do a national trust but can see anything on the web for this year

I've read about a drive through Santa somewhere in Wales. I've a feeling more will pop up.

Santa is isolating in Lapland. He will be able to deliver gifts on Christmas eve though.

I’ve just joined Dobbies to book , word of warning - in the terms and conditions, the way I read it suggests that If the event is cancelled you won’t be refunded.

@Martinisarebetterdirty

I’ve just joined Dobbies to book , word of warning - in the terms and conditions, the way I read it suggests that If the event is cancelled you won’t be refunded.

I didn't read the t&cs but we had breakfast with the Easter bunny booked and were refunded pretty efficiently so fingers crossed.

I've been pretty pleased with our Dobbies gifts in the past. We've had duplo and Bigjigs stuff that still gets played with.

Ive booked our local national trust type park/house/gardens place. Limited places so didn't get the date i wanted but better than nothing.
They are doing Santa in the outdoor elf village rather than in his grotto like last year. They wont wear masks but he will be behind a perspex screen.
Were members so only cos £15 each for dcs and they do a lights display too.
I can live with losing the money if its cancelled.

Thanks @waitforitwaitforit - that’s good to know - didn’t fancy wasting £50!