Help! Lapland UK, will a 9 year old buy it?

[Leading]

We are taking DS to this. He thinks he is going to the 'real' Lapland and has made the distinction between seeing the real Father Christmas and those who pose in shops.

Has anyone been recently? I don't want him to be disappointed or think we've tried to con him. He's convinced the letter we got with the ticket is from the genuine article.

Thanks.

[Kanaloa]

Will he buy that he’s really in Lapland? I’d imagine not. Will he buy that it’s really Father Christmas? Depends on how young/imaginative he is. Either way he’ll probably enjoy it as a day out and will play along for the enjoyment of it.

[10storeylovesong]

My 9 year old knows that Lapland is (mainly) in Finland and would have been very confused had we not got on a plane to travel there

[lightisnotwhite]

Can you not tell him subtly it’s not real. Sort of stress the fun element rather than any sort of reality. I mean it’s the U.K. They do a “ transportation” through to the North Pole but it’s clearly not Finland/ Greenland/ The Artic!
It was good when we went ( many years ago) but my son was a believer and he didn’t think it was real, real.

[Pawtucketbrew]

As PP said it depends if he believes. My 9 year old DD did not believe in Santa but would have still enjoyed the event. She would also know that we were not in the real Lapland ie had not got on a plane. Can you elaborate on what you are telling him exactly?

[Leading]

We've made a rod for our own backs here. He was getting cynical about the whole thing so this was presented on the basis of 'look, it is all real!'

He is now asking about planes and flight times...

[Pearls1234]

At 9 it’s unlikely he’ll believe he’s actually gone to Lapland.

Whether or not he believes it’s the real Father Christmas will depend on how strongly he believes in the first place - or whether he’d make the association of ‘well, Lapland wasn’t real… so is FC?’

There’s also a risk of him talking about it at school, only for another child to say they’ve been there on a plane. Instantly rumbled.

My DNs are 8 and 5. 8 would be suspicious from the get-go, absolutely no way she’d believe any of it. 5 would be 100% all in, living the Lapland dream!

[FlounderingFruitcake]

I know a 4YO that commented on the fake snow at Lapland UK! I can’t imagine an 9YO being fooled. At that age I’d be surprised if they still believed in any of it and weren’t going along because they think it’s a condition of getting presents. It’s normal to get cynical around that age anyway and I think it shows a good development of critical thinking - the fact he’s asking about flight times probably means the game is up and he’s trying to catch you out! Doubling down on it to the cost of Lapland UK is a real commitment to the Christmas spirit, should be a fun day out though.

[Pearls1234]

Ah, just saw he’d already mentioned the plane!! Unfortunately yes, it looks like he’s on to you.

[Isittimetogohomeyet]

Could you sell it as something along the lines of he's visiting the UK to see children here that can't make it over to Lapland?

Depends how far you want to continue things if he's nine.

[BooseysMom]

I think DS still believes. He's just turned 9. I had to tell him I'd emailed his letter to Santa as the Xmas post box isn't in use here!
Never done Lapland though. He hasn't expressed any interest in seeing Santa at the garden centre this year so I think the believing gradually is on its way out

[Athenen0ctua]

Surely most children over about 7 would know Lapland is overseas?

[Leading]

I was hoping we could use the 'magic door' thing to explain the lack of air travel?

[FunctionalSkills]

Magic door... to fake snow... at 9??

I think you're going down the wrong track here.

[MichaelAndEagle]

I think 9 is really towards the end of truly believing.
Its something that just fades out and they gradually become sceptical.
He's probably not going to fall for the magic door for real, but he might believe santa is here in the UK and this is the real santa.
Its hard to let go of the magical Christmases when they were tiny.

[metellaestinatrio]

It is a great day out but my nearly six year old commented on the fake snow (was totally convinced by Father Christmas though). I don’t think a 9 year old would buy it, especially if he’s already asked about going on a plane.

[name78change]

I'm all for keeping the Santa magic alive but trying to trick your 9 year old they're going abroad when they're not feels a step too far....

[eurochick]

When we went I think there were signs and branding saying "Lapland Uk" so that would give the game away.

[Leading]

Thanks all - will sort.

[changingforthebetter3]

My 7 year old pointed out the fake snow straight away, but definitely believed the magic door story and that it was the real Santa. The Lapland UK fan chat Facebook group had lots of tips.

[Athenen0ctua]

Convincing a child that they themselves are stepping through a magic door, teleporting to another land, would have a much much lower age threshold than believing in FC.

[Changechangychange]

Not a cat in hell’s chance my five year old would believe that I’m afraid! But he’d enjoy going, which might be as good as you are going to get aged 9.

I think saying it was the “real” Lapland was probably an error, as he will probably know actual Lapland is in Finland and might be psyched up for a proper snow holiday….

Could you look into visiting Lapland at Easter? The stuff is all still there (including the snow) but it is much way cheaper and there is more daylight.

[Bibbitybobbityboot]

@changingforthebetter3

My 7 year old pointed out the fake snow straight away, but definitely believed the magic door story and that it was the real Santa. The Lapland UK fan chat Facebook group had lots of tips.

This is exactly the same for my 7 year old. She also questioned it being the same temperature as at home. She was totally 100% convinced it was the real Santa though. Her friend from school is going next week and I’m just worried they are going to compare Santa photos…

[EarringsandLipstick]

God, I've read this thread with a knot in my stomach.

Why OP would you tell such obvious lies? Lapland? Real Santa? Proper snow? Without leaving the UK?

Please be honest with him as I dread the thought of a 9 yo possibly thinking he's getting on a plane & actually going to Lapland. The FC issue is almost immaterial.

[OhChristmasTreeOhChristmasTreeFaLaLa]

My 4 and 6 year olds know lapland is not in the UK, lots of children at school have been (to the real one) it involved flights and not nipping down the motorway. I think by 9 he will know lapland isn't in this country.

My 6 year old is very sharp and pointed out 2 different father Christmases at separate events were not the same person. We told her he can't be everywhere and has helpers/stand ins sometimes, we confirmed the more realistic looking one was the real deal. We could see the cogs turning though. I don't think we'll have many years left with her believing she's far too clever and questions everything now.

[Kanaloa]

He’s 9 years old. I just don’t think he’s going to buy that there’s a magic door you can step through that takes you abroad. I mean how will you explain it if you ever really go abroad? And you don’t want him repeating that he’s been abroad and then explaining the magic door at school!