Bedgebury is holding a Christmas 'Lapland UK' Experience

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

... covering a part of the forest with fake snow, Christmas village, Raymond Briggs 'The Snowman' ride, Father Christmas visit, mulled wine to fortify parents, reindeer, husky dogs, trumpeters and all sorts. I'm soooo excited. Er, for my children, obviously...

It's quite expensive though (I just paid £167 for a family of 5). Here is the link. And here is the itinery.

And it's selling out quite quickly.

It's a get out clause Fio.. obviously.. to stop Trades Descriptions wiping the floor with them...

And if either of you do work for Lapland UK your posts are really not doing you or your organisation any credit at all

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I really think we should contact SPEW don't you? Where is Cod?? She was here just now...

Ah there she is!! Will you do a Hermione cod? You could add it to your blog...

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Oh sigh.. you are not a Potter fan clearly cod.. what a philistine.

Society for the Promotion of Elf Welfare.

Hermoine founded it the get house elves their rights!! Christmas elves have rights too presumably....

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Well you have been loitering about this thread with intent.. I think you are duty bound to at least host an online SPEW convention personally...

Annaxxx, they seem to think we are the same person?
Sorry about that.....I don't work for lapland uk do you?... thanks for acepting my apololgy..... you seem to understand my genuine mistake.......
I am wondering if anyone actualy reads these mails,or just jumps on the bandwagon,, as I never said nor would say anything about children with s/needs....

Ladies, would you please get back to work your elves need you

LOL!

Megamba - so, what do you think about Lapland UK? Because you seem to be jumping in to have a go at us, but have no opinion on the subject of the thread.

Or is it just out of concern?

For the elves presumably

annaxxx, I am sorry if I unintentionally offended you. I am probably about to do so again.

My DS has 'hidden disabilities' and, as a parent at school recently commented, "He doesn't look like there is anything wrong with him." Which actually makes it harder for other people to accept he is not just being naughtly, he cannot help it and does not understand what is being asked of him.

I read all your mails well, megamba, I thought it was good of you to apologise, although I am still entitled to my opinion that your initial comments were rude and judgemental whether they were amid at children who are NT or SN.

I have not been yet, unfortunatly my granddaughters don't believe in santa anymore, so we are taking them on the evening
"flight" we are all looking forward to it...and whilst non of us are expecting it to be like lapland... we did that about 5 years ago... we know it will be fun... because we will make it fun, and if it's no good.... well, I won't go again!!!!!

So if it were pants, Megamba, would you not say anything to them, or simply not go again?

I said..... if it's no good I won't go again, no point in winding myself and my family up over somthing that over and done with.... life's to short!!!!!!!

FioFio, I am so very sorry for any upset I may have caused you....... my fault I only read your last few post's which had no mention of your child having special needs, had I read the whole thread..... I would not have made the comments I did

I was only asking Megamba. Some people speak up, some don't. I'm someone who does, but I try to be constructive.

Perhaps because you are going for a different experience you can be more chilled out about it. Myself, I'm quite anxious about it. I don't have the years of experience that you do - its all new to me. So going with a 4mo, I am concerned there are no changing facilities. Going with a 6yo I am concerned Santa's cover will be blown. I don't think I should be put down for these things.

Anyway, back to the issue in hand - what are we going to do for those poor elves?

I have just returned from visting Lapland UK.
I have to say that after reading all the reviews online I had gone from looking forward to the trip to seeing it more as a test of endurance. My family (ds 9, dd1 6, dd2 2,dh and I)did enjoy the day. We told our daughters (ds no longer believes in Father Christmas) that Lapland UK was Santa's UK base as they wouldn't be convinced we were actually transported anywhere. The children did enjoy the transporter, mainly as a man was spraying us with fake snow. The trees in the village did look very pretty and they were playing christmassy music in the square. Our flight was at 9:30 and they had brought forward the Father Christmas vist from 12:30 to 11:45(you were then allowed to return to Lapland UK if you wished). We only waited 5 minutes to see Father Christmas. They seemed to have dispensed with Father Christmas knowing any personal information about the children. The £10 photo was expensive but lovely.

They do seem to have tried to react to some of the criticisms. My children did enjoy it, but they hadn't seen Lapland UK's website which did present it as slightly more magical than it was.

That's good news from mumpy. I wish we hadn't gone on the first day now! It does seem they have responded to some of the criticisms - maybe they have been reading this thread??

Are you glad you went Mumpy? Your review sounds very fair and is pretty much what I am expecting.

I witheld from commenting here as i didn't want to disappoint other Mnetters still waiting to go but anyway. We went last Sunday. We were extremely disappointed. The 'transporter' was really silly and disappointing. The area in which the whole event took place was very small, and the length of time you had to queue for each allotted apointment was awful. the staff were abysmal on the whole. Either in your face demands of 'Enjoy yourself now!' or, as a mother next to me murmered 'those elves looked like they were at a funeral' The woods looked pretty, but it was very hard to occupy 3 year old ds for the three hours we had to wait from time of entry to time we had to see Father Christmas, and he was exhausted and cranky by the end, whilst the manic head elf tried to entertain a large group of children who had been waiting too long. Will not be going again. Will go again to Bedgebury Forest, which is beautiful. Sorry folks.

they turned on some taped music about half way through our visit. Staff were badly trained. I mean they could have at least employed some carol singers, and some elves that could read a children's story without it sounding like the yellow pages.

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