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Original poster

Lapland UK 2008

133 replies

LIZS · 19/08/2008 18:00

Lapland UK seems to be happening again this year albeit I think at a different location (Bewl Water, Kent). Booking opens 8th September. Mixed reviews last year.

OP posts:
FioFio · 02/12/2008 14:28

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quint · 02/12/2008 20:22

I'm nothing to do with Lapland UK or dotfox and think she went a bit to far in her post, however I would still defend Lapland UK (the one in Kent anyway) as a great day out, yes its pricey but it was great fun, I've been to other attractions and spent less money and had a realy shit time, I just wanted to come on here and give the place a good review. Other people may prefer to spend their money elsewhere and that's their choice , all I'm saying is you can;t slate a place if you've not been there

mamamea · 02/12/2008 23:54

I didn't say it was crap, I said it was a rip-off. £25 to £85 in one year is NOT a justifiable price increase.

And I'm quite entitled to slate it, unlike some posters I'm not making out that I'm something I'm not. I've not been to Lapland UK, I considered it last year, but the price is absolutely not justifiable, and I refuse to be ripped off.

Evidently there is a lot of demand for a Lapland-type experience (more than they can satisfy at their single site), and they have dealt with that by jacking the price up so high that demand does not exceed supply.

No doubt in the future they will get some competition (that's not a gypsy camp in disguise), and prices will fall. In the mean time IT IS A RIP OFF.

I've been trying to look for reviews of Lapland UK, but the two on Tripadvisor are both by new registered users that joined purely to post absurdly ridiculously gushing reviews of Lapland UK, and have contributed nothing else.

Funny that.

FioFio · 03/12/2008 08:04

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FioFio · 03/12/2008 08:08

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ChippyMinton · 03/12/2008 08:43

Everyone needs to be clear that Lapland UK in KENT (last year at Bedgebury, this year at Bewl Water) is not related to Lapland NEW FOREST, which has been getting terrible press and is obviously a copycat rip-off.

I took my DC to Lapland UK last year and the bottom line, as far as I am concerned, is that my DC truly believe that they met FC. Yes, parts of it could've been better and it was expensive, particularly for accompanying adults.

A friend took her daughter to Lapland UK last week, and again her daughter truly believes she has met FC. I was at how expensive it was compared to last year, but it does deliver its promises as far as chilren are concerned. Adults will have to suspend their disbelief, but quite honestly I'm not sure what people expected from a set up in a wood in rainy old England

DarrellRivers · 03/12/2008 09:17

Fio that is funny
Still enjoying this thread

MarmadukeScarlet · 03/12/2008 10:51

Fio I loved that review from last year, I'm glad you reposted it.

One thing though? (not you particularly fio, generally)

Can we not accept that quint is talking about this years Lapland UK, not last years?

Is it not possible that LLUK have learnt from the mistakes that were made last year and made it a better experience (better food, better trained staff, ice rink etc) although have put the price up somewhat. (From £55 to 85 I believe, but am prepared to stand corrected)

Quint, I'm glad you had a good time and thank you for answering my transport query.

filbertfox · 03/12/2008 10:55

We went to Lapland UK on Monday with children aged 7 and 3. We had a truley fantastic time. Sure it is expensive but from the moment you arrive, you experience a theatrical adventure. It was well organised and the staff were brilliant. They really got into thier roles. The time with Father Christmas was magical, we were with him for about ten minutes and all of us felt really comfortable. My 7 year old was very skeptical about Father Christmas before we went, but not so now.

Honestly speaking, I do not usually post but in a worried state I trawled all forums for information before we travelled and found very little, and what I did find was very poor and relating to last year. I think it is important for people who have booked to know they will have a great time and not to worry. Obviously there were problems last year but I can only find real positives about our visit this week. I checked the visitor book when I was there and our opinion was replicated by many others.

We don't have our children at this age for very long and if Lapland UK had let them down in any way, I would be first to say so. However, it delivered on its promise and the memories of Monday will stay with us always.

Judging by previous comments people will obviously think I work there or something. I have no link to Lapland UK at all, but think it is important to set the record straight for those who have booked and are worried about uninformed negative publicity.

Hulababy · 03/12/2008 10:57

This year prices started from £55 I believe althugh the December ones appear to be £75 and £85 pp plus £10 for infants unde 18m.

Last year I believe they were much cheaper, although still nt cheap - at £35pp

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 03/12/2008 11:05

I think we paid about £130 for 4 of us last year!
We had a good time too and there were some let downs but the santa / toy shop and gingerbread were great.
My dc loved it so that made it worth the money.
However wouldn't pay the higher prices this year but good to hear people who went enjoy it.
Think the ice skating was a good idea.
Hopefully they lost the poor 'transport' attempt as having that to start with put a lot of people off before getting in there.

Funny post though Fio!

DarrellRivers · 03/12/2008 11:32

And FF, having the name fox makes you 'under suspicion'

filbertfox · 03/12/2008 11:39

Oh dear, I never thought of that when creating the nickname. Any Leicester City supporter will know where it came from though!

FioFio · 03/12/2008 11:42

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mymama · 03/12/2008 11:46

I think dotfox meant me.

I am from Australia.

I said UK Lapland last year was shite.

The rest of her post had nothing to do with mine though.

at "go home"

FioFio · 03/12/2008 11:51

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mamamea · 03/12/2008 14:02

I wouldn't normally cast aspersions on filbertfox, but the Lapland UK shilling regime is in obscene, and pumping at full swing ATM.

I would say it's odds on that filbertfox is working for Laplanduk.

Brand new user? Check.

Glowing review of Lapland UK? Check.

Similarities to other fake reviews of Lapland UK? Check.

The number of shill reviews on Tripadvisor has doubled since yesterday BTW.

Check it out:

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g674287-d1216127-r22390180-Lapland_UK-Lamberhurst KentEngland.html

All four reviews are by brand new users (click the username to check this), and have similar flow and structure (quite similar to Filbertfox's post to...).

I really think it's contemptible, and the more they try and do this, the bigger the backlash they will get.

They are rip-off merchants trying to con people with fake reviews, and I think it's absolutely disgusting.

mamamea · 03/12/2008 14:03

sorry, link:
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g674287-d1216127-r22390180-Lapland_UK-Lamberhurst_Kent_England.h tml

filbertfox · 03/12/2008 14:16

Sorry Mamamea but you are wrong, this is not a fake review. I have no idea about the others but we are a normal family from the midlands. I checked this thread to get some useful information before we travelled down on Monday. I was very worried about what we might find but I needn't have been. The reason I have just joined is clear; we all have to start somewhere and I thought, with regard to all the other people that have booked, a little reassurance might be useful. Therefore adding a comment was worth the effort.

It will be interesting to see the comments of other people that have actually been this year. I suspect they will be like mine.

ChippyMinton · 03/12/2008 15:06

mamamea,I have no ideawhether filbertfox is genuine or not, but as you have not been to Lapland UK either last year or this, I'm unsure as to why you are taking such an interest. Several long-time Mnetters have been and concur that it is expensive but that the children enjoyed it. Do not get confused with lapland New Forest which does appear to be a scam.

mamamea · 03/12/2008 15:34

mamamea,I have no ideawhether filbertfox is genuine or not, but as you have not been to Lapland UK either last year or this, I'm unsure as to why you are taking such an interest.

I wasn't taking 'such an interest' until a Lapland UK shill hurled racist abuse at me, I just made one post. That provoked me into doing a bit of research, and it seems that Lapland UK are shilling all over the internet.

I think that is unacceptable, and I'm happy to say so. Fake reviews designed to persuade families to part with hundreds of pounds of cash are NOT acceptable, so yes I take an interest in that. Perhaps you think that fake reviews are perfectly ok, but I do not.

ChippyMinton · 03/12/2008 22:13

LOL at suspicion falling on all posters with "fox" in their name. Do you have any idea how many there are on MN?

mamamea · 04/12/2008 01:03

I'm not suspicious of people with fox in their name, I just think that glowing reviews from brand new users should be regarded with extreme suspicion.

FossilSister · 05/12/2008 16:40

We went, and I'm in two minds. It's basically an expensive day trip and it doesn't compare to the real Lapland. However it is sweet and well-organised, and a good day out. My 6 year old said "Is this fake snow?" as soon as we got in. It's not cold or wet - it looks pretty but obviously fake. So I think it would be hard to convince an older child that it was real.

I do think both my children believed they saw the real Santa - by far the best I have ever seen, and in a lovely little log cabin in the woods with no-one else in sight (except an elf with a digital camera set-up!). However he did not mention any of the personal details we had given about my children, their hobbies, likes, friends etc. Very disappointed as this is one of the main reasons we booked. We thought they'd love it and talk about it for months after - how he knew so much about them, but he didn't say anything personal. I e-mailed to complain afterwards and just got an e-mail back saying sorry, we don't know how that happened. They could have sent a little personal note saying Father Christmas had loved seeing them or something. In the end, we did that ourselves.

It's basically, a wood with Christmas trees covered in fake snow. The staff are friendly, you don't feel rushed. It's not packed and unpleassant - probably not at those prices! There's a series of activities - making rocking horses (bit rubbish - just putting pieces together), decorating gingerbread, lunch and Santa visit, followed by ice-skating. However the ice-skating's not for under-4s and my two hated it!
We were there from 11 to 4 so we had a good day out, but very pricey and definitely NOT the real Lapland.

FossilSister · 05/12/2008 16:49

Actually, thinking it over. I'm a bit disappointed, and trying to convince myself because it cost so much!! If you honestly have a choice between real and LaplandUK, definitely choose real. We couldn't afford to do the real one, and thought this would be a good alternative - kids are only young once etc. It is a good day out of that's all you want, but now wish we had just saved up and done a short trip or something instead of spending so much on this.