Anyone been to Lapland UK - the one in Kent?

[floraflora]

I read good reviews last year but DS was too young. Have just looked at their website which does make it look magical...
Anyone been? Is an imaginative 3.5 year old too young?
Thanks.

or actually, its £57 for november and early december, so if that helps..

Another tip, if you want to be in a smaller group, book a HALF PAST time slot. People always book the slots on the hour, as its easier to remember 4.00 than 4.30, so these ones are really full up, so if you want to be in a group with a more personal atmosphere, book for half past the hour.

bigger groups are great for shyer kids though so bear that in mind if/when booking.

A couple of years ago we went on the Santa Special train to see Santa on the Spa Valley Railway. It isn't as fancy as Lapland UK, and it doesn't last as long, but DS was utterly entranced, and it cost £10 a head (under-2s go free).

This year we'll probably go to the Christmas events at Kew Gardens (adults £13 a head, children free). And we're going to see The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre (total cost £92.20 for really good seats). If we want to skate (probably won't this year as the DCs are still small) we would do that at Somerset House, just round the corner from The Snowman, for £30 for a family skating ticket, and also join in with their free Christmas craft workshops.

Small children are actually quite easily impressed. They may find it magical that you're an elf, but they find a hundred and one other Christmassy things equally magical; it's part of their charm . And most of those other things don't require you to have more money than sense...

I assume you don't have children yourself, hamlette? It's just that there's this thing called "school" that children will be doing on weekdays in November and early December. And it's full-price at weekends (well, OK, £77.50 rather than £87.50 next weekend, but full price after that).

i think it also depends on the ages of the child. I would NEVER pay for a baby to go to Lapland UK, not only do they get nothing out of it, the racket they make only interferes with the performances of the elves & crew. And younger children can be easily entranced, its true. I was fooled just by posting my own FC letters in the real post office as a 4 year old with drawn on stamps, and my mum knowingly winking at the post office lady BUT Lapland UK or Lapland proper are good for kids who are no longer fooled by Grandad wearing a Smiffy's Santa costume, although by that age maybe you aren't so inclined to spend the money on the Xmas experiences when you'll be shelling out £200 for a Wii or whatever the latest fad is

children?! no thank god. Can't afford to feed myself let alone rugrats!! Its up to the parent as to whether they can take a child out of school isnt it. Mine never did (my mums a teacher) but plenty of our guests have had the day off. Oh do, do you think that means they might fail their A Levels???!

Anyway, I must be off as I start elfing shortly, just putting my curly elf shoes on .

Doesn't this whole argument boil down to: If you can afford it and you want to, go, if you can't, don't?!

And if you do want to go and want to know what time is best or have any other questions, then I'm happy to help! But I'm not Mr Battle so won't fight his case!!

Ciao for now!

SOH, do let's! I've never been a total bitch before!

Wasn't Carrie there the other day with one of her children and one of Justines???

I've read a few of these Lapland threads, and I think I've worked out the pr people's (very simple) code!!

If the mumsnet name ends in a number i.e. Sarah76, Felicity174 (just examples, don't think these are real names) then the poster is from the Hop Farm Christmas thingy. They usually slag of Lapland (Bewl Water etc) and say how wonderful, and how much cheaper (£25 ish?) the Hop Farm is.

Not so sure about the company that hamlette works for - they don't seem so sneaky, marketing-wise, although a lot more expensive!

Thanks for your honesty, by the way, Hamlette!!

I'll wait to hear the reviews once it all gets going. I think ds is still a bit young at 18 months, but I'm keeping an open mind for taking him in the future.

SOH - I've just made the sweetest, tiniest gingerbread biscuits for my children to decorate. We'd best eat them ourselves though, in the spirit of being total bitches....

We're going this year!

Search my name, I've been on here for a couple of years.

Friends have taken their DCs on previous years and thought it great so we are trying it out.

Personally I hate Santa-shite stuff, so may be one of those people to whom Hamlette refers: "a total b*tch and you don't love anything, then lapland UK will be no different ;-)" God, I wish they'd use that as their slogan.

We had a question about something to do with the day and we had an email explaining the answer. Then a very posh, Tunbridge Wells-type lady rang up to give me the answer again. She kept calling me "Mrs Balloonslayer" and went on and on about the elves, as if they were real. It was priceless. At one point I said, rather faintly, "Er well if we can't all fit in I don't mind waiting outside, I'm not really into all that..." "Oh but you MUST see it, Mrs Balloonslayer" she boomed, "It's absolutely magical."

If they are all like her I think I might have to chew my own leg off to escape before I die of Enthusiasm Poisoning.

I will report back if you like

Don't let a single child touch those gingerbread men. They're not for them. They can have some gruel if they're starving. Stand firm.

We know you, BalloonSlayer! When are you going? Please do report back.

In a couple of weeks!

I forgot to say that the DCs have got their invitations, personalised, and were really excited.

"When do you think we'll be able to go?" they asked.

"Erm, on the XXth Dec" we said.

They gave us a look. "How do you know?"

"Errrrm, well errrr, there was a special Mummy and Daddy letter sent to us with the date."

It would have been SO much better if their invitations could have had the date on as well as their names, and for virtually no extra work on their part.

"no hamlette, this whole argument boils down to the fact that hardworking families are spending huge amounts of hard earned money to have what is marketed as a magical day out to remember forever

and what they are getting is a few spotty yoofs with curly elf shoes and a bit of tinsel"

Oh dear I'm not sure I like being called a "spotty yoof" haha. Thats just rude, and completely inaccurate, some of the Sami reindeer herders for example are hot hot hot!

Have you been to Lapland UK? Because I go every day so can answer any questions that people who are genuinely interested in going and aren't sure whether to spend the money may have, in order that they make their own personal decision about what is right for THEM, seeing as I get paid whether or not YOU in particular come, I don't care whether or not you do! Just thought anyone might have specific questions and was willing to help. Not sure that deserves a tirade of personal insults, but what the hell!!

noone insulted you personally hamlette. Anymore than you insulted me personally with your bitch comment perviosuly...

It's lovely to see such loyalty.
But a job is for life, not just for christmas, surely

I wasn't calling you a bitch at all, you just seemed to assign that to yourself!

Lol yes a job for life certainly would be good.. Perhaps any of you who are convinced I'm in PR & marketing for Lapland could reccommend me to any of your marketeer friends! I certainly seem to be a natural!!

hamlette - simple question... is it worth the money? Is it worth £250 to take me, my partner, my 3 yo and my 9 mo?

Good Question! me and the fellow elves were discussing this today and we think the ideal age for a child at Lapland UK is around 6/7. Its worth the money I think at that age, because they are old enough to understand everything thats going on (learning the songs, answering questions etc), but young enough to still be completely captivated. IMO I would wait a couple of years and then go? Although the price may have escalated even more!!! And do try and book on the rehearsal days (usually right at the beginning) for cheaper tix. there are plenty of 3yo that go and really love it! The baby ticket (of £10) doesn't include anything other than entrance and a toy from FC and lots of attention from broody elves!!

I hope that helps you decide

So that a no then....?

*thats

Broody elves not including yourself then?

its entirely up to you, i don't know your particular kids so cant be sure, I'm just saying if it were me and i could only afford to go once, I'd wait until my kids were 4-8 yo... Decorating gingerbread and fastening horses bridles/buckles can be a bit fiddly, can your 3yo do that sort of thing yet?

Lol maybe I'm a very slightly broody elf but must put some more hours in at the toy factory before I can build my nest

You can see some visitors home movies of it on youtube. People do look as though they're being herded around in a crowd, which looks off putting.
But the buy 2 tickets, get 2 free makes it a little bit more reasonable.