Ugggh we just got our daughters pics done with Santa. We put our names on the list and were the 12th family. Two others dropped out. We were still there for an hour and a half! Seriously, what the heck? I also got to say, I am sorry but if your baby is crying and is half terrified, your not going to get a stellar picture. But even then there was only one lady that was holding up the line for that reason.
I do have to say I felt SO bad for the guy. It was really hot in there and he had to be miserable in that costume. Most of the small kids freaked out when they got to him too.
But....not my child! Nope as soon as the rope was pulled back she runs to Santa arms wide open, face plants into his belly and gave him a hug. She did great with the pics too. So yay there. Anybody else have to wait F O R E V E R for santa?
I've always kind of used the more opportunistic approach -- Hey--Santa--no line--we're doing it NOW.
I've never been much of a stickler for the hair, the perfect outfit, etc.
And we've always been pretty lucky with no line or a short line.
i tried to do it at off times, but that doesn't always work either. bleh, i hate crowds!
luckily my son's preschool has santa come :) woo hoo!
We went to Bass Pro this morning for our free pic with Santa. It went really well, we got there 15 minutes before they were supposed to start, and they'd decided to start early. We were in line for maybe half an hour, the only thing that took forever was getting our pictures to print. Apparently the girls there had never seen a computer before, they had to get maintenance down to turn the printer on for them!
We ate breakfast with Santa this morning. It was a fundraiser for the foster kids program. I have to say it was great - only a couple other kids were in front of us in line and both our kids enjoyed talking to Santa and had a cute photo taken. The line took about 3 minutes. Once we rode the "Polar Express" train in Durango and the line to sit with Santa afterwards took about 45 minutes...so I can feel your pain!
No. You have to go before Thanksgiving. I generally love Thanksgiving and dread all things Christmas befoer the season is supposed to start. But I will never go to the mall after Thanksgiving again. NO LINES.
Alternatively, look for a Breakfast with Sant event. Santa is there for the few families who pay, and he comes to your table sometimes.
A portrait studio near us had pics with Santa by appointment - you got 20 minutes with the big guy, they videotaped it and you could buy the DVD if you wanted, and then they took pics at the end. Nice thing about it being by appointment is you just came at your appointment time and didn't have to wait much at all. Maybe someplace near you offers something like that?
I stood in line for at least 20-25 minutes at the COMPANY KID'S PARTY. I can JUST imagine how painful that would have been if it were at the mall. At least I could send my husband off with our son to go look at the train display or go down by the pool and run around in the play area. INSANE.
<grin> Not only forever... but in the cold and rain (whomever designed an outdoor mall for Seattle must have not actually LIVED here. Yes. Pretty. Yes. Soaking wet.)
They build a little cabin every year in one of the parking lots. He's our FAV santa (there are indoor malls and other options). Typically we come with kiddo in jammies under his snow suit (and I wear my snow clothes as well... it's not THAT cold at 40-50 degrees... until you're standing doing nothing for 1.5-2.5 hours), bring golfing umbrellas, and hot coffee.
He's worth it.
We go when it is not crowded nor full of long lines.
Then, we take the photos of our kids, with our own camera. It is allowed here.
Then, we don't have to pay for 'their' photo, and honestly, our photo with our own camera, taken by us... is much better, than the one's that the shopping center sells to parents.
My son is 5. He still gets a tad nervous, going next to Santa. When younger, he'd freak out and cry. Yes. As many... young children do.
So because my son was like that when younger, we did NOT force him to take a photo with Santa. Nor did we hold up any lines.
Why make a child take a photo with Santa, if they are afraid and freaking out and crying?
