Santa Visit

Last year we took our daughter to Somerset and it was great. We'll be going again this year. You don't wait in line, instead you have to go in the earlier day and get a time slot for later, ours was later that evening. This was a little weird for us, but once we went it was so worth the two trips and all the time you get, 5-10 minute time slot, I forget, but it's more than enough. You can buy their pictures or take your own pictures for a donation, minimal waiting in comfortable areas, no rushing, no crabby people...it was great. We love how they have it set up.

We took our 10 month old to Somerset and we could NOT have been HAPPIER. It was amazing. As another person mentioned, you have to go and get an appointment time but we went at 8am on a Sunday and we were in and out in under and hour. If you do not want to use their photographer they ask for a $10 donation to a children's charity but it is not required. It is $30 for 6 shots but you get the CD so you can go and get prints done anywhere (plus you get prints from RITZ camera as part of the cost). Everyone has asked us where we found that Santa. He was amazing.

Hi A.,

If your any good with a digital camera, you can take your own picture at Lakeside, you don't have to purchase theirs. And if you go to Costco, they have a terrific Santa and the cost is a lot less than at the mall and you get a ton more!! And the Santa at Costco is the Santa that use to be at Lakeside and actually LOOKS like Santa, the one at Lakeside these past few years has been a skinny Santa, almost Victorian looking...

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!
J. in Macomb

Pretty much all stores let you take your own photo now. They even seem to be helpful in getting the baby's attn. so you can get a good photo. At least that was a couple of yrs. ago, at Oakland Mall.

Going back to work is tough sometimes, thankfully for you, you said it will only be a few hours! We take our kids to Youngs Christmas Fantasy,it's on Ryan road, just north of the service drive in Warren. They ask for a small donation, but you can take your own pictures, or they do sell poloroid ones if you ask. Good Luck! Also, they had odd hours, I think mostly on the weekend, if you call ahead they will tell you when Santa is there. On the off season, it's a garden mart. But at Christmas time, it's like a down scaled Bronners.

Shelly

It really depends on where you want to go is if you have to pay or not. For example, at Great Lakes Crossing, the santa / polar express display was awesome, but you cannot take your own picture with Santa - and their cheapest package is $17. I would recommend calling the malls directly to ensure you get the correct answer. The rules can change from year to year if they get different companies to do their Santa pictures.

You can take your own for free.

I am not sure where you live - but the Village in Rochester Hills - the Santa visit is free BUT you have to bring your OWN camera! Not sure of the hours he is there...
It's on Adams and Walton in Rochester Hills.
Good Luck.

Hi A., I wanted to let you know that I took my 2 kids to see Santa at Lakeside a couple of weeks ago. I just happened to have my camera with me (who knew we would be seeing Santa??). You can use your own camera, and take up to two pictures. I must say my pictures turned out better than the ones I have purchased there in the past. Also they have alot of decorations up near Santa that make great photo op's. I downloaded my pictures to Shutterfly and created our Christmas card this year using the photo with Santa. Its all about saving money this year for us, and this cost me nothing!! Merry Christmas, enjoy your new little one!!

I've taken my kids to Lakeside in the past and have been allowed to take a picture but was told specifically that I could only take one.

Also, just wanted to comment about the Santa that used to be at Lakeside but someone said is now at Costco...I agree, he really did look like the real thing and the Santa the last 2 years at Lakeside has not been nearly as good. Sad to say though that the one that used to be at Lakeside was my cousins uncle (other side of the family) and he passed away last week, his funeral was just Friday. Very sad, especially this time of the year, he was a great Santa. I had not taken my kids to Costco, didn't realize that is where he went, so I can't say 100% for sure that it's the same one, but from the description it sounds like it was.

We took my daughter to Somerset last year when she was 10 months old. There they allowed you to take your own pictures as long as you donated $5 (I believe) to the charity they sponser. Hope that helps.

This Saturday at Sterling Heights Stevenson High school we are having a "Lunch with Santa" to benefit the choirs. For $5 your child will get a lunch, get to do crafts and get a picture with Santa. The best part is, Santa brings in his Harley, so she'll get to sit on that for her picture! Starts at 11:00. Choirs will be performing all day.