Santa is Becoming an A$$

[jeb6294]

I got an email from our Park District today, they send out email updates every few weeks announcing upcoming events. Today's announcement is that Santa is coming. I thought that would be nice because it's at the park that's right up the street from our house. When I read it though, you now have to make an appointment to see him, he's only seeing a limited number of kids, and they are charging $10 a pop which means it's $20 if we want to take our two kids up. We'll stick with the Santa downtown at Macys thank you very much. He's a very good Santa, real beard and everything, and you can buy a picture or you can just take your own for free.

Santa's Coming to the RecPlex

 

[Fluvial]

Jeez! Even Santa's been hit by the economy !!

I don't think I *ever* took my kids to "go see Santa". I think they were kinda scared of it. Maybe they thought they were too bad !

 

[Sschell]

My parents always took me to see santa.

Since I am tall, and have always been tall for my age, I looked older than my actual age as a kid.

In a few of the santa pictures, I look way too old to be sitting on any grown mans lap, especially Santas...

In one of the way too old looking pics (probably the way-too-oldest looking) my fly is wide open...

Its not a good look.

 

[MA_PE]

Jeb:

At first I was going to say that maybe the town was cutting back on the Park's budget and they needed to recoup money to pay the employees involved with the Santa at the park. Then I clicked on your link and read the following on the registration form.

Visit Santa's Workshop for an individual chat and photo with Santa, craft activity, and a sleigh ride! The program takes approximately 45 minutes, and is designed for children ages 2-8. Time slots are on a first-come, first-served basis; space is limited. Pre-registration required for all participating children.

For $10/per kid he gets a 45 minute long experience including his visit with Santa, a craft activity (I assume that menas they supply the stuff and your kid brings home his/her creation), and a sleigh ride. Doesn't sound very scroogish or greedy to me. Sounds like a nice thing they're doing and these things cost money to put on. I would not be surprised if Santa and his helpers are voluteering their time and the costs are hard costs associated with supplies and sleigh/horse rentals. The appointments are so that they can gage interest and also prepare in advance.

sschell: I'll bet that Santa photo is a family heirloom now.

 

[Ble_PE]

Our neighborhood is having a Cookies with Santa day this Saturday. You take a toy for a charity and your kids get to sit on Santa's lap. We are going to take mini-ble to meet Santa for the first time. Hopefully he don't freak out.

I still remember one time that my parents took us to see Santa at the mall and he was wearing glasses. That was the first time I had seen Santa with glasses and for some reason, I would not go near him.

 

[MA_PE]

we went on a vacation to Disneyworld in DEcember one year when the kids were small. They had a Santa at the American pavillion in Epcot center that one would swear was the real Santa. Heavy guy with a flowing white beard and long white hair, pretty amazing.

I actually kinda miss taking the kids to see Santa. It's a great time, enjoy it while you can because they'll catch on before you know it and the season loses a little magic when they do.

 

[Master slacker]

I took a picture with Santa back in 2004 with my girlfriend (who is now my wife). I had fun, but she didn't have as much fun as me. Ya see, we think that Santa was a perv... he got all excited when he saw the wifey-wife in line and practically made her sit in his lap.

 

[maryannette]

Paying to talk to Santa?! That SUCKS!

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

I actually kinda miss taking the kids to see Santa. It's a great time, enjoy it while you can because they'll catch on before you know it and the season loses a little magic when they do.

Catch onto what?

I took a picture with Santa back in 2004 with my girlfriend (who is now my wife). I had fun, but she didn't have as much fun as me. Ya see, we think that Santa was a perv... he got all excited when he saw the wifey-wife in line and practically made her sit in his lap.

It could have just been a candy cane in his pocket.

 

[jeb6294]

For $10/per kid he gets a 45 minute long experience including his visit with Santa, a craft activity (I assume that menas they supply the stuff and your kid brings home his/her creation), and a sleigh ride. Doesn't sound very scroogish or greedy to me. Sounds like a nice thing they're doing and these things cost money to put on. I would not be surprised if Santa and his helpers are voluteering their time and the costs are hard costs associated with supplies and sleigh/horse rentals.

Their "sleigh ride" is a ride in their flatbed being towed by their tractor...it's the same thing they use for the hayrides in the fall. Nothing screams Christmas like a snoot full of diesel fumes while some guy tries to drive you around the parking lot, badly (we did the hayride and I think I almost got whiplash). Their crafts are usually some prefab color and cut-out garbage with some local business' ad scrawled all over it, i.e. already paid for. That from the park department that just leased spots in two of their parks for cell phone towers.

I actually was Santa one year. A guy at work needed someone to do the dress-up thing at the local Walmart so he got me to do it. It was pretty bad...Santa with a white beard and brown eyebrows just doesn't quite work. Believe me, there were plenty of moms who were eager to sit on Santa's lap and fortunately they weren't your typical Walmart types so I wasn't complaining.

 

[MA_PE]

For $10/per kid he gets a 45 minute long experience including his visit with Santa, a craft activity (I assume that menas they supply the stuff and your kid brings home his/her creation), and a sleigh ride. Doesn't sound very scroogish or greedy to me. Sounds like a nice thing they're doing and these things cost money to put on. I would not be surprised if Santa and his helpers are voluteering their time and the costs are hard costs associated with supplies and sleigh/horse rentals.

Their "sleigh ride" is a ride in their flatbed being towed by their tractor...it's the same thing they use for the hayrides in the fall. Nothing screams Christmas like a snoot full of diesel fumes while some guy tries to drive you around the parking lot, badly (we did the hayride and I think I almost got whiplash). Their crafts are usually some prefab color and cut-out garbage with some local business' ad scrawled all over it, i.e. already paid for. That from the park department that just leased spots in two of their parks for cell phone towers.

I actually was Santa one year. A guy at work needed someone to do the dress-up thing at the local Walmart so he got me to do it. It was pretty bad...Santa with a white beard and brown eyebrows just doesn't quite work. Believe me, there were plenty of moms who were eager to sit on Santa's lap and fortunately they weren't your typical Walmart types so I wasn't complaining.

Well then. I guess all I can say is f' the freakin' money grubbing opportunist bahstaeds and thier sham of a Xmas event. You should go shoot them with a Red Ryder BB- gun for taking advantage of kids at this christmas season.

 

[jeb6294]

Well then. I guess all I can say is f' the freakin' money grubbing opportunist bahstaeds and thier sham of a Xmas event. You should go shoot them with a Red Ryder BB- gun for taking advantage of kids at this christmas season.

Nah...I'd probably just shoot my eye out I mean get hit in the eye with an icicle.