Santa on Very Merrytime Cruise?

[CBEB]

We’re booked on the 12/7 Cruise. Do kids get to sit in Santa’s Lap for photos?

 

[MSPeeler]

It appears they do/can.

(images linked to blogs)

 

[ScooterScott44]

Yes, we can confirm, DS was able to on a 2013 Very Merry Christmas Cruise.

 

[Erin Mouse]

Yes, but the line wasn’t worth it for us. (On the dream last year)

 

[tlprice]

We’re booked on the 12/7 Cruise. Do kids get to sit in Santa’s Lap for photos?

Yes. (We did this Dec. 2017). There are several times available to meet Santa. We did one that was fairly early in the morning to avoid lines. There was only one other person in line so my daughter got some good quality time with Santa. I was disappointed that it wasn't a more authentic Santa. For Disney, I would have expected a more authentic Santa. We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.

 

[oam]

Yes. (We did this Dec. 2017). There are several times available to meet Santa. We did one that was fairly early in the morning to avoid lines. There was only one other person in line so my daughter got some good quality time with Santa. I was disappointed that it wasn't a more authentic Santa. For Disney, I would have expected a more authentic Santa. We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.
View attachment 343097

Authentic Santa . Its either Santa or not.

 

[oam]

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.
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Bass Pro doesn't have to feed and house Santa in addition to paying him like DCL would have to for several months on 4, soon to be 7, ships. The Bass Pro Santa is probably a professional Santa as well, which are easier to come by on land than way out at sea.

The Santas may work like clergy on cruises, if there is one cruising who wants to do the gig...great! If not, you have a cast member do it like in the second photo above. Also like clergy, DCL may pay to have a professional Santa on board for the actual Christmas cruises.

 

[gotomu212]

I would echo a PP on the lines. These move MUCH slower than the normal character lines since everyone talks to Santa. We were in line an hour and twenty minutes for ours. If you see it listed early in the cruise/early in the morning jump on it!

 

[Dug720]

Yes. (We did this Dec. 2017). There are several times available to meet Santa. We did one that was fairly early in the morning to avoid lines. There was only one other person in line so my daughter got some good quality time with Santa. I was disappointed that it wasn't a more authentic Santa. For Disney, I would have expected a more authentic Santa. We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.
View attachment 343097

He looks pretty authentic to me...

 

[tlprice]

He looks pretty authentic to me...

He was okay and perfectly nice and great with the kids. It was just that he had a fake beard and mustache. The DCL promo pictures always show a Santa with a real beard and mustache like in MSPeeler's first photo above. I understand they probably have to be a crew member that probably does other jobs too. I was just a little bit disappointed. We still enjoyed the experience of meeting him on the cruise. We didn't go see Santa on our other Merrytime cruise so who knows what he looked like. I'm sure it varies from cruise to cruise and year to year who you get.

 

[Dug720]

He was okay and perfectly nice and great with the kids. It was just that he had a fake beard and mustache. The DCL promo pictures always show a Santa with a real beard and mustache like in MSPeeler's first photo above. I understand they probably have to be a crew member that probably does other jobs too. I was just a little bit disappointed. We still enjoyed the experience of meeting him on the cruise. We didn't go see Santa on our other Merrytime cruise so who knows what he looked like. I'm sure it varies from cruise to cruise and year to year who you get.

Ah. I've pretty much always experienced Santas with fake beards and mustaches. They're just reps for the real guy anyway!

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Yes. (We did this Dec. 2017). There are several times available to meet Santa. We did one that was fairly early in the morning to avoid lines. There was only one other person in line so my daughter got some good quality time with Santa. I was disappointed that it wasn't a more authentic Santa. For Disney, I would have expected a more authentic Santa. We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.
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I very much agree with you!! I would absolutely expect the Santa to look like the Santa in the Disney ad, with a real beard and authentic appearance. I don’t blame you for feeling disappointed. I am pretty sure it wouldn’t be that hard to find some authentic Santas...the one at our local mall has been doing the gig for years and he is awesome!

 

[Lovewinnie]

We were on the Dream in December. The line for Santa on the first meeting was insane. I went early on the second meeting (there were only 2 offered on the 4 night) and I got front of line. Santa was definitely a younger cast member. It was still a fun meet and greet though. Kids got to put their name on the nice or naughty list while waiting in line. If authentic Santa is important then may be best to not do on the cruise.

 

[dclpluto]

He was okay and perfectly nice and great with the kids. It was just that he had a fake beard and mustache. The DCL promo pictures always show a Santa with a real beard and mustache like in MSPeeler's first photo above. I understand they probably have to be a crew member that probably does other jobs too. I was just a little bit disappointed. We still enjoyed the experience of meeting him on the cruise. We didn't go see Santa on our other Merrytime cruise so who knows what he looked like. I'm sure it varies from cruise to cruise and year to year who you get.

Nope on one of my cruises I seen Santa and mrs Santa all the time.their stateroom was a few doors down from mine. Seen him all the time at the pool and other places. I imagine they was on for all the merry time cruises for that ship. I imagine they get 4 actual couples that look like Santa and his wife cheaper that way. They only take up one stateroom that way. I imagine the pay isn’t that good but to be on a Disney ship for 2 months and you really don’t work that long is a great job for retirees.he will say merry Christmas every time I seen him.

 

[disneylove69]

Yes. (We did this Dec. 2017). There are several times available to meet Santa. We did one that was fairly early in the morning to avoid lines. There was only one other person in line so my daughter got some good quality time with Santa. I was disappointed that it wasn't a more authentic Santa. For Disney, I would have expected a more authentic Santa. We have a much more authentic Santa at Bass Pro where we always go to get Santa pictures.
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Santa looks like he needed some egg nog... the adult kind

 

[xQuizx]

I thought Santa looked good on our last cruise.

Make sure to get into line early!!! I'm talking 30 minutes before they start. We got into line 15 minutes before the start and it took a hour and a half to get to Santa. In Santa's defense he did take his time talking to all the kids.

Oh and yes Santa does let the kids sit on his lap.

 

[AU Dre]

This was the Santa from our Merrytime Cruise this past December. We were on the Wonder out of Galveston. We did not do the photo time were the kids got to sit in his lap and take pictures as we did not want to wait in the line that long. We got this picture at one of the open "meet and greet" events in the atrium that they had. We also got one with Mrs Claus.
I am not sure what Santa did for the rest of the trip as I did not recognize him from anywhere else around the ship. Mrs. Claus was definitely one of the cast members from the theater productions. She looked great as well, but I recognized her from the shows.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

He was okay and perfectly nice and great with the kids. It was just that he had a fake beard and mustache. The DCL promo pictures always show a Santa with a real beard and mustache like in MSPeeler's first photo above. I understand they probably have to be a crew member that probably does other jobs too. I was just a little bit disappointed. We still enjoyed the experience of meeting him on the cruise. We didn't go see Santa on our other Merrytime cruise so who knows what he looked like. I'm sure it varies from cruise to cruise and year to year who you get.

I agree with you, I was disappointed that these pictures show a young man with a fake beard. Most of the malls hire authentic "Santas" these days. I don't see any mall Santa's with fake beards anymore. Not like when I was growing up. You would think Disney could find some jolly old man that looks like Santa who might want to spend a few weeks on a cruise ship.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Authentic Santa . Its either Santa or not.

I totally agree with tlprice.

I find it hard to believe that Disney doesn't have amazing (at least up to Disney standards) Santas on board DCL, but I guess they are in short supply so that's how you end up with a skinny young kid from the MDR staff being Santa. I guess it could be worse..


Keep on filling out those comment cards and voice your opinion because we know Disney listens. They brought back our beloved All Hands on Deck and I've got my resort refillable mug handles back.

With all that being said, I would be a bit let down as well after seeing the marketing promos for the Disney Very Merrytime cruises and not getting what was advertised.