SantaLand @ Earls Court

[Joanne UK]

Has anyone been or is anyone going?

We are going this Sunday, it's a surprise for the children. I was really looking forward to it but I'm not so sure now. It's got unflattering reviews on one forum I've looked at - apparently the queue to see Father Christmas is between 2 and 31/2 hours. The shortest queue reported at a ride was 45 minutes. It opened last weekend so I can only hope that initial teething problems have been sorted out by now.

Joanne

 

[Dimplenose]

I've not been but I did see a rather unfavourable report (mostly due to the queues) on the TV news. It seems to be a victim of it's own success. Let us know how you get on.

Libby

 

[florida sun]

I hope you have a great time Joanne and that the queues are not too bad, let us know what is was like.



Sue

 

[mark&sue]

my friend tried to get tickets and was told they were sold out.

Hope you have a great time.



Susan

 

[wils]

I hope you enjoy it - please write us a review!

 

[mandymouse]

That sounds like loads of fun Joanne, I would love to go. I hope you all have a fab day

 

[Joanne UK]

We went to Santaland today as previously posted.

Altogether the tickets cost us £79 for a family of 4 and I have to say it wasn't worth the money.

They did sort out the queueing problems they experienced last weekend - the visit to Santa's grotto is now the first thing you do rather than the last. The children are given 6 tokens each for rides and they can't go on anymore than 6, again the queues for the rides weren't too bad but we had an 11am entry slot when it wasn't that busy, it was alot more crowded in the afternoon.

However there was one incident which had me raging. I was walking with Amber who is 5 to her horse on the Carousel when the ride started to move. She panicked, I panicked and started yelling "Stop". The ride was still going and picking up speed - it is quite a bit faster than the Carousel at DLP. DH was on the ride with our youngest daughter and saw me and managed to attract the attention of the woman in charge of the ride who did eventually stop it. I put Amber on her horse and then sat in one of the Carriages just behind her but I was too angry to enjoy any of it. Once it finished I went over to the woman and complained, a man who appeared to be more senior than her came over to see what was going on and they said that I must have got on the ride and then got off again as 2 people checked that everyone was seated.! At this point I lost it - not only had they endangered my daughter's safety but they were making out that it was my fault. After a heated exchange he apologised and accepted that they were at fault but I'm still angry about it and think I will probably take it further by writing in a complaint.

Overall it was an OK day out - the children enjoyed it which is the main thing.

 

[Cyrano]

Joanne that sounds very dangerous. I would definitely write to the Council who would be responsible for the owners licence.

 

[mandymouse]

Joanne, I'm sorry to hear that this incident put a dampener on your day. I too think you should write and complain, you will probably feel a lot better when you have made your feelings clear, and hopefully stop this kind of thing happening again. I'm pleased the kids enjoyed themselves though

 

[florida sun]

Joanne, thats just terrible, I would write and complain.

Im so glad the children enjoyed it


Sue