Took our youngest to see Santa. Have to say considering it was the last tour of the day it was pretty poorly organised. We and another family sat in the lobby while several elves went back and forward and fr and Mrs Claus took a tea break in the den. There where some other guests checking in and Fr Christmas made what I felt to be in inappropriate comment about them joining him in his room. Thankfully this went over the heads of the children… bless there innocence.
During …the tour what was expected to be nice was that the children wrote their letter and listen to a story told by Mrs Claus… unfortunately this was drowned out by the noise being made by an ice cream machine. Not really sure why it was there in the first place nor the tea cups and cookies as neither where offered… but if it wasnt beeping then it was the fan that was deafening and distracting from the experience. Only one of the elves seemed to know what she was doing or even interacted with the children. The rest of the tour was just ok. It was a bit of fun to see Santa snoozing in what was a nicely refurbished room but when it came to each child speaking to Santa again it was a bit unorganized with no one really being sure if what to do next. The best thing about the visit was the photo even though we had to take our own as apparently your photographer had already left. We booked to eat afterwards. Over all staff serving where despite being very busy, polite and curtious. One particular staff who seems to have been there on other occasions we have eaten there was very helpful… The food was served promptly and with the exception of a bit of grissel on the steak more than acceptable. One comment from my husband would be that some attention needs to be given to the gents toilets which apparently is badly in need of an overhaul. Although I will be back for an occasional meal I would not recommend the Santa experience to anyone. This was our final year and now I wish that I had booked somewhere else. I realise it wasn't the most expensive option out there however I don't think thats the point. All in all we spent the best part of £100 in the hotel. If a little more thought was made by those playing the key parts the experience could have been so much more memorable in a positive sense.
During …the tour what was expected to be nice was that the children wrote their letter and listen to a story told by Mrs Claus… unfortunately this was drowned out by the noise being made by an ice cream machine. Not really sure why it was there in the first place nor the tea cups and cookies as neither where offered… but if it wasnt beeping then it was the fan that was deafening and distracting from the experience. Only one of the elves seemed to know what she was doing or even interacted with the children. The rest of the tour was just ok. It was a bit of fun to see Santa snoozing in what was a nicely refurbished room but when it came to each child speaking to Santa again it was a bit unorganized with no one really being sure if what to do next. The best thing about the visit was the photo even though we had to take our own as apparently your photographer had already left. We booked to eat afterwards. Over all staff serving where despite being very busy, polite and curtious. One particular staff who seems to have been there on other occasions we have eaten there was very helpful… The food was served promptly and with the exception of a bit of grissel on the steak more than acceptable. One comment from my husband would be that some attention needs to be given to the gents toilets which apparently is badly in need of an overhaul. Although I will be back for an occasional meal I would not recommend the Santa experience to anyone. This was our final year and now I wish that I had booked somewhere else. I realise it wasn't the most expensive option out there however I don't think thats the point. All in all we spent the best part of £100 in the hotel. If a little more thought was made by those playing the key parts the experience could have been so much more memorable in a positive sense.