Just wondering if anyone can suggest a really great Santa Claus to get a "Picture with Santa" done for our 13-month-old son. I've heard that the Santa at Northpark Mall is GREAT, but I've also heard that the line and the wait are not great. Our 13-month-old will probably not tolerate standing around for a very long period of time. Any suggestions or recommendations? It would be nice to find a Santa that isn't wearing a fake-looking beard and looks to be 19 years old behind that beard! :D
We survived visiting the Stonebriar Santa and I really liked him. My son sat very well with him and didn't seem to be afraid of him at all. He seemed to be more freaked out by the women standing behind the camera who were shaking sleigh bells trying to get him to smile. He started to get upset at the very end from being stared at and cajoled by Santa's helpers. We didn't end up with a smiley picture, but we didn't get a crying/screaming picture either, so I definitely will NOT complain. Thank you again to everyone who offered their input on where to visit Santa!! We will go back to this Santa again next year!
I like both the Willowbend & Stonebriar mall santas. They both look so real!
However Stonebrair's mall santa doesn't wear the red suit & my daughter this year wanted to know why the Stonebriar's santa isn't all dressed up... She thinks all santa's have to wear the red suit.
So if you want the red suit go to Willowbend mall!
Stonebriar Mall whitout question! I love the old-time Santa look and he is great. And they give the kid's a button with Santa the says "I've seen the Big Guy!".
Stonebriar Mall hands down. But the one at Willow Bend is a VERY CLOSE second!!! Either one will turn out beautiful!
Take your stroller and see if your son will handle being in his stroller during your wait and then take him out and let him run around close to you for a minute as you're approaching the "entrance" to Santa.
-Char
Willowbend has a great santa, but watch the picture before it's printed. The Santas are great, but the photographer doesn't always crop the picture correctly.
I took my son on a Monday at 3:30pm and there were only 5 people ahead of us. You gotta do it before school gets out and during a time when no one else will be there. It's worth re-arranging your schedule for.
I love the one at Stonebriar Mall. It is the same Santa every year. He is great! If you can, go during the middle of the day on a weekday so the bigger kids are in school and the line is not bad at all.
We like the one at Willowbend and there usually are crazy long lines.
We used the Santa at Northpark last year...it was not too bad. We went on a Saturday, so there was a wait, however they gave us a number and we went shopping, had a snack,and then came back. Once back we only waited about 15 minutes for our number. I thought it was a great system...loved the Santa..he did great with our lil' girl who was 12 months at the time...she almost lost it, but he pulled out a tiny stuffed reindeer and she was fine. Good luck....
K.
My DD took our new Grandson to Collin Creek. No Line, less than 10 minute wait. Santa has a real beard and wonderful suit. She said he was jolly an patient too. The elves took several shots and let her choose the best one. A wonderful photo!
Nana to 2
I am not sure where you are located but we went to the Santa at the Gallaria. Very real looking and very nice. And the photos weren't bad either. I have been to the Willowbend santa and although he was very nice, I felt the pictures could have been better. Good luck.
Vista Ridge in Lewisville has a good Santa. Same guy each year, classic suit, real beard, good with kids. They also take good pictures. The theme is the Rudolph movie and there are various picture packages, not a rip off. Weekdays are your best bet for the line. Good luck!
S.,
I took my 12 month old to Willowbend this past Monday morning...and there was no line. If you can get there on a weekday, I highly recommend it. We went the Sunday before and left, because there was no way she would make it. I scouted out the Santas and thought he looked great. Will be happy to send you a photo of my sweet little girl staring Santa down so that you can check him out for yourself...his beard is real!
Just e-mail me ____@____.com and I will send it over.
K.
Hey S., I sent this same question out last year and everyone told me North Park. I was very disappointed. It really is for bigger kids, but besides that the lines were very long and the picture quality wasn't that great. I went to Collin Creek after that experience (and again this year)and there has never been a line (or it is very short)and the picture was awesome (you can get a cd too for emailing). I was very happy with the Santa there and it is close to the playground and food court. Good luck! Angela
Our favorite is the Stonebriar Santa also. Nothing fake about him!!
We have gone to the same Santa at Stonebriar for the past 5 years now, we love him and think he is a great guy!!! It's so neat to have a picture made every year with the same Santa! We went last Tuesday at 2:15 and there was one person in line ahead of us. Very easy day, just wish my little one liked to sit with Santa! :-(
We have been going to the Santa at Stonebriar. I checked all the local malls before we decided to go to this one. We have gone three times. Once when I was pregnant, when my son was 4 months old and the other day at 16 months. We just love him. Get there early or you will wait. Go late afternoon and not on Pet night, Tues & Thurs unless you have a pet to bring. We waited 2 hours but our son loved the dogs so we were OK.
Good luck,
Patricia
Wow, it looks like everyone else favors willowbend or stonebriar. We took our little girl to Collin Creek. She is 13 months old, too. The line was probably about 10 minutes, but it was during the week. I think he looked really good. He was definitely an older man. I think the lines at Collin Creek will be shorter.
