I was wondering if anyone has had experience with different Santa locations around the metro? We want to go for the first Santa photos on Sunday, but aren't sure where to go. MOA? Southdale? Rosedale?
Just curious if anyone had an opinion...
I always liked the one at Rosedale and in the past, they have let me use my own camera, I do not know if they are doing that this year.
S.
We had our daughter's taken at Rosedale and the Santa there is very real looking and very paitent. I really enjoyed the experience!
Best of luck!
Sam
There's also the Bachman's Santa. At Bachman's they do four little shows a day -- 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. -- about 20 minutes of plot and singing. Then you can take your photos with Santa for free with your own camera -- there's no cost to either the skit or taking the photo -- and the Santa looks great. Also, because there's the skit ahead of time, the kids have some time to get acclimated to Santa and to not be afraid of him.
Good luck.
we have gone to Rosedale mall out of the way a far away from us but we love them and are good pics. also usually not a long line and there is fun stuff for the kids to look at they set up this whole outside animals winter theme in line we play games like find the squirle etc. and passes the time the kids also usually get some stickers or something when they are done. you can look at their website for details. I hope this helps
I won't go anywhere but Southdale. Hands down the best Santa ever..in my opinion. I'm convinced he's the real thing! Oh wait. He is :)
Valley Creek Mall in Woodbury is hosting photos on Saturday in Dec. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m....not sure if they're free, but I'm planning on taking my kids there this weekend (hoping it won't be so crowded). I guess there's a Santa and Mrs. Claus is a professional photographer. You can bring your own camera, but I'm not sure if you have to buy a package to use it (like many malls). A.
Rosedale has a nice set up but is spendy. Mall of America is good to.
Eden Prairie mall is great. I went last year and the Santa is very realistic and great with the kids.
The best of the best is the Santa at MOA located in The Park there. It's totally worth the wait if there is one. He is awesome, looks so real and will get a picture even if you kid is screaming and crying. If they get a screamer they will put the child in a rocking chair and give them something to hold in their hands to distract them and Santa will sneak up behind the child and get in the picture without the child knowing. This year we just happened to be at the Burnsville mall so we did pictures there which are great but I feel guilty I didn't go to MOA.
MOA Santa is the BEST! He's a totall pro-we've brought our children there since the first one was a month old-she's now turning 4! He knows what to do in every situation-crabby kid, sleeping baby, scared child-he can handle it! Don't go right after he opens for the day or right after his lunch break though-the line can be pretty long-I'd suggest a weekday mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Honestly I wouldn't go to any other santa.
Gertens in Inver Grove Heights has a Santa come in on the weekends in December, and he's really good too. We've gone there the last couple years. The nice thing is that you don't have to buy a portrait package; you just bring your own camera and take pictures, which saves lots of money! That's my recommendation. I have also heard wonderful things about the Santa in Camp Snoopy...or the Park...or whatever it's called now! :) We tried going there once, but the line looped around and we were there a half hour and moved about a foot, so we decided to pass.
Haven't gone anywhere else, but MOA was wonderful with my 10 month old. Santa actually stays behind the younger ones so as not to scare them. Also, I think for safety reasons, he doesnt hold them. He actually looks like what we imagine santa to look like. It was a bit spendy but totally worth it for me. You can also purchase a CD (you dont have to buy a package with it) with the photos on it, this way you can do what you like with the photos. It was about $40.
Burnsville Center has the best Santa! He really looks like Santa, beard and hair and everything is all real! He is always there every year, and my friend saw on Craigslist that he is doing house-calls this year too for $50. But everyone I know says he is the best, and he is the only Santa my son has ever seen! We went there already last Sunday with a friends little girl, if you want to see one of the pics I took, go to http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n57/jessiap18/christma...
He spends some time with each child, and talks to them. He even talks to the babies. I got some cute pictures when my son was a baby of them looking at eachother. They used to let you take your own, but this year they put up a sign saying that they request that you don't use your own camera... and I hadn't brought any money cause I wasn't planning on buying them. When he asked, I told him I wasn't getting pictures because I didn't realize they didn't let you take your own anymore this year, and he told me that they ask that you don't, but won't stop you either. So I ended up taking some, but next year I will probably just buy them. Have a great Christmas!
J.
