Santa Fast Pass, paying to be first in line to see Santa

[Anonymous]

a friend's 10y/o son got to santa in time to hear him he wanted to shoot himself in the head for not getting a break. she complained to the mall, they set up a private meeting with santa, free pic package and a autographed baseball from santa.

[Anonymous]

I found out about fast pass while on the Westfield page trying to find out santas hours. All Westfield malls do it ;Wheaton and Montgomery). After going last weekend where the wait extended beyond when Santa would be there, I decided to get the fast pass. I have an infant and toddler who wld never last more than 20 minutes in a line.

There was a modest line in Wheaton when we got there and they told us they were no longer accepting fast pass even though the website was still selling them and said nothing about an end date. Of course I advised since we'd already paid for it.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. But trust me, no one wants my screaming infant and toddler crying behind them for an hour. I don't feel guilty about it. They need a better system, especially at the really busy santas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a friend's 10y/o son got to santa in time to hear him he wanted to shoot himself in the head for not getting a break. she complained to the mall, they set up a private meeting with santa, free pic package and a autographed baseball from santa.

Sounds like a Seinfeld episode. Kramer played Santa at a dept store and didn't get a break. Elaine's boyfriend was a Communist and protested for worker's rights when he heard about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa fast pass? It's like the express lines at Disney World or the new Lexis lanes on the Beltway. Yuck.

Actually it is NOT like the fast passes at Disney. The fast passes at Disney are FREE. Anyone, regardless of household income can get one. All you do is go to the ride, slide your card, get a fast pass and come back a few hours later. You can only get a few every few hours.

As for the Beltway, I'm okay with that as well. If someone wants to pay for an express Lane, go for it.

But PAYING extra to bypass kids waiting for Santa is just gross. I'm with you OP. That is not keeping with the "Christmas spirit."

OK, I agree that it stinks- but you are in a mall, telling santa what you want people/him to buy you. I think that being able to buy a fastpass for this is EXACTLY the Christmas spirit that we are have cultivated.
I think its all gross.

[Anonymous]

Money really can buy everything

[Anonymous]

Why on EARTH would anyone stand in line to see Santa with a BABY? They don't know who Santa is! That's just strange.

[Anonymous]

Nice try 5:28 but you SHOULD feel guilty. Those are not adults you cut in front of just because you have more money - they are little KIDS waiting to see SANTA. Amazing to me that people are oblivious enough to think this is totally fine simply because it is more convenient for them. And I say this - as do most posting here I think - as someone who could afford the fast pass. It is the moral bankruptcy of cutting in front of other people's 3 year olds who are waiting to see Santa Claus that is mind boggling to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found out about fast pass while on the Westfield page trying to find out santas hours. All Westfield malls do it ;Wheaton and Montgomery). After going last weekend where the wait extended beyond when Santa would be there, I decided to get the fast pass. I have an infant and toddler who wld never last more than 20 minutes in a line.

There was a modest line in Wheaton when we got there and they told us they were no longer accepting fast pass even though the website was still selling them and said nothing about an end date. Of course I advised since we'd already paid for it.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. But trust me, no one wants my screaming infant and toddler crying behind them for an hour. I don't feel guilty about it. They need a better system, especially at the really busy santas.

As long as YOU don't have to wait! Screw the little kids you jumped on front of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who wait in line for an hour+ with any child under the age of about 18 mos. for Santa kind of deserve whatever comes their way. Is a newborn going to whisper in Santa's ear, or what was the thinking here? Photo op for mommy's Facebook page?

Give me a break. My MIL gave us a little booklet to file pics with Santa and we do it every year (this is DS's third Christmas). We now have an infant and put him in the pic too. It'll be a sweet memory. Asshole.

Ok. You are given a break because your MIL gave you a booklet and you have no choice but to dutifully fill it.

You're a charming person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa fast pass? It's like the express lines at Disney World or the new Lexis lanes on the Beltway. Yuck.

Actually it is NOT like the fast passes at Disney. The fast passes at Disney are FREE. Anyone, regardless of household income can get one. All you do is go to the ride, slide your card, get a fast pass and come back a few hours later. You can only get a few every few hours.

As for the Beltway, I'm okay with that as well. If someone wants to pay for an express Lane, go for it.

But PAYING extra to bypass kids waiting for Santa is just gross. I'm with you OP. That is not keeping with the "Christmas spirit."

I'm trying to figure out what precisely you believe the Christmas spirit to be.

Egalitarial crass commercialism, as opposed to elitist crass commercialism?

[Anonymous]

I saw the fast pass online too. I could have afforded it but waited in line instead. For me, waiting in line was worth the message I would have sent to my kids by allowing them to jump in front of other kids who have less money. This is the problem with parenting today. It is not about what is easier, more convenient, or not wanting to let your kid cry because the wait is long. All of that impacts only today. The message you send however, lasts a lot longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa fast pass? It's like the express lines at Disney World or the new Lexis lanes on the Beltway. Yuck.

Actually it is NOT like the fast passes at Disney. The fast passes at Disney are FREE. Anyone, regardless of household income can get one. All you do is go to the ride, slide your card, get a fast pass and come back a few hours later. You can only get a few every few hours.

As for the Beltway, I'm okay with that as well. If someone wants to pay for an express Lane, go for it.

But PAYING extra to bypass kids waiting for Santa is just gross. I'm with you OP. That is not keeping with the "Christmas spirit."

OK, I agree that it stinks- but you are in a mall, telling santa what you want people/him to buy you. I think that being able to buy a fastpass for this is EXACTLY the Christmas spirit that we are have cultivated.
I think its all gross.

TOTALLY agree with this. Well said!

[Anonymous]

It never occured to me to take my daughter to see Santa, either last year when she was 3 months old or this year when she is 15 months old. She has no idea who or what Santa is. Why would I do that? So I can take a photo? I have lots of cute Christmas photos of her.

And yes, I think that Santa Fast Pass is terrible. The beeper idea is brilliant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It never occured to me to take my daughter to see Santa, either last year when she was 3 months old or this year when she is 15 months old. She has no idea who or what Santa is. Why would I do that? So I can take a photo? I have lots of cute Christmas photos of her.

And yes, I think that Santa Fast Pass is terrible. The beeper idea is brilliant.

You're a little clueless.

[Anonymous]

The fast pass is gross.

3 years running, I have taken my kids to Tyson's Corner Galleria. If you go on a week day, the line is really short. We went last Thursday around lunchtime and there was no line.