Walking in a winter wonderland!!

[janaage]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/3944374.Heartbreak_for__winter_wonderland__families/

I know it's pretty sad that people have lost money over this, but what did they expect?  Really?  A Winter wonderland in Dorset.  As some of the comments at the bottom of the story say this Tracy woman saying it's "The biggest disappointment I have ever experienced" is a bit rich, as she ain't even been yet.

[Arriba]

was discussed on radio 2 yesterday.sounds awful from peoples accounts of the place

[leefer]

Apparently an elf got knocked out cold...i couldnt help chuckling at that...ho,ho ho,in fact.

[pauld]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/3944374.Heartbreak_for__winter_wonderland__families/

I know it's pretty sad that people have lost money over this, but what did they expect?  Really?

Value for money? Something vaguely commensurate with the photos on the website? Something that might make their kids smile rather than leave them in tears? From what I've heard/seen, I'd be bloody fuming if I'd taken my kids there, paid 30 quid a head, queued for hours then been confronted with that shite. Although the punchups with Santa and the elves versus customers sound quite entertaining.

[janaage]

It sounds like something out of the League of Gentlemen, the miserable Santa (could be Papa Lazarou), the non existant, or very unimpressive "tunnel of lights" the sprinkling of fake snow, the eerie merry go round, the broken ice rink, frightened children, angry parents.  Mark, Reece and Steve should get writing, would be hilarious!

[Ardiles]

There was one woman from Brighton who travelled down the night before with her grandchildren and stayed in a local hotel.  Rather disappointed the next morning.  I do feel for her, but have to confess there's also a part of me that found it really funny.  It's almost Pythonesque.

[janaage]

Just looking at the pics on the BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7758112.stm it does look shite, but in pic 2 some people look pretty happy!  Some of the commentary is pretty good on the pics too.

"The "tunnel of light" was described by some people as a line of trees with some fairy lights hanging from them".

"The "bustling" Christmas market consisted of about four stalls"

"there was no Seamus the elf to take us to santa"

"We can assure you of an absolutely magical scene... just look how real and cold the 'snow' appears to be."

Henry Mears blamed "a few groups of professional troublemakers"

Check out the official website's photo's.

www.laplandnewforest.co.uk/SantasGrotto/MeetFatherChristmas/LaplandVillage_Gallery.html

[Jamiesfuturewife]

I think one of the major suppliers of those outdoor ice rinks went bust recently as I know quite a few hotels that hired them and have had to hastely find alternitive arrangements

[leefer]

So you could say there scating on thin ice.

[pauld]

It sounds like something out of the League of Gentlemen, the miserable Santa (could be Papa Lazarou), the non existant, or very unimpressive "tunnel of lights" the sprinkling of fake snow, the eerie merry go round, the broken ice rink, frightened children, angry parents.  Mark, Reece and Steve should get writing, would be hilarious!

Ha, that would be great, just needs Dr Chinnery "attending" to one of the huskies/reindeer. But, going back to the original article, while it would probably make a pretty good LoG episode, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to take my kids to anywhere that could happily feature in LoG without changes

[janaage]

I see your point Paul, I suppose it's just me looking on the funny side, obviously I'd be as peeved off as the next bloke if I took my niece and nephew to a place like that.

Chinnery tending to the dogs would be great, and Hilary Bliss serving bangers from his stall.  The old ladies saying "do you wanna a bag with that dear" in the Christmas market, Charlie and Stella rowing about whose idea it was to bring Julie's daughter to the wonderland.  The possibilities are endless!

[Batch]

Crapland looks pretty bad.

Is it too much to ask that the place at least tries to recreate the real Lapland experience for those who can't recreate. OK so it's in the New Forest, and to a large extent you can't polish a turd. But 3 hours queues to see Santa, a crush to get your present, a crappy muddy field with a billboard "nativity scene" and a few animals - nothing like the website looked like. Is it any wonder some people want blood?

The fact that 3000 people have contacted consumer direct/trading standards says it all. It's not been open a week yet either.

Henry Mears seems like a cock munching scammer. But he'll be laughing all the way to the bank long before trading standards can do anything.
----

The Mrs has got us tickets for Lapland UK (no relation). It looks a bit of a rip off to me price wise, plus it is in Kent. But if the lad gets a lot out of it seeing father Christmas and the elves  it will be worth it. It doesn't take long for them to grow up and lose the 'magic' so why not make the most of it.

She saw the New Forest one an showed it to one of her friends that couldn't get tickets for Lapland UK. Unfortunately they bought tickets.

[Arriba]

the one in kent was praised by someone on the radio yesterday.

[@MacPhlea]

love the discalimer at the bottom in very faint grey text...

Images and videos currently displayed on this website and our other advertising campaigns are for illustrative purposes only. We are certain the live show will far exceed these representations

!!!

[Batch]

Looks like "they" have closed this one (whoever they are).

There is another dodgy looking one that has sprung up in the west midlands now on the site of a car boot sale.

http://www.laplandwestmidlands.co.uk/contact.php

Again "Images used on this website are for illustration purposes only and may not represent the real event"