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Backlash Forces Scrooge Mall To Scrub $50 Admission To Santa
Remember when visiting Santa at the mall was a free and joyful experience? Well, those days seem to be fading fast. Nowadays, it feels like Santa is being treated more like a celebrity than a beloved figure, with malls trying to cash in on his popularity. But parents are not buying into this trend.
Recently, New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Mall faced significant criticism after they tried to charge families to see Santa Claus. According to the Philadelphia Observer, past Santa visits were complimentary, even if parents opted not to buy photos or extras. This year, however, they decided to take a cue from Ebenezer Scrooge by placing Santa in a windowless setup that required families to pay for a pricey photo package, costing between $35 and $50, just to step inside.
The mall attempted to justify this fee by highlighting that it is one of 12 locations in the U.S. featuring Dreamworks Adventure to Santa attractions. Before meeting Santa, families would go through a 15-20 minute “experience” filled with virtual gingerbread house designing, singing elves, and even a simulated sleigh ride. The kicker? Families who simply wanted to see Santa without the added fluff couldn’t do it without shelling out money first. Last year, the same attraction didn’t require pre-purchases for entry.
Once customers caught wind of this new policy, they took to the mall’s social media pages to voice their outrage. Many suggested that if the mall wanted to charge for extras, they should offer a separate Santa experience for families who couldn’t afford the cost. One frustrated parent wrote, “It costs a $35 minimum for your child to see Santa? Ridiculous! It’s a shame! Way to take away joy from kids whose parents can’t afford it. Everyone should boycott this attraction.”
The feedback was so overwhelming that the mall quickly changed its tune. In an official statement, a mall representative acknowledged the pushback, saying, “We heard from our shoppers. Some were unhappy with our decision to charge a fee. They said ‘This is not what the holidays are about.’ So we listened.”
The holiday season is a time filled with magic and joy, but it can also create financial strain for many families. One of the simple pleasures has been the chance for kids to visit a friendly mall Santa and share their wish lists without any cost involved. Sure, interactive experiences are fun, and many families may still choose to buy photo packages, but they shouldn’t be a prerequisite for meeting Santa. After all, he’s not a pop star; he’s a symbol of generosity and goodwill who should be accessible to all.
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In summary, Cherry Hill Mall’s attempt to monetize visits with Santa sparked significant backlash from parents, leading the mall to revert its policy after receiving extensive negative feedback. Families value the tradition of a free visit to Santa, and the holidays should be about joy and togetherness, not just profit.