The luxury mall that charges outrageous fees for kids to see Santa Claus – and you need to make reservations

Put them on the bad list.

A mall in Los Angeles has local moms and dads roasting chestnuts over an open fire this Christmas — forcing them to shell out up to $165 for their kids’ obligatory visits with Santa Claus.

In the latest example of the inflation-era holiday sticker shock, tony Westfield in Century City is selling three time-worn, timed entry passes to their Santa’s North Pole Adventure Experience, each costing as much as cost a nice Christmas present—at least, in places that aren’t on the fringes of Beverly Hills.


A Westfield mall in Los Angeles charges a high fee to meet Santa.
A mall in Los Angeles is charging the cost of a good Christmas gift for kids to see Santa this year. Westfield Mall

Parents are encouraged to book in advance — seats are filling up fast, especially on weekends — at $109 for the Elf Pass, $125 for the Reindeer Express and $165 for the VIP pass, which lets privileged children into the Circle inner Santa.”

The latter includes – woo-hoo — complimentary cookies and “elves will prioritize your group’s check-in.”


The mall is filled with high-end retail and Santa's pop-up is similarly priced.
The mall is filled with high-end retail and Santa’s pop-up is similarly priced. Getty Images

Almost as offensive as stocking stuffers for a holiday gift, children accepted at each level get just three “dedicated” minutes with Santa in his bungalow.

The whole shebang is advertised as a 30- to 45-minute experience at the West LA favorite, located just blocks from the filming location of 1988’s Die Hard, one of the greatest holiday movies ever made. .

The rest of the time is filled with thoughts about a Christmas village with a scavenger hunt, a postcard station and more decorations like a picture train.

Oh, and the holiday pop-up — directly across from Tiffany & Co. – there is no fixed photographer for any package. And don’t even try to bring your own.

“Professional photography equipment, including camera stands or lighting equipment, is not permitted,” the mall writes.

Take it easy though, “selfies encouraged!”

The exorbitant cost and strict regulations aren’t doing much to deter the crowds — SFGate reported lines around the block when the attraction first opened last week. Although this may have something to do with the reduced rates for visits before December. 6.

The mall’s senior general manager, Louis Schillace, called the pricey “immersive experience” a “one-of-a-kind” event for Angelenos.

Speaking to SFGate, he also noted that the 1.3 million-square-foot mall, home to Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and more than 200 luxury boutiques, underwent a $1 billion renovation in 2017, a move that “really transformed the experience of holidays”.

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Image Source : nypost.com

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