At £12.50 per child, the Tong experience is one of the more expensive ways to visit Santa in the area. So we were keen to find out if it is worth it. Read on to find out.
Slots for the journey are available every 10 mins, from 10am-5pm throughout Dec. We were booked into the 11.30 slot, which understandably is a peak time at the garden centre. We parked in the overflow carpark, which still had plenty of spaces left and headed round to the start of The Journey, situated next to Grasshoppers play-area. Whilst the centre itself was very busy, once we got to the Grotto, it was actually a little oasis of calm.
We joined a small queue of 9 other children and their parents (it’s 12 children max per session). Each child was given their ‘Passport to see Santa’ and bang on 11.30 we were ushered in to start our journey.
The journey to see Santa is based on the idea that Santa’s world is powered by wishes. The children journey along a number of corridors lined with life-size polar bears, mischievous elves and twinkling Christmas Trees.
Along the way they meet Santa’s little helpers – a team of mice who look fresh out of Narnia. The mice tell the children a story of how the wishes work and ask them to help make them and collect them along the journey to help Santa.
The script and actors are provided by the excellent Sneaky Experience (of Leeds Secret Market fame) and they don’t disappoint. The children were really bought into their storytelling and gave them their full attention throughout.
At the end of the 15-minute journey, the children were gathered together and ushered into Santa’s living room. Santa himself was excellent and by far the most Yorkshire Santa we’ve ever met!! He took several minutes talking to each child and letting them have their photos taken. He was particularly good with any children who were a bit nervous or upset (my daughter is scared of fluffy chicks, let alone a stranger in a red suit!).
After meeting Santa, every child was allowed to go into his workshop one at a time and choose a present from the rows of toys. The quality of the toys to choose from was really good and for some reason, my 19-month-old honed in on a medical set and has spent the last few days listening to George Pig’s heartbeat through her stethoscope!
In total the whole journey lasted about 30 mins, with the final stop being passport control where everyone was given a sheet of stamps to put in their Passport to prove they’d completed the journey.
The short answer is lots. Tong have really gone to town this year on the free elements for guests. There is a Polar Express scene in the entrance and some lovely displays of their decorations, toys and train sets. New for this year is also the Christmas Cabin, where you can get some festive refreshments, have a chat with an automated Rudolph, have your picture taken inside the massive snow globe, and even enjoy donkey rides! Be aware though that the Christmas Cabin is all outside, and if the weather is like it was on Sunday you’ll want to wrap up warm.
In addition, there’s the usual fun things to do including the Grasshoppers Play Area, large cafe and aquariums to view.
So was it worth paying a bit extra? We think for the standard and length of the experience, quality of gifts and other things to see and do whilst there – it’s worth paying for as a special treat this Christmas. We’d highly recommend.”
If you’d like to book for the Journey visit the website here. Be sure to book quickly though to avoid disappointment, as some days are already fully booked.
We’d also love to hear where else you’d highly recommend this Christmas. Why not share your experiences with us in the Wharfedale Mumbler Chat Group.