Visiting Jolly Ole St. Nick often means lines- long lines, crying and impatient children, and a hefty fee. Not this year. We avoided the wait, saved money and left smiling thanks to The Santa Experience at The Summit. Here are 5 reasons families in the Birmingham area should meet Santa there this year:
1. Appointments Available
Just go to The Santa Experience at The Summit online and book your appointment. A credit card is needed to hold your slot but it doesn’t get charged unless you don’t show up. There’s even a special Sensory Santa Day and chance for pets to visit with Santa. You will also receive email and text reminders.
2. Kids Play Area
If you make an appointment, you can avoid a wait altogether. However, you can still walk up and have your picture taken. There were no lines when we visited. But to help with any wait, there is a play area with a play kitchen, chalkboards, tables for coloring and some trucks. We ended up making a stop because the girls were so excited to create and explore.
3. No Rush
Apart from the typical wait, the screaming and the general chaos, we always feel a little stressed from the rush when we go to other places. I often find myself pushing the girls forward saying, “it’s our turn. Quick, go see Santa.” They climb onto Santa’s lap, and I jump behind the photographer frantically waiving and trying to get them to smile before the photographer stops snapping pictures. Not at Experience Santa at the Summit. Photography by Amanda Moses was amazing! She let the girls interact with Santa allowing them to take their time while taking their picture. We love the picture of them hugging Santa!
4. Inexpensive Fee
$15. That’s it. You receive one digital photo and a 4X6. Additional photos are $5 each.
5. Extra Discounts
Each child gets a wooden coin from Santa. They can use the coin to get a discount at select stores and a small toy. We used it for free children’s meals at The Cowfish Birmingham. We saved $13 before tax AND they each received an elf. That alone paid for the Santa photo.
Santa is inside The North Pole Pop-Up Shops between Bed Bath & Beyond and the movie theatre. It gave us a chance to discover new local shops. We all enjoyed chocolate treats from Birmingham Candy Company, the 
same shop formerly set up in a box car in Railroad Park. At the end of the night, we had a fun night seeing Santa, snapping pictures, playing, shopping local and eating dinner for what it would’ve cost us to see Santa elsewhere.
Thanks, Santa!
