South Jersey Mall Charging to See Santa – UPDATE
If you want to see Santa, you have to pay a cover charge of between $35 and $50, which entitles them to a photo or video of the visit. Wait, what?
Update as of 11/16/2015 at 4:50pm -
Cherry Hill Mall Management issued this statement on Monday:
Our customers and their mall experience is our number one priority. After last year’s wildly successful debut of “Adventure to Santa – A DreamWorks DreamPlace,” at Cherry Hill Mall, we decided to bring back the interactive journey for families to enjoy this holiday season...In the spirit of the holiday season, we want to keep things festive and bright. We have heard and value our loyal customers’ feedback and as a result, have decided to remove the photo package purchase requirements.
As previously reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Cherry Hill Mall has a really elaborate holiday display, with a virtual sleigh ride and singing elves along with Santa Claus.
It's called "Adventure to Santa" and if your little ones want to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas, you'll have to pay the cover charge. Not only that, the way they have the display laid out, you can't even see Santa unless you pay to go into the exhibit! Bah humbug.
Some parents are all fired up, and are unleashing their rage on Facebook. They are complaining that the new $35-$50 'cover charge' is too expensive for low-income children. "I find it classist and it creates a divide between children during a holiday which is supposed to be about equality and giving and having everyone participate in the joy of Christmas," Sulaiha Bitar told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
How do you feel about having to pay a 'cover charge' to see Santa? Take The Mike Show's South Jersey Survey.