Meeting Father Christmas

[jen]

Hi
I would really appreciate some help with this bit of my overly elaborate plan. We are taking the 3 children to WDW in Dec but coming home before Christmas Day. Now every year we visit the same Father Christmas at the same store, and my kids believe he is the "real" thing (in other stores he is a helper) - and if they don't think this, and think they are all helpers then they pretend for my sake very convincingly, because he is the real thing.

They are about to receive a letter from said Father Christmas (I know cos he rang me and told me) to tell them about our trip. At the moment he and I are in debate about whether he is sending them on the trip, or I am, but either way, he is going to ask them to visit him in WDW instead of Manchester.

My question is - how will I know which one he is? For example, does the Father Christmas in the UK part of WS speak with a British accent? Or will he be the genuine one in DD or the American area of WS, as we are visiting that country. They know all about Father Christmas having different guises and names in different parts of the world, so visiting them all won't be a problem, but I want to make sure we don't miss the real one.

Any suggestion/help greatfully received.
Thanks
Jen

[JuniorMickey]

There is a Santa in each country of the WS

[uscwest]

Well, not quite there JM. In Mexico, they have the 3 kings, in Norway Julenissen, who is dressed more like an elf, in China, the Monkey King, in Japan, Daruma, in Morocco, one of the CMs told us about Ramadan and Italy had La Befana, a story teller.

I know that the US of course had Santa Clause, Canada, Germany and the UK I believe had Father Christmas, France - St. Nicklaus. My memory is slipping though.

[wdwgrandma]

Click here to see some of the photos I took in the World Showcase during the holidays:
http://community.webshots.com/album/34603241xFDYhp

[joanne]

I'd tell them the UK Father Christmas is the real one. He'll probbaly be the one whose accent and outfit they'll identify with most.

[OKWTink]

It's Pere Noel in France, and yes, each country with a Santa figure has the "accent" (either actual or created :wink: ) to go along with it.

It's not set up so much for visiting, as it is to hear the traditions of each country. The Santa figure (or other storyteller) comes out and shares the traditions of Christmas (or some other celebratory holiday that happens around that time of year) with the audience.

If you want a real, sit on the lap Santa, you'll need to go to DTD. It will be the American (Thomas Nash) version there. Red suit, white beard, elves (tall ones!) as helpers...

[Slowhand]

Why not tell the children that as everyone knows, the REAL Father Christmas lives in Lapland.

As Lapland is not represented in WS, his very best "helpers" are there in all the countries while the "real" one carries on with organising things for the big day.

[jen]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think we will either go with Slowhand's idea or tell them that he has an American accent as we are in Florida, and visit in DD. Now all I have to do is work out which one of us is taking the credit for this trip!

Jen

[d_dreamer]

Jen, I have to say, your a good mom to try to figure this out