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Travel + Fun

12th Dec 2016

I Went To The DISCOVER Santa Experience, And Here’s What Happened…

Sive O'Brien

I’m pretty sure I look forward to our Santa visits more than our kids at this time of year. It’s fair to say, some of these have been good, some middling, and some I-can’t-believe-they-still-do-this retro. But nothing, absolutely NOTHING prepared me for our experience this year.

Picture just about the perfect Santa visit: snow (fake, admittedly), fun, novelty, atmosphere, elves running around, a Santa who knows personal details about your child… and you’ve just tipped the iceberg of this experience at Fota Island Resort. And that’s exactly what it was: an experience, not just a Santa visit, but a truly magical winter wonderland family trip. I gush, but honestly, it really was truly this amazing.

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WHERE Discover at Fota Island Resort, Cork, fotadiscover.ie

WHAT Every year, the concept at Fota changes, this year it’s called Discover – and it’s all about discovering the North Pole for yourselves. Gone are the days of planes, trains and automobiles – this year, Santa’s Top Elf Travel Team unveiled their magical Teleporter and it takes you from Cork to the North Pole in a few minutes.

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WHAT TO EXPECT I can’t even count the amount of rooms and log cabins we were brought to – the kids made wishes, pushed them into machines and watched them be transported to Santa. Chirpy elves sang and played games with them. AThere was a wonder with a real-life elf through the forest of snow-topped trees, magical fair lights, and candy canes hanging from trees which brought them to Santa’s gorgeous log cabin. The man of the moment was so authentic, so interested and made the kids feel as special as they could ever feel. A gift from Santa of light-up jewellery just about topped it all off, until they were offered  “shrinking” liquid and brought to a transporter “machine” where they were whizzed to The North Pole to post their letters, slide on a huge twirly slide, drink hot chocolate, and spend time wandering around the “actual” North Pole.

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THE DAMAGE For the visit alone, from €23 per child, €15 per grown-up, but there are Discover packages for a family hotel stay B&B from €195 or a lodge self-catering package for two nights, from €415 www.fotadiscover.ie for more package suggestions.

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THE RETURN VISIT An absolute MUST! We’re already planning next year with a gang of pals.

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This brilliant blooper video just sums up the festive mood at Discover!