As commercials play on every radio station and banners hang on light poles, the blissful themed fair returns. Santa’s Enchanted Forest is notorious for being a five-year-old’s dream, but this money stealing event does nothing but create an underwhelming trip for anyone who isn’t a toddler.
Santa’s Enchanted Forest is open until January 6th. Tickets are $26-$35 for a single day. This festive fair is known for its commercial stating “one ticket, all rides free.” However, this statement is simply a lie.
Once you pay for your ticket, which is already overpriced, you expect to only have to pay for food and possibly some attractions. Unfortunately, your ticket is merely a fee for stepping foot on their property.
After entering, you have to pay for “privately-owned attractions.” These privately owned attractions wouldn’t be such a bother if it didn’t take up almost all of the park. Instead of the usual abundant amount of free rides as can be found at The Fair, the majority of the park is filled with attractions priced at $5 or more.
On top of having to pay for most of the rides, you also have to wait in long lines for said rides. A simple solution to this would be to buy an express pass, but this only throws you in another line, giving more money to the fair and wasting more of your time.
Many people on Yelp and Tripadvisor complain about the theme park and their awful intentions and planning. Commenters state things such as lack of food options or disappointment in the scenery. But on top of it all, the concern also lies in the animals used at this event.
With shows and petting zoos at every turn, that unsurprisingly charge you, many of the animals are being abused.
“The stress of captivity, public display, and travel is harmful to them,” said Wendy King, one of the organizers of a protest in 2015 to the Miami New Times. “Despite criticism over the years, Santa’s Enchanted Forest continues to include exotic animal shows as part of its holiday-themed carnival.”
Santa’s Enchanted Forest finally shut down their tiger show in 2016; however, they still use animals within the park.
Santa’s Enchanted Forest does no more than use minimal effort to create a money making system for young kids and hopeful parents to fall for. Reviewers often claim that this fair is a rip-off and a lousy excuse for a Miami theme park.
“I think that Miami has a need for a theme park. Such a great need that it keeps this place open out of public desperation for a place to gather, celebrate and feel a sense of community,” commented “Isaias913” on TripAdvisor, who visited Santa’s Enchanted Forest a second time in hopes that it had changed.
However, Santa’s Enchanted Forest is not the only available option for getting into the Christmas spirit. Although this theme park is by far Miami’s most talked about, there are still many other options that are worth the trip.
One attraction that has recently gained popularity is the Polar Express Train in Fort Lauderdale and South Miami. In Fort Lauderdale, the decorated Brightline Train offers hot chocolate, Christmas carols, and a read-along of Chris Van Allsburg’s book “The Polar Express.” The festive journey costs $50-$70 and is open until January 1st.
South Miami also has a Polar Express themed train, which offers the same activities, but is priced at $39.97 per person or $64.97 for a table of 4. Instead of going to a not well put together fair, this much more interactive experience is a great alternative.
It’s unsettling how a fair that is targeted towards children would do such things to give parents no choice but to waste hundreds of dollars. On the bright side, there are plenty of other events that you can attend that don’t just charge you for some petting zoos and overpriced trampolines.
