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Parents fume at Cherry Hill Mall’s pricey Santa

“And I think something like the Cherry Hill Mall that’s trying to be more upscale should lend itself to seeing Santa, letting everybody see Santa no matter how much money you have”. After last year’s wildly successful debut of “Adventure to Santa – A DreamWorks DreamPlace”, at Cherry Hill Mall, we made a decision to bring back the interactive journey for families to enjoy this holiday season.

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The elaborate North Pole headquarters built in a large atrium in the center of the mall features bright, cheery digital panels for walls – but no windows.

“Like the day the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes, and the true meaning of Christmas came true, there’s been a change of heart at the Cherry Hill Mall too!”

Admission to southern New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Mall’s Santa exhibit, Adventure to Santa (pictured above), costs between $35 and $50.

There is no holiday cheer at a Cherry Hill, N.J., mall this year after the price to see Santa sent parents ranting to Facebook. “I find it really a “beautiful” irony that somebody who became a saint because of his charitable impulses has now become a commodity”, Wilkens tells Yahoo Parenting in reference to the origin of Santa – Saint Nicholas, a generous layperson who lived in what is now Turkey, in 4 B.C., and eventually became a bishop because of his highly generous ways.

The statement noted, “we are mindful of all our customers” wishes and therefore host the more traditional Santa visits at our six other PREIT malls in the Philadelphia area’.

The $35 and $50 packages included photos or videos, respectively, of the experience.

In addition to the big jolly man in red, the Adventure to Santa display reportedly features characters from Shrek and offers kids other experiences like a simulated sleigh ride, singing elves and games.

“I mean, people who have kids can’t afford that when they’re already buying Christmas presents”, said Bell.

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PREIT is offering two days, November 29 and December 5, where children can have snacks with Santa at the mall for no cost. “We definitely won’t be doing that again”.

Want to sit on Santa's lap? Pay up