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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

🎅🏻What is Santa's Cottage?
Santa's Cottage is an appointment only, personalized visit with Santa in his cottage which happens to be in North Oshawa! You come at a pre-arranged time with your family and you can take your own photos with Santa! Included with your visit with Santa, your family has access into The Outdoor Gallery which has many different displays and lights to take photos with! 

🎅🏻What is The Outdoor Gallery?

The Outdoor Gallery is an appointment only outdoor experience that features a number of amazing photo op features for your family to enjoy! These visits do not include a visit with Santa. All features have been built and hand painted by Santa himself and each year we have new displays for visitors to enjoy! 

🎅🏻What is Jingle Mingle?

The Jingle Mingle is back this year! A visit with Santa in his North Pole office! The Jingle Mingle is an appointment only visit which includes a visit with Santa and time to explore the Outdoor Gallery. Jingle Mingle appointments will be held Monday and Thursday evenings between November 1st- December 23rd and then for a very limited number of times December 26th & 27th

🎅🏻Wait..Santa is returning after Christmas?!?

Yes you read that right! Exclusive to Santa's Cottage, Santa has agreed to return after Christmas for a very limited number of special Jingle Mingle appointments! Come and see a different side of the big guy! He's got a bit of a different look (his off duty uniform) and he will tell his visitors all about his big Christmas eve travels, his flight path, how the reindeer performed during their big flight, and all the cookies, milk and treats he ate!

🎅🏻What is included when I visit Santa's Cottage?

Your visit with Santa includes 15 minutes with the big guy and then an additional 15 minutes for you and your family to explore The Outdoor Gallery. There are lots of things to take pictures with outside so dress appropriately and bring your camera.

🎅🏻What is included when I visit The Outdoor Gallery?

Your appointment will include 30 minutes to come and explore the gallery and take as many photos as you wish! Make sure you bring your cellphone or camera! We encourage you to bring a blanket for your kids to sit on while on the features outside. 

🎅🏻What is included when I visit the Jingle Mingle?

Your Jingle Mingle visit includes a 5 minute visit with Santa in his office and then 25 minutes for you and your family to explore the Outdoor Gallery. There are lots of things to take pictures with outside so dress appropriately and bring your camera.

🎅🏻I heard Santa's Cottage has a new booking system?

Yes!!! The IT elves at Santa's Cottage have been hard at work to get a new booking system in place! There is now a 12 minute hold time to ensure you have time to enter the required information.


🎅🏻How much is Santa's Cottage?
Our minimum charge for a visit with Santa is $75.00(+HST). This includes admission for party of up to 4 people (adult or child). The minimum $75.00(+HST) is required to be paid in order to book your appointment. Every additional person arriving with your party will be charged $18.75(+HST) each at the door. If your "additional person" is a baby under 1yr old- there is no additional cost for them. If you have less than 4 people, the minimum charge still applies. Your tickets are only valid for your booked appointment time. Tickets cannot be used for any other visit. There is no additional charge for a pet. We accept cash, credit and debit at the door. 

🎅🏻How much is a visit to The Outdoor Gallery?

 Our minimum charge for a visit to The Outdoor Gallery is $55.00(+HST). This includes admission for party of up to 4 people (adult or child). The minimum $55.00(+HST) is required to be paid when you book your appointment. Every additional person arriving with your party will be charged $13.75(+HST) each at the door. If your "additional person" is a baby under 1yr old- there is no additional cost for them. If you have less than 4 people, the minimum charge still applies. Your tickets are only valid for your booked appointment time. Tickets cannot be used for any other visit. There is no additional charge for a pet. We accept cash, credit and debit at the door. 

🎅🏻How much is The Jingle Mingle?

Our minimum charge for a Jingle Mingle visit is $65.00(+HST). This includes admission for party of up to 4 people (adult or child). The minimum $65.00(+HST and service fees) is required to be paid when you book your appointment. Every additional person arriving with your party will be charged $16.25(+HST) each at the door. If your "additional person" is a baby under 1yr old- there is no additional cost for them. If you have less than 4 people, the minimum charge still applies. Your tickets are only valid for your booked appointment time. Tickets cannot be used for any other visit. There is no additional charge for a pet. We accept cash, credit and debit at the door. 

Here are some examples of how the pricing works for Santa Visits:

  • 2 adults + 2 kids= $75.00(+HST)

  • 1 adults + 3 kids + 1 dog= $75.00(+HST)

  • 1 adults + 1 kid= $75.00(+HST)

  • 2 adults + 3 kids= $93.75(+HST) ($75.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $18.75(+HST) paid at the door at the time of the visit)

  • 2 adults + 2 kids + 1 baby under 1yr old= $75.00(+HST)

  • 1 adult + 1 baby under 1yr old= $75.00(+HST)

  • 2 adults + 2 kids + 1 photographer = $93.75 ($75.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $18.75(+HST) paid at the door at the time of the visit)

  • 2 adults + 5 kids= $122.50+HST ($75.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $37.50(+HST) at the door at the time of the visit

Here are some examples of how the pricing works for visits to the Outdoor Gallery:

  • 2 adults + 2 kids= $55.00(+HST)

  • 1 adults + 3 kids + 1 dog= $55.00(+HST)

  • 1 adult + 1 kid= $55.00(+HST)

  • 2 adults + 3 kids= $68.75(+HST) ($55.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $13.75(+HST) paid at the door at the time of the visit)

  • 2 adults + 2 kids + 1 baby under 1yr old= $55.00(+HST)

Here are some examples of how the pricing works for the Jingle Mingle:

  • 2 adults + 2 kids= $65.00(+HST)

  • 1 adults + 3 kids + 1 dog= $65.00(+HST)

  • 2 adults = $65.00(+HST)

  • 4 adults + 4 kids= $130.00(+HST) ($65.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $65.00(+HST) paid at the door at the time of the visit)

  • 3 adults + 1 kid + 1 photographer= $81.25 ($65.00(+HST) minimum paid when you book your spot + $16.25 +HST) paid at the door at the time of the visit)

  • 2 adults + 2 kids + 4 babies under 1yr old + 3 chickens= $65.00(+HST)


🎅🏻How do I book my visit with Santa?
Please head to the "Book a Visit with Santa" page to reserve your spot! We release tickets in blocks before the season begins. Blocks of tickets are released July 1st, and August 1st. 

🎅🏻How do I book my visit to The Outdoor Gallery?

Please head to "The Outdoor Gallery" page to reserve your spot! All Outdoor Gallery appointments are released September1st. 

🎅🏻How do I book my Jingle Mingle visit? Please head to the "Jingle Mingle" page to reserve your spot! All Jingle Mingle visits (both before and after Christmas visits) will be released September 1st.

🎅🏻Why did I get charged a service fee?

For our 2024 season, we will continue to use our new booking system. We have ensured there is a now a hold time for you to complete the transaction! As part of the booking system there is a minimal service fee for each transaction completed on the new booking system.  


🎅🏻Are there limits to how many people I can bring?
No. The number of people you bring to your appointment is your choice. The minimum charge includes admission for up to 4 people (adult or child). Any additional people you bring with you will be subject to the additional charge at the door
. If your party is less than 4 people- the minimum charge still applies.


🎅🏻Can I come without an appointment?
 NO‼️  The best part of Santa's Cottage is that you don't have to wait in a line and your family has your own personal time with Santa or in The Outdoor Gallery pre-booked! Please only come during your pre-arranged appointment!


🎅🏻What are your hours of operation?
We are an appointment only service. We have various hours of operation and arrange our days to accommodate the pre-booked appointments. Booking availability can be found on the appointment pages.

🎅🏻Is Santa's Cottage wheelchair accessible? 

Access into the cottage is wheelchair accessible.


🎅🏻Can our pet come and visit Santa with our family?
YES! Santa LOVES to see pets! Please let us know if you are bringing your furry friend with your family. There is no additional charge for your pet. We ask that you keep your pets on leash! All visitors should note: Santa's Cottage is a pet friendly environment. Those with allergies should be aware that dogs and cats live at the cottage full time and we have lots of pet visitors.

🎅🏻 What do I need to bring with me to my appointment?

Please be sure to bring your camera and your confirmation email (either printed or electronically) to your appointment with you. Santa would be thrilled to reconnect with your family's elf during your visit- if you can ensure safe elf transportation. Please be sure to dress according to the weather- Santa's Cottage operates regardless of weather conditions! Feel free to also bring a blanket to sit on while taking pictures in The Outdoor Gallery. 


🎅🏻What if I can't make it to my appointment?
Due to the high volume of people trying to book appointments at Santa's Cottage, we CANNOT process cancellations and/or rescheduled appointments. 

Appointments are first come first serve and the minimum charge required upon booking is NON-REFUNDABLE. 
If you wish to offer your appointment to a friend or family member you may do so, however standard booking policy applies.

SANTA'S COTTAGE OPERATES REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS!!
If circumstances arise where unexpectedly Santa is unable to take visitors, Santa's Cottage will work hard to reschedule with you. 

🎅🏻How do I transfer my appointment to someone? 

If you have passed along your ticket to a friend, you must transfer them the ticket! Please check out the instructions in the following link on how to transfer your appointment to someone: https://help.aftontickets.com/knowledgebase/how-to-transfer-a-ticket-to-a-friend/

🎅🏻Parking?

While we have a large parking space, we still ask that you be mindful of the number of vehicles you bring with you! Due to the number of appointment during the Jingle Mingle appointments it would be appreciated if your party arrives in one vehicle to your Jingle Mingle appointment. There will be signs and elves to direct you when you arrive


🎅🏻Can I bring a photographer with me?
Yes! You are able to bring a photographer with you if you wish. Admission for a photographer would follow our standard admission pricing as described above. Please be mindful of other people on the property and your appointment duration.

🎅🏻 What about COVID-19?

Our current COVID-19 processes can be found on the COVID-19 page.

🎅🏻 Help! My question isn't answered above! 

If you have a question that wasn't covered above please send us an email at santascottageoshawa@gmail.com

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