Why More NYC Families Are Looking for Something Different Than a Traditional Santa Visit
Every holiday season, parents across New York City seem to fall into two groups.
The first group spends weeks planning the perfect Santa visit. They research locations, coordinate schedules, pick out outfits, and book reservations the moment they become available.
The second group does something surprising.
They skip the Santa visit altogether.
Over the past year, I've spoken with dozens of parents about their holiday traditions and family experiences. Again and again, I heard many of the same concerns: long lines, crowded malls, rushed interactions, overstimulated children, and experiences that felt more stressful than magical.
For some families, the hassle was worth it.
For others, it wasn't.
As an actor, storyteller, and parent, those conversations stayed with me.
Because underneath all the logistical challenges, parents were telling me something much deeper.
They weren't looking for another photo.
They were looking for a core memory.
The Hidden Job Many Parents Carry During the Holidays
One thing I heard repeatedly was that parents often feel responsible for creating the magic of the season.
They're coordinating schedules, planning outings, purchasing gifts, organizing family gatherings, taking photos, and trying to make everything feel special.
One parent described herself as "the memory maker" in her family.
Another told me that what she wanted most was the chance to simply be present and enjoy the experience alongside her child.
That insight resonated deeply with me.
Because as parents, we're often so busy creating the moment that we don't always get to fully experience it ourselves.
Why Traditional Santa Visits Don't Work for Every Family
Many families still love the tradition of visiting Santa, but they don't necessarily love the experience surrounding it.
Long waits can be difficult for young children.
Crowded environments can feel overwhelming.
Some children need time to warm up before meeting Santa.
And many parents told me they worried about spending significant time and money on an experience that would last only a few minutes.
The challenge isn't Santa.
The challenge is everything surrounding Santa.
What Families Are Looking For Instead
The families I spoke with consistently mentioned a few things they valued most:
Personalization
Quality
Emotional connection
A calm environment
Time together as a family
They wanted something that felt thoughtful.
Something that felt intentional.
Something that felt worth remembering.
Most importantly, they wanted their children to feel like they had experienced something real.
One Conversation I'll Never Forget
One conversation with a parent completely changed how I think about Santa's Secret Workshop.
A mother brought her two children to SSW. Her oldest child was right on the cusp of no longer believing in Santa, and she was worried that skepticism might spill over and affect her younger sibling's experience too.
Months after their visit, she stopped me to share something I never forgot.
Not only had her oldest child enjoyed the experience, but somehow the magic had been rekindled. Her child believed again.
What moved me most wasn't what she said about Santa.
It was what she said about time.
She told me how grateful she was to have a few more years of wonder, imagination, and belief with her children.
A few more years of excited Christmas conversations.
A few more years of watching her children create the kind of core memories that stay with them long after childhood is over.
A few more years of experiencing that pure, unfiltered joy that only childhood seems capable of producing.
In that moment, I realized something important.
We aren't simply creating a Santa visit.
We're helping families protect a fleeting season of childhood that disappears faster than any of us would like.
That conversation taught me why this work matters.
The Power of Belief
One of my favorite moments after a family's visit came when a child confidently declared:
"I think all the other Santas I met weren't the real Santa. That one was definitely the real Santa."
For me, that captures the heart of what makes holiday traditions so meaningful.
Children don't remember perfect logistics.
They remember how something made them feel.
They remember wonder.
They remember excitement.
They remember believing.
And years later, parents often remember those moments just as clearly.
Creating Family Memories That Last
The holidays move quickly.
Children grow up quickly.
That's one reason meaningful traditions matter so much.
Whether it's decorating a tree, baking cookies, watching a favorite holiday movie, or meeting Santa, the experiences families share together often become the stories they tell for years afterward.
In many ways, those stories are the real gift.
The photos matter.
The keepsakes matter.
But what lasts longest are the memories.
Or as many of the parents I spoke with described them, the core memories.
And that's why so many families today are looking for something more than a photo opportunity.
They're looking for a holiday experience that allows them to slow down, be present, and create a core memory worth carrying forward long after the season ends.