Top Tips for Visiting Santa’s Wonderland at Wayville 2023
Santa’s Wonderland is a magical Christmas wonderland filled with colour and Christmas cheer and it’ so much fun for kids with amusement rides, entertainment, bouncy castles, tobogganing, ice skating, carnival games, showbags, selfie stations, and even SNOW! And, of course, the chance for a chat with Santa Claus and Mrs Claus.
This is the Christmas event in Adelaide that you truly don’t want to miss.
Read more about Santa’s Wonderland here
What’s new in 2023?
If you’ve been to Santa’s Wonderland in the previous years, you can still expect to find all the same great rides and activities that the kids love. There’s also been a few extra additions/changes this year, including:
Gingerbread Decorating Station
This is a fabulous new activity, where for $10 extra, children can decorate their very own gingerbread man. The cookies are pre-made, and the tubes of icing are set up and ready to go on each table. We loved the fact that everything was kept nice and clean. All the gingerbread props surrounding the area were super cute as well. But the best part of all.. eating the gingerbread man after decorating, it was delicious!
Interactive Colour Play
The Interactive Colour Play station was a new and innovative idea for any tech lovers. The idea is that children take a colouring in sheet, and once coloured, the picture is scanned and added to the animated picture on the big screen. Children can see their art come to life, as it moves around the screen.
Little Picasso’s Art Station
If you have a budding artist in your family, you must stop by the Little Picasso’s Art Station. Here, children can take a few minutes to relax while they sit and do a painting. One of Santas helpers is there to assist with putting smocks on, setting up paints and getting paper for your easel. There is plenty of space for paintings to hang up and dry, just don’t forget to put your name on it. There was also a Face Painter right next to the stand, for those who feel like being painted instead! Face painting is an additional cost.
SACARE Quiet Zone
The addition of a quiet area for those who are sensitive to loud noise and bright lights is a fantastic idea. A small, peaceful space is set up behind a curtain to take a break if needed. Although there wasn’t much seating, it still provides a nice place to regulate and reset, before getting back to the action.
Take a little sneak peak at Santa’s Wonderland 2023 below:
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Top Tips for Visiting Santa’s Wonderland
3 hours of unlimited fun!
Santa’s Wonderland was a huge hit with our kids aged, 1, 6, 8 and 10. There was so much for them to see and do, and they were buzzing with excitement the entire time. You really do get so much value out of your 3 hour session.
Not once will you hear the words ‘I’m bored!’
They honestly loved everything that it’s hard to choose our stand-out highlights. Tobogganing was probably their favourite activity of the day, along with riding the reindeer, the rollercoaster, the dodgem cars, seeing Santa and having fun posing at the numerous selfie stops.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS
Most of the activities, rides, and entertainment are included in your ticket with unlimited access. The only things you need to pay extra for will be if you choose to have a go at the carnival games, want to buy food or drinks (you’re also welcome to bring your own food and drinks), want to buy a showbag or any of the available merchandise, or if you want a photo with Santa. There is also an added cost for face painting and decorating gingerbread.
Here’s what’s included in your ticket:
- 3 hours of unlimited rides (think dodgem cars, ride-on reindeers, a dragon-wagon coaster, flying planes, and more)
- Ice skating (with blue skating aides you can sit on or push a child around on)
- Tobogganing
- Inflatable jumping castle zones
- Numerous selfie stops for photo fun
- A free activity trail show-bag (with stops where the kids can scoop up reindeer food to take home for Christmas Eve, mail a letter to Santa, and meet Mrs Claus, have a photo with the Ice Maiden and more – and a passport to be stamped at each station), and
- Live Christmas stage shows and roving Christmas characters
Photo with Santa
If you are wanting a photo and chat with Santa, you can purchase this at the same time as buying your tickets online.
We didn’t purchase a Santa photo when ordering our tickets, but thankfully we were still able to nab a spot on the day – but there weren’t many left. So we do recommend pre-booking this with your tickets to make sure you don’t miss out.
You can also see Mrs Claus and have a chat and take your own photos with her at no extra cost. Mrs Claus is wonderful with the kids – and you’ll get some beautiful photos here.
We love how it was set up – spaced-out to perfection
With Santa’s Wonderland being located in the roomy Jubilee Pavilion, this has allowed for all activities and rides to be well spaced-out from each other. There’s very few queues for the activities and rides!
Strict capacity limits also apply. So, even though you can book your tickets at the door, it’s highly recommended to book online as to not miss out.
Wrapping up your session
The main live Christmas stage show came on near the end of the session. This provided a great way for our kids to ‘wind-down’, to sit and watch the show with all the Christmas characters – have a few laughs, and really get excited about Christmas coming.
If your children would rather get in a few more rides during this time, then they’re still more than welcome to.
Upon the end of the session, the snow falls again as you leave. So you don’t have to miss out, if you didn’t arrive at the opening time.
A few of our tips for the day –
- Wear shoes that are easy to get on and off because of ice skating and bouncy castles. Plus wear comfy shoes yourself as you’re likely to be on your feet and walking around for the 3 hours.
- Make sure you have socks on – otherwise you will need to pay $5 for a pair of socks for ice skating (you get to keep the socks!)
- Take change of clothing for kids in case they get wet on ice, or consider doing the ice skating last.
- Get there early to check in before your session starts so that you get the snow falling at the entrance at the start of the session.
- Santa’s Wonderland is located in the Jubilee Pavilion, with entrance via the Rose Terrace Entry – Kidman Park Gates (near the Ferris Wheel) or from Goodwood Road.
- If you’re wanting a photo with Santa, you’re best to pre-book this when purchasing your entry tickets online as to not miss out.
- Most activities and entertainment are included in the ticket. But should you wish to play the carnival games, have a photo with Santa, purchase food or drinks, showbags or merchandise then you will need to pay extra for these.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drink. There are also multiple options available to purchase food and drink at the event. You must be seated while eating or drinking.
Parking
We went to the first session and had no trouble finding free parking on the street. You can find much closer paid parking via Rose Terrace or the North West Carpark (entry via Leader St).
It’s best to try and arrive around 30 minutes earlier than your session time. This will allow time to find parking, as well as to make sure you experience the opening of the red curtains, revealing falling snow and all the magic of Santa’s Wonderland. Audio and visual screens are accessible so you can still see and hear the show and hear Santa arriving on the roof!
We 100% recommend Santa’s Wonderland
It is truly value packed and you will not be disappointed. Our kids had an absolute ball and we could have easily stayed longer than the 3 hours – there’s just so much fun to be had!
If there’s only one family event that you plan on attending this December, then Santa’s Wonderland is THE ONE to choose.
Santa’s Wonderland is on at the Adelaide Showground from 2–24 (inclusive) this December.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS
All photos by Play & Go Adelaide
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
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