Ignoring the animated Dickens-like carolers, pointsettia-lined walkway, flickering gold-leaf trees, and the nine reindeer leaping around on a carousel, 11-day-old Sarah O`Malley sleeps soundly in her infant carrier as she waits, and waits, and waits at Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg to meet the man with the tummy that shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
Her mom, Laura, has other ideas, though.
This is the mother-baby duo`s first odyssey out of their Elk Grove Village home since Sarah`s birth. The little girl is decked out in a one-piece velvet ensemble with matching stretch headband circling her hairless head. And by golly, closed eyelids or not, the infant and first-time mom are going to sit on Santa`s lap and pose for the mandatory baby`s-first-Christmas photo.
”She might not realize what`s going on now, but she`ll appreciate it when she gets older and knows her mom took her to see Santa,” says mother O`Malley, while debating whether to go for the $18.95 jumbo package or the $6.50 economy plan.
Not to be ignored is the deluxe a-moment-with-Santa video for $14.85.
”Here, just view it and then decide,” the Santa`s helpers/photo salespeople suggest, as O`Malley gropes for her wallet in her purse.
”Naw, I think just the pictures this time,” O`Malley responds. ”I hope this will be real special for her.”
Ah, the holidays . . .
`Tis the season when folks bake cookies and deck the halls, when little ones scrutinize catalogs, and parents, hellbent on creating those golden moments for their children to cherish forever, feel obligated to fasten a red- velvet Velcro bow on the baby, deck out Junior in tartan, tuck in his shirt, then haul the kids-their list of gotta-haves grasped firmly in their fists-to the nearest mall to do Santa.
Next to hosting a Batman-theme birthday bash for a dozen 5-year-old Caped Crusader wannabes, it can be one of the most stressful endurance contests a parent can face.
”The visit to Santa is the quintessential family ritual,” says Dan DeWitt, a Barrington clinical psychologist who specializes in family matters, and who is also Dad and Santa-trip escort to two preschool-aged sons.
”Deciding when and where to go can be extremely stressful, because it`s such an important family function.” (For tips on how to beat that Santa stress, see accompanying story).
But with the fat and jolly old fella hitching his sleigh to the center court of every mall from here to the North Pole, the annual trek can create magical holiday memories.
It doesn`t have to follow tradition and disintegrate into a gimme-gimme whine fest for parents who are forced to endure long lines and temper tantrums. (All the time, of course, wishing they`d sprung a couple hundred bucks for a red costume and cotton beard, then coaxed Grandpa into dressing up before swinging by the house with a pillow case stuffed with this year`s blockbuster toy-those homely `60s reincarnated trolls.)
The trick to all of this is timing: knowing where to go, when to go and where to run from the crowds. To help northwest suburban parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles or caregivers in the pursuit of the wonderful Santa Claus experiences of their youthful memories, we`ve critiqued some of the northwest suburban malls` jolliest holiday fellas.
(Of course, we all know that the real Santa is busy at the North Pole this time of year, but here`s a look at his human helpers and how they are pulling the gig off.)
Woodfield Shopping Center, 5 Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg:
”We`re estimating we`ll get 25,000 kids coming here to see Santa this year,” says Paddy Buratto, Woodfield marketing director.
To help ease the gridlock, the mall earlier in the season offered Santa visits by appointment. Now, a series of special breakfasts with Santa (Dec. 13, 19 and 20) also are aimed at making the trek to his lap an easier route. Reservations required.
But for the masses who wing it in line at Woodfield, expect a long wait and a lot of patience trying to dissuade Junior from sticking his sticky little hands into the abundance of fake snow ”to see if it`s real.” One way to beat the lines is to arrive before official mall hours (the doors are open at 7 a.m.) suggests one mother from Palatine who got her 2-year-old son in and out in a pleasant, but speedy visit.
Santa/elf appeal: For parents who choose not to go the photo route, a visit on Santa`s lap for one set of siblings-an infant, 5-year-old and 8-year- old-consisted of being ushered on by helpers simultaneously for a less-than-30-second visit. Not the kind of chatty Santa others would tip their tasseled hats to.
Line time: Almost one hour on a weekday afternoon a week before Thanksgiving (when most grade-school-aged children were in class).
Anti-squirm tactics: Chris the Moose, Bozo and Cookie Monster escorted Santa into Woodfield, and Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse and a host of Warner Brothers characters promise to be on hand to move things along the stroller maze and keep youngsters from whining during ”high traffic hours,” says Burrato. (Of course, checking out the teens huddled just alongside the court area can also provide some amusing moments for parents, though some might have to be censored for the children.)
Santa suprises: Plastic gingerbread-house cookie cutters in envelopes that contain a gingerbread cookie recipe.
Stroller access: Good, though most parents seem to park them along the brick wall that frames the Santa court so the toddlin` Juniors can get a first-hand look and feel of the place.
Potty plans: Changing tables available in the mall main restrooms. Caution to the stroller-bound: You`ve got to get to one of the anchor stores then head upstairs in an elevator to the restrooms or carry the stroller and head for the stairs.
Bonus: No singing Santas, but during special hours (5-9 p.m. most evenings) a signing Santa who knows sign language will be available for hearing and speech-impaired children.
Photos: Visa and Mastercard accepted. Two wallets, $6.50; one full size, $6.95; two wallets and one full, $10.95; two wallets and two full, $14.95;
four wallets and two full, $18.95; video with Santa, $14.95; with your own tape, $9.95, and laminated photos 50 cents extra.
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Call 1-708-330-0035 for more information.
Randhurst Shopping Center, 999 Elmhurst Rd., Mt. Prospect:
”This is our favorite place to see Santa,” says Mary Ellen Mann of Des Plaines, mother of Debra, almost 4, and Michelle, 2, who on a weekday morning before Thanksgiving says she doesn`t mind the one-hour wait. ”It`s worth it because he really takes time with the kids and asks them some real good questions.”
During the weeks prior to Christmas, Mann will take her young crew to several of the area malls to talk to the St. Nicks. But, Randhurst ”is definitely the best. The lines are shorter. And they don`t care if I bring my own camera. At the other malls they pressure you too much to take pictures.” While Santa is definitely the focus of the yuletide hoopla at Randhurst, the Toyland Express next to the Santa set-up gives children rides (three times around the track for 75 cents) through the ”Northwoods Wonderland.” One caveat: While the kids love the train, it is logistically impossible for parents of real young children to load them on the train and wait in line for Santa, because the entrances to each line are quite far apart. This creates lost line time and appeared confusing to many parents who assumed both kid-pleasing activities could be accomplished simultaneously.
Santa/elf appeal: Creative questions and queries for one 5-year-old included not only ”Have you been a good boy?,” but ”I hope you`re not leaving your little Ninja Turtle pieces on the floor where your baby sister can get them and eat them,” and ”Instead of toys, any other interests?”
Also, Santa may spend up to 5 minutes with some kids, which is good for the children, but not appealing for those in line. Extremely friendly male helpers with red Christmas suspenders talk it up with the kids.
Line time: One-and-a-half hours on a weekday morning before Thanksgiving. Anti-squirm tactics: Watching youngsters on the train wave and scream as well as listening to (and watching) their camera-laden moms fly around the fence that frames the track: ”Patrick! Patrick! Look here Patrick, Here, Patrick. Ring, the bell Patrick. Patrick ring the bell. Now, smile for mommy.” (Warning: The Body Shop, a favorite for moms, looms in the background, just out of the reach of the line. And the candy-stuffed Door County Confectionery appears at the bottom of the ramp after the kids exit Santa.)
Santa suprises: A cardboard Christmas decoration with decorate-with-your- ow n stickers kit.
Stroller access: Good for single-width strollers, but the roped-off lines do not accommodate double strollers or toddlers eager to stand in tandem with their stroller-bound sibling.
Potty plans: Changing tables available. Restrooms located in basement of mall near mall elevator, but lines to elevator are long and congested. (The elevator also leads to the food court.)
Photos: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover card accepted. One large photo, $6.99; two wallets, $7.49; Rudolph`s Special (six photos), $19.99; five photos, $16.99.
Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday. (But Santa will stay until he visits with every child in line during those time periods, which means he`s often there until at least 3 p.m. and until 10:30 p.m. in the evenings, say his helpers. Call 708-392-0368 for more information.
Spring Hill Mall, Routes 31 and 72, West Dundee:
Always a kid and parent pleaser, the life-like scenes from the Charles Dicken`s classic, ”A Christmas Carol,” come to life through automated ice skaters and carolers who entertain those in line waiting to climb atop the giant-sized sleigh and chat with Santa. Best part: Lines on a recent Saturday afternoon were just more than about a dozen children deep for a quick and smooth trip to jolly old St. Nick`s lap.
Santa/elf appeal: Promise not to tell, but one of the four Santas who each do three-hour shifts at the mall is a women, according to Ron Zaccard, whose firm Photos By Ron in Carpentersville, supplies the Santas and runs the photo operation. ”But you can`t even tell. I promise.” Makes for an interesting guessing game for older children who like to perform the authenticity test: pulling Santa`s beard to see if it`s real or pinching his/ her tummy. Elves (female Mrs. Claus lookalikes) were friendly and very cheerful.
Line time: Five to 10 minutes.
Anti-squirm tactics: Throughout the month of December, local community groups will be providing entertainment to shoppers at a stage located in the J.C. Penney wing. (Can be heard, not seen, by those waiting in line.)
Santa suprises: A small storybook, titled ”A Christmas Wish,” featuring Mervin the Mouse.
Stroller access: Super.
Potty plans: Restrooms less than 50 yards away at major anchor stores and for the mall.
Bonus: Free babysitting service (with Spring Hill Mall sales receipts)
for children ages 3 to 12 years old during the holiday season. Visit Santa, then shop uninterrupted.
Photos: No credit cards here. One full size photo or two wallets: $5.99. Two wallets laminated: $6.99. Key chain: $1.99.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 708-428-2200 for more information.
One Schaumburg Place, 601 N. Martingale Rd., Schaumburg:
Tired of long lines at Woodfield? Head across the street to the first floor where Santa sits on a throne just inside the center entrance below the food court and movie theaters. Here, Santa seekers will find a much more austere setting, a two-story tree with a Santa chair in front of it, but the lines are the shortest in town.
Santa/elf appeal: Elves not dressed in costume, but friendly.
Line time: No wait.
Anti-squirm tactics: Whine warning: Junior won`t miss the candy and cookie kiosks located two feet from the entrance to Santa. Best to begin the bribes ”No candy or you can`t see Santa” on the car ride over.
Santa suprises: Yum . . . Santa lollipops.
Stroller access: Super for viewing Santa. Tough if you want to head upstairs to the food court or shop upstairs.
Potty plans: Better tell the kids to hold it. Restrooms on the second floor near food court are a steep, steep stair climb away (couldn`t find an elevator near Santa) and other mall restrooms are inconveniently located at the back of corridor far from Santa. Very hard to find.
Bonus: ”Home Alone Two” is playing upstairs on four screens.
Photos: Visa and MasterCard accepted. Two full-size and four wallets:
$17.05. Two full-size and two wallets: $13.95. One full-size and two wallets: $9.95. Two wallets: $5.95 One full-size: $4.95.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Santa breaks for lunch from 1-2 p.m. and dinner from 5-6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. Call 708-995-0072 for more information.
Crystal Point Mall, 6000 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake:
Ssssh . . . promise not to tell, but one of the reasons Santa here is such a soft-spoken, gentle kid-pleaser, is because the jolly old guy is really a grandmother.
”We specifically selected this woman from all our Santa candidates because she was so calm and very gentle and gives great hugs to the kids,”
says Jean Marie Saidler, marketing assistant for the 58-store mall.
Santa/elf appeal: Very friendly and patient.
Line time: Five to 10 minutes.
Anti-squirm tactics: With lines averaging 5 to 10 minutes, the colorful and delightfully decorated gazebo that houses Santa`s throne is enough to keep the kids entertained. But a short distance away in the mall, The Rio Grande Train ($1 a ride) is a popular attraction for tots.
Santa suprises: The suprises are a kid`s favorite-candy, as in candy canes, plus holiday placemats they can color.
Stroller access: No problems.
Potty plans: Washrooms close by at major stores.
Bonus: Free gift wrapping for presents bought at the mall.
Photos: No credit cards accepted. $4 for a Polaroid photo with Santa enclosed in a holiday leaflet.
Hours: noon-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Call 815-455-0099.
No matter which mall you pick, there`s a Santa Claus just right for everyone. Just ask 6-year-old Matthew Gillespie of Palatine.
He and his father, Vince, learned this the hard way one weekend afternoon when they headed out to Randhurst only to find Santa was out to lunch. A quick drive down Golf Road to Woodfield proved successful.
”I really liked the Santa there, because he gave me a cookie cutter and asked me the right question,” enthused the kindergartner. ”He asked what I want for Christmas. And, I told him.”
