Santa's Magical Kingdom — Attraction in Eureka

I have been going to Santa's Magical Kingdom since I was a child. It is a pretty cool place. However, there are some changes they did this year that I didn't like. There is a huge line that extends all the way out to the highway that you have to wait in to even get into the park. But the entrance line actually didn't bother me at all as I expect to have to wait to get into a major holiday attraction at this time of the year. I spent about 20 minutes in the line before being able to enter the park. I arrived around 9pm. However, what DID bother me is the fact that once I got into the park, the employees made the line divide into two separate lines which was a really slow process. I still was trying to be patient as I figured they were just trying to maxamize the amount of cars they could get into the place to reduce traffic and maxamize profit. (Which makes sense). But then right after we divided into two lanes, drove down a short hill, they then had us merging back into one lane in order to drive up the hill. What was the point? The dividing and merging took about 30 minutes of basically sitting on a steep hill. We were on the hill longer than the rest of the way through the park. It would have been quicker to just let everybody stay in one lane and just drive through. Then nobody would have had to stop on the hill at a weird angle for long periods of a time. Also, the hill was pretty bare. There were barely any lights at all. We spent the most time on the hill and there was nothing to even look at except for a lone jumping deer light. The beginning and the very end of the trail was amazing (after everybody had finally merged back into one lane and drove up the hill again). But the end of the trail went by pretty fast as we were all driving out at that point. Also, there were signs all over to tune into the radio station but the radio station didn't even work properly! It was all static. And we tried several different times throughout the trail. So we ended up turning the station to a normal Christmas station. And maybe this point is petty, but they used to give out candy canes to the kids when we paid. They no longer do that anymore either. It was something nice and fun to look forward to. That apparently is gone also. I honestly would give this experience 3 stars 🌟 but was nice and gave it 4 stars 🌟 only because I remember what it used to be. So that extra star 🌟 is for the potential the place has to...

Santa’s Magical Kingdom is a must-do family tradition for us every year! It’s like stepping into a Hallmark movie—except instead of sipping cocoa by the fire, you’re dodging sugar-rushed kids while trying not to trip over your own excitement.

The lights? Oh, they’re not just lights—they’re Christmas on steroids. I’m talking about displays so bright, astronauts probably use them for navigation. My kids love it, my spouse loves it, and even I—who grumbles about hanging one string of lights at home—end up feeling like Buddy the Elf by the end of the night.

There’s something for everyone: the rides, the holiday treats, and of course, meeting Santa himself. (Pro tip: Santa doesn’t judge if your Christmas wish is for the kids to sleep in for once.) And don’t forget the s’mores by the fire—because nothing says “festive” like trying to keep your marshmallow from bursting into flames.

Every year, we leave with full hearts, sticky fingers, and at least one family photo where someone is mid-blink. It’s chaotic, magical, and absolutely perfect. If you’re not going to Santa’s Magical Kingdom, are you even doing...

While I appreciate the effort people put into creating this and setting it up, I have to recommend against it and suggest Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park. $23 for a car. Driving through the entire thing only took about 15 or so minutes. They tell you to tune to the radio and we thought it’d be similar to Tilles Park where it played Christmas music but instead it’s just ad after ad with lots of taking. Most of the things didn’t really feel Christmas-y. The painted characters were all outdated (Jetsons, We’re back, flintstones, weird aliens etc). 85% of it were cut out things, not Christmas lights. Sure there were Christmas lights thrown up into trees. But it was all too much. Quantity doesn’t always equal quality. If you want your picture with Santa it’s an extra $17. We didn’t enter the much advertised gift shop so I cannot review that bit. It was just too much and never really felt the...