Gold Christmas Experience
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Old Oak Farm, Rectory Lane, Latchingdon, CM36HB. There is a map at the bottom of this page to help you
Rectory Lane is prone to develop pot holes in winter, so please take care when driving to us.
The Christmas Experience is mainly inside but you will need to go outside for a short period of time, so we advise you dress according to the weather and to wear flat shoes.
We have hard standing parking on site, but it is limited so please try and attend the Experience in as few as cars as possible. Each booking includes 1 car parking space, if you require more parking spaces please book during the checkout process.
We do advise that you wear suitable footwear especially if it has been raining. Our car park does have puddles!
Transport Elves will help you park.
Please do not arrive any more than 20 minutes before your time slot.
This year we are offering 2 family Christmas Experiences. You are reading the FAQ’s for the Gold Experience.
The Platinum is 60-70 minutes approximately
The Gold Experience is 30-35 minutes approximately.
Our Gold Experience has been designed to help with the Cost of Living Crisis, those with very young children, or for children who do get a bit overwhelmed.
In the Gold Experience you join at our Santa Express Train. Your entire magical journey will last about 30 – 35 minutes.
After the train journey your children will be taken in to the grotto waiting area, and then enjoy a magical elevator ride to The North Pole. Once they arrive they will go in for a personalised chat with the Big Man himself.
There is an interactive game the entire family can join in with followed by another fun game for the children.
Collect a quality present from our Elf Post Office and have a photo in our Corridor of Light
An experience full of The Party Kingdom Magic.
The Gold Experience is about 30 -35 minutes long in total but this will vary depending on your child.
To upgrade from the Gold Experience please click on the Booking Change Request link. Please make a note as to the date and time that you would like us to find you a timeslot (subject to availability)
Admin will contact you with a new timeslot.
Please Note: This will include an Admin charge as well as the difference in the price between the 2 experiences.
The 17th November is our Preview Date.
All booking slots on this date are reduced by £20. Anyone who books this date should be aware that things may not be 100%, and will therefore not ask for any refund. We will ask for constructive feedback at the end of each timeslot to make improvements before we open for our 2024 season. It is a great chance to try out our Gold and Platinum Christmas Event at a greatly reduced price.
Bookings taken on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd December are Premium dates and carry an additional £30 per booking slot.
This year’s event is set up so that as you journey through our magical kingdom, you will be with your booking group. It is a one way system. There may be some sections where you will see one, or more booking groups.
Government guidelines may change, and if they do, we will update our Facebook page, and website with all the relevant information that you will need.
We have unisex toilet facilities all through the Christmas experience. We also have a disabled toilet.
We recommend that your family uses the toilet facilities near the entrance before commencing on your magical journey. Although we do have toilet facilities in the experience, the nearest one may be 10 minutes away from the section that you are in. Please ask your elf if you need to use the facilities and they will advise you where the nearest toilet is.
Some toilets will also have baby change facilities and we have a baby feeding room in the first barn. Just ask your elf and they will help you as best they can.
We accept cash, and card on site.
Bookings for our Christmas Experience are only taken on our secure website.
This event is inclusive for all. As you will proceed through The Party Kingdom in your family group, our fantastic characters will adapt to your individual children.
The area is mainly on one level, and there are ramps in certain areas for wheelchair users. Please mention to a Transport Elf in the car park that you have a wheelchair and they will get you to a suitable parking slot.
Please Note: We are unable to get a wheelchair on to Santa’s Train.
There is not a specific date for SEND children this year. Please email [email protected] with proof of being a registered carer or in receipt of a DLA. Please give us the details of your very own superhero and we may be able to issue you a discounted coupon code (subject to availability). We do not offer a Carer’s ticket for any adult visitors.
Please let us know if you are booking the Gold, or Platinum Experience.
This event is completely inclusive for all children and adults.
During your magical journey with us you will be mainly in your own family group. Our elves are able to adapt to make sure that all of our visitors have the best possible experience with us.
If available try and book an early timeslot, or one of the first of the afternoon sessions. 9am – 9.30am or 2pm – 2.30pm for weekends and 4.15pm – 5.45pm after school sessions.
There is not a specific date for SEND children this year. Please email [email protected] with proof of being a registered carer or in receipt of a DLA. Please give us the details of your very own superhero and we may be able to issue you a discounted coupon code (subject to availability). We do not offer a Carer’s ticket for any adult visitors.
Please let us know if you are booking the Gold or Platinum Experience.
There is not a specific date for SEND children this year.
Please email [email protected] with proof of being a registered carer or in receipt of a DLA. Please give us the details of your very own superhero and we may be able to issue you a discounted coupon code (subject to availability). We do not offer a Carer’s ticket for any adult visitors.
Please let us know if you are booking the Gold or Platinum Experience.
If you are worried about any queues forming we suggest that you book your timeslot between 9am – 9.30am or 2pm – 2.30pm for weekends and 4.15pm – 5.45pm after school sessions.
There is not a specific date for SEND children this year. Please email [email protected] with proof of being a registered carer or in receipt of a DLA. Please give us the details of your very own superhero and we may be able to issue you a discounted coupon code (subject to availability). We do not offer a Carer’s ticket for any adult visitors.
Please let us know if you are booking the Gold or Platinum Experience.
If you are worried about any queues forming we suggest that you book your timeslot between 9am – 9.30am or 2pm – 2.30pm for weekends and 4.15pm – 5.45pm after school sessions.
We work very hard to keep any queues to a minimum, but queues may form at certain busy times. We ask you for your patience with the understanding that we are doing everything we can to mitigate any queue.
Children will go through the Christmas Experience at different speeds and we may have a medical issue up ahead that needs to be sorted before we can allow families to proceed.
Transport elves may ask you to wait in your car when you arrive to control any queue. It is our priority to help you have the best Christmas Experience with us.
If missing a queue is a priority due to a child becoming overwhelmed, please try and book 9am – 9.30am for weekends and 4.15pm – 5.45pm after school sessions.
Adult tickets can be purchased for children aged 13 + and over, as long as they are on a booking that includes at least 1 full paying child, and 1 adult over the age of 18. The 13 + child would not receive a present.
If they do require a present and to join in the full experience, a child’s ticket will need to be purchased.
Each booking will require at leat 1 full paying child.
It is a fact that many children are starting not to believe at a much earlier age. Although this is a shame, The Party Kingdom have adapted this year’s event. Even children who are on the cusp of believing and even non believers, will have a brilliant time.
We have added many interactive areas that will really encourage the older ‘ too cool for Santa’ kids, and the younger ones to become fully immersed in the Christmas Experience.
Father Christmas cannot wait to chat to your little one in his wonderful grotto. All the people on your booking will go in to see Father Christmas together, if you want to split into 2 or more groups, you will need to make more bookings.
Please note: To enable your children to have the best possible experience, there is a maximum of 6 people in the grotto at any one time.
Please make sure that we have your child’s name down correctly ( for unusual names, please make sure you put it down phonetically as well, so Father Christmas knows how to say it)
Father Christmas will make your chat as personal as possible.
We will contact you about 6-8 weeks before your magical visit to get the information you would like Father Christmas to know about your child.
We cannot guarantee what Father Christmas will say to your children.
Your child will take home their present from the Elf Workshop. We suggest that you bring a bag with you to carry their items.
This year in a way to try and reduce our carbon footprint, we are allowing each child to choose their own present. This present will not be wrapped.
Your child will be able to see the various presents that are available and with your help, choose the most appropriate one.
The Party Kingdom will offer a full range of presents and whatever you choose is entirely up to you. The Party Kingdom are not responsible if the present chosen is not appropriate.
Please ask the elves in The Elf Post Office if you do not think any of the presents shown are suitable. We have lots of various presents for all ages and alternatives can be shown to you.
Please arrive no more than 20 minutes before your time slot. Transport elves will help you park. Please make your way to the entrance with your entire booking group, 5 minutes before your ticket time (unless you are advised differently by a Transport Elf)
You can purchase hot and cold drinks and snacks from our kiosk.
If you are bringing a baby (of any age) to the Experience with no other children, you will need to pay for a child ticket.
A baby up to 14 months can go free of charge (if accompanying a full paying child on the same booking) but the baby will not get a present or arts and crafts (please advise us in the note section of the checkout). If you would like the baby to get a lovely present from The Elf Post Office then please purchase a Baby Ticket.
A baby ticket is for babies up to 14 months old. A child 15 months and over will require a child ticket.
Please note: Buggies are welcome but we ask you not to attend with a wide double buggy as we have some width restrictions in some areas. Our doorways are only as wide as a standard wheelchair.
You can take your own photos and videos all the way around the experience. We do ask you not to take any videos or photos with Santa with a light on as it is very distracting for him.
We would love to see your wonderful pictures so please tag us
Twitter – @BestEssexSanta
Facebook – @thepartykingdom
Insta – #thepartykingdomessex
TikTok – @thepartykingdomessex
Youtube- @thepartykingdom
Or you could upload them to a review on our website
You will be able to purchase photos from the grotto and our photo opportunities throughout the experience.
During the checkout process you will have the opportunity to purchase a USB stick. Official photos are taken in some of the Experiences’s sections, plus in Santa’s Grotto. If you decide to add this when you purchase your tickets you will save a massive £10 from the on the day price. It is very good value for money!
Please Note: There is a variety of photo sections and they may not all be the same each day.
USB sticks can be purchased on the day, you will automatically get all the photos taken by us. When you arrive at check in, you will be given your USB Santa stick. Please take care of it as we will not be able to re-issue another one. Please hand it in to the photo collection area.
Please check any issues with photos on your USB within 48 hours or we may not be able to retrieve your photos.
You can also decide to purchase a hard copy of a particular picture that you love on the day of your visit.
Please review The Party Kingdom Media Policy and opt out if you do not wish for your images to be used by The Party Kingdom.
As children do change their minds, we are not asking for personal information during the checkout process. We will be emailing you about 12 weeks prior to your booking time slot.
We are trying to make your visit to see Santa to be as personal as possible.
We will give you some sentences that can be completed to make it relevant to your child.
Santa will pick bits of information to make your Santa visit as magical as possible. We cannot guarantee what Santa actually does say to your child during your visit
The Booking Guarantee, Premium Elf Pack and USB Package are pre-selected. You can untick the boxes on the next page and they will come off your booking total.
During the checkout we are giving our guests the option to purchase a Premium Elf Pack. This will add to your children’s excitement. These Premium Elf Packs can be purchased even if you are not attending The Party Kingdom Christmas Experience.
Each pack includes 1 of each item unless shown. You will also be able to purchase some additional items if you would like more.
Each pack will contain:
Personalised Nice List Certificate per child
Congratulations certificate
A letter from Santa
Minimum of 10 elf letters that you can hand out during the run up to Christmas
Grow your own Christmas tree kit (1 per pack)
Mother Christmas’s Exclusive Recipe ( 1 per pack)
Spot the difference (1 copy per child)
Seasonal Word Search (1 per pack)
Plus a little something that will ‘prove’ that Santa has been to your house on Christmas Eve.
You will also get a fully personalised Golden Ticket inviting your children to see Father Christmas. This will have all the children’s names on your booking.
We will send the Premium Elf Packs out so you will receive them in plenty of time
This year we have included a Booking Guarantee. This means that up to 72 hours prior to your booking you can make 1 change to the booking details or even receive a full refund for your tickets. This does not include any extra add ons or the price paid for Booking Guarantee.
We are unable to refund a partial booking even with the Booking Guarantee.
If possible we will endeavour to change the date of your booking, but this is only subject to availability.
Subsequent changes will incur a £12.50 administration fee.
All changes must be made by completing a Booking Change Request with a minimum of 72 hours before your time slot with us.
We have a maxium number of people per booking (6 people).
If your total number of people is less than this please complete the forms below and we may be able to add extra visitors on, but cannot guarantee it. Any additional changes made prior 72 hours of your time slot will incur an administration charge of £6.50 per addition.
If you want to go around with another group, you will need to book adjacent booking slots. You will also need to go in to see Father Christmas together as one booking. If you do not want anyone else present during your visit to Santa, you will need to go around the experience individually.
We have a maximum of 6 people in the grotto to make sure that your children have the best possible experience. If your two groups are more than 6, you can go around together but you must be aware that in some areas it will be tight for space.
You will be able to link the second booking during checkout tothe first one.
If you have taken out the Booking Guarantee, you are able to make 1 change to your booking prior to 72 hours of your visit. Your booking will be refundable up to 72 hours prior to your booking date and time. We are unable to refund a partial booking.
If you have not taken out the Booking Guarantee you will be charged an administration charge of £12.50 for every change made to your booking. All changes will need to be made 72 hours prior to your time slot. You will not get a full, or partial refund for whatever reason.
Any Change Requests need to complete BOOKING CHANGE REQUEST
Tickets are non transferable. If you have taken out the Booking Guarantee you are able to make 1 change up to 72 hours prior to your visit. Your booking is also refundable up to this point.
You can update your personal details if you have the Booking Guarantee without charge once. Subsequent changes are charged at £12.50 per change, up to 72 hours prior to your time slot.
If you do not have the Booking Guarantee, you will be charged an adminstration fee of £12.50 for every change to your booking.
Any changes to your details must be made at least 72 hours prior to your visit to us. Any changes must be made by completing a booking change request
If the Christmas Experience has to close due to a change in Government guidelines, we will issue you a credit note. This will be for the total value of your booking to use against our event in 2025.
There is a bit of photo tech involved with this year’s experience. If it goes wrong on the day and we are unable to load your Purchased Santa USB, or print off your chosen photo, we will take your order number and arrange to get it emailed to you as soon as possible.
Assistant dogs are permitted in the experience as long as we have had an email notification of this. No other pets are allowed.
All adults have to attend the Christmas Experience event with a child due to our Safeguarding Policy.
Please look at our Adult Only Christmas Experience featuring Bad Santa.
This year we are changing what we do with the Santa letters. Your children will receive a personalised letter from Santa. This will be one letter for your booking group.
We will contact you a around 8 weeks before your visit to us to get the up-to- date information. We will use this information on this letter. Please Note: It will be in a place that will be seen by other visitors.
