Santa’s Secret Adventure

I’ve attended this event for the past 4 years and my grandkids love it. They’ve added mini ponies that the little ones can interact with which is great. Being an experienced horse owner I can definitely understand why they limit the carriage and pony rides. These are living beautiful creatures people that don’t need to haul you around endless times. Sorry some people can’t understand that. If your child would like to ride longer and is taking an interest in horses then find an instructor to give your child hour long lessons. Lesson usually start around $ 35 an hour. The big horses pulling the carriages are huge but that doesn’t mean you get to pack everyone on the carriage just because there is room. Think people!!!
There is a lot to do at this event. Cookie decorating, petting zoo, maze, train rides, games and crafts and of course Santa.
Remember parents… the experience your child has at this event is within your control. If you’re a Debbie downer your kids won’t enjoy themselves. Be a good example for your children. Find your holiday spirit and stop complaining. Your children will grow up to be better people for it

I agree with the other reviews: the kids love it, but price-​wise, this is close to extortion. The price point is designed to wring every last cent out of the customers, many of whom keep coming back. So, from a business perspective, why not charge exorbitant fees?
Some of the employees seemed unhappy (but it’s hard to live up to Disneyland standards), but we also talked to several who were nice and seemed to be enjoying themselves.
It is clear from several of the signs around the place, as well as some of the lyrics in the songs sung during the Toy Story play, that the owners are trying to get people back to the «true meaning of Christmas.» For us, Christmas is a purely secular holiday, so this aspect was a turn off. (Hello. .. the name of this place is Santa’s Secret Adventure!)
The Toy Story play was just. .. odd.
The ticket system has got to go. Let the kids ride a few times. Come on. I felt nickled and dimed.
We lucked out with great weather and very low crowds. The lights were beautiful. Even though they were sad when they couldn’t go on anything more than once, the kids had a great time. But because of the price, I’m on the fence about going again.

I have to say the folks who started this thing and are able to get a new batch of unsuspecting visitors to come year after year are entrepreneurial geniuses. I am truly in awe, and a case study of this business belongs in Harvard Business Review.
The main problem with this place is that it’s hideously overpriced… about $ 30 per person. All they have is petting zoo type attractions and a mediocre Santa. There is a carriage ride, and kids can ride a horse around an indoor arena. Kids can also walk a donkey. There’s nothing wrong with these things, it’s just that the $ 30 fee per person isn’t justified. The whole thing is something a neighborhood church would put together for a $ 5 fee. I would be remiss if I didn’t say something about the Toy Story skit, which was ridiculous and frankly it was so bad it started to get uncomfortable in the audience.
In summary, you don’t mind paying $ 30 a person, apart from the Toy Story skit, there is some slightly entertaining things to do here. I just don’t think it’s worth the money.

We attended SSA four years ago and while I still thought it was overpriced then, my kids had fun and we decided to attend again. The tickets for my family cost $ 198. An hour after the event began, the power went out and a lot of the events were closed. They had a «Toy Story» Christmas play that was truly awful… truly. awful. The staff couldn’t tell me when or if we’d get to see Santa, we couldn’t do over half the stuff that was promised in the ad so I asked someone at their snack shack about a refund and she said «It’s PG&E’s fault, it’s our policy that we don’t give refunds.» I told that you can’t just keep somebody’s money and not provide the event they pay for. She said maybe I could reschedule and I had to explain that we don’t live in California. She then asked for my phone number and said she’d call the owner and ask about refund and get right back to me and for me to not leave until she did. I waited for 45 minutes, no call and after 90 minutes with no power, we left. On the way out, «Mrs. Claus» had the nerve to say she hoped we had a great time. I think more than my kids disappointment of missing out (though after that «play», I think they were so disgusted, they were ok with leaving) was my surprise that a business could act with such low integrity. The power goes out, you blame PG&E and keep everybody’s money… shameful. I have one friend who had to file a claim through her bank to get her money back and I have had to file a claim as well.

I have brought my daughter for 4 year straight now and it’s now a tradition. My daughter has the time of her life and there are so many different activities for her to do. The staff is super up beat and friendly and Santa Claus does an amazing time each year! The place is absolutely beautiful and decorations everywhere, you definitely feel the Christmas spirit!

First I’d like o say this adventure is absolutely magical ! Kids have a blast this beautiful ranch is decorated to the nines. We’ve come every year and will continue this fabulous tradition. The train was adorable, the maze was so fun for the kids, Christmas cookie making, Santa and his elves were so magical and I love being able to have a few pics with kids and family.
Pics in the mall can’t begin to compare to this experience. Can’t wait till next year.

We made our first trip this year to Penryn for Santa’s Secret Adventure. Our granddaughters were the perfect ages (5 and 3) to really enjoy it. The instructions on the invoice had us a little concerned that there would be a lot of regimentation, but no. It was very laid back, camera friendly, with lots of friendly staff. We were advised because of their ages to go to the early time slot, 4:30 pm. It really worked well for them to get a feel for everything while it was still light. We visited Santa immediately. One of the best Santas around! He was quiet and soft spoken and had little chairs for them to sit in so they weren’t intimidated by sitting on his lap. They viewed the Victorian village too before and after seeing Santa. They decorated cookies and munched on them by the campfire before we trekked over to the little train and on to the pony rides. The help was mostly teenagers who were very polite and friendly. The girls are still talking about all the horses. The entire site is lit with thousands of Christmas lights. It was a great experience that we would do again.

First I would like to say that my 2 kids did have fun here. But the staff was super Unfriendly and looked completely miserable! We went a few years back and the experience was a lot better it was more of a guided tour and mrs Santa clause read the night before Christmas around a fire while the kids drank cocoa. Now everything is kinda thrown together no more personable experience and mrs Santa is with Santa for pictures. My pictures were never posted on the promised website btw and when I wrote an email to inquire got no response. If I only had to pay for kids tickets for this id do it again but it’s not worth 120 $.

Rip off. It cost us $ 100 for the wife and I, and our two kids. Would have been $ 120 if the youngest was a few months older.
Basically someone decorated their yard and let’s you walk around. They have a barn with Santa. They take your picture. And I assume sell it to you on smugmug. I refused to even take the sheet advertising the location, so maybe I’m wrong.
We did get free hot chocolate and like 5 cookies. That was nice. But I can do that myself for much less than the $ 100 for this joint. And we got to buy some frozen pizza and a hot dog. They were what you expect.
They had a train, which was a lawn mower driving a bunch of large plastic water jugs around. And an area where you can ride their horses — but that’s limited to 1 ticket per child. So even if your kid absolutely LOVES it, they can only go once. Or maybe this place will sell you another one — dunno, didn’t ask. It’s more expensive than those horses chained to a circle at the fair!
There was also a carriage ride where we were told «it’s a two horse open sleigh» as we sang jingle bells. Thanks for that!
And none of the staff looked friendly. I think we got one smile. Everyone just looked angry. Maybe that was because it was like 28 degrees. Can’t argue with that, it was freezing. I can’t blame being ripped off for that!
Anyways, rip off. But there’s not much else to do — except create family holiday traditions for your family that revolve around spending all your money on presents.
Hope you have fun in Penryn!

I had read some reviews on Unilocal about this Christmas activity and wasn’t so sure that I had made the right choice in booking this «adventure» before reading the reviews. But Lo and Behold I’ve decided that people tend to only take the time to write a review if and when they aren’t satisfied with a business… but I want to assure you that Santa’s Secret Adventure was Magical and Mystical in a child’s eyes! It was a wonderful experience for my 2 Granddaughters, one is 8 ½ years old and the other is 16 months. From the decorating of sugar cookies, making a holiday craft, playing the games, the petting zoo, the horse drawn carriage ride, the train ride (very cute Christmas train, I might add ~ clever), the campfire, the ride on the Christmas ponies, and of course the visit to Santa Claus himself… it was all so well thought out! Add lights and Christmas decorations galore and what a truly FUN night!!! The elves were on hand everywhere! It wasn’t an inexpensive adventure but this way it is kept more private and then not so overcrowded. It was worth every penny and I know I will be telling everyone I know and as my Daughter said, «It will become a Christmas tradition» for our girls! Thank You to the owners and all of the wonderful «elves»! Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good night!