Macy’s Inc (NYSE:M) customers hoping to pop in on Santa Claus unannounced this year are going to be disappointed.
The Macy’s Inc flagship store at 34th Street in NYC is requiring reservations to visit Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. The company says that this change was made so that it would be easier for parents that want to bring their children in to visit Santa Claus.
Parents that want to sign up for a reservation can do so online. They can make the reservation as early as five days in advance, or as late as 30 minutes before the visit. Customers can cancel the reservations and reschedule them at anytime. The visits start right after Thanksgiving and will last until Christmas Eve.
Those that do chose to make an appointment with Santa Claus this year are expected to be punctual. Macy’s Inc wants the whole process to go smoothly and is trying to avoid wait times between the visits. When parents come in for their appointments, they will have to notify the on-duty elf of their arrival, reports USA Today.
While the idea of setting up appointments to meet Santa Claus will likely help keep wait times down, some customers aren’t overly excited by the idea.
“No-ooooooo! It takes a lot away from the excitement and spontaneity,” Caroline Elliott, a shopper in Florida, told the New York Post. “Sometimes you want surprises. When we were kids there were lines. But it’s part of the excitement.”
