A Complete Guide to Macy's Santaland: Everything to Know

Marco Feng | eight Min Read | Updated: Jan 11, 2022

The world'southward biggest section store transforms into a winter wonderland each Christmas, featuring a beautiful "Believe" lite on one side of its building, colorful holiday decorations, and shoppers from around the globe equally they fill up baskets with gifts.

You lot may know very well their annual holiday windows or Thanksgiving Mean solar day parade, but exercise you know the Santaland inside? It is an immersive, interactive fantasy-land of fake snow, behemothic toy soldiers, and of class, Santa Claus.

In this post, we will share everything you lot need to know about this vacation gem, from when it is, how to get tickets, and tips on how to get the virtually out of your feel, and more. Enjoy!

But, first things get-go.

The rainbow bridge in Macy's Santaland that leads you through the magical Christmas village.

The rainbow bridge in Macy's Santaland that leads yous through the magical Christmas hamlet.

The History of Macy's Santa Claus

Santa start became part of Macy's holiday tradition in 1861, and kids could visit him in the regional flagship store at 14th Street and 6th Avenue. In 1924 and years after, the arrival of Santa has been the finale of Macy's Thanksgiving Mean solar day Parade, and by the mid-1930s, the large human being in red had been raised to national star status.

The 1947 movie Phenomenon on 34th Street made Macy'due south Santa world-famous and the following twelvemonth marked the first nationally televised Macy'southward Thanksgiving Day Parade, reinforcing the presence of the i and merely Santa at Herald Square.

In 1975, a permanent Santa firm was made on the fourth flooring, which later was doubled in size and refined to become today's Santaland. The next year, in 1976, a boob theatre was also added.

From 2010 to today, the magical experience of Macy'south Santaland has been improved past allowing visitors to make online reservations, skipping the line to see Santa, and boarding the Santaland Express train through holiday-themed scenery, numerous photo ops, and more.

What is Macy's Santaland?

On the eighth floor of Macy'southward Herald Square, Santaland is a holiday wonderland that comes alive each year between November 27th and Dec 24th, attracting over 170,000 visitors.

You'll wander through a 13,000-square-foot Christmas village featuring an enchanted forest, rainbow bridge, twinkling lights, snow-capped mountains, Santa'southward workshop, a shiny red sleigh being prepped for the big dark, and and then much more.

At the end of information technology, you volition run into Santa and conversation with the big man nigh your holiday wish lists, what the reindeer are up to, etc. There is as well time for photos, both with your own and the official cameras.

When is Macy's Santaland 2021?

Macy'southward Santaland runs from November 26th to December 24th this twelvemonth, and in-person visits are dorsum too. Of course, if you don't feel safe venturing out, you can all the same meet the human being with a big white beard nearly.

You can now brand a reservation online v days in accelerate of your visit. Reservations aren't required for the virtual experience.

The cheerful Snowman choir at Macy's Santaland.

The cheerful Snowman choir at Macy'southward Santaland.

Where is Macy'south Santaland 2021?

This holiday wonderland takes place on the 8th floor of Macy'south Herald Square in Midtown, Manhattan (151 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001). This year, due to the pandemic, you and your little ones can too admission this all nigh and play fun games along the way before digital 1-on-one fourth dimension with St. Nick.

How do I get tickets to Macy'south Santaland?

Admission to Macy's Santaland is gratuitous, merely Santa is a pop man. In the past, the wait to meet the big man in crimson has gotten long. Hours-long. Thankfully, Macy's has improved the process, and now the NYC Santaland requires reservations.

You lot can make free reservations online anywhere from thirty minutes to five days earlier your visit. This guarantees your spot in line. Yes, there will all the same be a line, just it should be shorter. Despite the new reservation organisation, some complain that they ended up with a lengthy look to see Santa.

We recommend going early on (both early in the day and the holiday flavor) to crush the crowds. If possible, continue a weekday immediately later on Santaland opens. The venue opens each solar day when the store opens, mostly at 10:00 AM, and an 60 minutes earlier on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at nine:00 AM, and closes at 9:00 PM.

In 2021, the effect will also be held online, and to admission it at Home, visit the Macy's Santaland website.

What to Know About Accessing Macy'southward Santaland at Home?

Go to macys.com/santaland and let your parents or adult guardians to enable all permissions. And then, elves will join and guide yous through the journey. Upwardly to three children can enjoy the customized experience at the same fourth dimension.

You tin play interactive games and take a expect at Santa's village and workshop while you are on your North Pole-bound train. Make certain to stay until the end of the result, where a digital interactive video with Santa volition allow kids to read off their wish lists and pose for a selfie.

How Long Does It Take to Get Through Santaland?

It took us almost 90 minutes to get through the line, see Santa, and buy photos at the stop. But, thanks to the new reservation arrangement, you don't have to wait long before embarking on your journey through the Christmas village.

Santa Claus at Macy's Santaland. Photo by Neilson Barnard

Santa Claus at Macy'south Santaland. Photo by Neilson Barnard

Tips for Visiting Macy's Herald Square Santaland

  1. After getting through Santaland, yous volition arrive at a individual-ish room, where you get a few minutes to chat with Santa well-nigh your vacation wish lists, what the reindeer are up to, etc.

    There is also fourth dimension for photos , both with your ain and the official cameras. Yes, you can take photos yourself at the venue and with the large man in reddish without paying for their official photos.

  2. Admission to Macy'south Santaland is gratuitous , merely Santa is a popular man. In the past, the wait to run into the big man in carmine has gotten long. Hours-long. Exist certain to make reservations online earlier going. You can book anywhere from 30 minutes to five days before your visit.

  3. Reservations will be open on Nov 25th each year for Santaland's opening solar day, Black Fri, and the first few operating days, which are booked very quickly. Santaland is also decorated on the weekends and in the final days leading up to Christmas Eve.

    The best strategy to see Santa is to hop on exactly five days before your visit when the booking agenda opens.

    • Macy'south releases a new day of reservations each morning at 6:00 AM. All visitors must brand an appointment online or at an in-shop kiosk.

  4. Consider Santa Express Pass! From Mon to Thursday, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and all mean solar day Fri to Sunday, you can also brand your await shorter with a Santa Express Laissez passer, which skips almost of Santaland and sends you directly to Santa.

    This tin can exist a cracking selection for those curt on time or just interested in taking pictures with Santa, but we do recommend taking in the whole Santaland experience if you can.Also, the Express Pass doesn't always truly mean express. Information technology can be an 60 minutes in that line, too. So, be mentally prepared!

  5. A visit to Santa is free, but the photo packages aren't . You don't accept to purchase the official photos, and, thankfully, yous are immune to take photos with your ain camera. The official photos start effectually $20 to $25 and there's another line for that after Santa.

  6. Late Nov and the whole month of December in New York Metropolis tin exist brutally common cold . Though Macy'due south Santaland takes place indoors, y'all will spend a nifty amount of time outside, perusing at holiday windows and hop from spot to spot to see Christmas low-cal shows and trees.

    So, exist sure to bundle upward! Think of a down jacket, a pair of snow boots, hats, gloves, and scarves. As well, pack a bag of snacks, h2o, hot chocolate, a volume, and a ability bank to continue your devices always charged.

    • The inside of Macy'due south is really very warm, especially when you wait in a long, tiresome line to Santa for hours, and then you might also want to wearing apparel in layers.

  7. If you or your child prefer a visit to an African-American or Spanish-speaking Santa , merely permit the elves know when you arrive, and they will make it happen. For whatsoever other special accommodations, you can call (212) 494-1917 earlier your visit.

  8. Despite the new reservation system, we recommend going early on (both early in the day and the season) to beat the crowds. If possible, get on a weekday immediately after Santaland opens. The venue opens each day when the store opens, by and large at x:00 AM, and an hour earlier on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at nine:00 AM, and closes at 9:00 PM.

Other fun Things to do at Macy'southward in Christmas

Write a Letter of the alphabet to Santa to Aid Children

Along 34th Street between 6th and seventh Ave, you will offset see a giant "Believe" lite on 1 side of Macy's shop, which is often lit in mid-November to encourage people to donate to back up Brand-A-Wish® and assist kids to fight against disquisitional illnesses.

You can support its piece of work by having your fiddling ones write a letter to Santa. Impress out the letter of the alphabet and bring it to the mailbox in Santaland, or send it online. For every letter Macy's receives, the company donates $i to Make-A-Wish®, up to $ane million.

Enjoy the Iconic Holiday Windows

Before stepping into the store, take a few minutes perusing the vacation windows filled with vivid Christmas figures. And in 2020, they were decked out to thank first responders, essential workers, and everyday New Yorkers who came together this year to support each other and the urban center we call home.

If you love holiday windows, take a stroll downward Fifth Artery, where iconic stores, such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks 5th Avenue, and Henri Bendel, outdo one another with over-the-tiptop window displays.

Alright! That is everything you need to know about Macy's Santaland. Hope you lot've enjoyed this mail service and learned some practical info for your feel.

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