THE SIMON SANTA PHOTO EXPERIENCE SET TO CREATE MORE MAGICAL MEMORIES AT THE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO
– Popular Caring Santa Back as Well –
Eager children and their families can once again experience the magic of the holiday season with a visit to the Simon® Santa Photo Experience at The Shops at Mission Viejo. Children can be photographed with Santa through December 24 in his winter wonderland, on the lower level near Nordstrom. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/480318018752360/ for a complete list of dates and times.
The Shops at Mission Viejo will also be the place for Santa to greet special needs children and their families via the popular Caring Santa program.
The presenting sponsor for the 2013 Simon Santa Photo Experience is Microsoft retail store.
ABC Family, Universal and Gymboree are associate sponsors this year.
“One of the great traditions of holiday shopping at The Shops at Mission Viejo is the annual family visit to the Simon Santa Photo Experience,” said Patsy Sanquist, director of mall marketing at The Shops at Mission Viejo. “I know Santa can’t wait to greet children bringing him their holiday wishes.”
The Noerr Programs, operators of the Santa Photo Experience at The Shops at Mission Viejo, is sharing the heart of Santa online this holiday season, through the “BeMerrySanta®” program where families can keep up with Santa’s daily musings on his Facebook page at facebook.com/BeMerrySanta or Twitter @BeMerrySanta. Parents can also input their child’s good deed into Santa’s Magical Badge Generator and then print out their child’s customized badge, or show it to Santa on a smartphone or tablet during their visit.
Guests to every Noerr set will have the opportunity to share Santa’s spirit of generosity by making a donation via The Noerr Programs to U.S. rural children in need through Save the Children, a 75-year-old non-profit organization. To create even more magic for donors, The Noerr Programs will offer a chance for a lucky family of four to win a trip to Orlando, Florida.
CARING SANTA TO BE HELD AT THE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO
– Popular Event Dedicated to Special Needs Children and Their Families Returns on December 8th –
The Shops at Mission Viejo announced today that it will hold a Caring Santa™ event this holiday season on December 8th, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the lower level near Nordstrom. Caring Santa is a special event dedicated to families that have children with special needs, providing a subdued environment to visit the Simon® Santa Photo Experience.
The presenting sponsor for the 2013 Simon Santa Photo Experience is Microsoft retail store.
ABC Family, Universal and Gymboree are associate sponsors this year.
Caring Santa has been developed by Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community.
Simon’s Caring Santa program has grown in popularity in a few short years to become the most comprehensive offering of its type in the shopping center industry. Started in 2010 in just a handful of malls, today over 100 Simon regional malls participate. Last holiday season, the program was featured on such national outlets as ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and www.parents.com, and well-known regional outlets such as The Orange County Register.
Many steps are taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s magical visit with Santa. This environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):
· Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the Santa set, dimming the lights, and shutting down fountains during the duration of the event.
· Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
· Special activities and stories geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.
Sheryl Young, CEO of AbilityPath said, “That moment when a child gets to meet Santa is a magical one, and every child should get to have this magical moment. Unfortunately, many children with special needs have never had this opportunity. The hustle and bustle of the malls can be overwhelming to the children and their families. That is why we facilitate the Caring Santa Program with Simon Property Group; to create an environment that will lessen potential triggers for children with special needs.”
“We are thrilled to be the venue for this incredible event,” said Patsy Sanquist, director of marketing and business development at The Shops at Mission Viejo. “The Caring Santa program brings a lot of joy to children with special needs and to see that happen at our mall is truly an honor.”
Participants are encouraged to RSVP for the Caring Santa event at The Shops at Mission Viejoby going to www.CaringSanta.com. The event is free and professional photo packages will be available for purchase through The Shops at Mission Viejo’s photo operator. The event will be held during private mall hours in order to provide a calmer sensory-friendly environment, so please enter the mall using The Cheesecake Factory entrance.
CHILDREN CAN EXPERIENCE HOLIDAY EXCITEMENT WITHTHE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO’S SPECIAL SIMON KIDGITS CLUB EVENT
Simon Malls host seasonal festivities, help families have fun while holiday shopping
It’s time to deck the mall withbright seasonal lights and families’ excitement for the holidays. Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), a leading global retail real estate company, encourages kids and parents to experience the joy of the holiday season during The Shops at Mission Viejo’s Simon Kidgits Club’s® Holiday Extravaganza event on Saturday, December 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the lower level near Forever 21.
Even beyond the mall’s annual Santa Photo Experience, The Shops at Mission Viejo’swill give kids the chance to participate in the following very merry offerings:
· Traditional holiday fun: Together, families can craft their holiday wish lists and create a letter to Santa. The Holiday Show begins at 8:45 a.m. to 9:15a.m. and Santa begins his visit at 9:15 a.m.
· Another reason to celebrate: The year’s No. 1 comedy Despicable Me 2 is being released on November 26 on Digital HD and December 10 on Blu-RayTM and DVD. Along with visiting Santa, kids can celebrate the holidays with Gru and the Minions. At the event, children can grab a Minion headband, view scenes from the movie, decorate a Despicable Me 2 holiday ornament, make their own Minion food and take home a character sticker sheet plus a photo with the Minion standee.
· An exclusive holiday showcase: HP is a sponsor of the 2013 Simon Kidgits Club’s holiday event and will demonstrate its next-generation PCs in select shopping centers this holiday season.
Moreover, Kidgits Club members will also receive a variety of holiday goodies, including access to exclusive discounts and other scheduled activities. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits/.
The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. Since 2003, the Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games.
For more information, visit The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShopsAtMissionViejo, Twitter at https://twitter.com/ShopsMV or Instagram at http://instagram.com/ShopsMV/.
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Noelle Ibrahim
Account Executive
