Do you find the gap between Christmas and New Year a difficult one to fill?
The first couple of days are filled with the kids playing with their new toys and games, but then the itch to get outside gets stronger and stronger.
We were invited to go and review Enchanted Narnia at Gunwharf Quays to help fill the void between Christmas and New Year.
As the name suggests, the experience is based on the beloved classic series The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis.
When you book your tickets, you are given a set time to arrive for your journey into Narnia and are advised to arrive at the marquee in Gunwharf Quays plaza, around 15 minutes before your journey is due to begin.
We were greeted by Susan who explained she had lost her brother and sister and needed us to help her find them. She then explained a little bit about Narnia and how to get there before we got to step through the wardrobe into the magical world itself.
My older three used to love the Chronicles of Narnia and I had hoped that this experience would be a great introduction to the series for Isaac, Eliza and Sebastian and we told them a bit about the story and who we were looking for as we walked through the wardrobe doors.
We were greeted by an enchanted, snowy forest where we had to follow a trail and soon found Mr Tumnus the faun – a human / goat cross.
He was very animated and concentrated his attention on the kids in the group, joking with Isaac that he had lost his arms, as he had taken them out of his sleeves.
It was then on to Mrs Beaver’s house, which was our favourite part of the experience.
She chatted to the kids and adults alike and had us all performing some special magic wishes, before opening a magic door to venture further into Narnia.
It was here the experience started to feel rushed. The next group behind us were already knocking at the door of Mrs Beavers house to come in, yet we could not move onto the next experience with the White Witch as she was still entertaining the group before us, so we were stuck waiting for a few minutes.
Once we got to see the White Witch, she performed a spell to check all the kids, and adults, had been good this year by handing us all snow to hold in our hands. If it melted we had been naughty, but if it stayed in our hands as snow then we had been good.
We then got to throw the snow in the air, covering everyone in it!
The next part of the experience was slightly different to the one before Christmas, as then the kids got to make reindeer food. As Christmas has been and gone, they got to make their own special snow to keep, which contained their own magical wishes.
It was then on to see Father Christmas, who happily chatted to the kids all about his busy day, asking them if they had got what they wanted. Thankfully he had got their presents just right and even pretended to fly a tie-fighter when Sebby told him what he had got!!
Father Christmas took a couple of photo’s of him with the kids, using a remote control camera and then asked the kids to go outside to his toy shop to pick a present each.
I loved the idea that the kids got to pick a gift and that the elf then made their choice and sent it down the slide, but there was not much choice and certainly nothing for older children like Isaac.
I did ask a friend what the choice was like before Christmas as she had visited in the opening week and she advised that their was more choice, but still nothing for older kids.
There was also a gift book available to buy with the pictures that Father Christmas took, but we did not get it on this occasion.
The experience lasted 20 minutes and Isaac remarked that we never did find Susan’s brothers or sister;Ā Lucy, Edmund or Peter. We would also have like to see Aslan, whether it be an animatronic lion or large cuddly lion peering through the trees.
The kids really enjoyed Enchanted Narnia but I do feel that it needed something extra. Being the last day, some parts looked tired and Santa’s beard was looking rather pink and grubby from make-up, not that the kids noticed.
The kids have come home and started watching the Chronicles of Narnia and I can only apologise to Callan as the Philip jokes will start again!
What a lovely style. Nice article and Gunwarf keys keeps getting better.
This looks like something my Other Half and eldest would love. They are both big Narnia fans x
Wow, what a place to go too. Our kids would have loved heading there as well. Looks like yours had so much fun.
Looks really fun and something to do when my little one is older. Shame about the quality issue towards the end but at least the kids are now into Narnia – something to keep them busy even more hahaha
As long as your kids are into reading the Chronicles of Narnia,then I think your experience was a great one. But 20 minutes does seem very rushed and slightly cheesy.
Looks like a lovely idea for an event. Maybe they will take on board your suggestions and put in Aslan if they do it next year š I think he’s a main part of the story so should be included.
Looks like you all had a fantastic time there even with the dodgy santa beard!
Is it only for Christmas or are they open all year? I would love to bring my children to enjoy the Narnia’s story. My eldest read the books.
It is just for Christmas but I think it will be back next year
This looks like such a fun experience although how awful that you felt rushed- that’s the worst thing when taking your kids on a day out.
Apart from a few oddities it does seem like a lovely way to spend the time between Christmas and new year and seems the kids had fun
A great, constructive article about the Narnia experience. It looks like the bits they did well, they did very well indeed. Aslan would have been a nice addition to your experience. However, it’s clearly made an impression on your children if they’ve come home to read the books again! Hopefully next year, it’ll be even bigger and better with more for older children too š
Ahh we did something like this last year which was fun! We are huge fans of Narnia, it looks like the children enjoyed it!
This looks great. I also love how the kids can pick a gift from santa
Odd that they didn’t include Aslan but the experience didn’t look too bad. The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe is one of my favourite all time stories.
The Chronicles of Narnia were the first books I remember reading so how lovely to be able to experience a little bit of the magic!
I remember I had this teaching assistant who gifted me the Chronicles of Narnia and even signed it with her name. I wish I still had it because it was such a magical series so I am glad that you had a good time, although shame that some of the experience felt a bit rushed!
We are big fans of Narnia, it sounds like you had a nice experience, it was a shame that it was a little short and rushed. At least it has got your kids a taster of Narnia and they are enjoying it
It looks like a great idea for an experience with a little room for improvement for next year. My son is names after one of the characters, Prince Caspian, so Iām sure something like this would be fun in the future.
Oh my goodness I would love to go here, never mind the kids, lol! I loved these books. š
Sounds like the kids had fun! Shame that it looked a little tired – it should be the same experience for everyone everyday really!
Shame it was tired looking but what a magical idea! We used to live so close I think mine would have liked to have gone there
Oh wow this is such a great idea for a day out with the kids. I was heavily into The Chronicles of Narnia too when I was younger and I think my little one would love it too.
This looks like such a fun day out. I wish I’d spotted it just after Christmas as both my two were bored after boxing day and in desperate need of getting out of the house for a good few hours!
Louise x
Your right that week between Christmas and New Year is so awkward especially after all the hype of Christmas we are often sat around wondering what to do next lol! This looks fab for my little girl who is just 3 and would love all the little bits to look at.
Glad to read that the kids enjoyed it. I think they’re better at suspending their disbelief than we are! And it does sound like a lovely concept.
Sounds like an interesting day out. Hopefully Enchanted Narnia will take your comments onboard and make it less rushed and better for next year. x We’re local to Gunwharf so will look out for it next year x
Looks like it could be a really good event, maybe next year they will listen to feedback and improve certain areas
Oh wow this is awesome, I loved reading Narnia as a child and the films are fantastic too – this would be right up my street
Laura x