You'll need to have an appointment to sit on Santa's lap at Macy’s in New York

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November 20, 2017 7:26 PM

Macy's flagship store on 34th Street in New York City is requiring parents to make reservations for their children see Santa this year.

Macy's flagship store on 34th Street in New York City is requiring parents to make reservations for their children to get their pictures taken with Santa this year.
The policy is designed to reduce wait times and congestion around the store's Santaland exhibit.
The exhibit will run from Nov. 24-Dec. 24.

Getting your photo taken with Santa Claus is a childhood tradition, but one that often requires patience.

Long lines have the potential to leave children and their parents irritable, a problem malls and department stores have tried to solve in recent years. A New Jersey mall outraged parents by charging $35-$50 for admission into a Santa exhibit in 2015, and this year, Macy's flagship store in New York City is requiring parents to make reservations for their children to get a picture with Santa.

While reservations at Macy's 34th Street location will be free, this is the first year the retailer has adopted this policy. Macy's Santaland exhibit will run from Nov. 24-Dec. 24, and parents can make reservations for 30-minute time slots on the Macy's website anywhere from 30 minutes to five days in advance. Macy's hopes the policy will reduce wait times and congestion around the store's Santa-themed display.

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