FAQs

General Questions about theh ALL-New 'Santa Max Experience'
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What is the best way to view the new Santamax.co website?
To experience the full excitement of the new Santamax.co website, it does look better on a computer or iPad. However, we have also optimized it for viewing on your mobile device as well. However, on your mobile devise the website looks best if you turn your phone orientation to sideways or landscape view. This gives you the iPad-like view of the website.
What is new this year?
We have LOTS of new opportunities for a year-round experience!
- We are at a new location this year! Heritage Conference Center at 375 Starlight Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29715
- There will be new family activities on Main Street some weekend days.
- We are selling food and merchandise this year! You can enjoy hot chocolate and snacks on Main Street at the Trolly car. We still make custom Christmas ornaments with your pictures from your Santa visit. There are many other items for sale to customize your children’s magical experience.
- Santa Max has a passion for missions. His focus is on Mongolia, where he spent three weeks in June, 2023. 100% of sale profits of the art items from Mongolia will go back to Mongolia missions! Learn more about Santa Max’s ongoing Mongolia missions at this link. These items will only be on sale in person at the Santa Max Experience in Ft. Mill.
- Santa Max and Mrs. Claus have committed 50% of all 2023 profits from the Santa Max Experience to missions! This includes the Santa visits and sale of merchandise.
Why do I have to create an account?
You create an account to manage all of your purchases with Santamax.co. Your purchases may include your Santa Max appointment, purchasing custom Christmas ornaments, and other items. Inside your account you can cancel/reschedule your appointment, get the link to your pictures, see if your custom ornaments are ready or not, add to your order, and much, much more. Another good thing is that you will have the same account next year! So, save your password!
How do I create an account?
There are two options to create an account:
- Go to the “My Account” page and click “Register”
- OR you can create an account at Checkout when you book your appointment or purchase merchandise.





Questions about Booking your 'Santa Max Experience'
Booking an appointment is an “Order”?
Yes, we are using an ecommerce tool for booking your appointment and purchasing merchandise. The Santa Max Experience booking process is different this year. You can book your appointment right on the Santamax.co website. Here are some of the differences:
- Terminology is different:
- your booking is called an “Order”
- your booking item (or appointment) is called a “Product”
- You must create an account on the Santamax.co webpage to manage your booking and other product purchases.
Can I just drop by the Santa studio to book an appointment?
No, all bookings for Santa Max Experience are only accepted online.
Why should I book early?
You want to book early
- to get the appointment that you want
- to purchase the art items that Santa Max brought back from Mongolia! These will not be for sale online since there is only a limited quantity.
- To purchase custom Christmas photo ornaments so you can enjoy them before and during Christmas this year.
What do I need to know before I book my Santa Max Experience?
Be aware of the price differences for weekdays and weekends in November and December. You can learn more about this at this link.
How do I book an appointment for the Santa Max Experience online?
First decide if you want to join the Santa Max Club or just book an appointment.
- Navigate to the Santamax.co webpage.
- Click on Shopping
- Click on either “2022 Santa Max Experience Booking”.
- Navigate to the month you want, then select the day and time you want to book your appointment.
- Scroll down to see additional questions to enhance the magic of your child’s Santa experience.
- Do you want to join the Santa Max Club? (Additional fee applies.)
- Meet in person at Ft. Mill or by Zoom online?
- Number of Years your family has visited Santa Max
- Children or Other Information (children’s names, ages, what they want for Christmas, and any other pertinent information that would help make this a magical experience for your children)
- Pets (Pets names and will you bring them?)
- Elf-on-the-Shelf? (name of your child’s elf if they have one)
- Click to either Pay Deposit of $25 today (or $65 for Club) or Pay Full Amount.
- Click “Book Now” button.
- Shopping Cart: You can decide to
- Continue shopping
- Add custom Christmas ornaments or other items to your cart (you may purchase these onsite at your Santa visit also), or
- Proceed to Checkout
- Complete your information for Checkout and Payment information.
- A message will display at the top of the page that your “order” was successful
- You will also receive a confirmation email.





Questions about your 'Santa Max Experience' Visit





Questions about Shopping
How do I Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
You can Cancel or Reschedule your appointment. Here’s how:
- Go to the Santamax.co webpage.
- Go to “My Account” under “Shopping” in the menu. Log in.
- Select “Appointments”.
- Click on the Cancel button to cancel your appointment.
- Or click the Reschedule button to reschedule your appointment.
Can I bring my sister's (or brother's or friend's) family on my visit?
The Santa Max appointments are only for your immediate family. However, grandparents are welcome. The only exception is if you and your sister’s (brother’s or friend’s) family schedule two back-to-back appointments, then you can all visit Santa Max together for both sessions and get whole group, cousins, or any individual pictures in your 10 minutes.
Can I schedule a Santa visit longer than 5 minutes?
Yes, you can schedule two back-to-back sessions.
How do I get the link to my pictures?
To locate your pictures:
- Log in to your account at https://santamax.co/my-account/.
- Select “Orders”.
- Look for the Note with the link to your private, secure Dropbox has been added. Your pictures are uploaded within minutes of your Santa Max visit. Your pictures will never be shared with anyone else or used for any other purpose without your permission.
How do I get the link to my pictures?
To locate your pictures:
- Log in to your account at https://santamax.co/my-account/.
- Select “Orders”.
- Look for the Note with the link to your private, secure Dropbox has been added. Your pictures are uploaded within minutes of your Santa Max visit. Your pictures will never be shared with anyone else or used for any other purpose without your permission.
Why do you ask questions about children, pets, and other things when I register for an appointment?
We want to give the very best Santa Max Experience possible to your children and your family. If Santa knows personal information such as their name, age, pet name, and elf-on-the-shelf name, it is a more magical experience for your child.
When do I pay for my Santa Max Experience and other items?
You pay a deposit for the Santa Max Experience when you book your appointment. Then you pay the remainder at your visit. If you order other items at the time of registration, you pay for them when you order them. You can always add items at your visit and pay for them on site.
Can I just drop by the Santa studio to buy merchandise without an appointment?
Yes, let the elf at the door know that you only want to purchase ornaments or other merchandise.
How do I order merchandise online?
It is quick and easy to order your merchandise online.
- Navigate to the Santamax.co webpage.
- Click on Shopping
- Click on the items you want to purchase and add them to your cart.
- You may continue shopping and checkout when you are ready.
Can I wait to order custom Christmas ornaments in person at my Santa Max Experience visit?
Yes, you may purchase any merchandise when you are at your Santa visit. However, ornaments will cost more on site and availability is uncertain. There will be no back orders.
Are all of the items for sale on the website also on sale in person at the Santa studio?
Yes and no. All merchandise items will be available on the website EXCEPT the Mongolian art items, which will only be available at the Santa studio. We will have limited quantities of the Mongolian pieces. So, come early!
The Custom Photo Ornaments will cost more on-site. So, order your ornaments online and make your photo selections onsite!
How do I re-order a custom Christmas ornament?
After you have placed a merchandise order online, you can go to your Account, click on Orders, click on your merchandise order, and click the “Order again” button. You can customize your Cart and Proceed to Checkout.
When will my custom Christmas ornament order be ready?
Our goal is to complete custom Christmas ornaments within 48 hours, hopefully sooner. You may choose to pick your ornaments up at the Santa studio or have them shipped to you for the USPO standard rate shipping of $8.95, which usually takes 2-3 days. You will receive email notification that your order is ready or that it has been shipped if that is the option you selected.
Why do I have to pay taxes?
South Carolina law requires payment of taxes on merchandise sales.