Sorry, Santa is by appointment only. Screencap.

Let us recall the concluding lines to “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the seasonal classic: He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight— “I’m sorry, do you have an appointment?”

Yes, the Associated Press reports that this year, the Santa at Macy’s flagship Herald Square location will be appointment-only. (“The department store says families can cancel a reservation and make a new one at any time,” the AP notes, adding that, “Spokeswoman Julie Strider said that people can also reserve a spot at a kiosk at the store.”) On the site where you make reservations, the company explains:

“Santa’s a popular guy, so the wait times to meet him have been quite long in previous years, especially on our busiest days. The new reservation system is designed to minimize this by scheduling visitors to join the line at a time of your choice, allowing for the best possible holiday experience.”

Of course, this is no mere typical mall Santa. The Santa at the century-old Macy’s flagship, featured in the original 1947 Miracle on 34th Street, is surrounded by Santaland, “a 13,000-square-foot North Pole village complete with live elves and a train display,” the AP explains.

Looking forward to the Miracle on 34th Street sequel, I Swear We’re on the List at 34th Street.