Dianne Coyle, 4, makes clear to Santa what she wants for Christmas while visiting him at Orchard Park mall.

By Shelley Nicholl

The Daily Courier

Don’t expect any tyrannosaurus rexes under the tree this year, boys and girls. They won’t be in Santa’s bag.

“Two kids wanted live dinosaurs for Christmas,” said the jolly gent with a laugh between chatting with kids at Orchard Park mall. “I told them they were too messy.”

The logistics of getting them in the sleigh and then down the chimney would be overwhelming, too.

Some kids ask for another item that’s almost as difficult to find as a dinosaur – world peace.

“Kids as young as five, six, seven have asked,” said Santa.

Then, there’s the personal family wishes that, the fellow in red said, “break my heart.”

The rest of the requests, however, have been more traditional. The spinning Beyblades and the everlasting Barbie, especially Rapunzel, are at the top of most lists this year.

Nine-year-old Alex Gracia is one of the children hoping Santa will deliver a Beyblade to him.

“They’re just cool,” he said. “Everybody in school has them – except me.”

The popular toy, based on a TV show, sells out quickly at the toy shops. Santa said he hopes he has enough of the toy to meet the demand.

Talor Osberg, 9, wouldn’t mind a Beyblade, as well, along with a skateboard. She also likes the giving part of the special day.

“Christmas is fun,” she said. “I like it when you give someone something and you get to see how much they like it.”

Taylor Mcrae, 5, has a Barbie on her list – a Barbie that dances to be exact. Add to that a Barbie computer and a Diva Star doll.

“I like Santa,” she said with a big grin.

Her sister Hailey, 2, agreed, holding up the treat he gave her. “I got a candy cane.”

She’s hoping all the Winnie the Pooh characters wind up under her tree.

Another five-year-old, Jacob Sokolan, couldn’t remember what he was going to ask Santa for as he stood in line to see him. Then it came to him that he’d like a space-aged Gobot – actually all of them.

He wasn’t afraid to sit on Santa’s knee.

“I’ve been here before,” he said, confidently.

Jacob’s sister Desiree, 8, was a bit of a challenge for Santa when she was a toddler. She yanked away his beard, much to the dismay of the other kids in line. Now older and wiser, she simply plans to ask for a Gameboy Advance and maybe something for mom.

But, it doesn’t really matter.

“I like all the stuff he gets me,” she said.

But, have all these kids been good this year? “They’ve mostly been good,” said Santa, with a twinkle in his eye.