The Saunders family has just moved from Los Angeles to Edmonton right before Christmas leaving them with no Christmas spirit with the exception of the bright eyed 6-year-old Mary. They go to the majestic West Edmonton Mall for Christmas shopping. The boys find out that Wayne had been fired from his job and Christmas might not happen this year. He leaves 16-year-old Danny in charge of Mary and 12-year-old Brian. Mary tells Santa that she wants a million dollars for Christmas for her dad, although she doesn't know he was fired. She also says the same thing to "Rudolph" the reindeer and Brian tells her that if she wanders off again, the "Mall Ghost" will eat her. They then go to the ice rink.