If hoverboards are this year's most buzzed-about holiday gift, drones are probably a close second. They were a big hit last year, and that appears to be the case again this year — even if this time around, the new drone owners will have to register their new toys with the FAA.
When you buy your dad a drone for Christmas & he is excited to fly it but worried that aviation legislation might land him in prison
— Matthew Joseph (@MattJoseph93) December 25, 2015
The next best thing to opening one on Christmas morning is basking in the glory of watching people crash them, and if you're hungry for some drone crash schadenfreude, nothing beats seeing one happen from the drone's perspective.
Merry Xmas from me and the drone... #bebot #parrot #drone #crash
A video posted by Nathan Nicholls (@nathann36) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 4:32am PST
I got a drone for christmas xDD #christmas #drone #fail #crashed
A video posted by Lance Telligman (@lancedallama) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 8:02am PST
But many people weren't lucky enough to make it that far in the process, slamming their new gifts into every ceiling, floor, wall, and tree within the first few attempts.
#vaicosì #drone #bum:(
A video posted by •GDS• (@gabrielladesimone) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:00am PST
Crash landing #phantom12 #drone #crash #landing #funny #camera
A video posted by ciaran (@ciaran_bates) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 4:23am PST
Quand ta Xbox surchauffe t utilise ton drone xDD pic.twitter.com/DBlY7EBJPd
— tom sarhdaoui (@lefifou_du_78) December 25, 2015
Loghan flying his drone from Santa! #christmas2015 #drone #happyboys
A video posted by Kassandra Carter (@mrs.kassandra_carter) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:10am PST
Help!!! Ci stanno rapendo gli ufo! #regaliStrani #natale2015 #nipotestrano #ufo #drone #casaDiMatti #manicomioManzo #aiuto #avvistatoUnUfo #JoyeuxNoël #felizNavidad #besos
A video posted by Rosita Manzo (@diamanteylaluz) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:05am PST
Oh we have laughed someone got a drone for christmas trying to fly the things a different story got the hang of it in the end #drone #fly #world #gifts #love #ppl #cultures #fun #photooftheday #photos #instagood #instadaily #london #lol #girls #geek #guys #kids
A video posted by Blaggerjagger_fashion (@blaggerjagger_fashion) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 5:55am PST
@stoobles buzzing his tits off about his drone. He's getting there...slowly #drone #xmaspresent #almosthadmyeyeout #wtfismylaugh
A video posted by ✖ B R Ø N T Ě ✖ (@bronteealicee) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:47am PST
I ran around the house screaming SANTA CAME and woke people up...here's me attempting to fly a drone pic.twitter.com/EXIktqX2lX
— Danielle \71/ (@baeisallnow) December 25, 2015
#drone #merrychristmas #family #fun
A video posted by Robyn Marlow (@jrwmarlow) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 6:29am PST
Christmas presents like #christmas #merrychristmas #drone #l4l #like4like #f4f #followforfollow
A video posted by @kakumerei on
Dec 25, 2015 at 6:34am PST
Fratello abile con il drone e i progressi pic.twitter.com/TdJN2bvUFN
— drama lama (@pondgitsune) December 25, 2015
Of course, the best Christmas drone action happens when #Dads get their hands on the flying toys. Quadcopters have a way of tapping the 10-year-old child that lies right under the 50-year-old skin of a dad, and the perennial results are amazing. On this day, "dad drone" becomes the most enjoyable phrase to search on just about every social media platform.
my dad sucks at flying his drone but at least he's enjoying it pic.twitter.com/2dvsEckkLa
— samta claus (@fan_of_forests) December 25, 2015
CHRISTMAS UPDATE: Dad got an indoor/outdoor drone, and in the first 10 minutes, flew it into his own crotch twice.
— O Holy Yikes ❄️ (@eeyikes) December 25, 2015
Here is the #Drone Dad Pieta, to recognize the inevitable drone-related tragedies of #Christmas 2015. #drones #art pic.twitter.com/2EiaRA8Ime
— Faine Greenwood (@faineg) December 25, 2015
My dad got a drone for Christmas.. Everyone watch out! #christmas #presents #drone @mrbat16 @carolyn1252 @cass00326 @danimarie1495 @mbuono25 @j_b_464 @jo3eyy
A video posted by Alexandria (@abuono9) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 5:40am PST
my dad got a drone stuck in my hair merry Christmas
— kenzie (@Klangstraat2) December 25, 2015
First five minuets of my dad playing with my drone...he puts it on the neighbors roof
— Chas (@chasehornstein) December 25, 2015
"You're going to poke someone's eye" out #achristmasstory #Drone #Kev #Christmas
A video posted by Ryan (@ricricke) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 8:10am PST
Why not to get your dad a drone for Christmas... pic.twitter.com/R9WGjLgl5b
— Lorna (@derby_lorna) December 25, 2015
Nothing says Xmas like dad's drone getting stuck 100 feet up in a tree 5 minutes into it's maiden voyage.
— Justin Fly (@justinfly) December 25, 2015
I got my 40 something year old dad a drone pic.twitter.com/kcitvNVRtv
— Alexandra Tactay (@alextactay) December 25, 2015
(Wait, what?)
- First fly of the Drone - Daddy's gift, we tried to make it fly but it was so hard to control it __________________________________________ #nofilter#landscape#adventure#armenia#paris#fly#scenery#gift#l4l#likes#tbt#ig#igers#instagood#instagram#photographer#iphone#merrychristmas#morning#footing#vscogood#vscocam#vsco#drone#parc#canon#colorful#architecture#holiday
A video posted by H.R (@h_ripsime) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:20am PST
Got a drone ‼️ Then got it stuck in a tree pic.twitter.com/BeByZ5g1d0
— Mitch (@mitch_martin5) December 25, 2015
And if you're a pet owner, you know that what doesn't wind up wrecked will inevitably become a pet toy.
Maya is so infatuated with this little drone! pic.twitter.com/dW1myQ8N0G
— Jenn (@JennyferDeanne) December 25, 2015
Discovering a new one #christmas #drone #cat #catofinstagram
A video posted by Laura Polet (@laurapolet) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 7:34am PST
On est dans le futur ! #drone #christmas #dog #wow
A video posted by Aurore Germon (@auroregrm) on
Dec 25, 2015 at 6:57am PST
Merry Christmas!