"The bell still rings for all who truly believe" - Polar Express
Last weekend, my family was very fortunate and thankful to experience The Polar Express Train Ride at the Saratoga & North Creek Railway.
When we arrived about 40 minutes before our scheduled train ride, the station was already packed with excited families who were also there to enjoy this annual tradition. After 10 minutes of waiting, we stepped outside and there it was, the Polar Express! I looked at my son and saw the big smile on his face, and it was priceless. He was amazed to see this huge train appear in front of him, and was giddy knowing that we were on our way to the North Pole.
Let me just backtrack a bit and tell you that my son is familiar with the story of the classic Polar Express book. We have the book at home and read it more than 5 times prior to the ride. We were also sharing this experience with one of my son's dearest friend and his family. So just the idea of having a 'holiday playdate' at the Polar Express made his night extra special. I brought goodie bags for the kids and filled it with things like glow wands, Rudolph antlers and a red nose that lights up! Looking back, I'm glad I did it because this kept the kids busy while waiting for the ride to start and it didn't bother them when the "Hobo" made his rounds on the train. Our tickets were good for standard class seating so our experience may be different from those seated in the First and Diamond Class.
Like the book and movie, when the train started its journey to the north pole, the Chefs were onboard with us to provide 'entertainment' for the ride. We sang Christmas carols and then we were served hot chocolate and cookies! The hot chocolate was tasty and was not piping hot, which I appreciated because it's for the kids too and we're on a moving train. Plus I also got a tip from a friend and brought a thermos travel cup, which made it easy for my child to drink the beverage without spills. After that, one of the Chefs started reading the story as he walked down the aisle, assisted by another Chef who held the gigantic Polar Express Book. I thought this part could have been a better experience for everyone if a microphone, megaphone or any Public address (PA) system was used to facilitate storytelling. It's an important piece of the experience, especially for people who are not familiar with the book or the movie.
After the Polar Express storytelling, the Chefs walked about and talked to the kids. Then all of a sudden, one of the Chefs called "it's the North Pole". Immediately, we looked out our side of the window and saw a couple of lighted structures resembling a village and elves waving. At this point, we realized that there were more of the 'North Pole' on one side of the train than the other (the side with two-seaters will have a better view).
Then the train started its journey back to Saratoga Station and Santa Claus and the elves boarded the train which made everyone happy! He started walking down the aisle greeting everyone, posing for photos and giving each child a silver bell! After Santa Claus, it was the conductor's turn to visit each child to 'punch' their golden ticket. My son who just started writing was ecstatic to recognize a familiar letter on his golden ticket and thought it was pretty cool how the conductor did it!
On our drive home, we talked about what we all liked about the experience and I was happy to hear that my child enjoyed it. He liked the hot chocolate and cookies but most of all he loved the silver bell from Santa and while ringing it he said: "Mommy, I will never stop believing".
Macaroni Kid Schenectady tips:
1. There are three (3) classes of service on board the Polar Express Train Ride. It is prudent to know the difference between the three (3) services and choose which one best suits your family.
2. Familiarize yourself with the Polar Express story, either by reading the book or watching the movie.
3. Dress the part. A lot of families came in their pajamas and everyone is encouraged to do so. If you are going for the 7:30 pm train ride, kids in pajamas make a lot of sense so transferring them from car to bed is easier. Note however that when boarding, you will be standing outdoors, so check the weather and dress appropriately.
4. Bring your child's favorite travel cup or thermos so they can drink with less supervision and to avoid spillage. This comes handy especially when you are on standard seating.
5. Another thing to bring is the Polar Express book, so you can follow along as the Chef reads it en route to the North Pole. If you don't own one, you may borrow from the library.
6. Arrive early at the train station to avoid rushing through the crowd. Depending on your child's age, plan to keep them busy while waiting for boarding and the ride to start.
7. Bring $5 cash for parking. Park your car with the back in, so it'll be easier to get out of the parking lot.
8. Bring a camera with a flash for better quality photos.
9. Be a good role model to all the children in the train by participating in the experience. All the cast members need our help to make this a lovely experience for everyone.
10. Schedule your train ride earlier in the season to avoid the crowd.
POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE
SARATOGA & NORTH CREEK RAILWAY
26 Station Ln, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
WEBSITE| FACEBOOK
SARATOGA & NORTH CREEK RAILWAY
26 Station Ln, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
WEBSITE| FACEBOOK
Disclosure: Macaroni Kid Schenectady was provided with complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. All opinions are solely that of the author.
