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Santa Express™
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| Santa
Express™ FAQs Common questions about Santa Express™ trains Q. What takes place on the Santa Express? A. As we leave the station, your car attendant will greet you, and briefly tell you about our operations, and maybe find out a bit of information about the passengers. We will then read a new story, written just for us, "Santa's Scenic Valley Ride". You can preorder the book if you want to have one to read along with and see the pictures better. We will have an "elf" walking up and down the aisle, showing pictures from the book as the attendant reads the story. We should finish the story about the time we arrive at the "North Pole". At the "North Pole", Santa will get on the train. He will walk through the train, and greet each child and give him or her a bell. While he is doing that, the car attendant and elves will pass out cookies, as other servers pass out hot chocolate. When Santa gets through the train, he will deboard and stand by his "workshop". We will wave goodbye to him and head back to town. During the ride back, we will sing seasonal songs, tell holiday riddles and jokes, and maybe have a pajama fashion show if the kids have worn their pjs. When we get back to town, we will help everyone deboard safely. Q. When do I need to arrive at the depot? A. We request that you arrive 45 to 60 minutes before the departure time printed on your confirmation or tickets. That will give you time to get parked, pick up your tickets at the ticket window, and use restrooms before boarding. You can browse our gift shop and museum while waiting to board. Those arriving close to departure time will probably not be able to find seats together. These are winter trains, so expect and allow for winter driving conditions. Trains will depart on time. Q. Are the cars heated? A. The cars are preheated before boarding. Cars can be very warm when you first get on. Depending on outdoor temperature, windspeed, and direction, cars can cool off a bit before we get back to the station. Our best advice is to dress in layers. The floors are concrete, so dress warm on your feet. Q. Will the "Polar Express" book be read? A. Due to copyright issues, the "Polar Express" book is no longer read. Q. How long does the ride last? A. The ride usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, but can vary a bit depending on how long it takes Santa, and the servers, to get through the train. Q. The weatherman says we might get snow. Is the train going to run? A. Normal winter weather (snow) does not stop the train. Check our website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed for the latest updates. If we cancel the train (ice storm or blizzard), we will reschedule or issue gift cards for credit. In case of cancellation, each ticket holder needs to call us to make arrangements to reschedule or to receive the gift card. Q. Does the steam engine pull the Santa Express train? A. The Santa Express trains are pulled by the diesel locomotive that pulls our dinner trains. Q. I've heard that we are supposed to wear pajamas? A. Everybody is encouraged to wear pajamas, although, it is certainly not required. Children may bring a small stuffed animal as well, but as seating is limited, it must be carried on their lap. Q. Will we be getting off of the train? A. No. All activities take place on board the train. |
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