Tickets To Ride. . .To The North Pole!

On Saturday, we headed to Mount Pleasant and the ground of the Old Thresher's Reunion for our annual trip to the North Pole via the North Pole Express!  Our tickets were purchased mid-October via mail in registration for the first train of the day.

When I picked up the tickets at the ticket booth, the outside of the envelop said "Poinsettia" and I figured we were again riding on one of the coaches.  It wasn't until I looked inside the envelope and saw that our tickets were for the Poinsettia Caboose!  We were excited!

A list of offerings at the North Pole along with a map were provided in our envelop as well.

The husband asked if all the trains were sold out and was told "yes."  The trains were running the Saturday we were there and for the next two week-ends. . . the first two week-ends in December. 

We had a few minutes before the the train pulled into the station.  Guests were either too excited or too cold to sit and wait for the train.

You can see the train coming round the path behind the boy.  It was the number 6 Shay!  Nothing can stop the Shay!

Here is a video of the train coming:

Soon we were climbing into the Poinsettia Caboose.  Here is the video:

The husband and the boy decided to sit in the top of the caboose for the trip to the North Pole.

Here is video inside the caboose:

During the ride to the North Pole, a portion of the audio of book The Polar Express, is played throughout the train.  The story ends and the music swells as the train pulls into the North Pole and guests are greeted by a winter wonderland!

Our first stop is Santa's Caboose at the North Pole!

We saw the Snow Princess while waiting in a short line to see Santa.

Santa has a pocket watch with a train!  The boy told Santa what was on his wish list. . . video games for his Nintendo 3DS XL.  Santa took note!

Here is video inside Santa's Caboose:

The husband and the boy were thrilled after seeing Santa and stopped for this photo on the way out of the caboose.  Can you see the bell in the boy's hand?  Each guest seeing Santa receives a bell.  The bell rings for all who truly believe!

Hot chocolate and cookies were next on the list and are included as a part of the ticket.  I believe this photo was taken during seconds!

We visited the Red Caboose Gift Shop next, but not before I snapped a photo of the sign on the door.

Oh, so many things to look at and all train themed.  We can home with an ornament for the Christmas tree to commemorate the event and a small battery operated train set.

One of our traditions at the North Pole is take a photo of the boy with the conductors.  Here are as many conductors as we could gather at the North Pole for this photo.  Each coach or caboose has a conductor for the trip to and from the North Pole.  We appreciate these folks volunteering!

Electric trains were set up for children to take turns running and the boy spent quite a bit of time in this spot while we were at the North Pole.  He got a certificate to bring home, too.

A commemorative photo is taken of every group while at the North Pole and is included as a part of your ticket.  Just remember to pick-up the photo before loading the train back to Mount Pleasant.

Soon it was time to board the train.  In total, we spent about an hour and a half at the North Pole.  Just enough time.  The boy grabbed more cookies and another cup of hot chocolate to take with him on the train for the return ride.

Here we are back at Mount Pleasant after deboarding the train.

We went to get a closer look at the engine. . . the number 6 Shay.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of the manufacturer's stamp on the train.  It was made by Burnham and WILLIAMS Company!

A lovely family from Muscatine, that was with us in the Poinsettia Caboose, offered to take the picture above for us.  How kind!  It was their first time at the North Pole Express.

The boy made it inside the the engine thanks to a familiar face.  The gentlemen in the picture below has been a conductor for a number of years we have been going to the North Pole Express and is now a "fireman" on the train.  It was great to see him!

We have bells from Santa at the North Pole Express dating back to 2006. . . that hang on our Christmas tree.  Each year, the bell is a bit different in size or color, or colored ribbon attached to the bell.

Riding the North Pole Express to the North Pole has become a family holiday tradition.  This year, the boy pointed out that the North Pole was a shed decorated to look like the North Pole, but he had no hesitation visiting with Santa.  The lure of trains may be part of what keeps him coming back and he enjoyed interacting with the other children.  I'm wondering how long this family tradition can continue but am hopeful for at least one more year.

If you would like to a ticket to ride to the North Pole via the North Pole Express, click here for more details.    Mail-in registrations typically begin mid-October and phone sales begin Nov. 1.  Tickets are usually sold out with a day or two of phone sales opening, so plan accordingly.  This is not an event that you can stop by and get a ticket so planning ahead is a must.

A Ticket to Ride to the North Pole

We took our 6^th trip to the North Pole to visit Santa, just like the story of The Polar Express via the North Pole Express which departs during the first two week-ends in December from McMillan Park in Mount Pleasant.  This year, three trains were added for the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we took advantage of the new offering.

It was a rainy day to ride the train.  We’ve experienced cold, warm, dry, even snowy, but this was the first time we’ve experienced rain.  It didn’t stop the train or dampen our spirits.

Soon we were on board the Rudolph Coach and ready for our trip to the North Pole.  The train ride takes about 15 minutes.  In other years, the audio version of The Polar Express is piped into the speakers for all to listen to while on the train.  Not this year.  We later discovered it was both a wiring issue on the train as well as human error—confusion about whether the button gets pushed in the front of the train or in the back.  Being that it was the first train of the season, we can forgive the oversight, especially since we have done this before.

Upon arrival at the North Pole, we headed straight for Santa’s red caboose and were the first to see Santa!  Each of us received a shiny bell which rings for all who truly believe.

The Snow Princess was next.  She was passing out toys for the youngsters and coupons for free french fries at the local Hardees. (Hardees is one of the sponsors of the event.)

We then stopped for cookies and hot chocolate. Yummy!  The boy went back for seconds, and the husband had thirds—on cookies!

The Red Caboose Gift Shop is located next to the cookie stand, so we took a tour.  A store devoted to trains.  We left the store the first time without making a purchase, but we returned later and this time, came out with a bag containing two Lego type trains.

Guests at the North Pole are offered a complimentary picture to commemorate the event.  We had our picture taken.  The photos are available for pick up in a nice folded card prior to leaving the North Pole. 

Next up—more trains!  New this year were two wooden toy train layouts—one on the floor and one on a train table.  Carpet was put underneath both to protect children from the gravel and dust on the floor.

 

And, back again this year, the huge electric train layout that gives guests an opportunity to operate the trains.  We spend quite a bit of time in this area of the North Pole.

The craft room offered a place to warm up, bathrooms, and a chance to make an ornament.  We spent a few minutes making the craft.

We then gathered the conductors for a group photo.  This is one of our traditions.  As soon as we took our photo, guests were behind us asking for a photo opportunity.  I guess we started something!

Our time at the North Pole was about an hour and 15 minutes.  Soon it was time to load the train and head back to Mount Pleasant. 

When we got off our coach, the boy headed to the locomotive and was greeted by one of the firemen on the train. 

He had soon made his way into the cab of the train! 

And, when the boy climbed down, another parent asked for a similar opportunity for their child.  We had started something again!

The rain did not keep us away and we look forward to next year!  In the meantime, on of our bells will receive an ornament hook and be hung on our Christmas tree with the other five bells from our previous visits to the North Pole.

Some hints and tips for getting the most out of your trip to the North Pole:

• Purchase your tickets early!  Mail in registration begins the middle of October with phone in purchases starting on Nov. 1.  All trains sell out within one week of Nov. 1.
• Know that snow, rain, ice, etc. won’t stop the Shay, so plan accordingly.

• Dress for the weather.  It can be cold to wait for the train and the North Pole has limited warming opportunities, even though it is sheltered from the elements.  The trains are not heated either.  We saw some pretty uncomfortable people because they weren’t dressed appropriately.  Comfy shoes or boots fit in this category, too.
• If going to the North Pole with small children, bring anything they might need for a two hour jaunt.  This includes bottles, diapers, etc.  No strollers are allowed on the train.  You’ll be carrying little ones for the duration.
• Get to Santa’s caboose early!  The line can get quite long for Santa.  Guests are given a note with their tickets that explains the happenings at the North Pole, along with a map.  Take some time to read it and become familiar with the area.  Then, have a plan.  We had decided to see Santa first and were actually, the first to see Santa.

• Enjoy!  A trip to the North Pole can add magic to your holiday season.

Here’s the web-site for the North Pole Express.  If you are able to, register your e-mail, so that you can receive an e-mail when mail in registrations begin.  Then, mark your calendar for mid-October and check out the site.  It will have directions for you to get your tickets to ride on the North Pole Express!