Day Out with Thomas Question

[teatimefor2]

We are planning to do this when Thomas comes to NJ.  If you have done it before, how crazy is it? DH has flexibility with his holiday time, is it better to take a day off and do it on a Friday as opposed to the weekend?  Thomas is in town for six days in total, back to back weekends plus the Fridays.

For those who have done it, any tips/suggestions/etc.  DS1 loves Thomas.  Thanks, MMM, I didn't even know this existed until you guys total me.  He's going to be so excited!

[ilikedonuts]

Ours was absolutely packed and we were the 2nd train of the day. We went on a Sunday I think (I'm in Ohio). The train ride was fun, but DD1 didn't really get to do anything else because it was too crowded.

[teatimefor2]

Apr 25, 2015 21:17:09 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Ours was absolutely packed and we were the 2nd train of the day. We went on a Sunday I think (I'm in Ohio). The train ride was fun, but DD1 didn't really get to do anything else because it was too crowded.

Thanks, that is my concern.  Do you mind me asking how old your DD was when you went?  DS1 will be 2.75 years old.  We have the three options:
-Thomas train ride
-Thomas train ride plus steam train ride 
-Thomas train ride plus steam train ride plus a mine tour

What other activities did they have?

Thanks!

[ilikedonuts]

Apr 25, 2015 21:22:50 GMT -5 teatimefor2 said:

Apr 25, 2015 21:17:09 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Ours was absolutely packed and we were the 2nd train of the day. We went on a Sunday I think (I'm in Ohio). The train ride was fun, but DD1 didn't really get to do anything else because it was too crowded.

Thanks, that is my concern.  Do you mind me asking how old your DD was when you went?  DS1 will be 2.75 years old.  We have the three options:
-Thomas train ride
-Thomas train ride plus steam train ride 
-Thomas train ride plus steam train ride plus a mine tour

What other activities did they have?

Thanks!

A little over 2.5. We just had the train ride option. Then there was a tent with episodes playing. A tent with some little activity. A merch tent (biggest tent of all! ). A tent with wooden trains (completely packed). A couple bounce houses (complete chaos) and then a bunch of other activities. Oh and you could meet Sir Topham and then there was also a line to take a picture with thomas (basically in between rides).

[deo]

We went on a Saturday and it was busy but not ridiculously busy. It was sold out, but they did a good job of spacing out the train ride times so it wasn't crazy. We went was DS1 just turned 3.
There was a big line up to get a picture taken in front of Thomas but we just had the kids stand off to the side of the train and took a picture ourselves, it was faster and free.
DS's favorite part was playing with all the train sets that were set up in one of the tents. We were there for maybe 2.5 hours including the train ride.

[moopoint17]

We did the NJ one on a Saturday. Like pp said, busy but not packed. We did the thomas, plus steam & mine tour tickets but DS1 didn't want to get off for the mine tour.

For some reason our trains had no AC. And DS1 wanted to sit on the top of the stream train. I think that was more brutal than the crowds!

The NJ one didn't have a lot of activities (comparatively speaking - DS1 had more to do at the one in PA). We weren't there for long - probably 3 hours tops and it took over an hour to get there. Bring food because the lines for food are a bit crazy - long and very disorganized.

[irishbride2]

It is so not worth taking off work. I mean it was fun and all but also fairly lame.

[mellymel]

We have gone twice and we did it on Saturday both times. It was busy but not insane. I would not take off work to go. They do a great job of spacing out the train rides which naturally spaces out the people for the other activities.

Activities they had that I can remember:
Temporary tattoo station
Bounce houses
Bubble machines
Train tables
Meet Sir Topham Hat
Coloring stations

It kind of depends on the venue. One of the venues we went to had a carousel and an antique Ferris wheel so we got to do that as well. This venue also gave us a "Thomas passport" where we could get the passport stamped at all the activity stations to get a prize at the end.

We have always loved it and highly recommend it.

[auntie]

The one in Phillipsburg? That's a pretty little excursion ride as these things go.

The Day Out at Phillipsburg is not as extensive an event as the one in Strasburg but it's fine. I would expect weekday to be less nuts in terms of crowds. TBH, having been to most of these in the area, I'd make the pilgrimage to Strasburg- they have way more train themed things to do for the LOs. The PA railroad museum, Choo-Choo Barn, a little steamer ride, cranky cars, etc. Plus, there's is the real Thomas from the movie. Plus he talks this season. And they have a Percy. And really good kettle corn.

I think a big difference is that the NJ version is a fundraiser for the railroad trust and is run by volunteers. The PA one is professionally run.

How rabid about trains is your DS? The steamer at Phillipsburg is a unique one, so worth it for an older railfan. The thing about these events is that seeing Thomas is cooler than riding behind. Once when DS was younger, we did the Strasburg Rail Baron Pass and the highlight of the day was riding behind their regular train and passing Thomas.

www.strasburgrailroad.com/train-schedule/events/day-out-with-thomas/

[redheadbaker]

We went to Strasburg in the morning, and it was busy, but not PACKED. We rode Thomas and Percy, DS drove a little hand-crank "train", and we looked around the gift shop. There was an actor playing Sir Topham Hat (with a huge round mask on his head), but DS was freaked out by the mask.

Bring $$$ for the gift shop.

[momin2013]

We're planning to take DS this summer too. My question is, do you have to buy tickets just to get into the event, or are they only to go for the train ride/s?

[swank]

Apr 26, 2015 8:01:47 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

We're planning to take DS this summer too. My question is, do you have to buy tickets just to get into the event, or are they only to go for the train ride/s?

I think the train tickets serve as your admission for the other events.

[ShaysMomma]

I have not heard of this and when I did a quick search, learned that one of these is taking place today about an hour away. Tickets online no longer seem availbale. I will all to see if we can just go w/o going and do general admission with low or no expectation for snagging a train ride.

[ShaysMomma]

Just spoke with the front office of the locale near me and they said $24 gets you general admission and a train ride. They sound pretty accommodating and that chances are you will get a train ride - just more of a matter of how long you may have to wait/what time slot you get. At yesterday's event she said they added a train ride at 4:30 b/c they were selling so many tickets.

We are going to go for it. It's about an hour away. Whether we ride a train or not it sounds like there are plenty of activities to have fun with.

Thanks for posting about this today!

[ECB]

We did it when DS was 2.5. It was o.k. It got crowded - the line to actually get your picture in front of Thomas was so long, we skipped it. It was also HOT that day too - which made it less exciting.

A part of it too was that we were w/ my ILs and doing anything w/ them is just complicated. So that definitely affected my take of the day.

We did it once. I wouldn't do it again.

[teatimefor2]

Apr 26, 2015 7:23:13 GMT -5 auntie said:

The one in Phillipsburg? That's a pretty little excursion ride as these things go.

The Day Out at Phillipsburg is not as extensive an event as the one in Strasburg but it's fine. I would expect weekday to be less nuts in terms of crowds. TBH, having been to most of these in the area, I'd make the pilgrimage to Strasburg- they have way more train themed things to do for the LOs. The PA railroad museum, Choo-Choo Barn, a little steamer ride, cranky cars, etc. Plus, there's is the real Thomas from the movie. Plus he talks this season. And they have a Percy. And really good kettle corn.

I think a big difference is that the NJ version is a fundraiser for the railroad trust and is run by volunteers. The PA one is professionally run.

How rabid about trains is your DS? The steamer at Phillipsburg is a unique one, so worth it for an older railfan. The thing about these events is that seeing Thomas is cooler than riding behind. Once when DS was younger, we did the Strasburg Rail Baron Pass and the highlight of the day was riding behind their regular train and passing Thomas.

www.strasburgrailroad.com/train-schedule/events/day-out-with-thomas/

Thank you so much for all the insight.  I am pleased to state that we just purchased tickets to A Day Out with Thomas in Strasburgh.  It's about an hour further out for us than Phillipsburg, but the boys will sleep on the way, plus Percy!  DS1 is going to be thrilled!