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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think polar express may be a waste of money.

34 replies

TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 14:14

DH, and I want to take our 7, and 4 year old, but are a bit concerned it could be a lack lustre, disappointing experience. The tickets aren't cheap. We are looking at Wensleydale, and Durham. Can anybody advise if it is any good? Is the Durham one worth it?

OP posts:
FirstTimeHomeowner · 02/09/2024 14:21

I've heard raving reviews! Debating booking us in for years now, think I might pull the trigger this time :)

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 14:33

FirstTimeHomeowner · 02/09/2024 14:21

I've heard raving reviews! Debating booking us in for years now, think I might pull the trigger this time :)

Thank you, which one is supposed to be the best? I am struggling to find any recent reviews on Durham! They aren't little for long, and I don't want to miss things!

OP posts:
SophiaJ8 · 02/09/2024 14:37

I have been to the Norfolk one and thought it was great value. Definitely worth upgrading to the premier class.

Theunamedcat · 02/09/2024 14:39

I went to Birmingham it was fun

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 14:41

Thank you, I just wonder if there are better, and worse ones. I am struggling to find anybody who has been to the Durham one!

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 02/09/2024 14:43

Which one are you thinking of going to? Took DS to Seaton when he was 3/4 ish and he still remembers it and talks about it. I thought it was great!

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 02/09/2024 14:43

We did the Birmingham one when DD was about 7 and it was a really good experience. It’s a bit overpriced but everything is these days. We definitely enjoyed it so I’d recommend it.

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 14:46

Thank you, we are looking at Durham. Has anybody heard what that one is like? I can't find any recent reviews!

OP posts:
cerebuswannabe · 02/09/2024 14:47

I went to the Wensleydale one a couple of years ago and I only paid for the cheaper option for 5 of us and I don't think it was worth it. The carriages were old and cold, kept our coats on. The train conductor actor was fab. The toilets were bloody awful.

blubberball · 02/09/2024 14:50

I saw the one in Telford last year. Everyone looked happy and it looked magical

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 14:55

Thank you. Any body been to Durham? I know these things sometimes differ.

OP posts:
Teajenny7 · 02/09/2024 15:00

We went, begrudgingly, to see it with our DC who is adult with SEN.
It was absolutely FANTASTIC. I don't know who enjoyed it the most.
We went to Swansge.
Like all things you have to get involved to make the most of it.
We would go again.

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 15:26

Teajenny7 · 02/09/2024 15:00

We went, begrudgingly, to see it with our DC who is adult with SEN.
It was absolutely FANTASTIC. I don't know who enjoyed it the most.
We went to Swansge.
Like all things you have to get involved to make the most of it.
We would go again.

Thank you, there looks some great experiences. I wish I could find out about the Weardale one. I want to know if it is complete with artificial snow as well! I don't feel they tell you enough on booking, and it feels abit hush hush. I don't wish for a Willy Wonka illuminati level of disappointment 😂

OP posts:
Thisismyusername1 · 02/09/2024 15:28

The Kent one is very good. Both my children really enjoyed it. The only thing I would do differently would be to go to the later one as it wasn't quite dark and I think the lights would have been much better then. It is very expensive but I think it was worth it.

purpleme12 · 02/09/2024 15:33

Doesn't it depend on who's playing Santa and how realistic he is?

I always wonder about this.

How can you guarantee it's a good Santa

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 15:36

Oh I think the Durham one may be "Santa Express," and nothing to do with Polar Express! Now I am confused, I don't think it will matter as long as it is good.

OP posts:
Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 15:39

purpleme12 · 02/09/2024 15:33

Doesn't it depend on who's playing Santa and how realistic he is?

I always wonder about this.

How can you guarantee it's a good Santa

Yes @purpleme12 exactly this. We had such a shit Santa one year that my then 4 year old asked why his beard was fake! The Santa stunk of smoke, then went on to ask "what Mummy would like for Christmas, and had she been naughty or nice?" (Cringe).
Luckily it didn't cost alot, but this does!

OP posts:
Karmaisac4t · 02/09/2024 15:39

My mum took my nephew and they loved it.

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 15:44

Karmaisac4t · 02/09/2024 15:39

My mum took my nephew and they loved it.

Which one did they go to?

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 02/09/2024 15:45

I just can't help thinking even if people have been before, what if they get a different Santa this time for example who isn't as good?

Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 15:56

Looking at the Wensleydale one now as well.

OP posts:
Bankholidayhelp · 02/09/2024 15:57

My thoughts:

  1. The railway will have had to pay a not inconsiderable sum if it's 'The Polar Express' and no railway will want to be 'that' company that puts on a show that's rubbish!
  2. See if you can find out if the 'enactors' are volunteers or whether the railway is employing 'professionals' to put on the show. (The one at Wensleydale looks to be done by an events company). Well meaning volunteers do have a place in such events but energy and character provided by professional event companies is hard to beat really.
  3. Think about how to get there and back. Will bad weather have an impact or will you still be able to 'make it'.
  4. Is there anything else on in the station/locality that you might be interested in.
  5. If there's a number of trips per day see if you can figure out how much over lap there will be between one lot getting off and another on. For example do the timings mean that carparking is going to be problematic unless you are on the first trip of the day.
  6. Dress up
  7. Have fun
  8. Be kind.
  9. Make sure you go on the right day at the right time.
  10. The volunteers and staff (and the events co) will likely have been on the station/train all day, (and likely for a series of days) in all weathers, freezing their bits off, whilst maintaining a smile and dealing with children, dogs and adults running amok, drunk adults (and sometimes elfs...), trains that don't run on time, making sure carriages are presentable for the next lot and having to deal with ground in mincepies on carriage seats , blocked toilets, freezing carriages, power cuts, injuries and running out of black bags.
  11. Children tend not to see the 'crap stuff' going on a round the event, and just be mesmerised by seeing father christmas and all the decorations etc.
Original poster
TOOearlyForChristmas · 02/09/2024 16:07

Thank you @Bankholidayhelp for lots of good points to take into consideration. They charge so much money, Durham Santa express is nearer and cheaper, and I am thinking it may be the same minus the polar express element. I thought the PE experience would include getting off the train at "the North Pole", with fake snow, meeting Santa in a little grotto etc, but it looks like it is all on the train!

My oldest is ND, and notices minor details, so it needs to be realistic 😂

OP posts:
PaleGreenVelvet · 02/09/2024 16:13

The reason the Durham one, is no longer called the Polar Express. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15252553.3million-polar-express-lawsuit-casts-shadow-weardale-railway/

This was quite a few years ago, and they have had the Christmas train running since, which appears to be similar 😀
It has very good reviews locally, one of our children went on it and loved the experience

$3million Polar Express lawsuit casts shadow over Weardale Railway

A CLOUD of uncertainty is hanging over a heritage railway after a $3m legal dispute erupted over the biggest event on its calendar – The Polar…

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15252553.3million-polar-express-lawsuit-casts-shadow-weardale-railway

Kitkat1523 · 02/09/2024 16:13

cerebuswannabe · 02/09/2024 14:47

I went to the Wensleydale one a couple of years ago and I only paid for the cheaper option for 5 of us and I don't think it was worth it. The carriages were old and cold, kept our coats on. The train conductor actor was fab. The toilets were bloody awful.

We did the Wensleydale one a couple of years ago when GDs were 4 and 6 and we loved it….didn’t have your experience…,warm and cosy….nice coach…..lovely experience