Get Your Grand Canyon Railway Polar Express Tickets Now
Tickets are now available for the 2010/2011 presentation of the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express. The Grand Canyon Railway will offer 71 runs this year from November 12, 2010 through Jan. 8, 2011.
Reservations can be made online at www.thetrain.com or by calling 1-888-848-3511. According to Angela Berrigan, vice president of sales and marketing for the Grand Canyon Railway, some trains on Fridays and Saturdays are already close to sold out. Given the level of demand, it's wise to get your tickets soon, especially if you are considering riding the train on Christmas Eve when it's always sold out.
As a special bonus, the Grand Canyon Railway is also offering 50 percent off the regular rate for a Grand Canyon Railway excursion for all travelers who ride the Polar Express this season. The special offer is available through Feb. 28, 2011. The discount does not include packages, and some blackout dates apply.
Closely following The Polar Express book by Chris Van Allsburg, this nighttime trip from the Grand Canyon Railway depot in Williams travels 30 minutes to the “North Pole” and features a special reading of The Polar Express while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. The “North Pole,” a brightly lit Christmas village, was extensively renovated last year with enhanced lighting and the addition of features such as storefronts, mailboxes and other structures to give the village a more permanent and three-dimensional look and feel. Upon arrival at the North Pole, passengers are welcomed by Santa Claus before he boards the Polar Express for the return trip to Williams. Santa makes his way through the passenger cars, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift – a jingle bell signifying their belief in Santa Claus. The round-trip journey is a little more than an hour in length.
Most evenings the Grand Canyon Railway offers two trains, one departing the Williams Depot at 6:30 p.m. and a second train departing at 8 p.m. The “Christmas Eve Limited,” departing at 6:30 and 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, includes special gifts from Santa that are not included during other excursions.
Tickets for the Polar Express are $29 for adults and $19 for children ages two to 15. Tickets for the Christmas Eve Limited, a special departure on Dec. 24, are $58 for adults and $38 for children ages two to 15. Grand Canyon Railway is on Facebook and periodically runs special offers just for Facebook friends. To become a friend, click on the Facebook link on the web site.
The Grand Canyon Railway also offers a Polar Express Package including the roundtrip train excursion, a one-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and breakfast and dinner at the Grand Depot Café. The package price for two adults and two children is $338 and does not include taxes.
Polar Express reservations can be made by calling 1-888-848-3511 or by visiting www.thetrain.com/polarexpress. For more information about the Grand Canyon Railway or to purchase other tickets or packages visit www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).
