MiamiCentral’s Polar Express Train Ride: The #1 Way to Rekindle Your Christmas Spirit

If you’re a fan of Disney’s Polar Express movie, you’ll definitely want to visit the Miami area sometime between November 10th and December 30th. During this time, you enjoy a holiday ride on the real-life Polar Express train in Florida! Just purchase a golden ticket for coach or table seating, and – just like in the movie – the conductor will give it a punch of approval as you board the train.

“It doesn’t matter where the train’s going – what matters is deciding to get on.” So let’s go!

The Polar Express Experience

When you’re ready to join the merry crew aboard the MiamiCentral Polar Express train ride, you’ll get a boarding pass for each member of your party (in addition to your golden ticket).

You can choose from value, standard, and premium rides, with prices varying based on desirable dates and departure times. You’ll also have the choice between coach or table seating. Coaches seat between 48 and 64 passengers, and each car is merry, bright, and festively decorated. Each seat is equipped with a folding tray – perfect for holding hot cocoa! If you want to feel extra fancy, you can upgrade to table seating, which has two to four seats to a table. However, because the Miami Polar Express knows sitting with strangers can be awkward, they do require you to buy all seats at a table. (Note: wheelchair spaces can be booked online or through reservations via phone call!)

During your ride on the Polar Express, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the movie’s main characters, like the Conductor and Hero Boy. After all, this isn’t just a train ride. It’s a moving show! Staying true to the movie’s details, delightful dancing chefs will bring you hot cocoa (Hot! Hot! Oh, we got it!) as well as delicious shortbread cookies to go along with it. Yum!

As you sit back and soak in the atmosphere of the train ride, sipping away on your hot cocoa, you’ll be treated to a live Polar Express book reading. Seriously, this is too fun!

When you finally get to the North Pole, Santa and his elves will hop on the train to visit each passenger and find out what they want for Christmas. (I would like a trip to Universal Studios, please!) Each guest will be given a free silver bell as their first gift of Christmas. Of course, these special bells are taken right from Santa’s sleigh. Can you hear yours ring?

Once he’s heard everyone’s Christmas wishes, Santa, in true holly-jolly fashion, will then lead everyone in a cheery Christmas singalong!

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane…

This magical round-trip ride lasts one hour, and guests are asked to arrive 40 minutes before departure time to allow for parking and check-in at the Box Office.

The Story Behind The Polar Express Train Ride

The Polar Express is a children’s holiday-themed story with significant meaning to its author, Chris Van Allsburg. The movie, based on the book of the same name, reflects aspects of the author’s own childhood.

For example, just like Hero Boy in the movie, Allsburg had a choice between two neighborhood department stores to frequent during the Christmas season. Both department stores had a Santa Claus, but Allsburg didn’t want to visit both Santas because he didn’t want to be greedy. 

If you aren’t familiar with the plot of Polar Express, it tells the tale of one little boy’s Christmas Eve and how it changed his life. The Polar Express unexpectedly arrives right at his front door, and the conductor invites him to hop on board. Reluctantly, he joins the other passengers – a group of other children all excited to meet Santa at the North Pole – though he himself doubts the existence of Santa. However, in the course of one night, he experiences an incredible journey that inspires him to believe once again.

Polar Express Trivia – Seeing is Believing!

Here’s our collection of the best and most obscure Polar Express facts to give you an even deeper appreciation of your own Polar Express train ride!

• Though the main character is referred to throughout the movie as Hero Boy. In the book, Hero Boy was named after the author. 
• Polar Express wasn’t filmed in the same way most kids’ movies are. When the book was being adapted into a movie, there was a stipulation that it could not be animated. Since the director didn’t want to do a live-action movie, they decided to film it in a completely new way. A technique called “digital capture” was used. This movie made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s first digitally captured film.
• The names of the buildings in the movie all have historical significance. The ones you’ll see at the North Pole are named after old railroad buildings. In the city center, the various buildings were inspired by Chicago’s famous Pulman Factory, near where the director of Polar Express grew up.

• Other real life inspiration used in the movie includes the address uttered by the conductor, which happens to be where the director grew up. 
• While you’re watching the movie, pay attention to the numbers on each train ticket. Each one has 1225 within the ticket number. (December 25th.)
• Pay attention to Hero Boy’s bedroom. Hung up on the wall is a pennant from the University of Michigan, which just happens to be the author’s alma mater. 
• Time mostly stops during the movie. The time is 11:55 p.m. when Hero Boy enters the train and doesn’t change until close to the movie’s conclusion. Hero Boy receiving his first Christmas gift of the year, finally moves time forward in the movie. 
• At its core, Polar Express is a creative retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with Hero Boy playing the Scrooge-like role with his disbelief in Santa Claus. Additionally, the hobo, the conductor, and Santa are like the three Christmas ghosts of the past, present, and future. 

The Polar Express: Hot Cocoa, Warm Hearts

Although children are the primary passengers in the story, you can enjoy the MiamiCentral Polar Express train ride whether you’re a kiddo or an adult. (After all, as Hero Boy tells us, “Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe!”)

Even if you’ve never watched or read The Polar Express, this experience is still tremendously enjoyable and, frankly, probably the most fun introduction you could possibly have to this timeless tale!

The entire ride is just over an hour, making it easy for even the busiest people to slip some holiday cheer into their schedule. This lovely journey will help you get into the Christmas spirit no matter what!

For many families, the Polar Express has become a yearly holiday tradition (both watching it and riding it!). We think everyone should experience the Polar Express at least once – just for the hot cocoa song and dance if nothing else!

This charming holiday experience is perfect for making memories with the people you love most, which is really what it’s all about. As Santa so wonderfully reminded Hero Boy, “There’s no greater gift than friendship.”

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Have you ridden the Polar Express? How many cups of cocoa did you have? Let us know in the comments below!

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