For those who have been on the Lilly Belle...

[Halloweenqueen]

I took a ride on the Lilly Belle in January with my two daughters, Lillian and Annabelle (Lilly and Belle). We thought it was the highlight of our trip. We had the most friendly and informative CM as our guide. My daughters talk of our experience often.

My husband wanted to try to catch a ride during our anniversary trip this week. We were fortunate to get ride on Tuesday. This time around though we had a CM who just rode up front. She never introduced herself or talked to us at all. We even had a kid with a nosebleed during our ride and she didn't seemed a bit concerned. I kept imagining how that first CM would react...she seemed to have such a love for the history of the Lilly Belle. I'd imagine no one would be pleased to find blood on that precious carpet!

My husband was very disappointed that his experience did not match our first ride. Which is the norm? Did we just luck out with that terrific CM the first time, or did we get a "dud" this week?

 

[DizNee Luver]

The Conductor we had in early March (female) was very informative on the history & had been at a number of high profile events. She was fantastic & I agree.....she'd freak out if someone started bleeding on the carpet!!!! YIKES!! Hopefully this last time was a fluke!

 

[nunzia]

Agree also..I know they can only staff as best they can, so since this is such a nutsy time you may have run into that issue. We rode with ABD and I bet we had the same wonderful enthusiastic guide as others. We went around twice there was so much to learn Our guide was a blond lady...very nice. Love that car...so much history.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

The last time I asked about riding the Lillie Belle (I think last May), I was told that it was now reserved for VIPs only. Has this changed and you can now ride again if you happen to be there when the Lillie Belle is running and if there is space available.

If you don't need to be a VIP, where do you ask to get on the list?

 

[DizNee Luver]

The last time I asked about riding the Lillie Belle (I think last May), I was told that it was now reserved for VIPs only. Has this changed and you can now ride again if you happen to be there when the Lillie Belle is running and if there is space available.

If you don't need to be a VIP, where do you ask to get on the list?

The Lilly Belle is available twice daily as long as it hasn't rained or is raining (due to unreplaceable carpeting). If they have VIP's in the park, it will be kept private for them for the entire day.

Check with the conductor when the park opens if the Lilly Belle is available & if it is, they have a list with 2 times. They only take a small group for each trip. They'll take your name & number of people in your party. They will give you a return time.

We did this early March & had the 3:30 trip with a return time of 3:15. I believe there were 12 of us. You will take one full round trip around the park learning about the history of the Lilly Belle.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We were in DL a few years ago in October. My DH and I were celebrating our 15th anniversary and I was wearing my button. At the New Orleans station I asked one of the conductors if we could ride in the Lilly Belle and he said yes. My DH, DD and I rode in it all the way around to the Main Street Station. Our CM was very nice and informative. It was definitely the highlight of the trip for my DH.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

The Lilly Belle is available twice daily as long as it hasn't rained or is raining (due to unreplaceable carpeting). If they have VIP's in the park, it will be kept private for them for the entire day.

Check with the conductor when the park opens if the Lilly Belle is available & if it is, they have a list with 2 times. They only take a small group for each trip. They'll take your name & number of people in your party. They will give you a return time.

We did this early March & had the 3:30 trip with a return time of 3:15. I believe there were 12 of us. You will take one full round trip around the park learning about the history of the Lilly Belle.

Thank you for that info, this will now be at the top of my "must do" list for this trip.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thank you for that info, this will now be at the top of my "must do" list for this trip.

Please let us know how it goes.

Jack

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think it's the luck of the draw on who is available to ride. We had a fabulously informative trip but because of another guest we were riding with. The CM admitted he didn't know much of the history besides the basic story because he was very new to the trains.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I have pictures from our trip here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2593650&page=45

Starts Post #670

 

[Dizneydaz]

I totally need to do this. DD and I were lucky enough to be able to ride behind the engineers a few years ago and it was pretty cool. (actually it was really hot-wow that engine puts out a lot of heat. One of the engineers was very talkative and informative. We keep meaning to do it again.

We've also rode in the Wheelhouse on the Mark Twain so if we do the Lily Belle I think that would complete our trifecta!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I found a picture of the conductor on our first trip...

She was wonderful!


I went to the MS train station to sign up in January and there were many slots open. We waited for the train station to open on Tuesday and were the first to ask if there was any openings. There was only two slots available. All the other slots were taken by VIPs. I think it's important to get there at opening if you are coming on a busy day.

As a PP mentioned, they only allow people to ride on sunny days. It's best to try to ride at the beginning of your trip, just in case of weather.

 

[smile4stamps]

Another thing to add to my list of must Do's! Thanks for sharing how you get to ride on the Lilly Belle.

 

[lapdwife]

Riding in the Lilly Belle is something we'll never forget! It was such an awesome experience riding in a piece of history. I do remember the first time my son was maybe 4 and just being stressed the whole time that he would touch something. We've always had chatty CM's, though.

 

[KCmike]

We had a great CM as well. He knew alot about the train car and answered all kinds of questions we had. There were about 10 of us on the day we got to ride. I like how the lamps in the car come on when you go in the tunnel. When we made the stop in Toon Town the people outside waiting on the train thought we were "stars" which was kind of funny to us. I have alot of pictures but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.