Ot Day out with Thomas

[3DisneyBuggs]

The last time we did this in Pa was about 5 years ago. Now my youngest is 2 and likes Thomas, just not as much as my first DS. I was planning a trip in June. My 8 yo even said he wants to go see Thomas again. I know they sell tickets in advance now and I noticed you buy a certain time. Does this mean the lines, parking and waiting are not that crazy? Also do you have to leave after a certain time?

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

While we havn't done the day out with thomas, we are going to Thomas live on stage next month. Day out with Thomas was never close enough. I didn't know if you had heard about this or not, so I thought I would pass it along.

 

[kribit]

My DS loved Day Out with Thomas. We went last year in the pouring rain and still had a blast. The best part about it was that we could all experience the train ride. Plus, he got to meet Sir Topham Hat!

It was worth every penny.

 

[rt2dz]

Just bought Day Out With Thomas tickets this morning!!

We have done Thomas twice before, this is our third. Each at a different place. The ticket is for your ride. You ride at that particular time, and many stations will require you get in line up to an hour in advance, be prepared. You may enter the Thomas events anytime from the stations opening and may stay as late as you want. You can even go without buying the tickets to ride Thomas (but what fun would that be?).

If you haven't bought your tickets, do buy early. They often sell out, especially the "better" times. Lines and parking will vary depending on your stations set up. It was really easy at our first, but horrible when we wentto our second. The best thing you can do is click on the stations link at the http://www.thomasthetankengine.com website to get the station info. People do tend to come and go through the day at most stations.

I hope that helps.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Thanks! I'll probably buy the first ride of the day. We go to the one in Strarsburg Pa and it was always crowded. I'm looking for a hotel now.

 

[kaysmommie]

Thanks! I'll probably buy the first ride of the day. We go to the one in Strarsburg Pa and it was always crowded. I'm looking for a hotel now.

We took our DD to Strasburg when she was 2 and it was fun but crowded. now we live in TN and are taking DS2 to Chattanooga next month. There are a few nice and clean hotels in the area we like what used to be Strasburg Inn, it has a different name now. Also the steamboat is fairly inexpensive and clean, although nothing fancy. They have a holiday which is also decent.

 

[Desnik]

We're planning on doing this in PA this June too!! Last year we waited too long and couldn't get tickets. This year I will buy them ASAP. I don't think they are on sale yet for the one at Strasburg. That is as of last week when I checked. I was wondering about the timing too. I'm going to try and get tickets for early in the day. Let me know if you find a good hotel nearby. We have been to the Strasbug railroad many times, but always at the end of a trip to Hershey, so we never needed a hotel in that area.

 

[Desnik]

I just checked the site and tickets are available to buy now!!!

 

[java]

We went last year and had a great time. The lines were looooong but not as long as that darn bus ride to the parking lots that they make you park at! So go early if you can . Also remember that Dutch Wonderland is right around the corner from the PA one. Makes a cute weekend.(and there are always the outlets! Pottery barn hello!)

 

[susykt4]

We've been to the one in Union, Illinois twice and had specified times for our Thomas ride each time. I do remember we HAD to be there 10 or 15 minutes early because the ride LEFT at the stated time. If you missed it, tough luck! We got the 2nd ride of the day both times and that gave us tons of time to do all the other activities. The lines for tattoos, jumpy things and other train rides were definitely shorter early in the day. Ugh. The HORRIBLE merchandise tent was incredibly crowded both times regardless of the time of day. I wonder if it would be better now (1.5 years ago) since Thomas stuff is much more widely available?

 

[melanell]

We went to Strasburg the year before last.

Last year we didn't do a Thomas day, and now this year DS is really begging to go again.

So I have to go check out the tickets!

It was so crowded there in June last time, but since we're planning an Oct. WDW trip, I don't really want to plan something for Sept., too. So, June it will be.

 

[Disneyolic]

My husband took my sons to the Day out with Thomas near Batavia, NY. They had a great time, except it was a bit chilly in May.

 

[dizzienoodle]

We only live a little more than an hour outside Strasburg and were making a Lancaster trip last summer when we stumbled upon Day Out With thomas. We hadnt bought advance tickets or anything, obviously, and had no problem get tickets for a later train ride. Boy was it crowded, and parking was definitely no picnic. My DS loved it. It was a great time overall but I would definitely try to go earlier if we do it again this year, my hope is that it would be less crowded. I get a little peopled out from time to time.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Desnik when are you planning on going? I'm thinking the 22nd and 23rd. We'll probably stay at Hampton Inn or a Marriott hotel there. I just have to double check the kid's school schedule.

 

[ilovejack02]

Woo hoo, i just got my tickets in for April in Chattanooga. I went on the Friday last yr in the morning, crowded, but nothing horrible. Cant wait, my DH thinks im crazy for making us drive 10 hrs to go see Thomas, but the smile on my child's face is worth it. I actually cried last year when we drove up because i knew how happy DS was to be there. How sad is that

 

[loopner67]

We've been to "A Day Out With Thomas" three times! Had a fantastic time every single time we went. My boys don't play with Thomas Trains as much anymore (they are 6 & 9), but they still say they want to go back and see Thomas this June - in Strasburg, PA.

I responded here to answer your questions....

I think that having specific tickets with times *does* help with the train ride, but the parking is still crazy and it's still pretty busy at the "Free activities".

Have a great time!

 

[monorailsilver]

We've done it 2 or 3 times here in CT but I am lucky since I live about 10 min from the train it runs at.

At ours, there are rides. We do the 9am train this way we are in & out by noon with the train ride, kiddie rides, pictures & petting zoo & craft area.

It is a zoo though & we avoid that area for the 2 weekends the train is in but I do a drive by a few days before hand so my kids can see Thomas.

 

[las3888]

We went last summer to Union, IL. It was our first time and we will definitely be going back. They offer I believe 3 different weekends in a row and you pick your time online. We had to be there in advance. We walked around the various tents and attractions before our train ride. We had a really nice time. We also got to see real trains in the Union train "museum." The parking by us wasn't too bad and I was with my parents who are not all that spry (no busses or anything by us). They did ok.

I imagine it is set up differently at the various places throughout the country. My advice is to buy well in advance (times were very much sold out) and allow yourself plenty of time.

The merchandise tent was crowded last year, but as PP was mentioning, I didn't think it was too bad. The tent was probably the biggest one on the grounds, and while crowded, it wasn't too bad the day we went.

It was a great time and we will be going again probably with our nephew who is 7.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We went to Strasburg PA every year with DS for 5 years. We stopped going 2 years ago since he is approaching 9 yo.

Seriously, I really miss going. We had a great time. The timed tickets for Thomas do help the lines for the train ride but the activities are still pretty crowded. We always signed up for the 1st train ride of the day then did all the activities and pretty much did get everything done by 1pm or close to it.

We've been in June and September and seriously see no difference in crowds between the two times. We have stayed at all different places. The best two were
1: A working farm. The Thomas train actually goes right through the farm. Its only about a mile down the road from the railroad. We slept in the farmhouse and got a big breakfast in the AM. DS got to feed the pigs and milk the cows. They even had an old tire swing in the backyard.

2: A place called Willow Valley. A little outside of Lancaster but worth the extra 15 minute drive. They have an awesome dinner buffet. You can feed the ducks at the pond or take a buggie ride plus the pool is like a mini indoor waterpark. Very fun!

 

[dcgrumpy]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Lancaster last year. It was clean, reasonably priced and had a pool. We parked a little down the road behind the stores. They charged $5, but it was worth not having to wait for the bus.

We go to Thomas every year. We've been to Strasburge once, Essex Ct 3 times and somewhere in the Catskills once. This year we're going to Maine in July. Essex is our favorite so far.