Thomas the Train for Christmas-please help

[Frye7127]

Also, sometimes TRU has the figure 8 set with a bonus pack that has more tracks and trains.

 

[Nik's Mom]

My kids have several Thomas pieces. For Christmas, I just bought them the Thomas-Saurus Rex Dinosaur figure 8 set. They are also dinosaur fanatics and this set has a dinosaur theme! TRU has it on sale right now for $59.99 (regular $79.99). You can also buy the straight and curved expansion pack for 50% off. I think that came out to $12.99.

 

[pigletforever]

I have a 4 year old thomas fan. What I have learned. The Wooden trains are the most expensive running anywhere from 16.00 to 20.00 per train. For teh extras like Cranky and the shed be prepared to pay at least 30.00 per peice. DS has most of the wooden ones but DH found the metal ones are much sturdier and we now have all of the Thomas Take Along series. DS prefers the metal ones. There is more detail on the metal ones plus the metal ones are 4.99 - 12.99 (depending on if it is a single train or a set). Either way it is an expensive hobby.

 

[monorailsilver]

I agree with everyone else, TRU, AC Moore & Michaels.

Does anyone know how long the sale at AC Moore is going on for?

I was in TRU on Thursday (yesterday) & I wanted to get my ds a bridge, a specific one but they didn't have it at TRU & I didn't have time to shoot over to Michaels or AC Moore.

Otherwise I will just get it at the local toy store (small town one) that has Thomas stuff since 10% of what I buy goes to our elementary school.

I was looking at the TRU website & certain trains/accesssories that you buy & if you spend $25 in one transaction you get a free train (I think).

I refused to get a table for the trains only because it limits you to what you can build on the table so we just make a huge track on the floor & it stays up for a few days.

I'd get a battery powered train too. My kids love them.

We have been collecting them for about 5 years now & we have probably close to 40 engines (some are multiples, like we have 5 or 6 Thomas's).

 

[Banana magic]

My son is 5 now, but has loved Thomas since he was 2. We also started with the figure 8 set and added from there. Like other posters mentioned, Michaels is a good place to get Thomas, toys r us has buy 2 get 1 sales on engines alot. There is a great website I found last year for Thomas and generic Maxim wooden rail stuff that I was very happy with http://store.woodenrailwayadventures.com/index.html
we got a generic roundhouse, mountain, station and crossing gate, and it was so much less than Thomas brand. My son loves them because some make noise and doesn't know they aren't official.
Also I would suggest a power train, which will hook up to the regular wooden rail magnetic trains. My kids (DD7 too) love to hook those up and pull a big line of train cars around the tracks, over bridges and mountains. Also, we have gone to ride Thomas during the summer at local train museum, and we add a piece each time we do that.

I have all the boxes as I'm planning on keeping all the Thomas stuff for my grandchildren. Its really quality stuff. Have fun!

 

[frogmommy]

Moore's and Ebay are where I go to look. I have the generic track from TRU (imaginarum brand?). My train table came from Target. We've built our own set over the years piece by piece.

Allaboardtrains.com has good sales from time to time, and free shipping if you buy more than $69.00.

Another idea is to check consignment sales for tables and accessories. They get snapped up quick though.

If you have a TJ Maxx, they sometimes have trains and other items at a deep discount, but it's pretty much hit or miss.

You can get battery operated engines that will work with the wooden track and cars.

I think my son's first set included Thomas, the milk car, the barrel car, a cabose and a figure 8 set. The more popular engines are Percy, Edward, Gordon, Henry, and James. They make engines with girl names too. My 2 year old daughter plays with Emily and Lady.

 

[ilovejack02]

I refused to get a table for the trains only because it limits you to what you can build on the table so we just make a huge track on the floor & it stays up for a few days.
(some are multiples, like we have 5 or 6 Thomas's).

There is a really neat layout that can be brought down to the floor from the table, it is built by using the elevated track foundations, stacking risers and the the ascending track pieces. It is sooo cool!

 

[lilstint]

We also use the AC Moore coupons for all our Thomas purchases. We bought the $99.00 BJ's train table last summer for my grandsons 2nd bday. It came with a ton of accessories ... track, bridges, tunnels, buildings, signs etc. Is AC Moore 40% off all Thomas this week?? I might have to head out and do some Christmas shopping if it is!!! Anyone know?

 

[aagasen]

You can get the Thomas DVDs that have a train included, that's the cheapest way I've done it. The website I like is creativetrains, they have daily train deals and monthly sales. If you spend more than $35, the shipping is free.

 

[dismom9761]

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the advice and great websites.I think I have decided to buy one of the figure 8 sets and add to it with the track that my SIL has.I am going to buy one battery operated Thomas and maybe one of the girl pieces.Then I am going to buy a set of the animal train cars(can't remember the name) from BRIO.
Tips are still welcome though! Oh and does anyone know a good place to buy the DVDs?My older kids are threatening to throw the only movie we have out of the window.She is sick and I think she has watched it 12 times since this morning.

 

[aagasen]

I've seen the DVDs in Target, Walmart and Sam's Club... much cheaper than TRU.

 

[homeboycartel]

A cheap way to get trains is to buy the DVDs or Videos that come with them. TRu and Sam's CLub (and Costoc) usually have 4-8 different DVDs/Videos which come with free wooden trains that cost the same as the DVD or Vidoe would otherwise. This kills two birds w/ one stone present, so-to-speak.

 

[dismom9761]

Thanks-I am going to go check out Sam's today.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I believe TRU has a $5 off coupon in their christmas book. It's good toward the Thomas Snowy Day dvd. You can pick up the coupon book in the stores.

 

[rt2dz]

My two cents without having read the whole thread, just a few first page posts.

All wooden thomas track fits together. You can get sure clips if they come apart in play. More generic track, doesn't hold well & I wouldn't waste money on it.

Best buys are Michaels with a 40% off coupon, provided it is not on sale. Full sets, buildings, and individual track pieces are worth buying on ebay, but individual trains are almost always a waste of money. Learning Curve keeps a tight hold on what places can charge, so full price items are *almost* the same everywhere. Best website www.rrgifts.com (sorry, can't get features to work on the DIS today).

If there is a favorite episode, get those trains. Otherwise, start with Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Annie, Clarabel, and Henry.

 

[dismom9761]

Well,I went and got what my SIL had for me and there is good and bad about it.The good is is that it is brand new never opened.The bad is that it is off brand.I don't know what brand-there is nothing written on any of it.It came from QVC.
I bought Percy today-it came with a DVD.I am going to order Thomas tonight(either battery poperated or regular) and a few other Thomas pieces.I was going to order the Figure 8 set but now I may just see how this track does.Decisions, decisions.

 

[maciec]

My son loves his Thomas track also. We started off with the Pottery Barn tracks (gift from grandparents) and then added the official tracks. What we found is that the thickness of the tracks are different which makes going downhill a disaster.

I always knew about the 40% off Michaels coupon, but I have always forgotten about it. Not this time. I am going there once a week until Christmas and buying him something. He really wants the mountain overpass. I also need to get the adapt a track pack because it always ends up that I have 2 male ends that don't fit together. The adapt a track will give you either female-female or male-female. Notice that I said "I" with that .... afterall, I am the master track builder! He tries, but at 2 he can't get the whole set up going. I can't wait until he can though!

I wish that they would put out a book that gave you different track set up ideas. I have come up with some good ones, but I always like ideas.

 

[gillenkl]

Do you live near an ACMoore? They weekly have ads in the local paper for 50% off any non-sale item. I have used these to buy all of our wooden Thomas the Train for half-price. Just a thought.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

AC Moore has all Thomas train items 40% off this week. No coupon needed.
http://www.acmoore.com/showweeklyspecial.asp?ID=90

 

[dismom9761]

Do you live near an ACMoore? They weekly have ads in the local paper for 50% off any non-sale item. I have used these to buy all of our wooden Thomas the Train for half-price. Just a thought.

Ufortunately i don't have an ACMoore near me.I just looked and the closest is several hours away. The Micheals here doesn't have Thomas either.