up front on train?

[jkh1978]

I heard you could get on No 1 or No 2 at the Main Street Station and ride up front on the train. Is this still permitted? I thought they'd consider that too dangerous.

 

[coaches24]

As far as I know you can still do it. Just have to ask at the train station.

 

[Minuet888]

No idea, I've personally never seen it done especially recently but other people on here have said they have done it but I don't know how long ago that was

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

You go to the station at Main Street and ask for a "Tender Ride" It's a full circle of the park sitting up front with the engineers. It only seats two people. If there are others who have already asked, they may tell you to come back later and give you a time to do so. Last September my wife and I were there on a very slow day, and when we asked we got on in about 10 minutes, as the train with the seat had just left, and we had to wait for it to circle the park and return.

 

[tinkcollector]

"You go to the station at Main Street and ask for a "Tender Ride" It's a full circle of the park sitting up front with the engineers. It only seats two people. If there are others who have already asked, they may tell you to come back later and give you a time to do so. Last September my wife and I were there on a very slow day, and when we asked we got on in about 10 minutes, as the train with the seat had just left, and we had to wait for it to circle the park and return." ( Pinocchio #1 Fan )
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We have also been able to ride in the Tender car. Do what Pinocchio has stated. It was a kick.

 

[Jessica_of_FL]

This sounds awesome!!!! Thank you so much for asking this question!

 

[jkh1978]

Is it hot or uncomfortable?

 

[pixiewings71]

Yes, tender rides are very popular!! Just ask for the tender ride at the Main Street station and they can let you know if they can accommodate you. Also, if you are so inclined, you can request a ride on the Lily Belle (if it's out) at the Main Street station. We've ridden the LB a few times but have yet to do the tender ride....hmmmm possibly something DD and I can do on our Mother/Daughter trip......

 

[Daniellee725]

If you're interested in special experiences, you should ask to sit with the driver of the monorail too! They are usually very nice, and the view of the park is so unique from the front of the monorail! The back is open to ride in too, just not driver on that side. Either way, it's a totally awesome and different way to ride the Monorail, all you have to do is ask!

 

[charmama4]

Yes, tender rides are very popular!! Just ask for the tender ride at the Main Street station and they can let you know if they can accommodate you. Also, if you are so inclined, you can request a ride on the Lily Belle (if it's out) at the Main Street station. We've ridden the LB a few times but have yet to do the tender ride....hmmmm possibly something DD and I can do on our Mother/Daughter trip......

I asked if we could ride the LB back in October and they said we couldn't unless we were guests of Clubb33 or members. I guess I didnt' have enough pixie dust dusted on me, phoey!!

What a cool idea for a mother/daughter memory!!! Get pictures!!

 

[cgh]

Is there an age minimum for a tender ride? Ie. would my DH be able to go with our 3 year old? (both train lovers)

 

[pixiewings71]

I asked if we could ride the LB back in October and they said we couldn't unless we were guests of Clubb33 or members. I guess I didnt' have enough pixie dust dusted on me, phoey!!

What a cool idea for a mother/daughter memory!!! Get pictures!!

No, it's definitely not reserved for Club 33 guests or members, that's incorrect information. Like I said, we've ridden in the LB a few times and we are not Club 33 members. Keep asking, don't give up!

Is there an age minimum for a tender ride? Ie. would my DH be able to go with our 3 year old? (both train lovers)

Good question, I'm not sure what the answer is. The Tender is open so I'm sure they have rules about it.

 

[jetskigrl]

Is there an age minimum for a tender ride? Ie. would my DH be able to go with our 3 year old? (both train lovers)

They may have changed it since but I'm pretty sure our son was 3 when he went for the first time (he is 8 now, so it has been a while).

As long as your DH is with the child, it should be no problem.

We have done it many times as our DS is a huge train fan also. The last time was a couple of weeks ago and we got the last ride of the night (they were getting ready to put the engine/tender with the seat away for the night). We pulled into toontown right before the Magic, Memories and You show so we had to hold there to wait for it. My DS talked the engineer and fireman's ears off. They were quite impressed with his train knowledge, LOL.

It is a really fun ride, but can be hard to get. There has to be a train with a tender running and they cannot take anyone if they need to add water. So be prepared to have to wait for the train to come around again (or even longer if someone else is already waiting).

I have never seen them schedule times for a tender ride though (so that is why so much waiting is involved). They have to check with the engineer each time before they can tell someone if a ride is even possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

No, it's definitely not reserved for Club 33 guests or members, that's incorrect information. Like I said, we've ridden in the LB a few times and we are not Club 33 members. Keep asking, don't give up!

There are days they do reserve the day for members. And members will get preference.

 

[tinkcollector]

Is it hot or uncomfortable?

I would not call it uncomfortable, but you do feel the heat.

 

[pixiewings71]

There are days they do reserve the day for members. And members will get preference.

Perhaps, however there are also days it is not reserved for members. Riding the Lily Belle is not exclusive to Club 33 members, while there are days that you are denied the ability to ride there are days that anyone can do so. As as I've said, we've ridden it 2-3 times, we've probably asked about 6 times so our track record is 50% so far.

To clarify my responses, this is the first I have ever heard there are days they reserve the LB for Club 33 members. While I don't doubt they do that, the times we have been denied the privilege of riding it's been because they are already full or don't have enough to staff to have someone ride with us. Again, we ask knowing that we can be denied and we ask knowing that people who have paid for tours will have the priority over us. But, we still take the chance and ask anyway and we have been allowed to ride a few times. Those times the CM that rode with us was very impressed with my DD15's knowledge of Walt and his park.

 

[jetskigrl]

I would not call it uncomfortable, but you do feel the heat.

I agree, you will feel the heat. So in the summer, it can get very hot, especially during the middle of the day as you will be sitting in the direct sunlight also. But on a colder day or in the evening, it is not bad at all.

It also depends on if they have the firebox door open. Most times, it is closed but they usually open it to show you. I don't recall if I have seen them leave it open though.

 

[cgh]

Glad to hear it might be possible for a 3 yo to ride. Last time we did front and back in the monorail and he loved that. He would go to Disney and just do the monorail, Casey Jr. Train, and the train. The monorail is what he has talked about since returning. We'll definitely try to do this!