Originally Posted By jkayjs I know this should be over in 'Disney Live Action' & I did post it there as well but I'm concerned I may not get as much of a response there. Soooo please don't move it Mr/Ms Moderator. Have any of you attended this event & if so what can I expect? How did it work? I guess I'm looking for the logistics. It will be in KC on Tues so any info you can give will be great. Doobie/Rebekah do you guys have any inside info you can share? THX for anything any of you can share.
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations, The tour is decribed here: <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/christmascaroltraintour/" target="_blank">http://disney.go.com/disneypic...aintour/</a> and here: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-05-07-disney-christmas-carol-train_N.htm" target="_blank">http://www.usatoday.com/life/m...in_N.htm</a> I went on the tour with my son in Sacramento. It was a lot of fun but we did wait, to get on the train, for about an hour and a half. I would advise going as early as possible. Hope that helps, 8
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey The wait here in New Orleans was 2 hours and 45 minutes. We decided not to wait and went for ice cream instead.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I was fortunate. I caught it at the end of day in Sacramento and had no wait. There was a roped off queue that looked like it would have taken two hours and I heard the wait was that long at times. So, go early, but go! The USA Today article scratches on what it's like, but there is so much more. In addition to the train there is a portable theater with a remarkable 3-D movie. Both the film and the train are full of facinating things about movie making, image capture and other spacial effects. I'd wait an hour for it. Whan I saw it, there were a lot of entertainers as part of the entourage to occupy the attention of people in line. Without a line, the few people around me and myself got quite a bit of attention. Just go.
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 The tour came through here for three days. We went first thing on Sunday and walked right onto the train. It was fun to see some costumes and props from the movie as well as interview clips. Also, models of some of the buildings. As you get ready to go to the last car, there is an area set up and you can step inside a little cubicle and a computer cam will take your photo and "morph" your face into on of the CC characters. It took about two weeks for us to get our email telling us that we could go to our local Walmart to get a copy of the photo. Outside the train were lamp posts that would shower "snow" and another tent that you could go into and watch a brief clip ( in 3D) of the movie. I was so involved in watching in very quickly that when it was done and the lights came up I felt cheated!! I think this is going to be a big movie for them! It was a fun ( and, of course, free) event and if you get the chance to do, go for it. If you can get there first thing when it opens in the morning, I expect you'll get through much more quickly
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Ours starts today, I wish I could be there. My son just started school, tomorrow and Sunday I'll be at work. bummer, so I'll just have to live through everyone that gets to see it.
Originally Posted By MPierce What an absolutely brillant advertising idea on Disney's part. I have a feeling the WDC is banking on this becoming a seasonal classic.
Originally Posted By jkayjs THX for the info all. I read the info on the Disney web site before the tour started & knew it was something we might want to do but the site didn't have any logistics like how the line is set up. My grandson is very young & won't remember any of this but he is a computer hound already. He watches educational sites several times a day for short periods. I think he will enjoy watching the interactive stuff. At the end of the day I doubt we will see something like this for a long to come & I would love to have him be a part of it even if he only remembers from pictures. We plan to get there before it opens @ 9 & since school just start back hope we beat the lines. THX again this was exactly the info I was looking for. Just one more question. Did they allow strollers in the train? He can certainly walk but I'm just curious.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I recall the train was ADA complient, which means yes for strollers and wheelchairs. The theatre is for sure. I didn't feel cheated by the theatre, I was blown away. YMMV
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<What an absolutely brillant advertising idea on Disney's part. I have a feeling the WDC is banking on this becoming a seasonal classic.>> I always believe in being in the holiday Spirit myself ... every day of the year there's something worth celebrating.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I always believe in being in the holiday Spirit myself ... every day of the year there's something worth celebrating. << I'm retired so that kind of philosophy definetly applies to me.
Originally Posted By StitchMom84 <<I was so involved in watching in very quickly that when it was done and the lights came up I felt cheated!! I think this is going to be a big movie for them!>> I guess I didn't phrase this correctly...I meant that I was so involved in watching the movie and enjoying it that when the clips were finished, I felt "cheated" that I couldn't see more of it!!. It was wonderful and we were totally engrossed in watching it. I wanted to see more!! We went to see a movie yesterday and saw the big cardboard advertisement for it in the lobby of the theatre.....I'm sure the hype is going to be huge...even some people who do not normally go to a Disney film will be going to this one, I think
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Wait was 2 1/2 hours in Chicago...in Union Station. Disney had people entertaining the lines - comedians / skits / Carol singing / jugglers etc...but the wait was still long. The train itself was very cool- and being an English Major as an undergrad and having done my thesis on Dickens - the memorabilia from the dicken's museum inside the train cars was very cool. You get to morph your face into one of the characters before leaving the train- can get to on line....and outside the actual train is a tent set up for the #D preview of Christmas Carol- which looks very good. All in all- worth the 2 1/2 hours ? For most- likely not.
Originally Posted By samrutster Disney advertised this in such a way where you wanted to take you kids of all ages to it. It is not! It was handled very poorly in Texas. We stood in line for 3-4 hours in the hot sun with no shade until 2-3 hours into our wait. They had water out at stations that were within the last hour of the wait, but nothing before that. The water in the only vending machine in the train depot was sold out of water by 10am. There were elderly there about to have a heat stroke and people with little kids from infants up out in the heat with no where to escape the sun. Once inside the train it was still hot and very crowded. Nothing there that kids under the age of about 10 would care anything about. It was a huge disappointment!!!! Disney missed it with this one in my opinion. Would have been fine if in cool climate and small crowds, but for sure not worth more than an hour wait max and not for kids under 10 or more! Disney should have had safer waiting arrangement in hot climate areas and not have advertised this to kids!
Originally Posted By jkayjs THX for all the info. We went this am & it was a wonderful experience. We got there just before 9 when it was to start. It was my husband, myself & our toddler grandson. We had to park the stroller but that was fine. There were carolers singing & interacting with the folks. We got our ticket & the 3 of us walk straight on the train. My grandson immediately recognized the word Disney on the train. I think Disney was one of his first words. When we got inside he was mesmerized by all the TV screens with pictures & in other cars the computer animation. I think it was the subdued lighting that helped as well. I took lots of pics without flash as momentoes as I know he won't remember, but I will. I very much enjoyed seeing the Dicken's letter's, books & assorted items. After the train we went to the theater. He wouldn't wear the 3D glasses but sat on the edge of his seat on the front row for the 10 min presentation. I don't think he blinked. Of course they had him @ the beginning when they opened with the customary Castle logo & theme music that preceeds any Disney film. We have a beautifully restored train station in KC so after the train tour we headed into the station. All in all it was a great day. Now let me add that by the time we finished the inside of the train that we literally walked on to the line was already down to where we got our ticket. They already had misting fans in place along the line. They also had an area that was grilling & had drinks setting up when we left. We were 1 of about 8-9 strollers when we got there & by the time we retrieved it there must have been 50. So I'm sure it got very busy as the day went on. I was sure there would be some kind of a souvenir stand but I was pleased that this event was 100% free. They even had child car safety booths with themed give aways. We took home a growth chart that along with the movie pics & the hight chart included pics of what kind of safety seat was appropriate. Sorry to those that had less than a good experience but all in all it was worth the trip & the memories for us.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Sounds like a fun little promo event. Anyone know if it's going to be anywhere in SoFla?
Originally Posted By jkayjs Yes dear Spirit the tour will be haunting Miami in Oct. Oct 16-18 Fri & Sat 9-7 & Sun 9-4 Florida East Coast Railroad Co. 3200 NW 67th Ave.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We did the first stop in Los Angeles..three hour wait. It was worth it because there were tons of giveaways and a sheet of paper with puzzles to do while in line. They also gave out paper ornaments that you could put together. My morph picture was absolutely hilarious. Don't miss that at the end of the train. We also had lots of mist machines around the lines with performers and a lunch truck that sold food while waiting. There were two water stations for water bottles that were $1 each. All in all a great free day out with mom.
