Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the notes below for some important updates on the 2022 season:
- Face Coverings: While strongly recommended, neither face coverings nor proof of vaccination are required to attend THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Oklahoma City. This is subject to change as the event takes place on a federally-regulated transportation conveyance and is subject to FRA and TSA mandates similar to an airline.
- Showtimes: Event times listed on schedules and your confirmation email represent the official showtime and beginning of the boarding process. It is required that guests arrive approximately 40 minutes prior to their listed showtime. This allows time to park and check in at the Box Office. Trains depart the station 20 minutes after the listed showtime.
- North Pole: Based on feedback from our guests and a continued emphasis on improving the show inside the train, this year’s event will not feature an outdoor North Pole set. Santa will still board the train to greet passengers and present The First Gift of Christmas at the appropriate time during the show as he does at our other major market locations.
View our Price Calendar for a breakdown of our schedule and pricing tiers HERE.
While strongly recommended, neither face coverings nor proof of vaccination are required to attend THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Oklahoma City. This is subject to change as the event takes place on a federally-regulated transportation conveyance and is subject to FRA and TSA mandates similar to an airline. If this policy changes, we will issue communication to all guests in advance.
We appreciate your understanding as we navigate changing requirements amid COVID-19. We are dedicated to hosting a safe event and will continue to provide any updates as soon as they are available.
2022 Coach Class Pricing
Value Departures: $49 Adult, $42 Child (2-11) │ Standard Departures: $53 Adult, $46 Child (2-11) │ Premium Departures: $60 Adult, $53 Child (2-11)
2022 First Class Pricing
Value Departures: $63 Adult, $58 Child (2-11) │ Standard Departures: $68 Adult, $63 Child (2-11) │ Premium Departures: $75 Adult, $70 Child (2-11)
Additional ticketing service fee and local tax will apply. A $6 parking pass is required for each vehicle and your ticket confirmation will serve as your parking pass.
View our Price Calendar for a breakdown of our different pricing tiers HERE.
The only differences between Value, Standard, and Premium departures are the dates and/or times of the rides. Lower demand departures are priced lower to offer those on a budget options and higher demand departures are priced accordingly. The event functions exactly the same on all departures and passengers enjoy the same experience.
View our Price Calendar for a breakdown of our different pricing tiers HERE.
There are two classes of service on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Oklahoma City: Coach Class and First Class. Please visit The Ride for full information.
Coach Class
Coach Class cars are classic railroad coaches from the golden age of rail travel and are adorned in festive holiday decor. Designated wheelchair space is located in Car 4 (Aurora Borealis) and can be booked online by selecting the wheelchair space icon and adjacent companion seats as needed. Please review the Seating Chart carefully before booking. All seats on board the train are assigned and you will select your own seats during checkout.
2022 Coach Class Pricing
Value Departures: $49 Adult, $42 Child (2-11) │ Standard Departures: $53 Adult, $46 Child (2-11) │ Premium Departures: $60 Adult, $53 Child (2-11)
Additional ticketing service fee and local tax will apply. A $6 parking pass is required for each vehicle and your ticket confirmation will serve as your parking pass.
First Class
Our two First Class cars were built for Canadian National Railway in 1954 by Canadian Car & Foundry and were sold to VIA Rail after retirement where they continued operating on various routes across Canada. The restored cars were purchased by Oklahoma Railway Museum in 2020. First Class cars feature festive holiday decor, ample legroom, overstuffed reclining seats, and large windows. In addition to more comfortable accommodations, First Class passengers receive a collectible THE POLAR EXPRESS™ ceramic mug which is theirs to take home. Please review the Seating Chart carefully before booking. All seats on board the train are assigned and you will select your own seats during the checkout process.
2022 First Class Pricing
Value Departures: $63 Adult, $58 Child (2-11) │ Standard Departures: $68 Adult, $63 Child (2-11) │ Premium Departures: $75 Adult, $70 Child (2-11)
Additional ticketing service fee and local tax will apply. A $6 parking pass is required for each vehicle and your ticket confirmation will serve as your parking pass.
View our Price Calendar for a breakdown of our different pricing tiers HERE.
Event times listed on schedules and your confirmation email represent the official showtime and beginning of the boarding process. It is required that guests arrive approximately 40 minutes prior to their listed showtime. This allows time to park and check in at the Box Office. Trains depart the station 20 minutes after the listed showtime. Late arrivals will not be permitted to pick up tickets or board the train after the times listed below:
The Box Office closes at showtime. Therefore, all boarding passes must be picked up prior to this time.
The Boarding Platform closes 15 minutes after showtime. Absolutely no passengers will be allowed to board after that time. This includes parties who previously picked up their boarding passes from the Box Office or passengers who have other members of their party already on the train.
The entire experience at the museum and on the train is roughly two hours in length. It is required that guests arrive approximately 40 minutes prior to their listed showtime. This allows time to park and check in at the station. Trains begin boarding at showtime and depart 20 minutes after listed showtime. The train ride itself is one hour in length.
The Box Office closes at showtime. Therefore, all boarding passes must be picked up prior to this time.
The Boarding Platform closes 15 minutes after showtime. Absolutely no passengers will be allowed to board after that time. This includes parties who previously picked up their boarding passes from the Box Office or passengers who have other members of their party already on the train.
Event parking is available at the Oklahoma Railway Museum lot located at 3400 NE Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. Parking passes are $6 per vehicle and should be purchased with your event tickets. If you need to purchase additional parking passes after you have placed an initial order, please contact our Call Center at 715-721-2093. Your ticket confirmation will serve as your parking pass so please have it available for our attendants to review.
Parking for those with the proper disabled parking placard or plates is available closer to the boarding area. If a member of your party has mobility issues but you do not have the proper disabled parking placard, passenger drop-off will be available at the station as long a member of your party is available to move your vehicle to the parking lot.
For the most efficient purchase experience, we recommend booking tickets here on our website as our phone lines are extremely busy during periods of high demand. Once tickets have been released, reservation agents can be reached using the form on our Contact Us page or by calling 715-721-2093 during the following hours:
Monday-Saturday: 8:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
All times are Central Standard Time.
Please leave a callback number as instructed if prompted by our phone system. An agent will return your call as soon as possible and the return call may come from an unfamiliar number or area code. Please only leave a callback number once. Leaving the same callback number again bumps you to the end of the queue.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is a magical re-creation of the classic children’s story led by a cast of talented actors on board a real train. Have your golden tickets ready for the Conductor! Passengers are served hot chocolate and Walkers Shortbread by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the classic book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the First Gift of Christmas after Santa boards the train to greet families. Performers engage passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the heartwarming trip back to the station.
It was over one hundred twenty-four years ago that the Walker family started baking shortbread in the Speyside village of Aberlour, where they remain to this day.
Joseph Walker founded the company when he opened his village bakery in 1898; now it is his grandchildren and great-grandchildren that continue the tradition of fine baking that he started. In fact, the founder’s personal guarantee is still marked on every pack to confirm that Walkers’ products are made with only the best ingredients obtainable. Though the Walker family have added many new products to their range during the last century, each and every one holds to those original values of quality and natural goodness.
As it always has been, our shortbread is made using only four ingredients: flour, pure creamery butter, sugar, and salt. We are proud to say that our products contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
In its distinctive tartan packaging, Walkers range of products is packed with Scottish character, both inside and out. The name Walkers is recognized as a mark of excellence the world over, a true Scottish classic.
Walkers Shortbread is the Official Onboard Treat of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Oklahoma City. Visit the Walkers Online Shop and use Coupon Code PEXOKC to save 20% on your next order of Walkers Shortbread. Offer expires 12/31/22. Offer not valid on Sale Items.
A full range of exclusive THE POLAR EXPRESS™ gifts and keepsakes will be available for purchase at the event. The gift shop is located at the museum and is the perfect place to do your holiday shopping before or after your ride.
Is your family ready to arrive in style wearing matching pajamas this holiday season? Would you like to bring your own copy of the book to read along with during the trip? Exclusive, officially licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ pajamas, books, and DVDs are now available to order online prior to your visit! Whether you are attending our event or enjoying a fun THE POLAR EXPRESS™ party at home, hop on board with our new and unique products. Quantities on popular items are limited so order now and complete your holiday shopping before supplies run out.
We offer adorable matching family pajamas with iconic THE POLAR EXPRESS™ images that adorn both youth and adult sizes. Soft and cozy fleece styles will keep you warm on your train ride and throughout the season at home. Be sure to add the classic hardcover book and DVD to your order! Confirmed orders ship within 7-10 days.
Visit raileventsretail.com to shop now!
Yes. In order to offer the best experience for all guests, seating is assigned on board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. You will select your own seats during the online checkout process as you would on an airline. Please review our seating chart carefully before booking.
Please see the seating chart below for information on coach numbers, names, and seat directions. Since the train travels and returns over the same tracks, all passengers will ride forward for half of their trip and backward for the other half (or vice versa).
In order to accommodate expanded theatrical and narrative elements, cars with table and chair seating are not utilized in Coach or First Class. Please see the previous FAQs for more information on Coach Class and First Class seating.
It is recommended that reservations are made as soon as your group knows which date and time you would like to attend. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly for this popular event.
Groups of 20+ must be booked over the phone at 715-721-2093. Please note that the name of each member of your party is required to complete the check-out process so please have these prepared prior to speaking with a reservation agent. Group discounts are not offered.
Tickets cannot be added to or removed from a group order once placed. Upon arrival, a single member of the group is responsible for picking up all of the boarding passes and Golden Tickets from the Box Office. That person will then distribute those items to the rest of the group.
Active-duty military members and first responders with the appropriate ID card are eligible for a $5 discount on each ticket (up to 10 tickets). To check out, please enter promo code HERO5 and select the applicable discount ticket product.
Disabled veterans with the proper ID card are eligible for a sales tax exemption per Oklahoma law. To check out, please enter VETERAN5T to apply a $5 discount and remove the tax from your purchase.
Please note, the active-duty individual, first responder, or disabled veteran must be a member of the attending party and must present their valid service ID card for verification when checking in at the event. If the appropriate identification cannot be presented by this individual, you will be charged the difference in ticket price before being allowed on board the train.
The event grounds and the train are wheelchair accessible, however, wheelchair seating is limited. Access to the train is provided by a mobile lift on the platform and space for wheelchairs is located in Car 4 (Aurora Borealis). Unfortunately, due to the historic dimensions of our First Class cars, wheelchair seating is not available in First Class. It is also important to note that there are no wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the train. However, there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the event grounds.
Designated parking spaces for those with disabilities and the proper disabled parking placard are located adjacent to the station. Please notify parking attendants if a member of your party has mobility issues and requires a reserved space. If a member of your party requires wheelchair access, please select the designated wheelchair space and companion seats online or contact a reservation agent at 715-721-2093.
If a member of your party has a disability and requires a wheelchair space, please select the designated space/companion seats online or contact a reservation agent to assist with additional needs. These seats are comprised of a designated wheelchair space (no seat) and companion seats located across the aisle. It is important to note that there are no wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the train. However, there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the event grounds. For additional information on wheelchair access, please see the previous FAQ or contact a reservation agent at 715-721-2093.
If you would like to request a sign language interpreter please book your tickets via phone and notify the agent of your request. A Rail Events Productions team member will reach out directly to coordinate this service with you.
Rail Events Productions does not guarantee an allergen-free environment. Walkers Shortbread and Nestle Hot Chocolate are served on the train. A complete list of ingredients is available below and at the Box Office for your review.
Walkers Shortbread
Ingredients: Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Butter (Milk) (32%), Sugar, Salt.
Allergens: Wheat, Milk. May contain tree nuts.
Suitable for vegetarians and Certified Kosher OUD.
Nestle Hot Chocolate
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Dairy Product Solids, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coconut and/or Palm Kernel and/or Soybean), Coacoa Processed with Alkali, and Less than 2% of Salt, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Caseinate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Aluminosilicate, Mono-and Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Artifical Flavor.
Allergens: Contains Dairy; May Contain Soy and/or Wheat.
A limited number of restrooms are available on board the train. Please alert a staff member if a member of your party needs to use the restroom, as they may need to be escorted to another car to access the nearest one. It is important to note that there are no wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the train. However, there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the event grounds.
Children under two may ride for free provided they are not occupying a seat and ride on an adult’s lap. A free infant ticket must be selected at checkout and the name of the child must be provided on the reservation. This is to ensure every passenger can be accounted for in case of an emergency.
Children under two receive a silver sleigh bell from Santa but do not receive a treat or hot chocolate.
Families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas just like passengers from THE POLAR EXPRESS™ book and film. Passengers will spend time on an unheated platform as they board and disembark from the train, so appropriate winter attire is also recommended.
Want to arrive at the event in style? Officially licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride pajamas and the original book by Chris Van Allsburg are available for order at raileventsretail.com. Orders ship 7-10 days from the time of purchase.
The train follows a point-to-point route through woods and neighborhoods surrounding the Oklahoma Railway Museum during its trip to meet Santa. This route includes several changes in direction that are incorporated into the one-hour onboard presentation.
Like sporting events, concerts, and other live events, tickets for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride are not refundable. However, passenger names can be changed prior to the event by clicking the Customer Support Form in your confirmation email or using the Contact Us form on our site.
If event departures are canceled and trains do not travel from the station for reasons including (but not limited to) weather, mechanical issues, or COVID-19 restrictions, all passengers on affected departures will receive an option to ride a departure on a later date (based on space availability) or a full refund.
Changes to the date and time of a reservation can be requested but are subject to availability and pricing differences. If seats are available on another date/train, our reservation agents will do their best to accommodate your request. However, no guarantees can be made that your reservation can be changed. Please use the form on our Contact Us page or call 715-721-2093 to initiate a date or time change request.
The purchaser must change the entire order to a single date and departure. The purchaser may not split off a portion of the order for a different date or time.
Name changes on tickets are allowed. Passenger names can be changed at any time prior to the event by clicking the Customer Support Form in your confirmation email or using the Contact Us form on our site.
Trains will continue to run in snow and other weather conditions. However, trains may be canceled or postponed at the Oklahoma Railway Museum’s discretion due to weather or operational considerations. The event may also be canceled or postponed if major roads and freeways are closed near the event due to snow or natural disasters. Full refunds will be offered in these cancelation scenarios.
No. For the comfort and safety of all guests, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Only trained service animals with identification cards are permitted in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oklahoma law.
Concealed or open carry weapons are not permitted at this event. Oklahoma Railway Museum is a federally regulated passenger railroad operator similar to an airline.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is a family-friendly event and no alcohol is sold or allowed on board the train or on the event grounds. Intoxicated passengers or those found in possession of alcohol will be removed from the event without a refund. This is a zero-tolerance policy.
1. The Box Office CLOSES AT SHOWTIME. Therefore, all boarding passes must be picked up prior to this time.
2. The Boarding Platform CLOSES 15 MINUTES AFTER SHOWTIME. No passengers will be allowed to board the train after this time.
3. Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable.
4. Tickets are valid only for the date, time, car, and seat shown on the ticket. Purchaser acknowledges that they have individually selected their seats. Rail Events Productions Inc. (“REP”) is not responsible for errors in seating.
5. REP and its agents reserve the right to refuse service or de-board passengers for disruptive or offensive behavior.
6. REP does not guarantee an allergen-free environment.
7. Passengers are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages or weapons onto the event grounds.
8. Smoking is not allowed on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride event grounds or on board the train (this includes e-cigarettes and other similar devices).
9. REP does not accept liability for loss or damage suffered by the ticket user. For more information please review the Release of Liability and Indemnity.
10. Your ticket purchase and/or participation in any train related departure/event grants REP, its licensing partners, officers, and employees permission to use your image, voice, and/or likeness as follows in its promotional materials: REP shall have the right to photograph, publish, re-publish, adapt, exhibit, perform, reproduce, edit, modify, make derivative works, distribute, display or otherwise use or reuse the attendee’s image, voice, and/or likeness in connection with any product or service in all markets, media or technology now known or hereafter developed in REP’s products or services. REP may exercise any of these rights itself or through any successors, transferees, licensees, distributors or other parties, commercial or nonprofit.
11. RELEASE OF LIABILITY, COVENANT NOT TO SUE, AND INDEMNITY
a. As lawful consideration for ticketed admission on to the premise for this event, I, on behalf of myself and on behalf of my heirs, successors, personal representatives, and assigns hereby shall indemnify and hold harmless Rail Events Productions Inc. (REP), American Heritage Railways, its officers, directors, employees and owners from and against any and all third-party costs, expenses (including reasonable outside counsel’s fees), liabilities, judgments, losses, damages, suits, actions, fines, penalties, claims and demands of any kind and asserted by or on behalf of any person, independent contractor or governmental authority arising out of the ticket holder’s participation, entrance, or presence on the premises, except for gross negligence or willful misconduct by REP. REP shall not be liable to ticket holder on account of:
i) any failure by Ticket Holder to perform any of the agreements, terms, or covenants or conditions of this Agreement,
ii) any failure by Ticket Holder to comply with the statutes, ordinances, regulations, or orders of any governmental authority unless caused by the failure of REP to perform under this Agreement or
iii) any accident, death, or personal injury or property damage which shall occur on or as a result of the ticket holder’s participation, entrance, or presence at the event venue except as the same may be caused by the sole misconduct or omissions to act or negligence of REP, its employees or agents.
b. Guests and Ticket Holder waives all rights against REP and its agents, officers, directors, and employees for recovery of damages to the extent these damages are covered by the commercial general liability or commercial umbrella liability insurance maintained pursuant to this agreement.
c. If any term or provision of the Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid such shall not affect the other terms and provision which shall remain binding and enforceable.