South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Brightline’s Polar Express is magical
Train takes passengers to see Santa, just like in the movie
Want to experience the magic of Christmas? Brightline has just the ticket with The Polar Express, a special train that takes riders to “the North Pole” on Saturdays and Sundays – plus Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – through Jan. 1.
“The Polar Express,” a children’s book made famous by the 2004 movie starring Tom Hanks, is all about believing in the big man, aka Santa Claus, and this train makes that belief easy.
‘This is your crucial year’
The ride depicted in the movie is re-created on The Polar Express that leaves Brightline’s Fort Lauderdale station, complete with a golden ticket for riders that is stamped once you board the train. Riders display their golden tickets as they prepare to board The Polar Express at Brightline’s Fort Lauderdale station.
Entertainers are assigned to each car – greeting guests as car hosts, punching tickets to create a shower of gold above each guest, and playing out scenes and singing songs from the movie.
They also play the part of the chefs who balance trays of hot chocolate while they sing and dance down the center aisle of the train cars.
‘Are there any Polar Express passengers in need of refreshment?’
The hot chocolate, thankfully, is served warm – not hot – in lidded paper cups to minimize messes, and the drinks are accompanied by delicious, individually wrapped sugar cookies in small paper bags.
The packaging makes it easy for families with food allergies to bring their own individually wrapped cookies and drinks and still stay in the magic of the moment.
Window or aisle?
The entertainment on board the train is almost constant, but it is well-done and not intrusive. Guests are encouraged to participate in the festivities, but they can also sit back and enjoy the show quietly. The action of The Polar Express happens inside the cars, making