The Polar Express - Branson, Missouri

Radiance B.

Cool experience, but I was expecting more traveling through branson. Felt like we were just going back and forth, and hot hot chocolate and warm cookies would have been great. My whole crew got bored and went to sleep

Jody B.

I would have given this 3 stars, but since my little girl loved the experience, I gave it 4. As others are saying it is overpriced for what we got. The boarding process is uncontrolled chaos! Instead of lining up people by cars, last car 1st, 1st car last, it is come one come all at the same time. It seems herding 1273 cat's in a tornado would be more pleasurable and you have a less chance of being trampled by rude people. As far as the hobo, conductor, chef, Santa and his Elf, they were great! There was no singing or dancing by the characters, they just did a small performance to the music/song being played. Santa took a few pictures with my daughter and talked with her for a minute or two. I asked his elf if we could get her picture with my daughter and she did so happily. She even told my little girl scoot over I will sit with you for the picture. She, as well, spoke to my daughter for a few minutes. The train ride was less to be desired, it backed out of the station, then traveled forward to "The North Pole", then backed out of the North Pole so Santa could get onboard, then forward by the Royal Oak plant for the Christmas light portion of the ride, then backwards again, then forward back to the station. The chocolate milk was watered down instant coco, and the cookies were just cheap, store bought cookies. Again, it was not worth the cost we paid, but it was not about myself or my wife, it was about my little girl, and she loved it. Seeing her reaction and her faces were memories I will never forget. However, if we do the Polar Express ride again, I will research more to find one that the characters actually play out the book/movie.

Olivia W. (.

Complete overpriced let down..... I had heard about the Polar Express for years and so my family was super excited to go this year but man what a disappointment.

First off- the train goes back and forth. Yes... it doesn't even go on like a route... it goes a little ways and then goes back and then again and maybe again... I don't know- I lost count.

The staff was super friendly. Very good service. But let me be super clear... the service is watered down hot chocolate and sugar cookies that taste like they are out of a box. You would think they would have some special recipe or at the very least chocolate chip. Most kids don't even like sugar cookies- at least none that I know.

The sound is so outdated. I literally kept looking at my family like what are they even saying. It was muffled and sounded terrible.... so much so that my 8 year old was like "what are they even saying..."

I at the very least expected some live entertainment. The crew is singing along with a recorded - again very bad quality sounding- sound track. Not even like wearing microphones or anything. I mean that was really shocking to me.

So you over pay to sit on an old train that goes back and forth- watered down hot chocolate and some lame cookies.... I walked away feeling so cheated. I've seen videos online of other Polar Express experiences and Branson should really do a better job. You are surrounded by great entertainers - at least get people who actually SING the songs.... at the very least and for the love of god update your sound....

Oh and Santa was super nice. My niece did enjoy seeing him- and it was super cool he came on the train and got up and personal with the kiddos.

From one mom to another- don't waste your money.

Jacob

This was really disappointing. There was hardly any lights outside to see. They kept the car lights on so you couldn’t see outside at all just black. Only one area that had lights you could see which they turned the lights off for 5mins. They read the polar express book and Santa came in which was good. We got the premium so we got the mug and unlimited cookies and hot coco but they serve you so you can’t just keep getting them but was not worth $60. The train ride was about 45min to an hour but the train just went back and forth on the tracks and stopped it didn’t go far at all. The brightest thing we saw was the Casey’s across the street it felt very magical. The actual Branson scenic railway tour is better at least you leave the town. Reason for not much photos is there wasn’t anything to really take pictures of. Staff was nice experience was not. I recommend going to the showboat instead. If you have kids they will like the train but it’s short and not worth the price.

M C.

This was our first Polar Express experience and enjoyed it very much. We had two table in the Silver Dome (11/27) so all of our kids had a window seat. Our chef was very animated! Santa's visit was brief but didn't feel rushed. We were able to get our photos and the kids had time to talk to him individually before he needed to go the next car. The hot chocolate is served at a good temp for younger kids. The views from the ride weren't spectacular by any means but it was addition to seeing Santa this season. The collectable mugs are handed out at the end, in bubble wrap and reusable bags, at the end of the train ride.

Angela V.

Not very impressed with the experience for the price we paid for family of 5 it cost us $264. There was not enough seating together which was highly disappointing I would've like to enjoy it with my kids however my husband and i sat at a table for 2 and my kids were dispersed at different tables. 1 worker walking through not very enthusiastic we were expecting more showy, fun,singing and dancing.

Brenda A.

We did not see any lights flashing and singing abd dancing in the train. Other than the chef singing as she was handing out cookies and cocoa. The train just goes back and forth. Not around the town. Not worth $600 for sure. Santa did get on the train
They were suspose to sign the polar express train book and was not signed. Kids did get pic with santa after he got on train
But we could of stayed home and done that.

Michelle L.

It wasn’t what I expected. The train had an old smell to it. They read the story book on a beat up radio that could barely be heard. They played Christmas music on that same beat up overhead radio. Then we just sat on the train with no type of entertainment. The kids were getting bored. I was bored. You couldn’t see out of the windows, even when they turned the lights off. Will not be going back. There was nothing magical about this.