Courtesy of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Families are invited to don their best flannel PJs for a few hours of holiday memory-making when they step inside a classic storybook: The Polar Express. The Polar Express will be at St. Louis Union Station from November 29 to December 30. Boarding times start at 4:30 p.m. every evening, with ticket prices running from $30 to $84 per person. The train does not run on Christmas Day.
A Cozy Christmas Tent
Your family’s Polar Express experience starts in a circus-sized Christmas tent under Union Station's historic train shed. Train tickets must be purchased online in advance--no tickets are available at the door.
The heated tent provides a cozy atmosphere while you wait for your train to arrive. Kids can color, write a letter to Santa or watch the 2004 Polar Express film. Be ready to break out your camera for several highly Instagrammable photo ops sprinkled around the tent. You'll also meet characters from the Polar Express book while you wait, like Santa's elves and a certain young boy in his classic blue robe and PJs.
Speaking of PJs, the Polar Express encourages your entire family to show up in your best flannel jammies. You will be walking outside to board the train, so you might want to skip the slippers in favor of normal footwear.
The gift shop is also in the main tent to allow for leisurely browsing before your ride instead of afterward in a crush of overtired children. Give yourself plenty of time here—Build-A-Bear Workshop has a pop-up shop where you can make a custom Polar Express bear, unicorn or llama.
Courtesy of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
All Aboard
Boarding time is when the real magic starts. Mr. Conductor will make an appearance for the crowd and talk to the storybook characters. Guests are grouped by train cars and chaperoned by an elf guide.
Each Christmas bedecked train is staffed by “chefs” and it’s own Mr. Conductor to entertain the kids with songs and a bit of dancing. Everyone gets a huge chocolate chip cookie—no doubt the tastiest allergy-free cookie in town. The chefs pass out cocoa in disposable cups (with lids!) while the Hot Chocolate song from the Polar Express soundtrack plays overhead.
Mr. Conductor will make his rounds punching everyone's golden tickets. Some conductors will punch the kid’s names into tickets while others offer to make shapes. Go ahead and make a request--you might be surprised at their talent.
There's a break for storytime as the train journeys "to the North Pole". Adults might notice the ride is actually a short jaunt from Union Station to just past the Arch grounds, where a section of the Riverfront Trail has been transformed into a colorful North Pole scene.
Here, Santa boards the train--passengers remain seated--and the train makes its way back to Union Station. This gives Santa plenty of time to greet each and every child and pause for a quick photo. One of his elves follows behind to gift each child with a jingle bell from Santa’s reindeer.
Courtesy of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
Polar Express Tickets
Polar Express tickets are known to sell out, so you’ll want to buy tickets online as soon as possible. Prices start at $30—however that bargain price is limited to less busy nights and times. Generally speaking, late evening weeknights are less expensive, while weekends are more pricey. Bargain hunters might want to book a ride after Christmas when all the seats are at their lowest prices.
Kids under two can ride free anytime but will need to sit in a lap. Tickets are the same price for kids and adults.
Every seat on the Polar Express is a good seat—the train sits four across in chairs that would be considered first-class on an airplane. Coach cars have all the seats facing forward (so you’ll ride backwards on the journey home) while First Class seats are in a dining car with tables. You can only buy First Class in sets of four, so no family is seated with strangers.
Deluxe and First Class tickets include a commemorative Polar Express Mug to take home. The train boards at 4:30, 6:00, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. You'll want to arrive at Union Station least 30 minutes to an hour before your departure to get through the entry line and enjoy the welcome tent. The train ride itself is about 45 minutes. Not all the train cars are equipped with bathrooms, so it's best to visit the restroom at Union Station before you start the adventure.
Please note that you'll need to climb stairs to board the trains. Some train cars are wheelchair accessible but you'll need to request accommodations in advance when you book your tickets. Strollers are not allowed on the train and can be left with the staff while you ride.
Other Union Station Attractions
This year, there's a lot more to do at Union Station. Polar Express guests can get a discount on the St. Louis Wheel, plus the Mirror Maze and Ropes Course are now open inside Union Station. Two of the station's new restaurants are also open:, including The Soda Fountain (which offers over-the-top milkshakes) and The Train Shed (where you can find a full menu and bar).
Although the St. Louis Aquarium still hasn't announced its opening date, they have been promising the city a grand opening before the end of the year.
