PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
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What is Day Out With Thomas™?
Day Out With Thomas, featuring Bob
the Builder in a live Can-Do Crew stage show, is a family event that offers
children and their grownups the opportunity to take a 25-minute ride with classic
storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine™. Parents, grandparents and siblings
can join their aspiring engineers in the fun. The Day Out With Thomas experience
will engineer miles of smiles for the whole family and introduce a new generation
to the timeless excitement of railroading.
Who is Thomas the Tank Engine?
Since Thomas the Tank Engine left
the depot more than 60 years ago, this Really Useful Engine and his Island of
Sodor friends have chugged their way into the hearts of preschoolers and grownups
worldwide. Based on The Railway Series of classic stories authored by a father
who loved trains and wanted a shared experience with his son, Thomas & Friends™
is a rite of passage that inspires the imagination while teaching the life lessons
of friendship, exploration and cooperation.
What are the appropriate ages for Day Out With Thomas?
Day Out With Thomas is a family event
that welcomes passengers of all ages. A train
ride ticket must be purchased for everyone ages 2 and older.
Where is the event?
Day Out With Thomas is at the N.C. Transportation Museum,
located at 411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer, N.C. The museum is conveniently located
in the central piedmont of North Carolina, less than a five minute drive from
Exit 79 off Interstate 85, attached to the North side of Salisbury, and almost
exactly halfway between Greensboro and Charlotte. In good traffic the museum
is a 45-minute drive from the within an hour's drive from Charlotte, Greensboro,
and Winston-Salem, just a few minutes off I-85. From I-85 South, take Exit 79
and follow the brown directional signs for about three miles. Take a left at Salisbury Ave., and the museum is at the bottom of the hill on the left, just past a Food Lion shopping center.
When is the event?
Day Out With Thomas will be Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5, 2008.
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets went on sale April 11, 2008.
How much are tickets?
Tickets are $18 for all riders ages two and up for Saturday and Sunday events or $16 for Friday events. N.C. Transportation Museum Members receive $2 off Saturday or Sunday tickets with a valid Member ID Number. Groups of 25 or more receive a discounted price of $14 per ticket (tickets must all be purchased at the same time). A service fee will be added to the cost of each ticket purchased online or via telephone.
How do I purchase tickets?
Tickets are available by going to www.ticketweb.com or by clicking on the Buy Tickets icon on the Day Out With Thomas main page, or by calling Ticketweb at 866.468.7630. You may also purchase advance tickets in person at the N.C. Transportation Museum during normal operating hours with cash or check only—all credit card ticket purchases must be made through Ticketweb. A very limited number of tickets will be available on-site the day of the event. These often sell out early. Only day-of tickets will be available for sale on-site during Day Out With Thomas event days (i.e., you will not be able to visit on a Friday of a Day Out With Thomas weekend and purchase tickets for that Sunday—only tickets for that day will be on sale). You will still be able to purchase advance tickets during the event, if still available, through Ticketweb.
Who needs tickets?
Tickets are required for guests ages
two and up.
What is included in the ticket price?
A ticket for Day Out With Thomas
includes the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of
Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video
Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station
with Arts & Crafts and more. For the first time, Bob the Builder™ will
join the fun with four live performances each day. Guests will also have the
opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, the Chairman of the Railway on the
Island of Sodor.
Are discount tickets available?
N.C. Transportation Museum Members receive a $2 discount on Saturday and Sunday tickets with a valid Member ID Number. Groups of 25 or more receive a discounted price of $14 per ticket (tickets must all be purchased at the same time).
How will I receive my tickets?
If purchased three weeks or more
in advance of the event, guests will receive their tickets in the mail. Guests
that purchase tickets closer to the event date can pick up their tickets at
Will Call the day of the event.
Are there any refunds?
There will be no refunds or exchanges.
Will Thomas the Tank Engine be there?
Thomas the Tank Engine has traveled
all the way from the Island of Sodor and has arrived Right on Time to take a
ride with you and your family.
Will Sir Topham Hatt be there?
Yes, Sir Topham Hatt will take time
away from his busy schedule as Chairman of the Railway on the Island of Sodor
to meet and take pictures with guests.
Do you recommend purchasing tickets in advance?
Due to the popularity of Day Out
With Thomas, advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. It is not uncommon
for events to sell out. When purchasing tickets you will be asked to select
a specific date and time for your ride with Thomas. Your ticket is valid only
for that date and time.
DAY OF EVENT INFORMATION
What times do trains depart?
Friday train rides depart at 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:30
a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:15
p.m. Saturday and Sunday rides depart at the same time, with one additional
morning ride, at 9:15 a.m.
When should we arrive for our train ride with Thomas?
It is recommended that guests arrive
at the event at least one hour before their scheduled departure.
Is there assigned seating on the train?
Tickets are assigned by time and
passenger car. Guests must be together during boarding if they wish to sit together
on the train.
How long is the train ride?
The trainride is about three miles long and takes about
25 minutes.
Are you limited to just one train ride?
There is one train ride per ticket.
How do I get to there?
The N.C. Transportation Museum is conveniently located
just minutes from I-85 in Spencer, N.C., within an hour's drive from Charlotte,
Greensboro, or Winston-Salem. From I-85 North, take Exit 79 and follow the brown
directional signs. From I-85 South, take Exit 82 onto Salisbury Avenue (there
is no turn off the exit). Follow Salisbury Avenue for about three miles, and
the museum will be on your left in downtown Spencer. Please be aware that a
widening project on I-85 sometimes causes delays, and allow for extra time.
For more information on this project, please visit www.I85widening.com
.
Take North Carolina's Amtrak train to get to the event.
Is there parking available on site?
Yes, there is limited parking available on site, with no
charge. There is also additional parking available across the street from the
museum; however, this is not museum property and there may be a charge for parking
there.
Is there an additional cost for parking?
There is no charge for parking on museum property.
What if there is inclement weather?
Day Out With Thomas
events take place rain or shine.
Are cameras allowed?
Absolutely! Guests
are encouraged to capture their Day Out With Thomas memories for their photo
album.
Will there be food available?
Approximatley ten food
vendors will be on site - mostly area civic groups, and with very reasonable
prices. The museum has three picnic shelter, or if you prefer , you are permitted to leave the site and return during
the day. There are a few nice restaruants in Spencer, and Salisbury has an excellent selection.
Are strollers permitted?
Day Out With Thomas
is a family event that welcomes guests of all ages. There is even a designated
area for “stroller parking” during the train ride.
Is the event handicap accessible?
Yes. The train has
a wheelchair lift. If you have specific needs, simply ask a staff person and we will do our best to accomdate your needs.
Are pets allowed?
No pets are allowed at Day
Out With Thomas. Service animals are allowed.
Is there available lodging in the area?
There are a variety of hotels and bed and breakfast
establishments nearby in Salisbury , N.C. , just a few miles down the road.
For more information on lodging, visit the Rowan
County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
How do I find out about other events?
You can find the complete
Day Out With Thomas 2007 schedule by clicking on www.thomasandfriends.com on
the Day Out With Thomas main page.
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