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Toddlers and Amusement Parks
Tips for Having a Great Time with Your Toddler at a Theme Park
By Mark Stackpole
The good news is that if you cannot make it to either coast, fear not. Thomas and Sodor are coming to you. "We want to teach that trains have been part of the fabric of our society," Schneider says. "Thomas has been around for more than 60 years, and it seemed a natural transition to take him on the road. Our goal was to create an environment that brings the book and the screen to life. Children can touch it and feel it in a way that they couldn't before."
For each of the past 12 years, from March through November, the Day Out with Thomas program has made it possible for more than one million people to take a ride on the world's most famous train. With 50 stops at railroads and train museums in 47 cities, Thomas's national tour makes it easier for everyone to visit Thomas and the rest of the very useful trains.
"These are much more like festivals, the venues are different, there is a local flavor and a variety of activities," Schneider says. More than just the 25-minute ride on Thomas, there is a 20-foot-tall inflatable Percy. Each stop has an "Imagination Station," with story-telling, local artists and musicians, temporary tattoos and other fun stuff for kids. (The consummate entertainer, Thomas is also the star of Thomas Live on Stage.)
Still think that your toddler is going to slow down your adventure in an amusement park? On the contrary, they are bound to speed it up in more ways than one. You are going to be the one that has to keep up, but you are also the one who gets to be a kid again. Not a bad deal, really.
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