MIAMI, Fla. (October 22, 2018) - Santa may have his sleigh, but Brightline is the most magical way to get around South Florida this holiday season. Beginning in early December, all Brightline trains and stations will be in full holiday regalia. The hospitality-focused express, intercity passenger rail service will also deliver one of the season's most anticipated events in the tri-county area, THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Originating and culminating in Brightline's Fort Lauderdale station, this one-of-a-kind experience will bring to life the heartwarming story by famed children's author, Chris Van Allsburg, during a magical, one-hour trip aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ set to the performances and sounds of the Warner Bros. Pictures feature film.
“Brightline is excited to work with Rail Events Productions and Warner Bros. Consumer Products to create a magical holiday experience on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride,” said Johanna Rojas, Brightline's vice president of marketing. “In addition to the on-board programming, there are holiday happenings occurring around each of our South Florida stations. Brightline is the brightest, easiest and most stress-free way to connect South Florida this season.”
Jump aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride on Brightline
Select Dates November 11, 2018 – January 1, 2019
Fort Lauderdale Brightline Station; 101 NW 2nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Performances at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm
With prices starting at $55 per adult, $50 per child (ages 2 - 11), THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride whisks passengers away on a magical 62-minute journey, reliving the classic story in the form of special performances, surprises, hot chocolate, cookies, and more. Once on board, hot chocolate and treats are served by dancing chefs while passengers read along with the classic children's book. Santa and his helpers board the train to greet passengers and distribute a silver sleigh bell to each passenger, the very first gift of Christmas. Passengers are encouraged to wear their coziest holiday pajamas. Tickets can be purchased through https://www.ftlthepolarexpressride.com/. Can't wait to get the holiday season started? Save $10 off any event ticket for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride on 11/11, 11/17 or 11/18 using promotional code EARLYBIRD.
Take a Sleigh Ride to THE POLAR EXPRESS™ from Miami and West Palm Beach*
November 11, 2018 – January 1, 2019
Brightline at MiamiCentral; 600 NW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33136
West Palm Beach Brightline Station; 260 S Quadrille Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
While THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride originates and ends at the Fort Lauderdale Brightline station, enthusiasts from Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties can take a sleigh ride from either station to easily and conveniently access Fort Lauderdale within 30 minutes, extending the magic from door to door.
- Guests who book their Brightline train tickets to Fort Lauderdale by November 10 will receive a promotion code for 25 percent off THE POLAR EXPRESS™ merchandise that is available for purchase in Brightline's stations and complimentary parking at the Miami or West Palm Beach stations.
- Guests will receive a 25 percent discount on rides in Smart to and from the Fort Lauderdale station by using promotion code BLPOLAR. Children 12 and under ride complimentary!
*Note: Easy access to THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride from Miami and West Palm Beach aboard Brightline is available for nearly all performances for the duration of the experience, with the exception of Miami to Fort Lauderdale for all 10:10 a.m. performances only.
Easily Access Holiday Happenings Across South Florida with Brightline
All season long
From ROCKAPELLA CHRISTMAS at the Broward Center of Performing Arts to The Nutcracker by Miami City Ballet at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Brightline is a great way to access the area's top holidays performances and shows. Riders can also enjoy special transportation to and from the Fort Lauderdale Brightline station on Saturday, December 15, to attend the area's beloved flotilla of lights, the Seminole Hard Rock and Casino WinterFest Boat Parade. With some of the biggest shopping destinations in South Florida located within walking distance or a short Lyft ride away from Brightline stations, including CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and Brickell City Centre in Downtown Miami, passengers can also quickly and easily check off every item on their list while en route, and without having to fuss over parking spaces or holiday traffic.
While in Fort Lauderdale, enthusiasts can also catch an IMAX showing of Warner Bros.' THE POLAR EXPRESS™ at The Museum of Discovery and Science (November 18 - December 23), the perfect pairing for a fun-filled day of holiday wonder.
About Brightline
Brightline is the new benchmark for travel by train in America with express intercity passenger rail service connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with expected future service to Orlando and Tampa, and expected future service connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. Providing a travel option that lives at the intersection of transportation and hospitality, the service will ease the stress of traffic, provide a simple and intuitive experience from door to destination, and foster new opportunities to explore more of Southeast Florida and the Southwestern United States. Brightline is the only privately owned, operated and maintained express intercity passenger rail system in the United States. For more information, visit our website: www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Official THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides are licensed by Rail Events Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. Since 2007, Rail Events Inc. has held exclusive license to operate THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS Book
THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allsburg's classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by the Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS: An IMAX 3D Experience
The Academy Award-winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Cast Away) reunited for this inspiring holiday adventure based on the classic Caldecott Medal-winning children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
As the first full-length feature ever converted into IMAX® 3D, the Warner Bros. Pictures film opened in 2004 to great critical acclaim. In recognition of its enduring popularity, AutoNation® IMAX® Theater welcomes THE POLAR EXPRESS for an exclusive IMAX-only encore engagement.
Audiences will become totally immersed in the IMAX with Laser 3D presentation, digitally re-
mastered using proprietary IMAX 3D DMR™ technology … grasping at falling snowflakes, ducking as the train screeches into their lap and feeling the howl of the steam whistle via IMAX's next generation digital surround sound.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio's powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, the Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, and Hanna-Barbera. The division's successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Rail Events Inc.
Rail Events Inc. is the industry leader in rail-related special events management. In 2017, the company licensed events that hosted over one million guests at 50 partner railroads in the US, Canada, and the UK. Rail Events Inc. and Rail Events Productions are wholly owned subsidiaries of American Heritage Railways, which is the premier operator of heritage railroads in the United States.
THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18)
Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters © & ™ 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
# # #
CONTACTS:
Brightline
Ali Soule: 305-521-4853
DKC Public Relations
Anna Feiner: 212-981-5163