PRE-EVENT INFORMATION

What is Day Out With Thomas™?
Day Out With Thomas is a family event that offers children and their grownups the opportunity to ride with classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine™ at heritage railroads nationwide. Parents, grandparents and siblings 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.

Where is the event?
The event will be held in downtown Austin, Texas at the Austin Convention Center, 4th & Red River Streets, in Exhibit Hall 5, which is in the northeast corner of the Convention Center. The Convention Center is located two blocks west of IH-35, north of Town Lake.

When is the event?
Thursday through Sunday, October 11-14, 2007
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT

When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets will go on sale mid year. When a date is set, it will be announced here.

How much are tickets?
Tickets are $16 per passenger.

How do I purchase tickets?
Tickets are available by clicking on the www.ticketweb.com icon on the Day Out With Thomas main page or by calling TicketWeb at 866.468.7630.

Who needs tickets?
Tickets are required for guests ages two and up. Children under the age of two may ride free, but will not have their own seat.

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. 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?
There are no discount tickets available for Day Out With Thomas.

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?
8:30 a.m.
9:20 a.m.
10:10 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:50 a.m.
12:40 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:20 p.m.
3:10 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:50 p.m.
5:40 p.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 train ride is 25-minutes.

Are you limited to just one train ride?
Each ticket is good for one train ride only, at the date and time indicated on the ticket. Additional tickets may be purchased for additional train rides (if available).

How do I get to there?

• From IH-35 traveling north: Take exit #234C: 6th – 12th Streets, turn left (west) at the light onto 6th Street and go 2 blocks. Turn left onto Red River Street and go 1 block. Turn left onto 5th Street then turn right into the Austin Convention Center’s parking garage.
• From IH-35 traveling south: Take exit #234B: 8th – 3rd Streets, turn right (west) at the light onto 6th Street and go 2 blocks. Turn left onto Red River Street and go 1 block. Turn left onto 5th Street then turn right into the Austin Convention Center’s parking garage.
• From MoPac (Loop 1) traveling north: Take the 5th Street, Lake Austin Blvd, Cesar Chavez Street exit, follow the signs to 5th Street and continue east (toward IH-35, approximately 2 miles). Turn right into the Austin Convention Center’s parking garage (1 block before reaching IH-35).
• From MoPac (Loop 1) traveling south: Take the 5th Street, Cesar Chavez Street exit, follow the signs to 5th Street and continue east (toward IH-35, approximately 2 miles). Turn right into the Austin Convention Center’s parking garage (1 block before reaching IH-35).

Please take a look at our map, or download an Adobe Acrobat PDF map that you can print out and take with you.

Is there parking available on site?
The new Austin Convention Center Parking Garage is located just northeast of the Convention Center, at 601 East 5th Street, entrance on 5th Street. (The old garage is still in use but is located farther away from the event, two blocks west of the Convention Center, at 201 East 2nd Street, with entrances on Brazos and San Jacinto.)

Is there an additional cost for parking?
The cost is $7 in either garage. Parking in the garage includes a maximum of three trips in and out of the garage that day. A limited amount of metered parking is also available on city streets. Meters are in use Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and have a two-hour limit.

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?
A wide variety of kid-friendly food will be available for purchase in the Convention Center.

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?
Loading assistance (including a wheelchair lift) is available for those requiring assistance boarding and deboarding the train. Please call the Austin Steam Train Association at 512-477-8468 for further details. The Austin Convention Center is handicap accessible. There are 14 on-the-street handicap parking spaces on Trinity just north of Cesar Chavez (1st Street).

Are pets allowed?
No pets are allowed at Day Out With Thomas.

Is there available lodging in the area?
For information on hotels and restaurants, call the Austin Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at 512-474-5171 or toll free at 800-926-ACVB. The following hotels offer discounts to their Day Out With Thomas guests:

Information on additional hotels will be posted here as it becomes available.

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.