North Pole Experience

Part of our Christmas this year was doing the North Pole Experience.  It is similar to the Polar Express, but you actually go to the North Pole through a portal.  This is in Flagstaff, about an hour and a half from us.

We didn't tell the kids we were going, just told them that we had to go for a long drive that was taking us to a fun surprise.  We went on a Friday night (so John could come) and I booked a hotel that night in Flagstaff.  The kids LOVED the hotel.  I think it might have been their first time in a hotel...can't remember...but they thought it was the coolest thing ever.  We checked in to the hotel first, still not telling them what we were doing, changed the kids into their pajamas, and headed to Little America where the trolley would take us through the portal to the North Pole.

so excited!

There was snow in Flagstaff which was fun for these Arizona kids!  It was barely snowing when we got there and Brooklyn and Jake were trying to catch the flakes in their mouths.  

waiting at Little America for the trolley (they knew at this point what we were doing) 

We got on a trolley (bus) that took about 15 minutes to get to the North Pole. They did a good job of the "portal" experience.  The lights turned off on the bus, they had a video showing of us going through a portal, the bus driver was swerving on purpose.  Elves greeted us when we got there and had the kids knock on Santa's workshop door.

The first room was neat.  It was tons of old school toys displayed, things I remember from my childhood.  

They got to help build toys with Santa's elves.  They dressed teddy bears, loaded toy guns with bullets, and practiced shooting them too to make sure they worked.  All the elves (workers) were really cute with them and made the the whole experience.  

They loaded toys on a belt to be put on Santa's sleigh in this room.  

Cookies and milk with Mrs. Clause in her kitchen. 

graduated from elf school 

wrote letters to Santa and hand delivered them 

Santa's sleigh all loaded up 

And last but not least, sitting on the big guys lap.  Brooklyn and Jake went right up to him and handed him their lists and told them what they wanted.  Remmy didn't cry, but wouldn't let me put her down.  John was taking the pictures.

They had a fire outside that we enjoyed while we waited for everyone in our group to be done.  It was such a fun weekend as a family.  They kids loved it - worth every penny!  We went back to the hotel and went to bed.  The kids slept well and were so excited about the continental breakfast the next morning.  We hit a blizzard on the drive home (crazy to think of a blizzard in Arizona!), but made it home safely.