A lights drive with cocoa, a private wagon for two, or an ornament stop can make a Christmas date at Santa’s Magical Kingdom. These six Christmas date ideas in St. Louis start at $35 per car and fit around dinner. You can choose a spontaneous drive or book a wagon ahead, with the costs and practical details below.
Our light show sits off I-44 in Eureka, just outside St. Louis. It’s a family attraction, but you don’t need children along to enjoy the displays or reserve a wagon for two. Expect other guests around you; a private wagon gives your group its own ride through the lights.
Six Christmas Date Ideas in St. Louis at a Glance
Choose the drive for flexibility, the private wagon for a reserved outing, or the ornament stop for a keepsake. The prices below cover the listed activity; budget separately for snacks, dinner, and any extras.
| Date plan | When it fits | What to reserve | Activity cost for two |
| Private wagon for two | A night with an available departure | Your wagon online | $75 for two; vehicle admission included under our ride-booking policy |
| Lights with cocoa and cookies | A weekday outside Christmas week for fewer visitors | No drive reservation | $35 per car Sunday through Friday; snacks extra |
| Lights plus a personalized ornament | A milestone Christmas together | Choose an ornament during your visit | Listed subtotal: $53.95 Sunday through Friday or $58.95 Saturday |
| Double date in one car | An evening with another couple | No drive reservation | $17.50 per couple Sunday through Friday; $20 Saturday |
| Pajama-and-cocoa drive | A low-key night with little preparation | No drive reservation | $35 per car Sunday through Friday; $40 Saturday; cocoa extra |
| Lights before or after dinner | An evening with room for travel and possible queues | Dinner, and a wagon if you choose one | Drive admission from $35 per car; dinner extra |
Drive admission includes tax. The ornament subtotals combine admission with one ornament at its listed $18.95 price; confirm its checkout total in store. Pay vehicle admission in cash as you exit.
Private wagons don’t run on Dec. 5, 12, 19, 20, 23, or 24. The light show remains open on those nights.
The Private Wagon for Two
The private wagon gives the two of you an open-air view of the lights without sharing your ride with another group. The listed price is $75 for the first two riders. Our train and wagon rides page states that bookings for two or more people include the vehicle admission waiver.
This is the plan to choose when you want one part of the evening booked ahead. Reserve a departure, dress for the weather, and check in at Kringle’s General Store. We provide blankets, and you can bring your own.
Private wagons operate from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3, with departures every half hour between 5:30 and 10 p.m., except the six blackout dates above. Those times are departure intervals, not the length of the ride. Check availability before choosing your dinner reservation.
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled ride. For the first departure at 5:30 p.m., the published arrival time is 5:15 p.m. Rides leave on schedule, so allow extra time for traffic and check-in.
The outdoor rides skip the newer section. After your ride, you can drive back through the Kingdom to see it. Include that drive if you’re working around a sitter’s deadline.
A Weeknight Drive With Cocoa and Mrs. Claus’ Cookies
The lights-and-cocoa date starts with $35 vehicle admission Sunday through Friday. You don’t need to reserve the drive, so this plan works when you want to decide on the night. Snacks cost extra.
Stop at the snack shack by Kringle’s General Store for hot cocoa or coffee. Mrs. Claus’ chocolate chip cookies bake there each evening. A warm drink gives you a reason to pause together before continuing through the displays.
The route includes the four-story Kingdom Doors, a 300-foot waterfall of light, and the Tunnel of Dancing Lights. If your partner likes a preview, see the Kingdom’s displays before you leave. Otherwise, let the next scene be a surprise.
Choose your playlist before driving in and keep phone screens dim. The passenger can take photos while the driver watches the road. Pick a favorite display and compare choices afterward.
Weekdays outside Christmas week generally bring fewer visitors than weekends. Choose one for a quieter outing, but leave room for a queue and enough time before closing.
A Personalized Ornament to Remember the Night
One ornament turns the outing into something you’ll bring out again next December. Kringle’s lists hand-lettered personalized ornaments at $18.95 each, with hundreds of styles to browse.
For your first Christmas together, you might choose both names and the year. Ask an elf which available design has enough space for your wording and when it can be ready. Personalization depends on the ornament you choose; don’t assume every style can hold the same message.
Our personalized ornament wording guide has examples for couples and milestones. Choose a short message that fits the design.
Allow time to browse and ask about lettering before committing to a tight dinner reservation. Kringle’s has no separate public entrance, so the keepsake stop belongs within your light-show visit.
A Double Date or Group Date in One Car
A double date splits one carload admission between two couples. That’s $17.50 per couple Sunday through Friday, or $20 per couple on Saturday. Share a playlist and take turns choosing the songs before you arrive.
Agree on the driver, pickup time, and whether you’ll stop for snacks. Everyone shares the admission, while purchases at the store stay separate.
If you want a private wagon instead, four riders cost $111 at the published rate: $75 for the first two and $18 for each additional rider. Divide that equally and the listed ride cost is $55.50 per couple.
The wagon seats up to 12, but you don’t need to fill it. Choose it for your group’s own ride, and check available dates before coordinating everyone’s calendars.
The Pajama-and-Cocoa Date
Pajamas make the car date easy to put together after a long day. Wear something warm, choose a playlist, and stop for cocoa if you want it. You spend the light-show drive inside your own vehicle.
Skip the shopping stop if your sitter window is short. Bring suitable shoes and an extra layer if either of you plans to get out at Kringle’s.
The show opens every night of the season, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. You can visit after a family gathering if you leave time before closing. Christmas week can be busy.
Keep this version as a drive if staying warm in the car is the point of your date.
Christmas Date Ideas in St. Louis Before or After Dinner
The Kingdom opens at 5:30 p.m., so you can put the lights on either side of dinner. December sunset falls before opening, as shown in St. Louis’s December sunset calendar. You don’t need to wait until late evening for a nighttime visit.
Lights First, Dinner After
Start with the drive near opening or reserve an early wagon departure. Then have dinner in Eureka or along your route home.
Leave a buffer between the lights and your restaurant booking. Store browsing, check-in, and traffic can change your timing. For a wagon date, ask about the ride length before committing to a closely timed dinner reservation.
Dinner First, Lights After
Eat early enough to reach the Kingdom with time to spare. The show closes at 10:30 p.m. through Dec. 24, then at 10 p.m. from Dec. 25 through Jan. 3.
For the drive, arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes before closing, and earlier if you want to browse Kringle’s. A wagon reservation has its own arrival requirement. Don’t use the show’s closing time as your check-in time.
Choosing a Quieter Night
Choose a weekday outside Christmas week when you can. December Saturdays before Christmas have historically brought the most visitors. Sunday through Friday admission costs less than Saturday admission, but the lower price doesn’t guarantee fewer visitors.
What to Know Before Date Night at the Kingdom
Bring cash for vehicle admission. You pay at the exit booth, and an ATM is available inside Kringle’s General Store. Keep snacks and shopping separate from your admission budget.
We’re at Jellystone Park in Eureka, off I-44 at exit 261. Check travel time from your starting point before arranging dinner or a sitter.
Wagon tickets have a firm cancellation policy. Rides run in rain, and customers can’t cancel or receive a refund after purchase unless we cancel the rides for snow, ice, or other unforeseen circumstances. Read the policy before paying, particularly if you’re planning a surprise.
For a reserved date, the private wagon gives your group its own ride and includes blankets at check-in. Review the available departures and cancellation terms, then choose the night that fits both calendars.
Book the Private Wagon for Two
Christmas Date Night Questions
Is Santa’s Magical Kingdom a good date if you don’t have kids?
A couple can enjoy the lights in one car or reserve a private wagon for two. The Kingdom is a family attraction, so expect families alongside you rather than an adults-only setting. Choose the private wagon when you want your own group on the ride.
How much does a private wagon ride for two cost?
The listed private wagon price is $75 for the first two riders, plus $18 for each additional rider. Our booking policy waives vehicle admission for rides booked for two or more people. Snacks and shopping cost extra; check the booking page for your date’s availability and final checkout total.
What happens to a wagon booking if it rains or snows on date night?
Wagon rides run rain or shine, and customer cancellations don’t qualify for refunds. The published exception applies when Santa’s Magical Kingdom cancels rides for snow, ice, or other unforeseen circumstances. Read those terms before booking and dress for an outdoor ride.
Can two couples share one car for a double date?
Two couples in one regular car share one carload admission. That works out to $17.50 per couple Sunday through Friday or $20 per couple on Saturday when you split it equally. Snacks, ornaments, and other purchases are additional.
Can we turn the drive into a surprise date?
Keep the drive flexible by choosing a night your partner is free and having cash ready for admission. If you reserve a wagon instead, confirm availability with your partner before paying because customer cancellations don’t qualify for refunds. You can still keep the destination a surprise.
Which Christmas Date Ideas in St. Louis Fit Your Evening?
Choose the $35 drive for a flexible night, or add an ornament when you want a keepsake. For an outing you can reserve ahead, the private wagon gives the two of you your own ride through the lights. Pick an available departure with enough room for dinner and the journey home.