Santa’s Magical Kingdom offers open-air Christmas wagon rides through the lights in Eureka, with shared departures and a private wagon for your own group. Everyone gets to watch the displays together, including the person who usually drives.
For a parent coordinating several households, the decision comes down to the date, the wagon, and everyone’s comfort outdoors. Here is what to pack and where to go when you arrive.
Quick answer: Choose the shared wagon for individual seats or the private wagon for a group of up to 12. Ride guests can drive through the Kingdom afterward, including the added section the wagons skip. Check the ride calendar before settling on a night; the light show and the rides have different schedules.
Reserve Your Wagon Through the Lights
What a Christmas Wagon Ride at Santa’s Magical Kingdom Is Like
The Old Fashioned Holiday Wagon gives you an open-air view of the displays, without a windshield framing the scene. It suits a family that wants to sit together and point out the lights while someone else handles the driving.
The shared ride carries up to 36 people, with 18 per tandem wagon. You book seats rather than the entire wagon, so other families may join the departure. Children age 2 and under ride free on an adult’s lap.
The wagon travels through the original area of our 35-acre show. The added half-mile section and third tunnel are part of the drive afterward.
If a Christmas hayride is the outing you have in mind, the open-air format may fit that plan. Our attraction is an Old Fashioned Holiday Wagon ride; the published description does not specify hay-bale seating.
Explore St. Louis includes our wagon outing in its holiday guide. For a look at the wider show, see the Kingdom’s light displays, including areas you can visit by car afterward.
Riding Through vs. Driving Through the Same Lights
Choose the wagon when you want the driver to join the family experience. Choose the car when staying warm and keeping everyone in their own seats matters more.
The published ride policy waives vehicle admission when you book a wagon or train ride for two or more people.
| Your party | Drive-only family vehicle admission | Shared wagon’s listed base price |
| Two adults | $35 Sunday to Friday; $40 Saturday | $36 |
| Four riders over age 2 | $35 Sunday to Friday; $40 Saturday | $72 |
| Two adults, a 5-year-old, and a 2-year-old on a lap | $35 Sunday to Friday; $40 Saturday | $54 |
The wagon totals use the advertised $18 per paying rider. Check the final amount in online checkout before paying. For several cars or a larger vehicle, confirm how the admission waiver applies before booking.
After the ride, you can take your car back through the Kingdom. Keep time for that pass if you want to see the added section. A late departure needs more careful planning because the show has its own closing time; check the current visiting hours and vehicle admission details.
Choosing a Night Around the Ride Blackout Dates
The light show opens every night during its advertised November 20 to January 3 season, but the wagons do not run on every one of those nights. Check the ride schedule before the group agrees on a date.
The currently published exclusions are:
| Wagon | December dates with no rides listed |
| Shared Old Fashioned Holiday Wagon | December 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, and 24 |
| Private wagon | December 5, 12, 19, 20, 23, and 24 |
The private schedule lists December 11, 13, and 18 as operating dates that the shared wagon excludes. An operating date does not guarantee seats; check availability for the departure you want.
For the shared wagon, the first departure is 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday through December 10. After that, and on eligible Friday through Sunday nights, departures start at 5:30 p.m. Rides leave every half hour until 10 p.m. The private wagon’s published schedule starts at 5:30 p.m. on eligible nights.
Use the live booking calendar to confirm the season, date, and departure time together.
The Santa Express Train for an Earlier Weeknight
Our Santa Express Train lists 5:30 and 6 p.m. departures Monday through Thursday from November 23 to December 10. It is an earlier option during the period when the shared wagon starts later.
What to Wear for a Christmas Wagon Ride in December
Dress for sitting outdoors, with warm layers, covered ears, gloves, and sturdy footwear. A coat that feels adequate for walking from the car may feel less comfortable once you are sitting still.
WeatherSpark’s December averages for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport show daily lows falling from about 34°F to 27°F across the month, with average winds around 9 mph. Those are regional climate averages, not a forecast for your departure.
Pack for the actual evening:
- Layers: A long-sleeve base, sweater or fleece, and warm coat.
- Head and hands: A hat covering the ears, gloves or mittens, and a scarf or neck warmer.
- Feet: Warm socks and boots rather than thin shoes.
- Rain: A hooded outer layer suited to the forecast.
- Extras: Spare mittens for children and a blanket you can share across laps.
We provide blankets at check-in, and you may bring your own. Keep them accessible rather than buried under bags in the car. Have children put on hats and mittens before boarding so you are not searching for them once the group is seated.
Ask about cold tolerance before booking, particularly if one relative would prefer a car outing.
Bringing Your Group on the Private Wagon
The private wagon seats up to 12 and reserves the ride for your group. It works well when the outing is also a reunion, a visit from grandparents, or a chance for cousins to spend time together.
The listed price is $75 for the first two people, plus $18 for each additional paying rider. For 12 paying riders, that works out to a $255 base price, compared with $216 for 12 shared-wagon seats. The $39 difference buys a wagon reserved for your party.
Decide whether your group wants the whole wagon before collecting money.
For the organizer, settle these details first:
- Who is attending, including children who will ride on an adult’s lap.
- Which departure everyone can reach with time for check-in.
- How many vehicles will arrive.
- Who will handle the reservation and share the booking details.
For more than 12 people, compare shared-wagon availability. Call 636-938-5925 before paying if you need several vehicles admitted or have questions about boarding and seating. Do not assume a private booking covers every car in the group.
Arrival, Check-In, and the Rules That Matter
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled ride, except for a 5:30 p.m. departure, when the published arrival time is 5:15 p.m. Give every household the arrival time as well as the ride time.
Follow this sequence:
- Enter the Kingdom as though you are driving through the light show.
- Stop at the Gingerbread House after the first tunnel. Tell the team member you have a ride reservation.
- Park where directed. Have the group ready to leave the car with coats and belongings.
- Check in at the desk inside Kringle’s General Store. Pick up blankets and prepare to board.
Rides depart on schedule. A late arrival can mean missing your ride, and a later departure may not have room for your group. Call 636-938-5925 if you expect to be late; calling does not guarantee a replacement seat.
Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be canceled unless Santa’s Magical Kingdom cancels the rides because of snow, ice, or other unforeseen circumstances. Rain alone does not cancel the outing. Read the policy before paying, particularly if several households are committing to the same night.
Use the directions to Santa’s Magical Kingdom for access from I-44 exit 261 in Eureka.
Santa, Cocoa, and a Keepsake Around Your Ride
Kringle’s General Store is your check-in point, so it is a convenient place to plan the rest of the visit. Finish ride check-in before browsing or joining another line.
Professional Santa photos are advertised inside the store nightly from November 20 through December 23. The images are digital and sent to your phone. Check the Santa photo details before your visit; personal phone and camera photography is not permitted during the Santa session.
Leave room for cocoa and cookies if your group wants a treat. The snack shack also sells coffee, popcorn, pretzels, and hot dogs. A handwritten personalized ornament from Kringle’s General Store can give the family a keepsake from the outing.
Families can bring a letter for Santa’s North Pole Mailbox during the drive afterward. Our separate Letters from Santa service offers a personalized letter designed to feel like it came from Santa; dropping off a letter does not automatically place an order. A parent or guardian completes the order form and provides the details for personalization and delivery.
Wagon Ride Questions
Is the holiday wagon the same as a Christmas hayride?
Our holiday wagon is an open-air ride through the Christmas lights. The published description identifies it as the Old Fashioned Holiday Wagon and does not specify hay-bale seating. Choose it for the outdoor view and the chance for your family to ride together.
Can we drive through the lights after our wagon ride?
Ride guests can drive back through the Kingdom before leaving. That pass includes the added half-mile section and third tunnel that the wagon route skips. Check closing time when selecting a late departure so you can plan the rest of your visit.
How many people fit on a private wagon?
The private wagon seats 12 and carries your party rather than a shared group. Larger parties should compare shared-wagon availability and call with seating or vehicle questions before paying. The shared ride has a published capacity of up to 36 across tandem wagons.
What happens if traffic makes us late for our ride?
Call 636-938-5925 as soon as you expect to miss the arrival time. Rides leave on schedule, and space on a later departure is not guaranteed. Share the check-in deadline with the whole group before anyone leaves home.
Should we bring our own blankets?
Blankets are provided at check-in, and you are welcome to bring your own. Bring warm layers as well; a lap blanket does not replace a coat, hat, and gloves. Keep your blanket easy to carry from the parking area to the boarding point.
Reserve Your Christmas Wagon Ride Around Your Family’s Plans
Choose the shared wagon for individual seats or the private wagon for an outing reserved for your group. Check the available departure, confirm who is coming, and give everyone the correct arrival time before you book.
The reservation starts your evening with an open-air ride together. Leave room afterward for the drive through the added lights, with Santa photos or a store stop if they fit your date and schedule.