My six-year-old son is a die-hard fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. He is obsessed with Thomas & Friends and owns everything Thomas—trains, books, toys, bedding, and tons of clothes down to underwear and socks (yes, this mom feeds his obsession). So my husband and I thought it would be a cool idea to surprise him and his sister with a visit to Thomas Land, an amusement park located within Edaville Family Theme Park in Carver, Massachusetts (approximately 75km south of Boston). Thomas Land features Island of Sodor landmarks and Thomas character inspired rides and attractions.
The park was an easy drive from Boston, where we were visiting with my parents for my nephew’s wedding. It took about an hour and a half, that which included a detour to drop my parents off at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. We told Jordan and Evelyn we were spending the day at an amusement park but we didn’t tell them the park would be Thomas Land.
We didn’t realize how secluded the park was and would have thought ourselves lost if not for the signs directing the last several miles to the park. That meant our somewhat-thought-out surprise failed well before we made it to the parking lot. We tried to convince Jordan that he misread the first sign and almost succeeded, until we passed a second sign, then a third and finally, a large billboard announcing Thomas Land. The kids spent the last five minutes of the drive bouncing in their seats.
Travel Tip #1: You can save $2 per adult admission and $5 per child and senior admission by purchasing Date Specific Tickets online. Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents can save up to $7 per admission ticket. Check Edaville’s website regularly for discounts. Parking is always free!
First thing we did upon entering the park was stop at Guest Services to rent a free stroller. I had to leave my driver’s license with Guest Services for the rental and it was returned to me when we returned the stroller at the end of our visit. Washrooms were conveniently located next door to Guest Services if you want to take care of business before venturing further as Thomas Land is located at the far edge of the park.
There were 11 themed rides; most were suitable for toddlers and preschoolers (when accompanied by an adult).There was even a roller coaster, Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, and Cranky’s Crane Drop for those who prefer more speed and an adrenaline rush. Since we arrived shortly after park opening, the wait for each ride were five minutes or less but became much longer in the afternoon as the crowds grew larger.
There was only one dining option, Dockside Diner, in Thomas Land. As expected of amusement parks, food choices were limited to pizza, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and nachos but there were also a couple of healthy options like salad, fresh fruit cups and yogurt. Additional dining options were available elsewhere in the park but that meant we had to leave Thomas Land so Dockside Diner it was.
Travel Tip #2: If you have dietary restrictions or just picky about food (like my husband!), you are allowed to bring your own food and drinks into the park. There are many outdoor picnics area to enjoy lunch. It got pretty hot on the day of our visit and there were not many shaded areas so at the very least, bring plenty of water. A bottle of water will cost you USD$3 inside the park!
The Knapford Gift Shop was sadly under stocked. Merchandise ran mostly to clothing apparel and even that was limited to a handful of styles. The park’s main gift shop, located near the entrance and Guest Services, had a larger selection if you are looking for general gifts and/or souvenirs.
We ended our day with a 20-minute train ride on a life-size Thomas the Tank Engine! The train follows a 2-mile loop around the Edaville park grounds. Before you hop on (or after you hop off), be sure to check out No. 1 Thomas at the front of the train!
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