My sister came to visit me in Arizona and wanted to try this excursion. We waited until a week before to book the tickets as the weather in northern Arizona can be iffy at this time of year. When Sunday the 29th looked like a great day, I called the reservations and a lovely lady helped me book the train, a bus excursion and lunch. We left Sedona a 5:30 am to arrive by 7:00 am in Williams. It was -1 degree out side.
The ticket line was already long. I had given my Lifetime Senior National Park pass number to the lady on the phone, and did not think I would need it again. But the snarky ticket agent made me go back outside in -1 degree weather to get it from my car, even though my tickets said I had a pass. When I came back in, she wanted me to go to the end of another very long line. I insisted she work with me after she finished with her current guest as I had ALREADY stood in the line.
She gave me the tickets and we took our seat on the train, only to be removed when other guests had the same seats. The ticket agent gave us tickets for the NEXT DAY!
I again went to her window, where she explained they were full. I'd have to come back tomorrow! HA! I could see, having been on the train, they were NOT FULL.
I said that was unacceptable as I had called for reservations, so the error was not mine, and she had given me the tickets without seeing they were wrong. The error was theirs. She insisted they were FULL.
I asked for a manager. She said none were available. I said I would wait, knowing those behind me would have to wait too, giving her incentive.
Then, the VERY NICE manager, Deborah, came over and easily solved the problem, The engineer, the car attendant, LAURA, and the reservation lady were ALL more than accommodating and assured me there would be no problem. The ticket agent told the manager that I had been "insistent" as though that was an insult.
It took me a while to settle in after this snarky treatment, but everything else was delight full. The ride was beautiful. The train was clean. The attendant LAURA was funny, kind and entertaining. I made sure she got a big tip. The coach ride was lovely, especially given the fact it never got above freezing and the park was amazing, especially covered in snow.
I would definitely do this attraction again, and recommend it. I suggest if you run into someone who is snarky, you ask for someone else, as this employee was the one bad exception, rather than the rule.
A great way to get to the Canyon!