Holidays/ Christmas in Atlanta: Macy's Pink Pig at Lenox

What: Pink Pig train ride
Where: Macy’s Lenox Mall
When: Oct. 30, 2010 – January 2, 2011
Cost: $3 for 1 ride, $5.50 for 2 rides, $7.50 for 3 rides (2 for 1 special coupon good Mon. – Thurs.)

The Pink Pig has been an Atlanta tradition since 1953.  If you talk to folks that grew up in Atlanta, they’ll regale you with fond memories of getting dressed up and heading to Rich’s Downtown with their mother to do a little holiday shopping and ride Priscilla (and later Percival) the Pink Pig, over the toy department.

It’s not quite as magical as the 50’s memories, but it is an Atlanta tradition and I feel when you are in Atlanta, you should embrace the traditions that come with it. Hence the reason we invited my older brother to join us on a field trip to ride the Pink Pig last year. He had just moved to our fair city and I felt it our duty to introduce him to Priscilla.

In all honesty, the current version is a 3 minute train ride through a VERY pink, life-sized story book that could use a little updating. You wait in the gift shop for your turn and count the holes in the tent (and realize the pink stars are actually cleverly disguised patches).

That said, you have to go! It’s tradition, and it’s actually a lot of fun, plus a portion of the proceeds go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Here are a few tips to make it more enjoyable.

1.      There are TWO lines for the Pink Pig – One line is inside Lenox Mall where you purchase your tickets. The other is outside in the parking deck where you wait to ride. You can purchase tickets anytime, they are not timed, so if you know you want to go closer to Christmas, you can always purchase your tickets now when the lines are shorter. That way, you only have to wait in the “ride line,” not the “ticket line” as well.

2.       Know Your Children – Smaller kids love the train ride, but the story/music can be loud and there are lots of lights, so sometimes kids are a bit scared (there is absolutely NOTHING to be scared of). In addition, you can’t see the train’s path, so kids aren’t sure what to expect. All this to say, with smaller children, you may need to go with them the first time.

3.      Expect to wait – Especially if you are going on the weekends or closer to Christmas, expect some wait time. To keep your sanity, bring along some games, snacks or anything that will entertain your children. (the Apple Store is across the mall and generally entertains my boys for a bit while we wait in the ticket line, but they’re older)

4.      The Gift Shop – The line for the ride goes through the gift shop, so there is no avoiding it. I find it helpful to discuss with my boys prior to going that the ride itself is their treat, not a bauble from the gift shop. Of course that doesn’t stop us from trying on pig noses and squeezing a pig plush here and there.

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