National Capital Trolley Museum — Attraction in Colesville

Disappointed and won’t be returning next year. Last year we took our 1 year old and 4 year old to the holiday trolley ride. It wasn’t the best (similar reasons I’ll describe), but for being close by, we thought wed do it again this year. The craft station is a mess and there is no guidance on what to do and you barely have enough unused crafts to use. The cocoa and cookies are Swiss miss and chips ahoy. Last year we were yelled at for not making a donation before taking one cookie. I thought the price included one store bought cookie, the size of a child’s hand. Fine, we brought cash this time to “donate” so we could pay for it. The trolly ride is 15 mins. No festive lights to see. Santa is falling all over the place inside the trolley bc it’s a moving vehicle. Interactions are awkward. Ms Claus’ costume is ruined by her keeping her coat on and purse with her, like she’s going to the store. She is not into the character at all and just sits down. Last year we at least sang the whole time, this year we sang 1.5 songs, as we pulled back into the museum. My 5 year old was crushed about the singing. They should do a Santa meet/greet INSIDE and then have the singing trolley ride to follow. Tickets are about $13 / person. So, a family of 4 is paying about $50 with tax for a 15 min bumpy car ride and essentially, no singing. The icing on the cake was when the same lady who yelled at me last year for not donating before taking 1 chips ahoy, screamed at a 3 year old boy this year (not my child) for trying to touch the train display. She screamed, “DONT YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THAT! SHAME ON YOU!!” Anyone who was still there left at that point....

Not a great visit. It seems very well funded and well staffed although only open 1 day a week. I arrived around 3:30, to find out I had to wait until a 4pm tour(30 mins) followed by a trolley ride. The museum is small and you basically explore all of the exhibits besides the trolley barn prior to the tour... that being said, my tour was a disaster. The young gentleman "conducting" the tour needs significantly more training before he should be allowed to lead tours. He was combative when people asked questions, a couple abandoned our tour and emerged later with an older gentleman who was our trolley driver and thankfully he took over the tour. Perhaps spending an hour here for 1 trolley ride is supposed to remind you what it used to be like... I just felt as a guest, you are an afterthought to a trolley collection and a bunch of people playing dress up. I wouldn't recommend my...

It was a little smaller than I was expecting, but it was a great afternoon learning about trolley and street cars from the DC Metro area. I took my 95yo Father who rode the streetcars in his day, and he enjoyed the nostalgia. I ended up buying several books containing many photos of DC streetcars from back in the day, and my Dad spent hours reading and reminiscing of days gone past. The trolley rides were especially fun. A little tough for my Dad to climb into because accessibility wasn't a thing when they built the above ground tracks, but the conductors were patient and had a step for him to get in and out. He did well because he's mobile. I'm not sure they would have been able to accommodate him if he was in a wheelchair, but I didn't inquire either. Overall, it was a...