Cubby Caboose

ALL ABOARD!
Catch Oahu’s only indoor train at Windward Mall. For $ 4, you get to cruise the first floor of the mall for about 10 minutes. The train actually goes faster than you would think, considering it’s chugging through pedestrian traffic.
To catch the train, take a seat in the row of chairs right outside of the food court across from Toys R Us (great marketing tactic) and wait for the train to arrive. Pay the conductor in cash and hop on board.
My 2 ½ year old son rode it for the first time and enjoyed it very much. He wanted to go again when it was over, but at $ 8 a pop ($ 4 for him, $ 4 for me), we can’t afford any «hana hou’s». At least not during this visit. I know he’ll want to ride the train the next time we visit the mall, so I’ll need to be sure to bring some cash with me.
Cash only.

My 8.5 month old loves to ride the train. We took her for her second time yesterday.
The conductor was nice and friendly. We were actually the only ones and I asked if he had to wait for more people, and he said no! So, she had the whole train to herself.
The train went around all wings of the mall and was a nice, smooth ride (she rode with her Daddy). It is a great attraction for kids.
However, the ride only lasts about 7 – 10 minutes and it is $ 4/​person, which means that even if you have an infant and they ride on your lap, you pay $ 4 for your child and $ 4 for you.

As reluctant as I usually am at spending my hard earned money on frivolous activities, this one was the exception to my rule.
The conductor was great !!! Even to the point of punching our tickets just like a real conductor. My twins were excited when he did, noting that it reminded them of the conductor in Japan coming by to check tickets on the bullet train. He really seemed to enjoy his work.
The train ride was MUCH longer that I had anticipated — two full circles around the mall. FANTASTIC !!!
The price was $ 4 a person regardless of age. A parent/​older child HAS to ride with all children under 5.
THEY DO TAKE CREDIT CARDS !!! Visa, MC, AMEX and Discover.

We’ve sat in every car of the train. My son is two and seem’s to like them all. But I love the back because it seems to catch a nice draft :-)
Anyway, the conductors vary. I’ve had some really nice ones and some that just seemed annoyed to be working there (actually it was only 2 times and it was a girl). But this never stops me because it’s never ruined our experience so far. It is after all about the ride.
The ticket they give you when you purchase is fun though because when they come to your car to lock the door they ask for your ticket and use a hole punch. Kind of like they would in a real train.
The duration of the ride this time was 8:57.9. I thought it was expensive enough when it was $ 3. It costs $ 4 a person now (children and adults alike). I think it’s kind of over priced but I like taking my son on the train so I guess that’s just the price we’ll have to pay to continue enjoying the train.
Also, I am kind of annoyed after reading other reviews. I had never seen anything that said children under 1 were free and I’ve been taking my son there for a long time and had to pay full price every time. Also, I’ve never been offered a punch card. I guess I’ll have to ask for one next time so I can get the FREE ride.

Today the conductor was a male. He was very pleasant. The kids enjoyed their ride.
I only wished they took credit cards.

I Love taking my daughter on this awesome choo choo train ride in Windward mall! It is up and running throughout the whole week and all year long! Only $ 3 per person (adults can ride too) and babies under 2 are for free!
The only thing that really upset me was the driver. I havent seen her lately so I hope she doesnt work for this company any longer. She is a bad driver. I got motion sickness from her going in 8 circles in the middle of the mall and they werent big circles, they were little ones that made me so dizzy, when I got off the ride, I literally had to find a chair to recoup myself!
My daughter enjoyed it and had no idea what was going on, but if you go on a wednesday and the open market is taking place, I believe the train driver is limited to where it can go. I had a horrible ride experience and wont jump on the train ride ever again. I either make her dad go with her, or her favorite uncle.
I will let my daughter go on a train ride once a month, but I refuse to be in there with her, for fear of motion sickness again.

Three things we really like about Windward Mall: it’s not very crowded, the soft surface kids play area, and the train. My girls LOVE the train. The ride costs $ 3 per person (an adult must ride with children under 5 years old) but it’s totally worth it when you see your kids smile from ear to ear. Plus, it runs throughout the year, not just during the holidays like some other trains.
So the next time you take your kids to Windward Mall, say hi to some animals at Ko’olau Pets, get some Cinnabon, and ride the train. Your kids will think you are the best parent ever.

RIDE THE TRAIN! If your kids love the candycane train at Ala Moana during Christmas time, they will surely love the Cubby Caboose! Thanks to fellow hot mamas Shandis C., Angela M., and Kim C. for writing raving reviews and posting pictures!
LOCATION: Windward Mall (Kaneohe), board near the Food Court, bottom level.
HOURS: the train operates during regular mall hours.
COST: $ 3/​person (over age 1). Punch card: buy 5, get one free!
AGE: Adults must accompany their children under 5, but the second time my kids went on it, (yes, they demanded a second ride!) I just let them do it by themselves. If your kid is around 8, they are probably getting too old for this kind of thing, but I saw some college age looking kids riding on the train «just for fun»…
It could be a number of things that made the kids smile so big their chubby cheeks were going to explode, but these were the highlights:
1. Real steam shooting out the smokestack.
2. Real train whistle blowing.
3. The train is NOT on a track!
4. Because there are no tracks, the train was doing crazy circles, zig zags, and making all kinds of crazy patterns.
5. This train goes quite fast for an indoor mall vehicle!
6. The train goes down all the wings of the mall, sometimes more than once if there’s no line!
Shoppers beware! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY for the CUBBY CABOOSE!

After reading my SUPER STAR Unilocal elite cousin’s (Angela M) review of Cubby Caboose, I had the brilliant idea to take my oldest daughter for a «date» on the Cubby Caboose and alas, our relationship has been renewed. Her jealous bouts of tantruming over being replaced by her mini me baby sister has fizzled down and once again, «mommy, you are the best… but not more than daddy» is echoing in our home again, and I have Cubby Caboose (and my super star Unilocal elite cousin) to thank!
Cubby Caboose at Windward Mall is a nice new kiddy attraction added to the kiddy scene here on Oahu. It costs $ 3 per child over the age of 1 and per adult. $ 6 may sound like a lot if both you and your child are riding, but the enjoyment that your child will experience is priceless, and it’s cheaper than paying $ 7 our at Dole Plantation plus the $$ you would spend in gas driving all the way out to Haliewa. Surprisingly enough, the ride on the Cubby Caboose is substantially long, substantially enjoyable and makes even a budget conscious mom like me feel like every penny was worth it. you get a punch card for riding the train, and every 6^th ride is free. The train conductor was very friendly and even gave us an extra stamp on our card! You are handed tickets upon purchase and once everyone is seated he comes around and punches holes in your ticket. If you’ve ever seen The Polar Express, this will excite your child more than you can imagine.
The conductor drives the train around the mall, and it’s such a long ride that you keep thinking it’s going to end, but it just keeps on going. My daughter and I had a blast waving to all the grandmas and grandpas around the mall, and even half way through the ride, she leaned over on my arm and exclaimed, «mom, I looooove you!» I am not suggesting that you «buy» your child’s affection, rather riding the Cubby Caboose can be some great QT with your child: o)
For now, the Cubby Caboose is still very clean, not too long of a line (went on a Tuesday morning) and is an enjoyable time for all. If you have kids that don’t mind riding alone, it is not required that an adult rides with them. Treat your kids to Cubby Caboose. You will not regret it!

*$ 3 per person, under age 1 is free, punch card — every six rides merits a free ride*
«TRAIN! TRAIN! TRAIN! TRAAAAAAIIIIINNNN!» screams my daughter, convulsing with excitement.
The ding-​dinging of the bell leads my children away like the pied piper of Hamelin and we find ourselves in line, once again, for the Cubby Caboose.
I am obliged to ride the train with my children as they are under 5, and though I pretend to feel silly and awkward, I am inwardly pleased. My children tremble with anticipation as the conductor visits each car to punch the tickets and our joyous cry of «All Aboard» (alright, I do feel silly in this moment), sets the cars in motion.
The train travels throughout the mall, it’s path varying with the crowds. It goes faster than you imagine it would and attempting to follow it makes you look like a jogging fool. In the beginning it followed a set path, blaring it’s horn at people «How DARE you try to meander through the mall with no purpose, you’re blocking the TRAIN!», but now it takes a less offensive approach making little loop-​de-​loops if the mall is particularly crowded. Occasionally it releases a gush of fake steam and does it’s piper ding-​a-​ling, the combo of which makes my children nearly crap themselves with glee.
If your kids have train on the brain, ride this thing. If you don’t ride it, you don’t love your children. I love my children. Lots. I’ve loved my children at least seven times this year not counting how much I loved them at the Dole Plantation Pineapple Express. I’m a good mother.