For reasons I cannot explain, it seems like every time I have an unexpected house guest, I have to find them a pirate costume. This happened back in September when my brother evacuated to Florida during Hurricane Florence, and it happened again this week with the Code Rum: Rum Runner Train at the Royal Palm Railway Experience.
About two weeks ago, my friend Doug and I decided on a last-minute visit plan that involved him driving a moving truck from my parents’ house in Tennessee to our new house in Florida to deliver a tiki bar. Last week, Mom brought the existence of the Rum Runner Train to my attention, and the next thing I knew, we had a new Pirate Adventure planned.
The Royal Palm Railway Experience is a train located in the Mount Dora area, a small town located roughly forty minutes outside of Orlando. I know absolutely nothing about Mount Dora except that they elect a Canine Mayor every year, and I think it’s the cutest thing ever. I first ran across the Royal Palm Railway when their Polar Express experience popped up on a Facebook ad, but the holidays are extremely busy in Orlando, and I just didn’t have the time. So at least when my Mom sent me this random screenshot of an advertisement for a pirate train, I had a slight clue what she was talking about. The Code Rum: Rum Runner Train is a piratical themed rum tasting event aboard the Royal Palm Railway Experience.
Sure enough, two hours later, I had tickets purchased for all three of us, and Jay had instructions to rustle up a pirate outfit for Doug. Thankfully, as many pirate friends as we have, this was easy.
Saturday afternoon, two pirates and a mermaid piled in the Fiat for an hour drive listening to sea-shanties.
I tend to either be extremely early or barely on time, and we weren’t sure what traffic would be like, so we wound up being super early. We were also confused because our GPS brought us to a strip mall, rather than a train station. There was a wooden structure that looked like a loading ramp over by the train tracks, but there wasn’t a building. It took us another lap around the parking lot before we found the sign over the door. We parked and made our way in.
There was a check in desk and a small lobby with a few chairs. All that seemed normal. What threw me off was I could hear what seemed to be a live version of Hairspray. The lady at the check-in counter said she’d be with us in a minute, and we are nothing, if not patient.
When it was our turn, I simply presented the vouchers I’d already printed out and they exchanged them for blue card stock tickets. They told us we were free to hang out, and that we just need to be back in the lobby by 7:15 pm, so we could get in line “separate from the dinner train people”. My brain was spinning. Was there more than one train?
I asked where the bathroom was and she directed me through the door to the left. We headed that way and found ourselves walking through a dinner show of some sorts. It was a big open room with tables and a buffet, and a stage at one end where the Hairspray duet was happening.
Doug and I found ourselves waiting for Jay, and discussing what we thought the building used to be. He said bowling alley; I said grocery store. One of the bartenders came up to us and pulled me in to talk to her in the employees only door. She asked me if we’d eaten yet, and when I said no she asked if we’d just gotten off the train.
“We haven’t been on the train yet?”
She offered again to let us eat, and said she had to get back when it hit me, she thought we worked there!
I went back to Doug and started giggling. This wound up being one of four times we were mistaken for employees throughout the night.
We still had plenty of time to kill so we went back to the Fiat to retrieve Jay’s “Shut the Box” game. It’s an old game that was played by actual pirates to pass time at sea, and was used recently by Jay to pass the time at Gasparilla, waiting for the parade. I had never actually played it before. We returned to the lobby, and since no chairs were available, we set up in the floor.
Shut the Box is actually super simple, and a lot of fun. It’s also super portable because the only loose pieces are dice, and it all fits nicely in the box. I was not the first one to win, but I was the first one to get a perfect score.
More and more people arrived. We got quite a few stares. Some people were in dressy casual clothes, and some were wearing t-shirts and shorts. We were the only pirates in the place.
7:15 pm rolled around, and then 7:30 pm, which was supposed to be the boarding time, and people started getting antsy. I was sitting where I couldn’t see the window, but Doug looked back and said he saw the train.
The check-in lady came back out and explained that this was not our train. It was going to be picking up the people who had been watching the show and taking them back to their cars, before coming back for us. Someone angrily asked how long it would be and she said, “About twenty minutes.”
Muttering broke out. We looked at each other.
“More Shut the Box?”
“Your turn!”
People started carrying in chairs from the show area to have somewhere to sit, and one of the employees actually brought two over to us.
“Would the pirates like some chairs?”
“We’re good, but thank you so much!”
Without a table, the game would be much harder to play with chairs. Plus, we were already on the floor.
By the time I had gone to the bathroom again, the train had arrived. As I was walking back out, someone told me I needed to hurry. I wasn’t worried. I move pretty fast anyway, and I got outside to find the boys waiting for me behind a long line. There were a total of eleven people for the Rum Runner Train, and probably thirty something for the Dinner Train. Best I can tell, they run the Dinner Train on a regular basis, and the Rum Runner Train is a special event that happens every so often. I think one train car is usually used for a special event while the rest of the train operates as the Dinner Train full time. It’s actually brilliant.
Two older couples got in line behind us, and we stepped aside to let them pass. We’d already heard them commenting on our outfits, and not in a nice way. Now that we were standing directly behind them, they had to suddenly be polite.
“So, do you guys work here, or do you just have these costumes?”
“Well, the ticket said to come in costume, but apparently no one else got the memo!”
Upon review, there is actually nothing on the event’s website or the ticket about costumes, but it is on the UNATION listing for the event. I still don’t understand why you would go to anything pirate themed without a costume. Pirates are super easy to put together out of a closet. You don’t have to be like us with a whole box of accessories and gear.
We got up to the loading platform and they were directing all Dinner Train guests to the right, and all Rum Runner guests to the left. They didn’t have to ask which side we were there for at least!
Since it wasn’t fully booked, they said we could sit anywhere we liked. We moved all the way down to the end because Disney habits never die. (Fill in all of the available space!)
We got settled, Doug and I took one side and Jay the other. We immediately reopened Shut the Box. Jay dumped all his pirate coins on the table and we split them up so we could wager.
A few moments later, the Captain appeared along with the “Wench”. (I hate that word. I hate that word A LOT, but it’s what they called her.)
We were the closest table so the Captain started with us, and I’m not entirely sure he knew what to do with us. (I’m not really sure anyone knew what to do with us the entire night.) He stared at our game, and asked what it was. Jay explained, and then he asked if we’d ever played Liars Dice. Jay has, Doug and I had not. I don’t even really know what it is, I just know it’s been mentioned in a certain movie franchise.
He moved onto the next table, and they stood up to take pictures with him. Then it hit me he was probably confused that we didn’t ask for a picture.
The Wench brought around a set of silver buckets and a spray bottle. Doug and Jay had to explain what they were for. Apparently, you’re supposed to taste the rum, not drink the whole thing. The bucket is for pouring the rest out, and the spray bottle is for cleaning your glass in between. I don’t even like rum to begin with, but there was no way I was pouring perfectly good alcohol out.
There were going to be five different flavors of Code Rum to sample, which is a local Florida distillery and, I assume, a sponsor of the Rum Runner Train, in addition to a rum punch.
The train started moving. I’m fairly certain this was the first time in my life I’ve ever been on a train that wasn’t in a theme park. The most confusing aspect, and Jay agreed with me on this, was that IT FELT LIKE A BOAT! I don’t know how, but the train moved like a boat. I don’t know if it’s because the terrain wasn’t perfectly flat, or what, but it felt like riding on a boat, and that’s from two people who have spent a lot of their lives on boats.
It was quiet at first, and we joked we should start up the sea-shanties again. We went through one chorus of “Drunken Sailor” and stopped before the rest of the train decided they hated us. Music soon started over speakers, and I suddenly had flashbacks to my days in Adventureland. It was a soundtrack I’m really familiar with!
The first rum samples came around, delivered by the Captain. It was a Silver Rum, whatever that means, and it was clear. I didn’t know rum could be clear, but, as stated before, I’m not really a rum drinker.
Before the Captain moved onto his next table, he looked at Jay and said, “No hitting on the Wench.”
Jay gestured to me. “I think she’d kill me.”
“You got that right.”
I think since Doug and I were sitting together they assumed we were the couple. I just wanted to give Jay room to stretch out.
The Silver Rum was probably the table’s least favorite, but we all finished most of it anyway.
By the time the second sample came around, we had all but forgotten Shut the Box. Jay and Doug had laid their pistols on the table for pictures. The Wench came up and said she was sorry, but weapons weren’t allowed on the train. Jay, without missing a beat, replied, “That’s fine. Just get us back to the car.”
I chimed in. “Those are literally from Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Jay’s guns are actually toys that he repainted to look real.
They gave us our samples and moved on. I still can’t decide if she was kidding or not. It’s not like there was a bag check or anything.
I couldn’t tell a difference between the Silver Rum and the Key Lime Rum we were now sampling, but Jay seemed to like it a lot.
It was about then that the train stopped to let people off, and let more people on. What was out the window looked much more like an actual train station. When it started moving again, the train was going backwards!
“Hey, we’re on the Hogwarts Express!”
I used to work on the Hogwarts Express, and it goes backwards half the time, for those who are unfamiliar.
Apparently, the Royal Palm Railway Experience has three stations connected by one track, and the train journeys to all three of them. I guess which station you board at is determined by which event you’re going to.
The Captain came around with bags of Goldfish crackers of all things, and I took one solely because it amused me.
The third rum sample was a Mango Rum, and that was the table’s favorite.
Each sample was probably at least two shots if not more, and we weren’t exactly pouring much out, so here’s where things start to get a little fuzzier.
The fourth sample was a Spiced Rum, which was the most traditional rum we experienced. I barely touched it.
One of the other guests on the train got up and came over to our table to ask if we were guests or employees. She was from one of the Gasparilla crews and the man she was with apparently talked her out of dressing up for the evening.
They brought around samples of Treasure Cove Rum Cake. I got spiced rum, Jay had KeyLime, and we never figured out what flavor Doug’s was supposed to be. I liked Jay’s the best, but I forgot to take pictures of them before we ate them.
The last pure rum sample was a Cinnamon Rum. I took one sniff and handed the glass to Doug. The Wench referred to it as “a better version of Fireball”.
The final drink was a Rum Punch. I have no idea what was in it, but I finished mine and Jay’s since he had to drive. It was my favorite drink of the whole night.
The Captain came through with an upside-down hat for tips and we all froze. None of us had thought to bring cash. I literally threw all the loose coins I had in my wallet because it was the best I could do. Jay bought a bottle of rum because he was hoping it would have a tip line on the credit card receipt, but no such luck. So now we have a bottle of Key Lime Rum for really no reason. Then Doug bought the Mango Rum because he liked it so much.
The Code Rum after we got it home.
We got off the train and made our way back to the car, some stumbling more than others. The drive home had less singing, but it really wasn’t quieter.
The Code Rum: Rum Runner Train at the Royal Palm Railway Experience is a slightly strange experience, but an amazing one. We had such a good time, and got more than our money’s worth in rum samples alone. It’s one of the most random things we’ve ever done, but I’m so glad we did. My only real complaint is the lack of chasers. Following rum with more rum is a lot of rum!
The Rum Runner Train is running one more time in February, and then it’s off the calendar for a while as far as I can tell. I found listings for when they did it back in August, so I think it happens multiple times throughout the year. If you’re looking to experience it for yourself, keep an eye on their website or follow their Facebook. Who knows? You might find another event that interests you too!
Cost: $24.97 per person plus taxes and fees. The three of us came in right at $89.
Value: Fantastic. You get so much for what you pay on this one. I know we’ll be going again, probably with a larger pirate crew.
Duration: The scheduled departure was at 7:35 pm. We got on the train just before 8:00 pm and got back to the car just after 10:00 pm. We were also there almost an hour early. With the drive, it’s definitely a full evening.
Add Ons: The Code Rum bottles for purchase were $20 each.
