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The Mini Express

4.5 (61 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Services - The Mini Express

Event planning

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Icy A.

WARNING! Their $2M liability insurance will NOT cover property damages caused by their operators. I attended a kid's birthday party that hired The Mini Express, while the train operator was attempting to make a u-turn, the wagons titled and fell onto my parked car. A child fell out of the wagon into the street, and luckily my car stopped the last two wagons with a lot more kids from completely tipping over. After two weeks of investigations, their insurance determined the policy excludes coverage for property damages. They provided no coverage for this loss and closed the file. It has been over four weeks since the incident, and I'm still having to work through reimbursement along with my insurance for the damages caused by The Mini Express.

Train set up and ready to go!
Jeffrey V.

My now 3 year old is all about trains, particularly Thomas. His 4 year old brother as well. We hired The Mini Express to come out and it was a big hit! Adults and children were able to ride. We live in a cul de sac and our neighborhood has several other cul de sacs. There is no thru traffic so we were able to cruise around without worries. Marcos was our conductor. He was punctual and the train was set up and ready to go at our scheduled time, so set up and take down did not creep into the time we paid for. He was very pleasant and friendly. The kids enjoyed the train so much they were a bit upset when the time was up. The train seems to be electric so no loud engine noises or exhaust fumes. They had some speakers playing kid music. I would definitely recommend.

Mike O.

This was the best addition to my sons birthdays the kids loved it!!! Way better than getting a jumper. They literally didn't get out. Our son had so much fun her fell asleep riding in the train! The smile on his face was priceless!

Lots of fun!
veronica d.

Loved it! Great idea for a birthday party and lots of fun!!!! Booked this for my daughter's birthday party and it was so much fun! My daughter and all our guests enjoyed it! Online booking was easy, I was afraid it would get cancelled because it was scheduled to rain throughout the weekend. That Saturday there was light drizzle throughout the day, when the train arrived there were some sprinkles, but guests were having too much fun no one cared. I first saw this train at Plaza Mexico where they have rides for $, luckily they book for parties too! I would definitely recommend this!!!!

Maryclaire O.

Booked the Mini Express train for my daughters first birthday and it was a success! Very easy to reserve and response time for my questions was very quick. My guests-kids AND adults, enjoyed it as much as the birthday girl! Fast set up too.Once the conductor got there a line was formed and we were able to ride in minutes.

Eunice A.

I cannot put into words the expression my 4 yo made when he saw the mini express pull up to his birthday party. it was definitely the highlight of the party. the train was very clean and the conductor was professional and friendly. i was also able to connect my personal phone to their bluetooth speaker to play my sons favorite tunes while they rode the train. thank you so much mini express.

Bottom Line Up Front, the train was beautiful and the kids loved it. So glad we ended up with this train. He was early and stayed for the full hour. They lose half a star because I originally booked it for 1pm when I needed it at noon. (The times are a little scroll wheel and I hit the wrong time) I noticed it the next morning and immediately emailed to change the time. They said they were booked and could not accommodate. I called them and asked, he said it was a busy day and he had 4 reservations waitlisted. So I went and booked another train (that wasn't as nice) and emailed to cancel per their cancellation policy. He changed his tune and said we could have noon. A big hassle when he had the time available after all. They lose another half star because the conductor showed up in an under armor t shirt and cargo shorts. See attached photo, they specifically say that they show up as a professional train conductor and the photos on their website shows men in overalls. They even make fun of "the other guys" for showing up in t shirt and jeans, but ours showed up in less than that. If the driver is wondering why he didn't get a tip, this is why (how hard is it to throw a white shirt and overalls in the back of your truck).

Neighborhood train ride.
LaTara G.

This train was a hit at my recent party for my one year old daughter. The only reason i didn't give it 5 stars is because the driver was not very interactive. He did his job and left. Lol. I expected a little more interaction with the kids. Other than that. Totally worth it. All the kids and adults enjoyed the train. Highly recommend!

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5 years ago

We hired Mini Express for our son's birthday and had an amazing experience!!!! SO FUN for the kids!

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7 years ago

This was a great hit! Was on time to start setting up and the kids and even adults loved it!!!

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7 years ago

They were awesome and even stayed longer when we asked the too. Awesome attitude aswell. Birthday girl was happy!

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5 years ago

Awesome trackless train! So much fun for all the kids. The staff is friendly, easy booking. Pricing is reasonable. Definitely recommend.

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

Very professional, on time, reliable. My sons party was a great turn out with the mini express

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Review Highlights - The Mini Express

Children (and their parents) love train rides, so this is always one of the most popular of any of the events.

Mentioned in 38 reviews

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DianaSparkle Banquet Hall & Events

DianaSparkle Banquet Hall & Events

(13 reviews)

HUGE THANKS to Diana, Sean and the team for an amazing day! From the first day I met them and…read moredecided on this venue I knew it was going to be an unforgettable day! From exceptional professionalism to recommending the best and reliable vendors this Hall will not disappoint. They offer packages to fit your needs and guide you every step of the way. Highly recommend you give them a call and check them out. My daughter and our family had an amazing day and I know you will too!

***Update. We attempted to resolve this by explaining our point over and over. She sent a…read morescreenshot saying there is a $450 fee for extra time. That is not listed anywhere on our contract we signed. We have reviewed the contract over and over and no mention of a $450-500 fee. (A hidden fee by this business). Also, she insists that the party bus with the Quinciañera and her court arriving early is not her fault and that's considered early arrival to the venue, granted it is not her fault, but we had a verbal agreement and permission to have them arrive early to her coffee shop next door. Our guest, the Quinciañera and her court were not inside the venue early as she keeps saying to justify her crooked actions. The only people who arrived at 5:20pm were my husband and I to set up the dessert table (which we could not set up the day before obviously) and also edible pieces on the main tables as party favors. Therefore, party hosts beware, if you book this venue, you will be charged extra time $500 to arrive even 40 minutes early, to do any finishing touches or set up last minute items. She agrees to your arrival but does not specify that it is considered additional time. All venues in my experience, allow the hosts time before the event starts, the day of, to do any last minute things. This venue will bill you by keeping your deposit, and not even let you know until you ask about your money. Again, nothing but dishonesty and a scam. My husband and I are honest people, who pay for all and any service we get, but this nightmare, has been nothing but a money grab with endless excuses and not a trustworthy business. Please do not book here and take your money elsewhere!

Drop Zone Arena - Nerf War Party

Drop Zone Arena

(20 reviews)

Here's a funny story…read more.. I first found drop zone arena about 3 years ago on Yelp. I had reached out to inquire about a party but did not hear back. I tried a couple of times because I really wanted my son to have a nerf war party... didn't end up booking them because I could not get a hold of them Fast forward a year later, we got invited to a nerf war party at a local park. When I asked for a business card, I found out it's these guys who my friend had booked through. Cool cool, maybe the owner forgot to get back to me... maybe it was bad timing. I saved their contact information in my phone and forgot about them Recently, my son started asking me about having a nerf gun party again. He mentioned he had so much fun at his friend's party 2 years ago... so from a party standpoint, I would give them a sold 5 stars I reached out to them recently. I called, left a message, texted two different numbers (one from my contact list and one from the website) and it's been a couple of weeks.... Crickets. Perhaps I pissed someone off over there and just don't know it? Perhaps they are so busy and don't need new customers? This will remain as a mystery. 0 out of 5 for responsiveness. LOL

Highly recommend Caelan for any birthday party! He came to my son's party and everyone had a blast,…read more24 kids and even adults had a great time blasting and filling in as zombies. He was great with the kids and I overheard them saying "this is better than a video game." He came to set up exactly when he said he would and broke everything down afterwards into his trailer that the kids thought was so cool. If you are looking for birthday party ideas, look no further. Thanks Caelan! Great memories for all our guests!

The Simple Luxe - 1st birthday bee balloon birthday backdrop in Orange County by the Simple Luxe. #thesimpleluxe

The Simple Luxe

(141 reviews)

We had the best experience with our son, Kai's first birthday party backdrop! everything was…read morehandled with so much care and attention to detail. They truly brought our vision to life and made the entire setup feel so special and personalized. The quality of the backdrop was amazing--beautifully designed, vibrant, and the perfect focal point for the party. We received so many compliments from our guests, and it made for the most memorable photos. We had many changes throughout out party planning process which I felt really bad for but Lisa and her team were so easy to communicate with! They werepunctual, and clearly passionate about what they do. You can tell they genuinely care about making your event feel magical. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking to elevate their event. Thank you for helping make our son's birthday so unforgettable!

I had such a wonderful experience working with The Simple Luxe for my son's first birthday party…read morethat was farmers market themed! From start to finish they were incredibly easy to communicate with- responsive, attentive, and truly listened to what I wanted. Lisa and her team brought my vision to life, and it was even better than I imagined. What really stood out was their willingness to work within our budget without compromising on quality or creativity. They not only designed and set up all the balloons, backdrops, installations but they also spent extra time helping me decorate and design the farmers market with the custom gifts I made and/or purchased for my guests. The entire process felt stress-free and enjoyable. Everything turned out beautifully and we received so many compliments. I am truly honored to be The Simple Luxe's first farmers market themed client and I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a talented, reliable, and kind vendor who goes above and beyond. If you have been following them on social media like I was and have an upcoming event - reach out to them and get a quote! You will not be disappointed!

Bricks & Minifigs Corona - Princess minifigs

Bricks & Minifigs Corona

(9 reviews)

Okay, I have searched and searched for places that specializes in Lego pieces besides the Lego…read morestore. I have loved Legos since the 80s when I first started playing with them, and I love them just as much today as I continue to play with them along side my children. B&M is the epitome of a Lego lovers dream zone, if ever there was one. I prefer it to the Lego stores itself, A) because it's closer to my house, but B) and most importantly because the staff is so helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. All of which help with customer service, but more so when dealing with Lego Engineers. I 100% recommend coming to this store for all your Lego needs. And if you have any doubt, let them fall to the way side because this is the spot. For some context, my son and I had been putting together a F1 racer and one of the pieces was missing from the box. He had to go back to his mom's house before we could figure out a solution. I called up the guys at Bricks and minifigs they said they probably had the piece in their Lego pits and come on down bc loose pieces were on sale. Not only did they have the piece, they had 2 others I was missing from other sets. It took me 5 mins to find, and was out the door to finish our build. When he came back a few days later he was so thrilled we could finish. Not all super heroes wear capes.

I hosted my son's 6th birthday party here a couple of weeks ago, and I can't say enough good things…read moreabout it! Choosing this place was the best decision--so much easier than hosting at home or elsewhere. I've done swim parties, character parties, jump parties, and Chuck E. Cheese, but this was by far the easiest and most enjoyable. All I had to do was show up with pizzas and cupcakes, and everything else was taken care of. No cooking, cleaning, decorating, or entertaining--the staff handled it all! The kids had a blast, the parents got to relax, and the event was the perfect length--not too long or too short. I received so many compliments about how creative the party was, and the truth is, I didn't have to do a thing except book it. The store's owners and staff were amazing--friendly, attentive, and great with the kids. One of the best things about this place is that it works perfectly whether you have two kids or fifteen--everyone will have a great time. The pricing is incredibly reasonable and worth every penny. We'll definitely be hosting more parties here in the future. I'm so thankful for such an amazing experience!

The Mini Express - eventplanning - Updated May 2026

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