Amtrak and first dat timing

[disneyfantotheend]

My parents are taking Amtrak for the first time this year. They are due to arrive in Kissimee at 11AM. This is in December, not sure if time of year matters. I was considering booking a dinner in Epcot for this night at 5:15PM. I have heard about the long delays you can experience with Amtrak, so was wondering how risky this is? Assuming they happen to be lucky enough to arrive on time or shortly after, what time would you suspect they would get to Pop Century and checked in? Do you check luggage on amtrak like you do on a plane? If so how long does it take to collect your luggage? The reservation would give 6 hours for delays/transportation/checkin and arrival to Epcot. Should we just forget it and do nothing that evening or do you think they could make it? Has anyone ever arrived ontime with Amtrak?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've taken Amtrak to Kissimmee the last 10 trips and arrival times have varied from 30 minutes to 3 hours late. Long ago, it was during the heat of summer, scheduled arrival was 11 am, we didn't arrive till 11 pm, due to heat on way down and train could not exceed 50 MPH. Most recent trips have been in late fall early winter with short delays and arriving 2 hours late. Winter snow has caused a few problems in early spring but we never experienced any problems in December, we're from northeast Ohio and its one train from home to Washington DC and then the north/south train to Kissimmee.

From the Kissimmee depot to the monorail loop of resorts was about 20 minutes by cab, plenty at station waiting and few people detrained at Kissimmee, most got off at Orlando, like the whole train and it makes for the long stop over there. Kissimmee is easier and you get to WDW just as quick, cab fare was 35-38.00 last trip one way plus tip. Hope this helps, and by the way baggage goes real fast since only about 10 people get off, figure about 10 minutes for bags if not less and you're good to go.

Getting back on in Kissimmee is great too. Few people get on also to head north. By the time you're settled in your seat, you hit Orlando station and watch the hundreds of people waiting in the sun trying to board. Kissimmee is a great place to get off and on the train. Some say that waiting to get off in Kissimmee is a longer wait while the people that detrained at Orlando are all ready in WDW, I really don't care to unload at a mass confused station with everyone looking for bags and rides to WDW, I'll take the 10 or so people in Kissimmee and the 20 minute ride any day.