Amtrak anyone?

[Lovemy3babes]

Anyone ever take the train to Orlando? My husband is deathly, deathly afraid to fly. The trip would take almost two days from Minnesota and the fares are higher. But this is the only way I could possibly get the family down there without having to drive ourselves. Just looking for any advice. Thanks!

 

[NJRRK]

Anyone ever take the train to Orlando? My husband is deathly, deathly afraid to fly. The trip would take almost two days from Minnesota and the fares are higher. But this is the only way I could possibly get the family down there without having to drive ourselves. Just looking for any advice. Thanks!

Haven't used regulare Amtrak but we have used the Autotrain.

We enjoyed our trip, but there are a couple of things to remember to enjoy you're Amtrak trip.

1 - Expect delays, you will most probably NOT ARRIVE ON TIME. But if you plan that way and you happen to arrive on time that's a plus.

2 - Think of the train as the first part of your vacation, not just as transportation. If you think of it as part of the vacation it WILL make the trip more enjoyable, if you just think of it as transporation to FL then you will get very fustrated very quickly.

 

[vacation dreamer]

Anyone ever take the train to Orlando? My husband is deathly, deathly afraid to fly. The trip would take almost two days from Minnesota and the fares are higher. But this is the only way I could possibly get the family down there without having to drive ourselves. Just looking for any advice. Thanks!

Yes, I have taken a 24 hour train trip that should have been 12-15 hours. Just be prepared for delays. Bring lots of food and entertainment for all. The only other opinion I have is to have the Doc give your hubby meds so you can get him on a plane. good luck

 

[Baltazar]

The only other opinion I have is to have the Doc give your hubby meds so you can get him on a plane. good luck

 

[pepe of ohio]

Just give him meds. Thats the most ridiclous thing I keep hearing. I do not fly and no amount of meds is going to change that. I have flown long long ago, had meds and was the worst vacation I ever had. Meds works somewhat for flight down, then you get into the Disney spirit and 2 days before you leave the fright sets in, again more meds to return home. After returning home, few days later, I hurt in every muscle of my body from the stress, not worth it.

We have been taking Amtrak from northeastern Ohio for the past 10 or so years. It is cheaper than flying unless you want to play the game of checking flight prices and dings for months. Its a 27 hour trip for us, we enjoy it, its relaxing and we're in no hurry to blow through America and back just to get to our vacation. Certain legs of the trip we up grade to sleeper, which includes meals and the food on the train is great. Nothing stressful about train travel, yes we've been delayed, arrived late but we're sitting and relaxed and are going to get there. If you a fuss budget, can't sit still or occupy your self, train will be tough but if you can sit back, put your feet up, recline your seat and watch out the window, enjoy a novel, have some picnic lunch you brought and enjoy the company that came with you, trains the ticket.

 

[vacation dreamer]

Just give him meds. Thats the most ridiclous thing I keep hearing. I do not fly and no amount of meds is going to change that. I have flown long long ago, had meds and was the worst vacation I ever had. Meds works somewhat for flight down, then you get into the Disney spirit and 2 days before you leave the fright sets in, again more meds to return home. After returning home, few days later, I hurt in every muscle of my body from the stress, not worth it.

We have been taking Amtrak from northeastern Ohio for the past 10 or so years. It is cheaper than flying unless you want to play the game of checking flight prices and dings for months. Its a 27 hour trip for us, we enjoy it, its relaxing and we're in no hurry to blow through America and back just to get to our vacation. Certain legs of the trip we up grade to sleeper, which includes meals and the food on the train is great. Nothing stressful about train travel, yes we've been delayed, arrived late but we're sitting and relaxed and are going to get there. If you a fuss budget, can't sit still or occupy your self, train will be tough but if you can sit back, put your feet up, recline your seat and watch out the window, enjoy a novel, have some picnic lunch you brought and enjoy the company that came with you, trains the ticket.

I sorry that you find me ridiculous, but I DO take meds when I fly and they do help me and this information came off a message board. Amtrak is a great choice when you do not have a limited amount of vacation time.

 

[Baltazar]

Just give him meds. Thats the most ridiclous thing I keep hearing. I do not fly and no amount of meds is going to change that. I have flown long long ago, had meds and was the worst vacation I ever had. Meds works somewhat for flight down, then you get into the Disney spirit and 2 days before you leave the fright sets in, again more meds to return home. After returning home, few days later, I hurt in every muscle of my body from the stress, not worth it.

We have been taking Amtrak from northeastern Ohio for the past 10 or so years. It is cheaper than flying unless you want to play the game of checking flight prices and dings for months. Its a 27 hour trip for us, we enjoy it, its relaxing and we're in no hurry to blow through America and back just to get to our vacation. Certain legs of the trip we up grade to sleeper, which includes meals and the food on the train is great. Nothing stressful about train travel, yes we've been delayed, arrived late but we're sitting and relaxed and are going to get there. If you a fuss budget, can't sit still or occupy your self, train will be tough but if you can sit back, put your feet up, recline your seat and watch out the window, enjoy a novel, have some picnic lunch you brought and enjoy the company that came with you, trains the ticket.

I wouldn't recommend meds, I just thought it was funny. Reminded me of "The A Team" TV show.

I looked into taking a train from here and it was way too much for the four of us. Trains are better than driving.

 

[manning]

From Minnesota you will travel to Chicago change trains to Washington DC and change again to Florida.

Travel time is about 45 hours and that doesn't include layovers/delays.

Figure Amtrak to be late more times than on time.

 

[TheDisneyClan]

We took Amtrak from Philly to Kissimmee. NEVER AGAIN! Took many hours longer than expected and the train was dirty. Bathrooms almost unusable. Just gross! Not the most friendly union employees you will ever meet either! LOL We have very patient, well behaved children, but this trip tried the patience of us all.

We have flown ever since. I would get your husband to take a look at the statitistics and see if he feels any better when its shown logically that driving to your local grocery store or taking the train is much less safe than a commercial plane flight.

 

[Henlady]

Lovemy3babes.......We have taken the Auto Train to Florida for many years. I do not like flying, would if I had to, but it is NOT my preference for travel. If you are able to afford/book a family bedroom or roomettes, it is a wonderful way to travel. Granted it will be a little more expensive to do this, but it makes the trip enjoyable. We have traveled in coach as a cost cutting measure, but having a room is sooo much better. We take whatever we feel we will need to make the trip enjoyable. Extra pillows, snacks, change of clothing, etc...... You are not banished to your room for the trip, you can move around the train, go to the lounge car and sit for a while. However, be prepared for possible delays and try not to stress over them. Just look at it as the adventure part of your vacation. We have met many interesting people while traveling by train. My children were 4 and 5 1/2 the first time we took them on the train, and they still (at 24 and 26) enjoy travel by train. Good luck, and remember, the travel part is just a prelude to your vacation. Take a deep breath, slow down, sit back, unwind from your day to day schedules, take a nap, talk to each other, this can be valuable family time.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Thanks everyone! It's a possibility if I can find a good deal, at least making it comparable to flying. I appreciate all the advice here.

 

[pepe of ohio]

The sleeper rates can scare the crap out of ya but the tid bit, if you want to play the percentages, is not to pre book a sleeper option but try for one once you board. We do this all the time, and so far have always gotten one, is ask if there are any roomettes available once we're in motion. We board our first train at 3 am so coach seating is just fine, we're here time around 1pm, we take lunches and snacks and drinks and the room around the coach seat is immense. We detrain in Dc and have a lay over till around 4 pm, we then board, still riding coach and start heading south, we approach the conductor and ask about the roomettes and if there are any, its half price. this past September trip we got them going down for 175.00, that all the meals for 2 too and coming home we again asked and got them for 150.00. Its a small room, holds only 2 and its an upper bunk, wife loves it with the huge window and I have the lower, toilet in there also. We do this all the time and it saves a ton of money and nothing beats arriving in Kissimmee better then having slept lying down, enjoying a fine meal or 2 or 3 in the dining car.

 

[vacation dreamer]

The east coast trains have the worst rep. for delays and running out of water on the trains because of the delays. The Auto train on the East Coast is better for the most part then the Amtrak East coast trains. I have to say the train employees that I have delt with went out of their way to make us as comfortable as possible.

 

[NjRon]

Two round trips on the auto train cured my fear of flying.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have taken the train many many many trips to disney cause i do not like to fly. 2 summers ago just me and dh went and i booked the sleeper, it made the trip so much better, course my kids still tease us saying we made them sit in coach and use those bathrooms..........., but anyhow. i had only booked it for the way down. well we were at the station to come home, and i went in to see if any roomettes were avail . and they were. i think we might of gotten a little bit of AAA discount. no way did they offer people like half off or more of the roomsl. every one i talked to paid regular. but it was WELL worth the roommette. i would do it again. one thing i do have to comment aabout if flying. i did not mind when i was younger. but with the anxiety i have i do not fly. well , long story short-my son in law is in the army., so he my dd, and baby grandson had to move to texas last year. after 2 months of missing them, i actually got medicine, i think adavant??, i only took 1/2 early when we got up. then the other 1/2 just before take off . i was fine. i did sleep. but i also enjoyed the movies on Jet Blue. i know it might not be for everybody, but maybe he could try something that way you could fly. even all the girls i worked with had a BET i would cancel, thats how afraid i was about flying. but it worked great,. of courst i wanted to see my family. sorry this is so long. but what ever way you travel, please have a good time.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm taking the train next month from Boston to Orlando. I don't fly either. When you tell people they don't fly they assume because you are afraid of crashing, tell you to take meds and get over it. That's not always the case. I don't mind flying, I don't mind taking off and landing, I do not think I am going to crash. (yes, I used to fly alot) I am claustiphobic and being "trapped" on a plane with no way out scares me and sends me into panic/anxiety attacks. So please people, don't assume people are just afarid of crashing when they have a fear of flying. Meds don't solve everything.

Ok, pet peeve over.

 

[vacation dreamer]

we have taken the train many many many trips to disney cause i do not like to fly. 2 summers ago just me and dh went and i booked the sleeper, it made the trip so much better, course my kids still tease us saying we made them sit in coach and use those bathrooms..........., but anyhow. i had only booked it for the way down. well we were at the station to come home, and i went in to see if any roomettes were avail . and they were. i think we might of gotten a little bit of AAA discount. no way did they offer people like half off or more of the roomsl. every one i talked to paid regular. but it was WELL worth the roommette. i would do it again. one thing i do have to comment aabout if flying. i did not mind when i was younger. but with the anxiety i have i do not fly. well , long story short-my son in law is in the army., so he my dd, and baby grandson had to move to texas last year. after 2 months of missing them, i actually got medicine, i think adavant??, i only took 1/2 early when we got up. then the other 1/2 just before take off . i was fine. i did sleep. but i also enjoyed the movies on Jet Blue. i know it might not be for everybody, but maybe he could try something that way you could fly. even all the girls i worked with had a BET i would cancel, thats how afraid i was about flying. but it worked great,. of courst i wanted to see my family. sorry this is so long. but what ever way you travel, please have a good time.

Do the meds you take make you sleepy? Mine just takes that edge off.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Just give him meds. Thats the most ridiclous thing I keep hearing. I do not fly and no amount of meds is going to change that. I have flown long long ago, had meds and was the worst vacation I ever had. Meds works somewhat for flight down, then you get into the Disney spirit and 2 days before you leave the fright sets in, again more meds to return home. After returning home, few days later, I hurt in every muscle of my body from the stress, not worth it.

Same here! I know meds are the popular answer, but I can't take them either. I admit I am afraid to fly, but I also get terribly sick on planes - throwing up and a severe headache that just won't quit. Even after landing, my head feels like exploding until I can sleep it off. I usually travel solo to Disney, so I could never take some med since I need to be in control and aware at all times, with no one to look after me. Meds just won't work in my situation. Even if I did fly, the feeling of dread on the return flight would cloud over the entire vacation.

So I am a HUGE fan of Amtrak, specifically the AutoTrain. I taken it over 25 times over the last decade, as I love to just relax and watch the country go by on the way to Disney. I love the adventure of train travel, and I look forwards to the ride. I admit the train isn't for everyone, but for me, it's a wonderful way to travel since planes aren't an option.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

our trip to texas was the first plane in many years. i suffer from sever anxiety and claustophobia?? but my sister had tried the adavant?? and like i said , i took 1/2 pill early when we got up then the other 1/2 right at boarding, yes i did sleep, of course we had a 600 AM flight, but i was also awake alot to. i watched movies, the stewardess gave us diet cokes, snacks. i was a little worried the night before, but i knew that i would see my dd and baby grandson when we got there. so , like i said , yes i did sleep, but i was not nervous,or anxious, or anthing after the med. we also were lucky to have a calm ,dry ,decent weather also for flying. believe it or not the next day after we left, st. pats. day, we had the snow and ice storm that stranded tons of people. so we were lucky. i also am not suggesting this is for everyone, but now i know i can fly if i have to. sorry this is long. and we also had decent trips on the train. we actually out of all our train trips, only had 1 really really late arrival. so you can make the best of it.

 

[eagles]

i too take the train to orlando. taking it again in dec with my granddaughter.

does anyone know about taking a stroller on the train?