Amtrak bring your car

[TreesyB]

Has anyone ever tried this? I was alerted by a coworker that you could take an Amtrak train from Washington, DC to Orlando by train AND bring your car with you!

I searched the route, it's from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. Costs about $144 each way per person, and $400 for your car! For a long trip, that could be really a great savings!

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/autotrain

 

[glendalais]

I've known a few people who've used it when travelling up north. They have no complaints, and it beats driving all night up I-95.

The only thing to note is that it arrives in Sanford as opposed to Orlando. Sanford, particularly the part of Sanford where the station is, is on the far north end of the Orlando region. It can take up to an hour to get from the station to WDW, assuming you don't run into traffic on I-4 - almost a given since the train arrives in Sanford at 9:30 in the morning. Other than that, it seems to be a convenient service.

 

[webworm]

Cheaper and quicker to fly out of the US and book a car rental in orlando for a family.

 

[highland3]

We took it on the way home from our last trip to WDW. It did save a ton (tonne) of driving. I'd recommend you go with a berth or roomette (both more $$). The only one of us that got a good sleep was DS (8 at the time) as he could curl up in the seat. I don't sleep well in moving vehicles and this was definitely MOVING!

 

[monkey30]

hmmmm would it not be easier to take the train and then rent a car?

We paid under 150 for our rental, while in WDW used priceline and got it for $11/day.

However this is cool to know if we ever need to go somewhere like this!

 

[stefanospops]

I've priced this out and the cost to do this from Toronto factoring in my fuel costs getting there, the cost of the train, and as a pp noted, getting a cabin, ended up being the same or more expensive than buying 6 return flights out of Buffalo. The car rental in Orlando is not an issue for me because I use my aeroplan miles for free car rentals. But even if I factor in the cost of the car rental with the flights we are talking not much difference in price for still a long haul and extra wear and tear on my vehicle.

All this said, the idea of this is very *romantic* and becomes part of the trip that my whole family can remember for years to come which is why I am likely to do this at some point.

 

[Marcy Mouse]

I've done the auto train 4 or 5 times now and I really enjoy it. I will tell you to book the lower level that way you don't have people walking through all night. Only the people that booked down there will be in that compartment with you. It doesn't cost any extra and is a lot more quiet. It is only one night we always consider it part of the trip. We usually just take it to Sanford and drive whole way back to Brampton, ON.

If you have any questions just PM me!

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Can anyone comment on what this costs?

 

[Kurby]

Don't forget what time of year are you thinking in doing this

We thought it would be a great idea since we always drive and our next trip is o er the new years so rather then driving through the mountains in the snow

However last summer we drove close to Washington on our way to Richmond va and realised its pretty mountainy and would be done in the snow so by the time we got to the train station we could be pretty far south and since we'd have to go the day before since the trip is a good 10 hours we wouldn't saving any time or money

Now it it left from buffalo or Erie we would do it

 

[jba2]

Cheaper and quicker to fly out of the US and book a car rental in orlando for a family.

Flying is not necessarily cheaper. It depends on how many people are traveling and their ages. The train rates are very cheap for kids 15 and under. For our family, taking the train has always been cheaper than flying out of Buffalo. I've always enjoyed taking the train, but my husband isn't a fan. Twice we just booked the regular seats and one time we booked the little roomettes. When our kids were little, taking the train was far better than driving all the way to Florida (i.e., they can get up and move around in the train).
This Christmas, only my daughter and I will be going to Florida so we will be flying out of Buffalo.