Amtrak - Kissimmee VS. Orlando station

[Islandfamily]

Hi,

We are traveling to WDW by amtrak in Sept. Just wondering whether it is better to arrive in the Kissimmee or Orlando? Which station has the better shuttle/transportation option to get to the the Disney Resorts?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

 

[Edd]

The Orlando station is the best one to depart for Disney at. There is Mears shuttle and plenty of cabs available for the short 20 minute trip to Disney. If you go on to Kissimmee you would problably get off the train the same time you arrive at Disney getting off in Orlando. The trip from the Kissimmee station is roughly 30 to 35 minutes depending on the traffic on 192.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We use Amtrak all the time, 15+ trips and always get off in Kissimmee. Orlando station is larger and most of the train will get off there, we've seen the station in chaos with everyone looking for transportation, luggage or a clue of where to go. Boarding there is worse, again most are boarding there and standing out in the Florida sun waiting your turn to board, dragging your carryons is not my cup of tea. Kissimmee station in the next station south of Orlando and another 20 minutes in train time, but a handful of people get off there. Same for boarding, you're on the train and out of the station in minutes. There are cabs usually there at train arrival, Kissimmee station ,no shuttles. We used to use the cabs and then found a car service that pick up there and do a grocery stop in route, ideal for us, we like sandwich fixings, pop, beer and booze and this service gets us all we want and to the resort lickety split. They also monitor the train's arrival time and adjust accordingly. Trains are noted for running late. When we used the cabs, 6 years ago, rate one way was 38 bucks plus tip, car service we now use runs 100.00 round trip but includes the grocery stop, much cleaner, very professional.

 

[Islandfamily]

Thank you for the information. Can you tell me what the name of the car service is that you take? Also, have you ever added an extra person to your reservation? We are booked for two roomettes (3 people). We may be adding a fourth person. Just wondering how easy/difficult that would be with the amtrak folks?

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thank you for the information. Can you tell me what the name of the car service is that you take? Also, have you ever added an extra person to your reservation? We are booked for two roomettes (3 people). We may be adding a fourth person. Just wondering how easy/difficult that would be with the amtrak folks?

Sorry, the company we used is a banned company from this site, if you PM me your home e-mail address, I'll gladly give you their contact info. We've used the same company for 5 years. We never pre-book a roomette but opt for asking in route, we board in Ohio and train to DC, and from DC to Kissimmee as soon as we board we ask the conductor, if any are available, they discount the price quite alot but you play the odds of there not being any. I see some problem as tickets have names on them and seating area, coach vs sleeper, I'd contact Amtrak's ticket center and inquire there as to the possibilities of adding an additional guest, price should be the same. It could be possible that the conductor could make the change but I rather know ahead of time and get it all cleared up before making the trip, you know, safe than sorry. As for the previous post, we use Amtrak, he doesn't, I've been in the Orlando station once due to a hurricane shutting down Kissimmee and areas south, and were sure glad we booked a sleeper that trip. We boarded with the sleeper people, about 10 of us and looked at the line of coach people, had to be over 100, standing under a long awning affair, sweating like crazy and boarding one by one but they all lined up to be first in line about 30 minutes before the train arrived. Take that Florida heat and humidity, 30 minutes before hand and another 30-45 minutes moving one by one forward to the boarding door, made for some miserable people. We watched from our roomette that trip. When we board in Kissimmee, 10-20 people, 2 different cars, we're on board in 10 minutes and pulling out to then pull into Orlando station and watch the fun, that's going home. Headed down, we watch everyone get off and scatter, looking. What's 20 more minutes down the line to exit with no trouble. We've been told many a time, Kissimmee station is closer than Orlando, hence the difference in cab fare. We paid 38 dollars back 5 years ago from Kissimmee and returning via Orlando due to the hurricane, cost us 48.00. As Indiana Jones states, chose wisely.

 

[erinch]

Thank you for the information. Can you tell me what the name of the car service is that you take? Also, have you ever added an extra person to your reservation? We are booked for two roomettes (3 people). We may be adding a fourth person. Just wondering how easy/difficult that would be with the amtrak folks?

We are going down on the autotrain next week with 2 roomettes and originally 4 people. It has now happened that we need to take our DS21 with us. I talked to a wonderful Amtrak woman who was able to add him to our reservation, but set him up in coach (it would have cost as much as the rest of us put together to get him a roomette at this late date; he'll cope ).

Since she was able to take all of that in stride, it should be a breeze to just add a name to an already existing roomette.

 

[lucas]

Bumping this thread. (I found this thread on Google!)

I've read conflicting info about whether it is a cheaper cab ride from the Orlando station vs Kissimmee station to WDW. We will be taking a cab from one of the stations to the Contemporary Resort. Anyone have any current experiences on cab rates?

P.S. We will be taking the train from the south to WDW (boarding at the Deerfield Beach Station). So, should we get off at the 1st stop in Kissimmee or go on to the Orlando station. My main question is about the cost of the cab to the Contemporary.