Amtrak train info w/pics!All Aboard-Choo-choo!UPDATED

[Miffy]

Thanks Lisa, I was worried about the baggage. My mother and I will have two actual "luggage" bags each and then a "tote" each as well, so we won't have too much, but glad the bigger bags can come on as well.
I was worried during the night I'd have to get down, maybe to use the restroom but i'm sure i'll sleep fine, probably will be tired by the end of the day. Did you ever sleep in the top bunk? Did it seem sturdy enough, I'm sure it's fine though, I think I saw a pick with an adult male sleeping up top so I'd be fine up there.
Really appreciate all the info! Very excited to take the train for the first time. I hate flying!!

Hi Kara!

I haven't been in an Amtrak bedroom, but I was in a roomette in December from NY to Orlando. What a great trip!!!! We're going to do it again this December.

In the roomette, there's an overhead storage area that holds 2 carry-on bags. If you look on the Amtrak website, there's a specific description of the dimensions of bags that will fit there. I'm pretty sure that the bedroom has a similar storage area, so you can store your tote bags out of the way.

I was looking on the Amtrak website, and I see that the bedroom has an actual small ladder that goes to the upper bunk. In the roomette, one uses landing points in the roomette itself (the closed toilet lid is the first "step" and the 2nd step is the deep ledge of the sink vanity) as the "ladder," but it works out fine.

I used the restroom during the night and it was quite easy to navigate the "steps." I'd suggest going up and down a couple of times before you go to sleep in order to get comfortable with the feel of the ladder. Also, the controls for the lights in the room are right at the head of the bed (both upper and lower beds), so you can easily turn on a very dim light in order to see both the ladder and where you're going and not wake up your sleeping companion.

Also, you were concerned about falling out of the upper bunk. No chance. In the roomette (and for sure there's the same thing in the bedroom), they hook up a cloth "guard rail" in the upper bunk so there's no way you could fall out of bed unless you were very small (like a baby, for example).

The porters come around and set up the beds after dinner. You can have the porter set up the bed anytime you want--just let them know.

It's loads of fun to sleep in the upper bed. Enjoy!

And--you're probably aware of this, but I thought I'd mention it--you get free meals in the dining car since you're in a bedroom.

Have a great trip.

If you have any other questions, fire away.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Great reminder about getting your meals!!! Be sure to plan to eat early-as soon as the dining opens since things sell out.We usually got lunch and dinner on the way down the first night, and breakfast(and lunch quick if it is running a lil late!) before we got off in the morning.I can't remember but I think you get to Orlando around 11AM

 

[NJGirl]

Thanks Lisa, I was worried about the baggage. My mother and I will have two actual "luggage" bags each and then a "tote" each as well, so we won't have too much, but glad the bigger bags can come on as well.
I was worried during the night I'd have to get down, maybe to use the restroom but i'm sure i'll sleep fine, probably will be tired by the end of the day. Did you ever sleep in the top bunk? Did it seem sturdy enough, I'm sure it's fine though, I think I saw a pick with an adult male sleeping up top so I'd be fine up there.
Really appreciate all the info! Very excited to take the train for the first time. I hate flying!!

I've been in a bedroom and get stuck with the upper bunk. I'm Pooh sized and it's sturdy enough for me. Its hard to get down though especially with the train rocking n rolling overnight. Getting up there is way easier!!!

 

[Kara315]

I've been in a bedroom and get stuck with the upper bunk. I'm Pooh sized and it's sturdy enough for me. Its hard to get down though especially with the train rocking n rolling overnight. Getting up there is way easier!!!

Lisa, Miffy and NJGirl, Thanks for all the help. I definatly feel better about sleeping in the top bunk lol! It's good to know it is possible to get down during the night, even if it's a bit of a pain. And glad it will be sturdy and also won't be able to fall out lol. I'm really excited, if only next May would come faster lol. Thanks again Guys!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Lisa, Miffy and NJGirl, Thanks for all the help. I definatly feel better about sleeping in the top bunk lol! It's good to know it is possible to get down during the night, even if it's a bit of a pain. And glad it will be sturdy and also won't be able to fall out lol. I'm really excited, if only next May would come faster lol. Thanks again Guys!

Have a great time and be sure to post here when you get back

 

[FBandA]

Just booked Wilmimgton to Orlando with DS16 booked coach seating. Hoping to upgrade to roomette. This will be our first train ride that long 19 1/2 hours. Thanks for all the tips, and for starting this thread.

 

[Miffy]

Hoping to upgrade to roomette.

Hi! The train trip to Orlando is wonderful. If you like train travel, you're going to love this ride.

I'm posting because I'm not sure what you mean when you say you're hoping to upgrade to roomette. If you mean you're hoping to get a roomette after you board the train, I wanted to say that although it used to be the case that unbooked roomettes were offered on the train for a good price, from what I gather, the on-board price of a roomette is now exactly the same (if not more) than the published price on the Amtrak website. So, if you'd like a roomette, book it now, because the price will probably never be lower.

If anyone has more information about this, please post. I know pepe of Ohio has booked roomettes after boarding the train, although I think that these days he's happier in a coach seat. He's at WDW right now, so maybe when he gets back he can give you some more info on this.

Have a great trip!

 

[FBandA]

Miffy

Thanks for the information on upgrading to a roomette. I will look into this a little more or maybe just stay in our coach seats. Just happy that in 72 days I will be heading to Disney World.

Also wanted to say called Mears to get price on shuttle $35.00 round trip from Orlando to resort. Taxi $68.00 one way without tip.

Need to call Mears back because we only need one way price. We are flying home got a good price from Southwest.

 

[Daisy Dog]

Hi, I have a few questions about taking the train to Orlando. First, I see there is an option to buy a roomette and a bedroom. My question is, can I get a roomette for my 8 and 12 year old and then my husband, myself and our 3 year old could get the bedroom? Would the rooms be close enough together? We wouldn't all fit in one room and I'd rather not sit up in coach all night with a 3 year old! Is there a way to request to have rooms next to one another? My parents will also be on the same train. Can the kids visit in their room as well? Thanks for any tips, we haven't travelled by train before! Also, is there a rental car service at the train station in Orlando? I thought I heard there was
Thanks!

 

[Miffy]

Hi, I have a few questions about taking the train to Orlando. First, I see there is an option to buy a roomette and a bedroom. My question is, can I get a roomette for my 8 and 12 year old and then my husband, myself and our 3 year old could get the bedroom? Would the rooms be close enough together? We wouldn't all fit in one room and I'd rather not sit up in coach all night with a 3 year old! Is there a way to request to have rooms next to one another? My parents will also be on the same train. Can the kids visit in their room as well? Thanks for any tips, we haven't travelled by train before! Also, is there a rental car service at the train station in Orlando? I thought I heard there was
Thanks!

Hi Daisy Dog!

We were just on both the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star (one each way) from NYC to Orlando in December. There are several sleeper cars on each train, so I can only speak to the 2 cars that we were in. In those cars, the roomettes and the bedrooms were in different parts of the car, i.e., their locations were not adjacent. There was a short jog in the corridor between the roomettes and the bedrooms.

There are only a few bedrooms (maybe 3 or 4, I'm not positive on the exact number) but there's an entire corridor of roomettes (at least 12 of them in the corridor) in each sleeping car. You could certainly get 2 roomettes or 2 bedrooms next to each other, but AFAIK, there are no bedrooms that are directly adjacent to any roomette. You can certainly call and talk to an Amtrak rep to get exact information, and I'd advise you do that. I totally understand that you don't want to spend the entire trip in coach--it'd be very difficult with your family, especially the 3-year-old.

One perk of the roomettes/bedrooms is that you get free meals in the dining car. Just in case you didn't know that. Try to eat at an early seating for any meal, though, since they can and do run out of certain items.

My instinct was to tell you to just get 2 roomettes--and then they could be either adjacent or across the (small) corridor from each other, but I don't know that you and your husband and 3-year-old would be comfortable. The roomette is pretty small and there'd be no place for your 3-year-old to sit, since there are only the 2 chairs. I realize that the cost of 2 bedrooms is an enormous expense. If you got a bedroom and your 8- and 12-year old shared a roomette, they wouldn't be all that far away from you, however you wouldn't be right next door to them. You'll have to judge for yourself if they're okay to travel this way. The train is completely safe, btw.

I notice you say your parents are taking the same train. If they're getting a roomette, perhaps you could book your two older children's roomette to be next to your parents'. Just a thought.

As for visiting other rooms -- of course. Your kids and you will be free to visit your parents in their room on the train. No problem there. Just make sure that you all book at the same time so that your rooms/roomettes will be in the same car. That way no one will have a long walk to reach the rest of your party.

There's a Hertz counter at the Orlando train station, however the actual Hertz cars, from what I understand, aren't at the station. Hertz picks you up in a van and takes you to the car rental place itself. I haven't done this, so my info is all gleaned from these boards. Perhaps someone with firsthand info will chime in later. We took a car service in December. I'm a Disney transit person--haven't had a rental car at WDW in many moons.

If you read through this thread, there's a lot of great info--although I realize it can be daunting (especially right now with the board running sooooo slooooowly) to leaf through this many web pages.

Hope I was of some help. It's a great train ride. We really loved it and are looking forward to a repeat ride this December!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Hi, I have a few questions about taking the train to Orlando. First, I see there is an option to buy a roomette and a bedroom. My question is, can I get a roomette for my 8 and 12 year old and then my husband, myself and our 3 year old could get the bedroom? Would the rooms be close enough together? We wouldn't all fit in one room and I'd rather not sit up in coach all night with a 3 year old! Is there a way to request to have rooms next to one another? My parents will also be on the same train. Can the kids visit in their room as well? Thanks for any tips, we haven't travelled by train before! Also, is there a rental car service at the train station in Orlando? I thought I heard there was
Thanks!

Daisy-the last post had some good info but I wanted to add that there is OR WAS a Hertz at the Orlando station that I used(see 1st page on this thread).I walked up to the counter and then out the door to my car-right outside the door.
As for the rooms-yes there are roomettes and bedroom on the same car.No they are not across from each other BUT we had a bedroom on the side of our roomette. I believe it was the last room on that car. I would do as previously suggested and try to get the roomette for the kids opposite your parents.If not, I would just ask for a roomette and bedroom in the same car.They will be close enough.I am a worry wart and I would do this They might be 10 feet away.They can lock the door at night but I never had anyone walking around at night in our cars.
Also as posted-you can visit anywhere you want on the train.Have fun!!Book early!!

 

[Daisy Dog]

Miffy, Thank you so much for your response! I am a little nervous about traveling this way! I'm glad to hear it worked out well for you, as I would be taking the same route! I'm just a bit nervous about the length of time spent on the train with the little one! But, hoping to keep her busy with all kinds of things to do (and visiting with Nana & Papa lol) ! My older kids are actually really excited to travel this way, and I have heard it can be fun! I suppose it is probably is easier than driving! : ) Thanks!!

 

[Miffy]

Daisy Dog -- You are welcome. I hope you saw lisa-upnorth's post, too, since she had (and always has!) loads of good info. I wanted to second what lisa-upnorth said about booking early. Booking the train isn't like booking a flight. Amtrak's prices are usually lowest the farther out you book. And although there may be sales on the train fare, I've never seen the price for the bedrooms and roomettes discounted. As time goes on, the prices for the bedrooms and roomettes (which prices, I'm sure you realize, are in addition to the train fare) only go up, up, up.

Last year I waited to book and while I was waiting, the price of the roomette from NYC to Orlando on the train I'd wanted went up significantly. I ended up booking the later train (which turned out fine) immediately, since I didn't want to lose the lowest price on the roomette. And I booked the tickets 9 months ahead of the trip.

Another nice thing about Amtrak (as opposed to airlines) is that Amtrak has very good refund policies. The coach fare is fully refundable at any time before travel begins and the fare for the roomettes/bedrooms is fully refundable up to 7 days before departure. I believe if you cancel the roomette/bedroom after that time, you can get an exchange voucher to use on another train.

It is a long trip. I see you're in CT, so you're going even further than we did. And, be warned, the train can run late. Freights have the right of way on the rails, so you can end up with an unplanned-for delay. However, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor have had pretty good on-time records lately. We were only about an hour late getting into Orlando and we got back to NYC an hour early!

Bring plenty of stuff to do on the train and you'll be fine.

Another thing -- if you travel at all by Amtrak, you might want to join Amtrak Guest Rewards.

And have fun!!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We just came home last night from our WDW vacation....as for the questions posed on train travel.....we haven't asked on board for a sleeper in the last couple of trip and until I hear it from the conductor's mouth, no discounted up grades in route...I won't believe it...

On to the roomettes....they are small, real small...actually too small for us anymore...claustrophic in my way of thinking and if you're planning on not doing the bottom bunk...I'd rethink climbing up to the top one....very narrow to get up there, stand on the toilet, then sink and shinning up to the birth....just too confining and small and the car itself.....with roomettes down both sides, the corridor is so narrow, 2 people can not pass......

As for pre booking a sleeper, the prices are too ridiclous for one night....way too unreasonable no matter what, meals included is no bargain....and one night on a train in coach is not that bad....it's basically the length of the trip that complicates the ride....for us....out of Alliance Ohio to DC, 9 hours and then the ridiclious 8 hour layover in DC waiting for the southboard and then 17 hours on that one to Kissimmee....train wise not bad but sitting in DC for 8 hours after sitting on board for 9 and lloking to 17 more hours of sitting.....either way, in coach or sleepers...alot of back breaking sitting....

We do prefer the double decker viewliner cars that run east and west over the single staged ones south of DC....alot more room, more restroom facilities, better ride but they won't fit in the tunnels out of DC so we're stuck with the single level cars...but would be nice....

I've praised train travel over the years but as I get older, and the layovers longer....just sitting for long periods of time is getting real old but other than flying or driving....might have to rethink my travel options...though the price is decent, it's the time anymore with the layover in DC.....

Like I said, prebooking a sleeper cost more than a deluxe resort room in WDW and it's only for 17 hours.....not in my pocketbook is it worth it..if I had tons of disposible income (maybe) but booking on board (and until I hear differently) is not bad getting qround 50% off ......a better deal but even at that, the bedrooms are way out of sight in my thinking, not for us.....

You all have a great time traveling the rails...we're back, had a great time and the weather was ideal...

 

[torinsmom]

Daisy Dog -- You are welcome. I hope you saw lisa-upnorth's post, too, since she had (and always has!) loads of good info. I wanted to second what lisa-upnorth said about booking early. Booking the train isn't like booking a flight. Amtrak's prices are usually lowest the farther out you book. And although there may be sales on the train fare, I've never seen the price for the bedrooms and roomettes discounted. As time goes on, the prices for the bedrooms and roomettes (which prices, I'm sure you realize, are in addition to the train fare) only go up, up, up.

Last year I waited to book and while I was waiting, the price of the roomette from NYC to Orlando on the train I'd wanted went up significantly. I ended up booking the later train (which turned out fine) immediately, since I didn't want to lose the lowest price on the roomette. And I booked the tickets 9 months ahead of the trip.

Another nice thing about Amtrak (as opposed to airlines) is that Amtrak has very good refund policies. The coach fare is fully refundable at any time before travel begins and the fare for the roomettes/bedrooms is fully refundable up to 7 days before departure. I believe if you cancel the roomette/bedroom after that time, you can get an exchange voucher to use on another train.

It is a long trip. I see you're in CT, so you're going even further than we did. And, be warned, the train can run late. Freights have the right of way on the rails, so you can end up with an unplanned-for delay. However, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor have had pretty good on-time records lately. We were only about an hour late getting into Orlando and we got back to NYC an hour early!

Bring plenty of stuff to do on the train and you'll be fine.

Another thing -- if you travel at all by Amtrak, you might want to join Amtrak Guest Rewards.

And have fun!!!

I had to cancel my roomette on the way back last August, as my dad had emergency surgery and I rode back with my sister's family a few days earlier. They refunded a certain part and gave me an exchange voucher for the rest. I had considered driving this year, but the voucher expires in August, so we will be doing Amtrak again.

And yes, the train can be late. Our train was scheduled to leave Cary NC at 9:30pm last AUgust and it ended up being 1:30am when it arrived When we left home, the Amtrak 1-800 number said 11pm, but it kept getting later after we got to the station. That station was closed at the time, so it was along and frustrating wait in the car. When we took the train a few years ago, it was also late both ways, but more like an hour. Also, know that because the freight trains have right of way, the train sometimes stops for periods of time to wait for one to pass. I didn't know this and was really freaked out when we stopped for over an hour and just SAT. That was on the way. On the way back, a freight train broke down and we again sat for over an hour waiting for another engine to be brought in. I think what I learbed from that trip was not to schedule anything for arrival day. You may get there are the scheduled 10:30am, or it may be 12 or 1 or 2.

I would not do a roomette again after last year. I really didn't know how small those rooms were and how loud the whistle can sound. I think I can sleep as well in coach as I did in the roomette.

Oh, and bring a blanket and pillow if you want to sleep. It can get pretty cold in the cars and they charge to rent a blanket and pillow.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Really a great tool for cell phone app users.....quick, decent and up dated fast to keep track of your trains arrival.....but you got to remember, though the train is late and they post the suspected arrival time....trains can and do make up time, so keep checking and arrive alittle earlier than predicted....train waits for no one.....

 

[LuvEeyore]

Hi Everyone!
I am new to train travel in the US but have lived so close to the tracks that the engineers waved everytime they saw me(my bedroom window was less that 20 feet from the tracks. I have been on a 30+ hour train ride in Russia but never in the US

I am traveling from Virginia to Orlando December. My mother and two 18 year old girls would like to take the train. If we do it would be out of Raleigh NC as I refuse to drive or even take the train out of Virginia stations as it will add hours to the triip(like 3x as many as just driving to Raleigh in the first place)

Here are my questions.
1) any possibility of getting a roomette and 2 coach seats and being able to switch out?
2) is there parking near the Raleigh train station?

We are thinking of driving a rental car one way or flying down and taking the train back to limit the number of days the girls miss in school.

Any comments or suggestions? We live in Virginia about 45 minutes from Winston salem and 1 hour from Roanoke and I work in Roanoke VA

Thanks for info in advance.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Hi Everyone!
I am new to train travel in the US but have lived so close to the tracks that the engineers waved everytime they saw me(my bedroom window was less that 20 feet from the tracks. I have been on a 30+ hour train ride in Russia but never in the US

I am traveling from Virginia to Orlando December. My mother and two 18 year old girls would like to take the train. If we do it would be out of Raleigh NC as I refuse to drive or even take the train out of Virginia stations as it will add hours to the triip(like 3x as many as just driving to Raleigh in the first place)

Here are my questions.
1) any possibility of getting a roomette and 2 coach seats and being able to switch out?
2) is there parking near the Raleigh train station?

We are thinking of driving a rental car one way or flying down and taking the train back to limit the number of days the girls miss in school.

Any comments or suggestions? We live in Virginia about 45 minutes from Winston salem and 1 hour from Roanoke and I work in Roanoke VA

Thanks for info in advance.

are you saying you want to buy 2 seats AND a roomette????WHY??? The roomette is all you need You can leave the room and walk to the dining car to have a change but I would not want to leave my roomette to sit in coach I LOVE the rooms over coach!!I do not tolerate parents that just let their kids do anything-like yell,fight,run around and cry and whine the whole trip.I am not talking about small children I mean older kids acting up while parents ignore them.I do not want them bothering me for 24 hours so I enjoy my roomette very much!

 

[Miffy]

Here are my questions.
1) any possibility of getting a roomette and 2 coach seats and being able to switch out?

To clarify: you cannot buy just a roomette. You have to buy the seats, i.e., the coach fare in order to also purchase the roomette. The cost of the roomette is (1) regular coach fare PLUS (2) the price for the roomette. When you buy the roomette, you get only the roomette. You do not also have 2 coach seats, even though it may seem like that's what you've paid for.

I hope that's clear. It may not be!

If this doesn't make complete sense, just go to the Amtrak website and book your trip (without finalizing it -- this is just a test!). You'll see how the charge for the roomette works. Unfortunately, if you book a roomette, you cannot also sit in coach. You have to sit in your roomette.

 

[Miffy]

Like I said, prebooking a sleeper cost more than a deluxe resort room in WDW

Hi pepe! Glad you had a good trip and I see you're going again in September. Nice!

The price right now for a roomette one way from NYC to Orlando in December 2012 is $216 in addition to the coach fare, which $216 is less than the cost of one night at a WDW deluxe hotel. It's more if you also count the coach fare, but I figure that one has to buy the coach fare anyway and the roomette is sort of one's hotel for the night. That's not to say it's cheap -- it's not.

With the roomette, it's roughly double the cost of plane fare to take the train w/roomette round trip from NYC to Orlando. We just think of the train (and the roomette) as part of the trip instead of as merely the means to get there. The roomette is small, but it's quiet and private. We found it comfortable, but I understand that that's something that can vary from person to person. I'd much prefer to be in the small roomette than to be in coach -- I agree with lisa-upnorth's description of the noise in coach.

We don't have an 8-hour layover in DC, though. That doesn't sound like fun at all!