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

[js]

Orlando is fine. That's where we always get off, although I know other people on this thread prefer Kissimmee.

If you arrange for a car service, you can get a good round-trip fare (that's assuming you need a round-trip car service to the train) and many of these services also include a 30-minute grocery stop, which we always find very useful. Plenty of car services are recommended on these boards. I'm sure they're all quite fine and the prices are very similar. But there are plenty of taxis and car services who wait for the train, so if you don't book ahead of time, you'll still be able to get a cab to your resort.

Enjoy the train!

Thanks. I am going to keep it Orlando.

I upgraded to a roomette today I am VERY excited LOL
I am going myself and meeting my dh and ds in Disney. I will be flying back with them though.

I do not mind at all to be alone and looking forward to the alone time.
There is no internet but I will download a couple of books on my Kindle and a few movies. I plan on eating all my meals in the roomette. Actually, I would prefer that over going and sitting at a table with strangers I may/may not have to talk to LOL

But, I have a couple of questions now:

First, tipping. Should I tip my roomette attendent when I get on and for each meal? I am getting on in Newark, NJ. What do you all do and how much do you give/when.

Second, can I ask the attendent to make up the top bed and leave the bottom as the chairs since it will be just me? Can I sit in the chairs while the bed is down. Which brings me to the third question....If the bed can be down while I sit in the chair, can I ask the attendent to do this at any time or is it a set time?

I was going to give my dh my luggage since he can take on 3 pieces since in First class but thinking now I would take my regular size lugguge on with me and not check it. Has anyone done this? I would rather do this since my ds is traveling with his HS baseball team on one flight, my dh is traveling on another flight after work and I will be in Florida about (HOPEFULLY) 9 hours before my dh. I would love to have my luggage and unpack when I get to the hotel. Could I do this?

Is there anything now that I need to know since I will be traveling on my own?

I want to find a cab service I can call and have waiting for me to take me to Disney. I'm not sure I will want a stop since I may be calling gardengrocer.

Thanks so much for ALL the help. Plus, I cannot find any pictures. I thought I read they were in post 245 or something like that but I can't find them.

Thanks SOOO much! Leaving in March and can't wait

 

[lisa-upnorth]

That is awesome!! When is your next trip??

I am heading down May 21st---and can NOT wait!!!!!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Thanks. I am going to keep it Orlando.

I upgraded to a roomette today I am VERY excited LOL
I am going myself and meeting my dh and ds in Disney. I will be flying back with them though.

I do not mind at all to be alone and looking forward to the alone time.
There is no internet but I will download a couple of books on my Kindle and a few movies. I plan on eating all my meals in the roomette. Actually, I would prefer that over going and sitting at a table with strangers I may/may not have to talk to LOL

But, I have a couple of questions now:

First, tipping. Should I tip my roomette attendent when I get on and for each meal? I am getting on in Newark, NJ. What do you all do and how much do you give/when.

Second, can I ask the attendent to make up the top bed and leave the bottom as the chairs since it will be just me? Can I sit in the chairs while the bed is down. Which brings me to the third question....If the bed can be down while I sit in the chair, can I ask the attendent to do this at any time or is it a set time?

I was going to give my dh my luggage since he can take on 3 pieces since in First class but thinking now I would take my regular size lugguge on with me and not check it. Has anyone done this? I would rather do this since my ds is traveling with his HS baseball team on one flight, my dh is traveling on another flight after work and I will be in Florida about (HOPEFULLY) 9 hours before my dh. I would love to have my luggage and unpack when I get to the hotel. Could I do this?

Is there anything now that I need to know since I will be traveling on my own?

I want to find a cab service I can call and have waiting for me to take me to Disney. I'm not sure I will want a stop since I may be calling gardengrocer.

Thanks so much for ALL the help. Plus, I cannot find any pictures. I thought I read they were in post 245 or something like that but I can't find them.

Thanks SOOO much! Leaving in March and can't wait

you can have the bed made up by them-or do it yourself if you can swing it. BE CAREFUL not to stand up and hit your head! It hurts!!! I have had our upper bunk a bed during the day for a nap so I am sure they can help you earlier if you wish.
we take out 2 totebags and 1 of the smaller rolling dufflebag suitcases from LL Bean into our room.If you are alone you will have room in the other chair should you want to put something there. I do check large bags though-and have never had a problem.
Pics are at the beginning and a few threads back I posted where the info board pic was(sorry but I can't remember).
Call me mean but I do not tip when I get on. I tip for the meals and when I get off.
Pepe will have more to add I am sure

 

[js]

you can have the bed made up by them-or do it yourself if you can swing it. BE CAREFUL not to stand up and hit your head! It hurts!!! I have had our upper bunk a bed during the day for a nap so I am sure they can help you earlier if you wish.
we take out 2 totebags and 1 of the smaller rolling dufflebag suitcases from LL Bean into our room.If you are alone you will have room in the other chair should you want to put something there. I do check large bags though-and have never had a problem.
Pics are at the beginning and a few threads back I posted where the info board pic was(sorry but I can't remember).
Call me mean but I do not tip when I get on. I tip for the meals and when I get off.
Pepe will have more to add I am sure

Thanks SO much! I saw a youtube video and it showed how easily it looks like you can pull down the bed yourself. It doesn't look like it would be a problem for me.

Can you bring on a regular sized piece of luggage (one that you would have to check if flying)? Thanks so much!

I tend to agree with you about the tipping. For meals and when I get off.
Is about $5 a meal too little? How much, approximatley do you tip when you get off. I don't anticipate asking for anything other than my meals be delivered/taken away from the room.

Do I pick my lunch/dinner/breakfast time when I get onboard or do they tell me the times (Want to make sure I'm not napping LOL).

I'll be getting on in Newark, NJ (not Newark Airport). Is there a seperate lounge where I can wait for the train at that station since I'm in a roomette?

Thanks so much!

 

[NJRRK]

Thanks SO much! I saw a youtube video and it showed how easily it looks like you can pull down the bed yourself. It doesn't look like it would be a problem for me.

Can you bring on a regular sized piece of luggage (one that you would have to check if flying)? Thanks so much!

I tend to agree with you about the tipping. For meals and when I get off.
Is about $5 a meal too little? How much, approximatley do you tip when you get off. I don't anticipate asking for anything other than my meals be delivered/taken away from the room.

Do I pick my lunch/dinner/breakfast time when I get onboard or do they tell me the times (Want to make sure I'm not napping LOL).

I'll be getting on in Newark, NJ (not Newark Airport). Is there a seperate lounge where I can wait for the train at that station since I'm in a roomette?

Thanks so much!

Only Penn Station in New York has the lounge (in the NY area). Newark Penn Station is mostly a commuter station for NJ Transit and PATH. Even more so than NY Penn. Sorry, no lounge but the station isn't bad

 

[js]

Only Penn Station in New York has the lounge (in the NY area). Newark Penn Station is mostly a commuter station for NJ Transit and PATH. Even more so than NY Penn. Sorry, no lounge but the station isn't bad

Thanks. That is actually why I chose there over Penn (I live in Staten Island) since I thought the station would be a little less chaotic and more civilized. I worked in the Penn area for years and didn't feel like going back there again LOL

Thank you, though, for letting me know.

 

[NJRRK]

Thanks. That is actually why I chose there over Penn (I live in Staten Island) since I thought the station would be a little less chaotic and more civilized. I worked in the Penn area for years and didn't feel like going back there again LOL

Thank you, though, for letting me know.

Too bad the Florida Trains don't stop at Metropark anymore.

If you're taking the Silver Star the station is going to be getting busy when you're there. If you're taking the Silver Meteor you're going to be after morning rush, which is good.

 

[PlutoGirl1117]

OK, so I am plugging away slowly at this thread.......only up to page 18! (what better way to spend a rainy Sunday though, researching for Disney???)

This will be our first time ever going by train, and the more I read, the more excited I get. My daughter and I HATE flying, my husband will do anything but drive, my son so far is a hold out and wants to fly down. Whatever!

Anyway! We are not going until a year from now. I know, right???

Should I be signing up for the rewards membership now, or wait until I get closer? I'm getting a bit confused with all the info. I am going to go for the credit card too. Think I might do one in my name and one in hubby's, if possible.


This thread is great! This year is SOOOOOOOOOOOO going to drag!

 

[pepe of ohio]

OK, so I am plugging away slowly at this thread.......only up to page 18! (what better way to spend a rainy Sunday though, researching for Disney???)

This will be our first time ever going by train, and the more I read, the more excited I get. My daughter and I HATE flying, my husband will do anything but drive, my son so far is a hold out and wants to fly down. Whatever!

Anyway! We are not going until a year from now. I know, right???

Should I be signing up for the rewards membership now, or wait until I get closer? I'm getting a bit confused with all the info. I am going to go for the credit card too. Think I might do one in my name and one in hubby's, if possible.

This thread is great! This year is SOOOOOOOOOOOO going to drag!

Keep reading... It gets more confusing as you go..

Set up a Rewards account, heck, mention me and I'll get 50" points or is it I recommend you??

Credit card give you a bunch of points to use ..

We use the regular Amtrak alot... You'll see my posts here alot...we keep it simple and easy... And cheap... Sleepers are nice but at a high cost, we've done a bunch just coach and enjoyed them...

Train travel is all in how you look at it... We lack lunches and drinks... blankets and play things ( were 2 adults) and like to just sit back, cuddle in our blankets and munch our way to Kissimmee... Easy to sleep one night in coach too, forget about the others in the car... They ain't paying any attention to you same as you to them ,

Ride the rails, lie back and relax and see the country!!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

I agree with Pepe and think you should sign up now. Get the points for signing up AND be sure to use the rewards site if you order online! You can earn points for shopping. I use it when I order from Home Depot and Snapfish, among MANY other sites.The rewards page with tell you how to earn.Start earning for that free roomette!

 

[Teacher03]

I agree with Pepe and think you should sign up now. Get the points for signing up AND be sure to use the rewards site if you order online! You can earn points for shopping. I use it when I order from Home Depot and Snapfish, among MANY other sites.The rewards page with tell you how to earn.Start earning for that free roomette!

ITA. I just booked a roomette for our trip to Disney in June, all with points earned. Last year I booked 4 roomettes on points. We charge everything on our Amtrak credit card and earn points for shopping.

Just a note, make sure you do research on the Amtrak website before booking your rewards trip. When I called yesterday to make my reservation, the Amtrak employee insisted my trip (from Alliance, OH) to Disney was two zones. I told her I was pretty sure it wasn't and had to insist that she check again. If I knew that it was only 1 zone and hadn't insisted, I would have just taken her word for it. (More points are needed the more zones you cross.)

 

[pepe of ohio]

ITA. I just booked a roomette for our trip to Disney in June, all with points earned. Last year I booked 4 roomettes on points. We charge everything on our Amtrak credit card and earn points for shopping.

Just a note, make sure you do research on the Amtrak website before booking your rewards trip. When I called yesterday to make my reservation, the Amtrak employee insisted my trip (from Alliance, OH) to Disney was two zones. I told her I was pretty sure it wasn't and had to insist that she check again. If I knew that it was only 1 zone and hadn't insisted, I would have just taken her word for it. (More points are needed the more zones you cross.)

Hi Teacher03, we take little shopping excursions to Chicago and DC just for one night to get away, ride the train and amass points... From ALC rather cheap to those 2 stations!!

 

[Teacher03]

Hi Teacher03, we take little shopping excursions to Chicago and DC just for one night to get away, ride the train and amass points... From ALC rather cheap to those 2 stations!!

Hi Pepe. We go to DC alot, my DD lives there so it is so convenient to take the train. We are thinking about planning a trip to Chicago in the near future.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Hi Pepe. We go to DC alot, my DD lives there so it is so convenient to take the train. We are thinking about planning a trip to Chicago in the near future.

Since they redid the ALC station, it seems nicer to train from there...my wife and her sister took the train to Chicago (my sister in laws first train trip) and she's hooked... They did an over nighter in Chicago and came home...shopping..eating thing....

We're talking on doing a DC run since the DC station is so huge... It will blow her away, we also want to do the double decker around DC and spend the night....since you visit DC alot, you must be an expert...

Sure wish they can curb that 6+ hour lay over on the Florida run... They won't let us book the earlier train out of DC, figuring we'd be late and miss it... I'm still working around that detail...nice hearing from you ! Last 2 trips to WDW we drove... Grandchildren were along and we pacified their parents....

 

[GetGlowing]

I was hoping to take Amtrak down to Miami and back for a Disney cruise later this month, but when i went to check on tickets, the dates I needed had track work south of Jacksonville, so the train was replaced by a motorcoach on those legs. No thanks.

Really wish they would get wifi on the Silver trains, then they'd be my absolute favorite way to travel to Florida.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using DISBoards

 

[pepe of ohio]

I was hoping to take Amtrak down to Miami and back for a Disney cruise later this month, but when i went to check on tickets, the dates I needed had track work south of Jacksonville, so the train was replaced by a motorcoach on those legs. No thanks.

Really wish they would get wifi on the Silver trains, then they'd be my absolute favorite way to travel to Florida.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using DISBoards

It's terrible when they don't tell you and then stick you on a motor coach... We've had that happen a couple of times, not to my liking... If I want to use a bus, I would have reserved one.... They are too confined and miserable...but it seems you're controlled by the Amtrak Gods...

A bus for and hour is not bad around Rail maintenance.... We got bused from Pittsburg to DC and another time from DC to Richmond....we were never sure where our bags were and the DC to Richmond bus am was a day later ( argued with Amtrak to put us all up over the night while they got their act together) missed first night in WDW over that mess... But things happen I guess, better safe than sorry but have some compassion for the victims please...

 

[Pooh2]

I made online purchases at 2 retailers by clicking on the amtrak shopping portal. The first one did not ask for my rewards number, the second retailer did.
Is the only requirement to receive points to go through the amtrak portal, or did I miss something on the first site by not entering my rewards number?

Also, is the shipping charge included in the points tally?

 

[choppee]

so i've been trolling and reading all the info about the trains. really great information here, and i'm getting kinda stoked about doing the train instead of driving. it would be me, dh, and three kids aged 10, 8 and 6 from durham, nc....ugh. sooooo not looking forward to doing all that driving with three kids! when i checked the amtrak site and priced tickets, i was shocked at how affordable it was compared to flying! we'd save a small fortune. i hear some folks on this post with iffy responses about the train in coach, and i'm kinda nervous about that. however, i can't justify spending nearly 2 grand on plane tickets when i could just spend under 600 dollars on a train instead! help me out here, am i right???? is it really that simple and worth the savings?

 

[Jacquie668]

I'm not wanting to start flying again, I used to every other weekend for years when I was a kid - teen and it wore me out (had a bad experience, almost a crash situation). So while I will fly if I have to when looking at alternative transportation trains came up and you know...this thread has me intrigued!

I've never been on a real train...might be a fun thing to do instead of driving somewhere.

 

[pepe of ohio]

so i've been trolling and reading all the info about the trains. really great information here, and i'm getting kinda stoked about doing the train instead of driving. it would be me, dh, and three kids aged 10, 8 and 6 from durham, nc....ugh. sooooo not looking forward to doing all that driving with three kids! when i checked the amtrak site and priced tickets, i was shocked at how affordable it was compared to flying! we'd save a small fortune. i hear some folks on this post with iffy responses about the train in coach, and i'm kinda nervous about that. however, i can't justify spending nearly 2 grand on plane tickets when i could just spend under 600 dollars on a train instead! help me out here, am i right???? is it really that simple and worth the savings?

Don't let a lot of those posts say you must do sleepers.... There's nothing wrong with going coach ..... We do it all most every trip.... The pair if seats are like barkaloungers..... Recline way back , leg rest rises, personal reading lights, seats very high backed... You can't see the Kepler on front of you at all...plenty of leg room ..... quite a personal private space and when they dim the lights at 10pm, sleep cones easy ... no reason to be uncomfortable ...

We pack food sbd drinks, have are own blankets and stuff to amuse us, iPods, reading material portable DVD player etc...for the price it's hard to beat and we never use a car while on Disney property....

Go for it, you'll never know if you'll like it unless you do it... Take a day trip from your town to the next and back... It's cheap, gives you a taste of the train and its so easy....just remember to keep your children in toe and all electronics require headphones...