Amtrak train question

[mchelle77]

Has anyone taken the Amtrak to Orlando? My husband and I are taking it with our 4yo (neither of us like fying - we always drive, but thought it would be too much on our daughter, plus we don't want to deal with the loooooong drive home to NH! )

We were fine about it, even excited, but my husband's uncle said he's taken it and to forget about the 22 hours they tell you it is, that it's more like 30 with all the little stops. That irritates me because, based on when they say it gets to Orlando, I had us getting to WDW around 330pm (and made Chef Mickey reservations for 730pm that first night)

Anyone else have any experience with it?

 

[DC7800]

If the schedule says it takes 22 hours, then it will indeed take about 22 hours. "All the little stops" are allowed for in that 22-hour schedule. Trains, like planes and buses, can run late sometimes, but the Florida trains have an excellent on-time arrival record, and for any such train to be eight hours late is exceedingly rare. You can relax about that; Chef Mickey's reservation will certainly be fine.

Over the last month, the train has arrived Orlando on average at 1:11 p.m. (scheduled 12:55). That's considered on-time. The latest arrival for the Silver Meteor, the train I presume you are on, was 2:20 p.m., or 85 minutes down, and that's happened only once.

 

[BigTigger]

The train is a fun trip down, but it will seem really long on the way back. Coming from NH, you'll change to the Florida train at Penn Station in NYC. The change usually leaves you lots of time to get a snack, etc. before boarding the Silver Meteor or Silver Star. I assume you're traveling coach and not a sleeper car. Bring extra pillows. You'll need them after you get into southern VA and the Carolinas as every swamp and small town looks the same and you'll want to fall asleep as close to night fall as possible. If you are noise sensitive, buy noise cancelling headphones or bring earplugs. Sit in the middle of the train to avoid the door opening and closing whooshes during the night. If you did not buy a seat for the 4 year old, you may regret it during the overnight portion as the seats are spacious for one, but not two. The club car can pass the time, but be warned that it will run out of most beverages except soda during the trip. You may want to pack some bottled water and other drinks. Also pack the cheap disposable hand wipes and baby wipes for the bathroom. Enjoy the trip, I don't mean to dissuade you, just give you some tips to make the trip easier.

 

[gmomof15]

We take the train every year from Philly, about 20 hrs. from here. It is possible for the train to be late by a few hours but that is unusual. CSX owns the tracks and sometimes Amtrak has to pull to a side track and let them go by. (usually at night) In the last 15 years only once was it about 3 hours late (during our trips). Most trips it's about 15 to 20 minutes late which is great time when you think of the distance it's traveling.

Did you get a sleeper or coach? We always get the large sleeper and while the price is ridiculous I love it. It's a long trip for a 4 year old. I hope she is a child who enjoys relaxing and can entertain herself. Be aware that even though someone else is driving when you get there you will still be tired, especially with a small child to occupy. You might want to consider rescheduling your CM to another night when you all are not so tired.

 

[gmomof15]

Wanted to add, Although we love the train I want to forewarn you about the restrooms especially since you're taking a small child. Once the train starts to fill up (coach seats) and you go through a few states the restrooms become very dirty. Sticky floor, filled trash, dirty sink, tiolet, etc. Take bacterial wipes with you .
The dirty rest-rooms on the train are the main reason we get a large sleeper (they have their own enclosed small bathroom). There really is no reason for them not to be cleaned since they have a large number of employees on each train, unfortunately few of them want to do anything. We (and many others ) have complained to Amtrak for years about this problem but nothing has changed.
As mentioned by OP take a small cooler with drinks and snacks maybe lunch. Also bring blanket and sweater and wear long pants. The train is freezing cold all the time.

 

[chabs]

We took the train ONCE (I repeat ONCE-we ended up flying back because we hated it so much). I thought it would be fun and conviced my DH (fiancee at the time) that we would like relaxing trip down. We are near Albany, NY and it was supposed to be a 22-24 hour trip-NOT! It took over 30 hours because it made a bunch of little stops and there was some type of problem with the traffic system (not sure what it was?) I hear that is typical with the train. It was not fun like I thought it was going to be (not sure why I thought this either!) The bathrooms were clean for about the first hour-after that they were absolutely FILTHY. There were a bunch of high school kids in our coach car and they were rifling through our bags and taking our pillows when we were in the food car. They were also drinking and making a huge mess out of the restrooms (vomit and other "messes" just sat there-nobody cleaned it up ever). We ended up renting one of the employees' sleeper car rooms for the rest of the trip. Forget sleeping too-it's too cramped and noisy. I couldn't wait to get off the train and get some fresh air. We ended up buying plane tickets for the ride back-it was that bad!

As much as you dislike flying-it's worth the 3 hour trip to just get there and get home. Think about being stuck in a dirty airplane for 30 hours-that's what it is like-there really isn't that much more room to move around. Maybe you'd like the autotrain better? I've heard better reviews about that, but for that price, you might as well fly.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We took the train ONCE (I repeat ONCE-we ended up flying back because we hated it so much). I thought it would be fun and conviced my DH (fiancee at the time) that we would like relaxing trip down. We are near Albany, NY and it was supposed to be a 22-24 hour trip-NOT! It took over 30 hours because it made a bunch of little stops and there was some type of problem with the traffic system (not sure what it was?) I hear that is typical with the train.

I've taken the train to NYC before, never further, it's just too slow an inconvenient. The biggest problem is that freight traffic has priority over the passenger traffic and that results in delays a lot of the time.

The US has a very poor rail transportation system for passenger service.

 

[spinetnglr]

Wanted to add, Although we love the train I want to forewarn you about the restrooms especially since you're taking a small child. Once the train starts to fill up (coach seats) and you go through a few states the restrooms become very dirty. Sticky floor, filled trash, dirty sink, tiolet, etc. Take bacterial wipes with you .
The dirty rest-rooms on the train are the main reason we get a large sleeper (they have their own enclosed small bathroom). There really is no reason for them not to be cleaned since they have a large number of employees on each train, unfortunately few of them want to do anything. We (and many others ) have complained to Amtrak for years about this problem but nothing has changed.
As mentioned by OP take a small cooler with drinks and snacks maybe lunch. Also bring blanket and sweater and wear long pants. The train is freezing cold all the time.

I agree with every thing this poster said 100%. The farther into the trip the worse the bathrooms get to be. We took the Silver Meteor to FL a few years ago boarding in Baltimore. It took us about 22 hours to get there from Maryland so I'm not sure how they do it in 22 from NH. One thing I can suggest to you especially if you are traveling with a child. Try to get seats as far back toward the end of the train as you can, last car preferrable. The bathrooms are located at the back of each car. If you get in the last car you mostly only have the people from that car using that bathroom instead of people coming up from the car behind you to use the bathroom on your car. Also it cuts down on the aisle traffic to and from the bathroom in the middle of the night if you are trying to catch a few zzzzzz's. Bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizers are a must!!

 

[mchelle77]

I started feeling good about it, but now we're talking about driving Seriously! It might even be cheaper AND we'll have our car with us. Not necessary when staying on the property, but my husband likes having control over his own schedule!

 

[Missytara]

Agree about the restrooms; the same thing happened on our flight overseas - and it was only 7-1/2 hours.... by the end of the trip I wanted to go in and brush my teeth and the bathroom was so filthy, I just turned around and walked out. We waited till we got to the cabin on the ship......

It was like sharing one hotel room with 300 people!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I was in a train accident on Amtrak in 1984 in NYC-our train was coming in from Boston and hit a train head on coming out of NYC. We were on a bridge and derailed. The engineer on our train was high and had been repeatedly warned by amtrak, who chose to let him remain at his job despite repeated problems. Here's the news footage of it:

http://www.efootage.com/play-stock-footage-clip/59415/accidentaccidentsdisasterdisastersimpactcatastrophetragedymisfortune

They brought lawyers on board the train to get us to sign papers releasing Amtrak from liability. My mom's copy still has blood all over it, she doesn't remember signing it (she broke her nose and her foot, my face was cut up).

So, any time somebody posts asking about Amtrak, this is my answer. The more people I can keep from riding them, the better.

 

[bumbershoot]

We were fine about it, even excited, but my husband's uncle said he's taken it and to forget about the 22 hours they tell you it is, that it's more like 30 with all the little stops.

The timing they state includes the stops, IF everything stays on time the whole trip. The problem, as someone mentioned, is that they don't have their own rails, and freight gets priority.

While I haven't been on the train you'll be going to, any time I've been on Amtrak there has been delays. YOu just have to plan for it (so cancel that ADR).

I personally enjoy the train, but then, on the long trip I took, I was in a roomette so I wasn't using the "public" bathrooms. Fewer people were sharing the bathroom in that area.

 

[mchelle77]

I kept it just in case, but I also made another one for the end of the trip. If we miss that first one (and I should know at a decent time) I'll call from my cell and cancel it.

We're seriously thinking about renting a car, driving down, and then getting the sleeper for the way home.

 

[solar]

another option- drive part way...

Drive to Lorton, VA and pick up Amtrak's autotrain for the rest of the trip. You arrive pretty much like clockwork at about 9am, and have your car and on the road by 10am.

We've taken it many times, and it runs like clockwork

 

[mchelle77]

We looked into that but it's too expensive. We decided to just suck it up and take the Amtrak all the way.

 

[malibuconlee]

No experience with that particular route, but DH's aunt and uncle often take the train from Denver to Iowa. It is indeed often late and usually several hours if it is late. I think 2-4 hours late most times.

I would just keep that in mind. They like taking the train tho, it's usually cheaper than flying and they can sleep overnight on the way.

 

[NJGirl]

I did it in coach from NJ to Orlando last summer. It was nice to have someone else do the driving and I'm so not a good flyer! There were really nice people in my car to talk to. I brought my dvd player and my Ipod and a book and I was good to go. I've slept in a recliner before and that's kindof what sleeping in coach is like. The kids in our car easily passed out early in the evening. Our attendants kept the bathroom pretty clean (still bring your clorox wipes n purell!) and it was nice to go to the dining car and grab a meal. My advice is to sit away from the bathrooms and away from the end of the car doors. People moving about thru the night can wake you. I also advise bringing a beach towel or a blanket as it was COLD from the AC. Also my U shaped travel pillow was great. I was lucky I had a hat for Disney in my tote bag as I was right under the night light and the visor blocked out the light so I could sleep.
Mom and I are traveling by Amtrak to Disney next Spring....we're going to a do a bedroom this time though for her sake. I would do coach again though if it was just me.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Yes, as others have stated, it runs late, varies to alittle to alot but you still get there. We train from northeast Ohio to Kissimmee, quite along trip but we take things with us to occupy our time, Ipods, magazines, books, gameboy, portable DVD player, just remember, all electronic devices require headphones. We also pack a lunch, sandwiches, snacks and drinks and we each have a small blanket for the A/C, get pretty sold at night.

Another poster said they would never travel by train due to an accident she was in, I wonder if they travel by car with all the accidents there are with them, or planes. Everything in life is a chance, you either embrace it or hide in your bubble. We've used Amtrak for over 20 years and at least 15+ trips, we've hit cars on crossing, had a car run into our train, ran over someone supposedly a suicide and one time had a bomb scare. Yes, it held up the train, we've been 9 hours getting in late but that's the chance you take. For us it's a long trip with a train switch in DC, sometimes we opt for a roomette and ask on board if any are available and move our stuff into one, kind of nice sleeping lying down and all meals are included in the price and asking in route you usually get a huge price break but you play the odds of there not being any too. We're fine in coach,, either way.

For us, I don't fly, driving used to be our way to WDW but age has crept up on us and it's too stressful. Train is about the same price as driving, easier since we don't have to pay attention, no over night accommodation price and we don't have to worry about the price of gasoline. As for a car in Disney, 42 trips and never rented or used one in the World, Disney transportation has worked fine for us every trip, no unneeded expense of a rental for us.

 

[AnnaS]

Wanted to add, Although we love the train I want to forewarn you about the restrooms especially since you're taking a small child. Once the train starts to fill up (coach seats) and you go through a few states the restrooms become very dirty. Sticky floor, filled trash, dirty sink, tiolet, etc. Take bacterial wipes with you .
The dirty rest-rooms on the train are the main reason we get a large sleeper (they have their own enclosed small bathroom). There really is no reason for them not to be cleaned since they have a large number of employees on each train, unfortunately few of them want to do anything. We (and many others ) have complained to Amtrak for years about this problem but nothing has changed.
As mentioned by OP take a small cooler with drinks and snacks maybe lunch. Also bring blanket and sweater and wear long pants. The train is freezing cold all the time.

I forgot to add that I emailed Amtrak once regarding the restrooms and I was told they are only cleaned at the end of the trip/beginning. Don't know why they can't clean it up once or twice on the way - just a quicky.



And that's the only complaint I have about Amtrak - sometimes the restrooms can get dirty/wet/smelly. I bring wipes, a mask, and Renuzit or spray. I don't mind it being a few hours late. I am on the ground and that makes me happy, lol.

We fly but daughter and I do not enjoy it one bit. We have done sleepers and coach. Of course, sleepers would be the ideal way to travel all the time if you can.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Just took the train down to Kissimmee at the end of June.

My friend and I had coach seats from Buffalo to NY - Penn and then a roomette from NY to Kissimmee.

We arrived 10 minutes early.

The roomette on the train was comfortable, clean and convenient.
I agree about the toilets in coach towards the end of the trip.

If you get a sleeper, food is included and there is an attendant in each car who makes your bed for you and attends to any needs which may arise (more towels or soap, makes coffee and puts out juice at their station, will put your luggage up for you).

I was very happy with my train trip and plan on taking another in December.