Amtrak train

[SLDL]

I have friends that are taking their 3 kids on the train going to DW in October. Any tips? I have never been on the train but was hoping someone could offer some advice. Thanks!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

It can be a fun experience if you can afford a private bedroom or family bedroom. But those are very expensive!

Plan on the train being hours late; sometimes many hours late.

Train stops in downtown Orlando and then in Kissimmee. The latter is a bit closer to WDW. You'll then need a taxi to get to your hotel.

BobK/Orlando

 

[hbehrman]

I have friends that are taking their 3 kids on the train going to DW in October. Any tips? I have never been on the train but was hoping someone could offer some advice. Thanks!

We did Amtrak from Raleigh to WDW last September with our twin DD4. Southbound was delayed an hour and dparted at 10pm and arrived at 11:15am the following morning only 15 minutes late. Northbound was delayed by 30 minutes around 4:00pm and we arrived on time at about 5:30am. Note our travel days were Saturdays to SUndays. Here are some suggestions:

- Arrive and depart at the Orlando station. Kissimmee is very old and not really suited for children (know from experience).

-If you can afford it get a bedroom, meals are included(HIghly recommended). We got a special deal (they called us) on two roomettes opposite each other on the trip down via a call 2 weeks before our trip from the marketing dept of Amtrak ($150 over our cost of coach). What a gift. We did coach on the way back and missed the roommettes.

- Arrange for towncar service ahead of time. All are around $100 roundtrip. We used Happy Limo and got free booster seats and a 30 minute grocery stop. DIscount codes are available online on sites liek MouseSavers. Also on pickup from the resort we were upgraded to a Mercedes S550 rather than the Lincoln (sweeeeet). You may need a stretch limo with 5 which would cost more, I do not know. At Orlando Amtrak you are bombarded with shuttle and taxi service to WDW, but there is no guarantee.

- bring pillows and blankets if you do coach which is a bit cool at night, as well as food and drink as it is expensive in the train.

- if you are riding coach do not count on electric outlets, on older coach cars there may be one in entire car (as ours did).

- most importantly as soon as you step on the train you are on an adventure and vacation and take it like that. Enjoy the train for what it is. There are some horror stories out there, but keep in mind Amtrak leases the rails from freight companies (CSX, Norfolk & Southern) and in this country you are riding on freight lines who have priority. This is one reason why we traveled on a weekend to avoid weekday freight traffic. Related to this, the ride is a little bumpy compared to Europe (which we have done) where passenger trains travel on smoother tracks and different lines than freight.

That's all that comes to mind. If you have something specific post and I will try to respond as quickly as I can. Also if you search the board there are several discussion in the past about Amtrak to Orlando as well as the AUto Train from Lortin, VA(?) to Sanford FL.

 

[SLDL]

This is great info! I will pass it on to them. They are also doing Raleigh to Orlando & it sounds like the same time frame that they traveled. Thanks again!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've used Amtrak for the last 10 trips and we always detrain in Kissimmee. Orlando is a mad house, about 200 people get off here and its a mad scramble for taxis, and luggage. Boarding here is worse, a long line of people trying to board through the single car door, all the while baking in the Florida sun. Granted most get on and off here because they do not know that the next stop in Kissimmee is about 20 minutes further, small station, Old Town Kissimmee only about 10 people get off, real easy to catch a cab to WDW. Easier yet to board to go home, same amount get on and by the time you're settled in your seat, you're at the Orlando station where about 200 people are trying to get on. We just sit and watch out the window, this stop is about 30 + minutes long. Be it as it may, from either station you can get to WDW, but we "always" detrain and board in Kissimmee.

We catch a cab, usually 4-5 in a cab line or the station master will call one for you. Fare from here to MK loop of resorts runs us 35-38 bucks plus tip, about a 15-20 ride. I have seen taxi vans there also, same price as a car taxi.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There are many, many threads already about AMTRAK - just use the Search function and you'll get all the info you need.

 

[torinsmom]

I did Amtrak from Raleigh to Orlando last March with DS and I will never do that again ! We were delayed about 2 hours each way. Coach was miserable--very hard to sleep, bathrooms were very dirty, etc. I didn't feel safe at all-there were no security checks of our bags or even of us. There was a man on our car who must have had psychological problems. He kept yelling out profanities, racial slurs and sexual comments. The train will stop for 1/2 hour-1 hour at different times and just sit, waiting for freight trains to pass. Of course, its bumpy as well. I don't think it would be that bad if it was a day train, but it was not a very restful night and we ended up missing our first day at Disney, because the train was late and we were so exhausted.

If you do it, bring your own pillows and blankets. Bring your own food--the food and drinks are expensive and they don't have a great selection. Get there early and ask which door is closest to boarding. We were by the wrong door and almost did not get seats together! In Raleigh, its kind of like first come, first serve. Carry on all your luggage if possible, because it takes a long time to collect it when you arrive. We rented a car and the car company was there to pick us up at the station.

Marsha

 

[SLDL]

This is great info! I had not heard good things about Amtrak either but was hoping my friends would be prepared for anything.

 

[Vijoge]

Tell your friends to check out http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/forum/11.html

While you won't find too many disers who have any positive things to say about Amtrak there are a lot of people out here who travel on Amtrak and have great things to say about long distance train travel.

 

[hbehrman]

We've used Amtrak for the last 10 trips and we always detrain in Kissimmee. Orlando is a mad house, about 200 people get off here and its a mad scramble for taxis, and luggage. Boarding here is worse, a long line of people trying to board through the single car door, all the while baking in the Florida sun. Granted most get on and off here because they do not know that the next stop in Kissimmee is about 20 minutes further, small station, Old Town Kissimmee only about 10 people get off, real easy to catch a cab to WDW. Easier yet to board to go home, same amount get on and by the time you're settled in your seat, you're at the Orlando station where about 200 people are trying to get on. We just sit and watch out the window, this stop is about 30 + minutes long. Be it as it may, from either station you can get to WDW, but we "always" detrain and board in Kissimmee.

We catch a cab, usually 4-5 in a cab line or the station master will call one for you. Fare from here to MK loop of resorts runs us 35-38 bucks plus tip, about a 15-20 ride. I have seen taxi vans there also, same price as a car taxi.

I agree with all of the above and this is why we chose to board at Kissimmee on the return to Raleigh. Though it needs to be known that the station is very small and very old. This is actually the station where the Amtrak employees typically board going North. When we boarded there was an Amtrak employee who boarded and maybe six others at most. We had a coach car to ourselves until Orlando which was then filled to capacity. Who do you think got the seats next to the only electrical outlet on that car: we did. Also I use a CPAP machine at night so we had a medical reason, besides using it in the daytime for our portable DVD player to keep the sanity.