Amtrak vs. Driving

[la79al]

Trying to plan our June trip here. DH has decided that it would be cheaper for us to drive. In order to get everyone there a little more rested, I looked into Amtrak. It looks like it would cost the same amount of money for us to take the autotrain as it would for us to fly. Is there any kind of discount or deal I am overlooking or is $766 for round trip 2 adults 2 kids with the AAA discount for the end of June right? If so, I'm guessing we are back to driving and being tired.

 

[disneyagain]

I'd like to know also, we're considering driving down and were thinking about the auto train back....But it was around $800 one-way.....

Airfare round trip isn't much more than that.....

 

[cherylp3]

There is a magicard 20% discount not sure how to get it.

I booked a few months ago for July 2007 and paid $400 one way for 2 ppl with roomette with AAA discount.

 

[Suzyq9241]

I drove to WDW dozens of times and took Amtrak 1 time...

The time when I took Amtrak - The train was good and the food also was good but when on the day of arrival we were so tired from the train ride we lost a day at WDW... something about the train ride and the roomette... It just isnt worth it ... so from then on we drove ...

At least with driving you could stop and get a little rest and go on again...

You can also get out and walk around...


With the gas prices also... hopefully the prices will be cheaper for gas...

The kiddies can sleep on the way down and your dh and you can share driving...

 

[DisneyPoly]

Usually Amtrak runs a special in the summer months where kids travel for free. Keep your eye on the website.

Good luck!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Years ago, in the early 80's, still being young and having children, we always drove to WDW. Now some 30 years later, kids are grown and gone and its just me and the wife, we do not like driving anymore. High stress from all the traffic and big cities. Its around 1200 miles one way and for the past 6-8 years have used Amtrak to get to WDW. Not Auto Train but regular amtrak. Its been fun, different but good. We board at 3am get into DC and catch the south bound train around 4pm and arrive in Kissimmee susposedly at noon, give or take. We sometimes get a roomette for the DC to Kiss leg and we arrive relaxed and ready for the World. With a sleeper, all meals are included, newspaper and pricacy. Some trips have been better than others, but I do not like to fly and driving is still an option but the time and cost is the same but by train there is no stress and arriving relaxed set the tone for our vacation. We usually snag the roomette with our reward points from other trips or if the prices before hand are too high we opt to ask after boarding in DC if any roomettes are available at a reduced price. All in all, we have done the whole trip in reserved coach, and sleeping one night in a seat is not that bad, seeing that in the am you'll be in WDW.

 

[robin09]

We've been debating this alot lately, we're leaving on the 19th of february.. driving down from upstate new york with DD8. we have leapster, dvd player... Driving down we'll leave early in the morning and stop when needed. We will get into orlando sometime monday... coming home is a different story. DD has always wanted to see a train and go on one. We will be taking the autotrain back up to virginia. It will save us some on gas and a room at night. It gives her something to look forward to on the way back... for the oneway with autotrain it came to $431. Not too bad considering we won't need to find a motel or food on the way back..... Not to mention the wear and tear on the car and our minds!

Just a thought!