Amtrak?

[Mephistoles]

Hi, I'm new to this board so forgive me if this question has been asked before. We are planning a WDW vacation in August and since I don't like flying (I do it if I HAVE to but would prefer not to) and we really don't want to drive (there are 5 of us: 2 adults, 3 kids - 14, 12 & 4), we have decided to take the train. I checked into this and read (not sure if it is correct or not) that WDW resort is about 15 - 20 minutes away from Amtrak station. My questions are:
1. Has anyone taken a train to Disney and if so, how was your experience? (We will be leaving from eastern NC)
2. Was it difficult getting to the resort and how long did it take? (We don't plan to rent a car as we have no desire to go to Universal Studios or Sea World..this will strictly be a WDW trip)
3. Would you travel by train again?
Any responses will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Bumping this up for you.

 

[CarolynNC]

Hi Mephistoles,

I've taken the train from North Carolina numerous times. When my son was younger his Dad refused to let him fly and the train sure beat driving. Now we fly which sure beats the train. I think the experience is different for everybody. I researched this option just like you are doing and was prepared for the different and sometimes difficult possibilities.

Here are some links to recent train posts. (I posted in the third link.) If you search this forum you will find more but these will give you some additional opinions.

train 1

train 2

train 3

train 4

I'll check back on this thread just in case you have any questions.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've used Amtrak on the last 6 trips to WDW from north eastern Ohio. I really do not like to fly either and have driven way in the past and thats no option anymore. Way too hectic and stressful. Comes to about the same amount of time and money either way but the train is restful, relaxing and fun and when we arrive, we're fully refreshed and ready to go.

We have never had any problems, except Wilma,last trip other than being late. We always get off at Kissimmee, closer to WDW, better neighborhood than Orlando and less people. Cab fare, we always use the taxi, is about 35-38.00 on way and they have van taxi to haul large crews. Last few trips we have gotten a roomette, only 2 of us for the second leg of our trip with our frequent train rewards. Its small but will sleep 2, includes meals, food in dining car is great, linen service and prepared meals, coffee and juice and a newspaper. Like getting up in Georgia, having a newspaper handed to me and heading to the dining car for breakfast. My wife sleeps on the upper, has her own window and watches the stars in the night sky. We have a DVD player we take and watch movies, read, play gameboy and watch America roll by. We usually arrive in WDW around 11 am.

We also have taken the 29 hour journey in reserved coach and its pleasant also. Take a blanket, get cold with the A/C, a lunch, drinks and whatever will make your trip cozy and sit back, relax, stretch out in the huge seat, put the seat back and the leg rest up and this is way better than sitting in a car. The reverse trip is just as good other than saying goodbye to Disney and we get in the Ohio station at 3am and a short drive home.

All in all, we've never had a really bad situation on Amtrak, and after 30 some years and over total 15 trips, the only kink is sometimes being late. Train travel is fun, though not for the fidgetity. Scenery and towns are great to watch out the big windows, follow along on the town maps, club car has snacks and drinks. I find my wife sleeping most of the time, I do the reading and game playing but once we reach Florida, we're glued to the window, watching the orange trees blow by waiting for the Orlando station, knowing Kissimmee is 20 minutes after that. Can't beat getting off there, smelling the Florida heat and a 20 cab ride, refreshed, and arriving in Disney World.

Hope this helps, if you need more, let me know.

 

[padisneylover]

My DH and I always take the train to WDW. This April will be our 4th trip in the last 4 years and we love it. We to book a sleeper only because of the distance for us. If you were to book a sleeper though you would need either a family room or a deluxe and a standard which I belive would cost more. The family room is two deluxe rooms opened to one and would fit your family. The advantage is your own bathroom and meals on your trip. I am guessing your trip must be about 8-10 hrs so it might not be worth it for you. My sister has taken the reserved coach with her children several times and has found it to be very comfortable though noisy at times if there is a lot of children on since they don't want to sleep. As the previous poster said if you travel coach make sure to pack food and beverages for yourselves. Even though they sell it on the train it can be quite costly.
As far as getting off we got off once in Kississime and found that the extra time you take from getting from Orlando to Kississime we could be at the resort. The Orlando station maynot be in the best part of town but there is always station people around when the train is coming in and we have never been bothered by anybody. We have always taken a town car from the station but it is more expensive than the taxi. It is costing us $90 round trip to the AKL from the station and I belive from talking to others on the train the taxi is about $30 excluding tip. From the Orlando station it normally takes us about 30mins in the town car to get to AKL.
Make sure to take some activites for your kids and you will find the trip to pass fast. There is always someone to visit with and usually a lot going to Disney on the train.
As far as the train being on time on our past 3 trips we have found that the train going down to Florida usually runs about 15-30 mins late getting into the station in Orlando. Coming back we always take the train leaving Orlando at 12 noon since the later train seems to always be late from what the station master in Orlando has told us, sometimes by an hour or so getting into Orlando.
If you have any more questions don't hesitate to shoot me a private message.

 

[Mephistoles]

THANKS ever so much to all of you who replied. I have been printing and doing much research. At one point, we actually considered renting an SUV but the train is much cheaper (considering how much we may have to pay to gas up, etc.).
It has been ages since I have been on an Amtrak and can't remember what the seating arrangements are like. Are they two across? I think that they can be turned to face each other (or something like that?). If they are two seats, I guess that one of us would have to sit elsewhere. There are 5 of us (I think I mentioned this before) and I hope that we can at least reserve the seats together. Anyway, I'm rambling....
Let me know about seating arrangements.
Thanks again for your help!!!!

 

[CarolynNC]

It has been ages since I have been on an Amtrak and can't remember what the seating arrangements are like. Are they two across? I think that they can be turned to face each other (or something like that?). If they are two seats, I guess that one of us would have to sit elsewhere. There are 5 of us (I think I mentioned this before) and I hope that we can at least reserve the seats together.

I've taken the Silver Service from North Carolina and I don't think the seats swivel. They were two on each side of the aisle. I don't even think they had reserved seats. When our party had an odd number I sat alone (or with another passenger when it was crowded). You should be able to check seating on their website.

 

[pepe of ohio]

When we get on in Ohio, we just go find our own seat, no assignments and yes, the seats are in pairs and do not turn around. We always use a red cap in Washington, they take us to the train first before all the other passengers and the car is empty, we usually find or pick our own seats but sometimes a porter assigns them. Return trip, from Kissimmee, this station is manned 24 hours, are seats are assigned. Should be no problem getting your group in one area but I see most people spend alot of time in the club are, guess there's a movie running and games in there. I lay out my stuff in my seat and stay put. Wife likes running all over the train but we take sandwiches, candy, snacks and drinks and fruit and she might get us a cup of ice on the train. I'm partial to Minute Maid lemonade so I freeze 2 bottles of that, we have a collapsible cooler we take and that keeps our bag perfect. Second leg for us we use the sleeper, "roomette" and that includes all meals for the 2 of us. We then use the cooler in WDW, I take big zip lock bags, for ice and refill them for our train trip home. The frig in Disney, sometimes is great and sometimes not, back up cooler and we take this to the pool with beer and such during our stay.