Any Amtrak experts?

[GrnMtnMan]

It's also 21 hrs vs. 3

I do have a 4 year old

What about 2 (or 3) of you flying and the 16 year old taking the train? A roomette is a small space for a 4 year old. My little guy was 4 on the auto train last year and we had a family bedroom, and after our experience on it we've decided that the wife and kids will fly home, and I'll take the AT alone.

Also worthy of note is how the train is frequently quite late. 21 hours could easily turn into 24 or more....

 

[AliceIn]

thanks - not looking for debates.

So I guess my only question is, if you are an amtrak expert, do we stand a chance of being offered an upgrade to a sleeper car?

Depends on where you are boarding. Sleeper cars are usually all sold out out of Chicago. They may open up further down the line when people disembark. When we take the train, we have to book far in advance.

They do not allow you to swap in and out. So your whole party needs to be booked. Everybody will get meals included.

 

[momof2cuties]

Ugh!! I don't know. My husband recently passed away in April, both of my parents have died in the last year and a half. This trip is to get away and avoid my parents 50th anniversary (my 25th is this month) and Father's Day at home. I'm trying not to stress my son with a plane, as he's had too much stress already. I don't know...nothing is easy. The good thing is after 3 1/2 years of dealing with his dad's illness, my 4 year old is different than most other 4 year olds. He's used to being in doctor's office, hospital rooms, etc. so maybe the train will be okay. I just don't know.

 

[Vijoge]

I'm thinking of taking the kids on a trip to Disney the end of June. . . . . . . and I'm not against the train . . . . it could be fun (if you think dragging your fingernails across a blackboard is fun)

DH and I are riding the train again this fall, from Chicago to Los Angeles to San Francisco and back to Chicago. We can't wait! But train travel is definitely for everyone. None of our kids have any desire to ride a train even for several hours let alone several days. We took two of our DGD's to the Mall of America by train a few years ago and they were soooo B.O.R.E.D. Everything bores them, though, except spending my money at the mall. One of the little ones complained one day that she'd never been on a train so we bought tickets for a short ride and she wanted to get off at the first stop lol

I love the train and it's my favorite way to travel if I have the time and money. DH must feel the same way because before planning our upcoming trip I asked him if he wanted to do the train trip or go back to Hawaii this year and he chose the train. And he really loves Hawaii!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Ugh!! I don't know. My husband recently passed away in April, both of my parents have died in the last year and a half. This trip is to get away and avoid my parents 50th anniversary (my 25th is this month) and Father's Day at home. I'm trying not to stress my son with a plane, as he's had too much stress already. I don't know...nothing is easy. The good thing is after 3 1/2 years of dealing with his dad's illness, my 4 year old is different than most other 4 year olds. He's used to being in doctor's office, hospital rooms, etc. so maybe the train will be okay. I just don't know.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

With that context: the train is not necessarily stressful, but it is slowwww. Throw in that it can be hard to sleep (impossible for some), even if you are in a sleeper. Which would be worse in your mind: arriving at WDW after 24 hours on the train, fairly exhausted from just a few hours of sleep (or no sleep at all), or the stress from flying for the 16 year old. I truly don't know what I'd pick in your situation.

I used to have an idyllic vision of overnight train travel. Then I actually went on an overnight trip and my perspective has changed. Just sharing the pitfalls.

 

[Pooh2]

Ugh!! I don't know. My husband recently passed away in April, both of my parents have died in the last year and a half. This trip is to get away and avoid my parents 50th anniversary (my 25th is this month) and Father's Day at home. I'm trying not to stress my son with a plane, as he's had too much stress already. I don't know...nothing is easy. The good thing is after 3 1/2 years of dealing with his dad's illness, my 4 year old is different than most other 4 year olds. He's used to being in doctor's office, hospital rooms, etc. so maybe the train will be okay. I just don't know.

The train may be good for down time, just hanging out and reading/playing games together.
May your family make new memories while you are healing!

 

[jmenjes]

hmmm just realized we won't be getting Magical express from the train station. Do you train travelers rent cars or just get a taxi? I do have a 4 year old and was hoping to avoid dragging the car seat with me.

The past few years I either used a town car service or a taxi. A cab from the downtown Orlando station to Disney was about $55-$60 before tip.

Last trip in April I used Uber from the train station to WDW. Cost was just over $18 each way.

 

[Shanti]

I would never consider the train when it's twice the cost and takes 7 times as long. I would tell my daughter that if she wants to vacation far away, she has to fly. Non-negotiable. This is not the advice you want to hear, I know.

 

[kandb]

thanks - not looking for debates.

So I guess my only question is, if you are an amtrak expert, do we stand a chance of being offered an upgrade to a sleeper car?

No, Amtrak doesn't give sleepers unless you pay for them. We have done the autotrain twice. After the last trip (which we did coach once), I said I would never do it again. I don't like to fly either but I suck it up for a few hours and it is just so much easier and I know it is safer. My kids don't like the turbulence but I ask myself, how many times have I heard of a plane that crashed from turbulence and I can't remember any. Plus I tell myself there are hundreds/thousands? of flights everyday.

 

[kandb]

Yes it looks like the only thing available for the dates I'm trying are roomettes. I got a decent rate on the way, but the way back is about $300 more. Not sure why - still playing with dates, as we could be flexible.

Anyone know how to apply the AAA discount?

A lot of the pricing has to do with when the snowbirds travel south/north

 

[momof2cuties]

I would never consider the train when it's twice the cost and takes 7 times as long. I would tell my daughter that if she wants to vacation far away, she has to fly. Non-negotiable. This is not the advice you want to hear, I know.

Nope and I was asking for Amtrak advice, not parenting advice.

Thanks all, I think I'm good and appreciate the help.

 

[kandb]

OP, so sorry for your losses. Maybe if the traveling part is going to be a lot, can you get away to a closer destination? We have gotten the family bedroom on the autotrain and it wasn't that bad but the train is nice for a few hours IMO but we really didn't get a good night sleep, so it was a little draining. I totally understand being sympathetic to your son right now. If it was me and I was in your situation, I would make the exact same decisions as you are. Good luck and I hope you have a nice vacation.

 

[kandb]

Wonder if you could get a roomette. You and your daughter could sleep on one bed and your son on the other. We had a family bedroom and it said it slept 4 and we are 5 and we had no problems. At least with a roomette you could lie down to sleep. We did the coach seats once and none of us slept. I saw some people sleeping but was convinced they had to be medicated.

 

[DanBoris]

I would never consider the train when it's twice the cost and takes 7 times as long. I would tell my daughter that if she wants to vacation far away, she has to fly. Non-negotiable. This is not the advice you want to hear, I know.

I personally don't agree with this, if you have the time and money, the train is a fantastic way to travel. We do all our Disney trips on the train consider it part of our vacation and not just a mode of transpiration. It's especially great on the way back since it forces us to take a day and just relax and get back into "real world" mode.

 

[disneymom06]

We took the auto train to Florida. I got the superliner bedroom for myself, my 13 year old daughter and 16 year old (6ft) son. It was close quarters but more room than being in the car all night and I did not have to drive. The roomettes only fit 2 but they will allow three in the superliner bedroom. You just have to call to make the reservation and for me it was cheaper than the family bedroom.

 

[Vijoge]

I was asking for Amtrak advice

Thanks all, I think I'm good and appreciate the help.

What station will you be departing from?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

if you have the time and money

There's the rub, isn't it.

If you're coming from the Northeast (and only trains from the Northeast go to Orlando/Kissimmee/Sanford), you talking 2-3 days for travel alone, whereas an airplane, including security and stuff, will take up 12 hours or so round trip. So 48+ hours versus ~12 hours. I take an extra day and a half in Disney over decompression on a government owned corporation that's less successful than the postal service, and slower and more expensive than driving your self.

And I take Amtrak pretty much monthly, and have the auto-train booked for this August!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

What station will you be departing from?

It dosn't really matter, as the only trains that go to the greater Orlando area (other than the Autotrain) are Silver service on Viewliners.

I got the superliner bedroom for myself,

See above, only Viewliners, which are just roomettes or bedrooms. The two-level Superliners (which have family bedrooms) are only for the Autotrain out of Sanford.

 

[Vijoge]

It dosn't really matter, as the only trains that go to the greater Orlando area (other than the Autotrain) are Silver service on Viewliners.

Yes, I know.

 

[momof2cuties]

I feel bad even coming back with this update after wasting everyone's time, but figured I should.
My son decided he would fly. With the savings, I booked 3 of the nights at the boardwalk - the place he's wanted to stay.

It wasn't really the cost that was the deciding factor (because between the extra for bw plus adding another night and food, it's probably the same) but the fact that the 4 of us can't spend time in the room together, it didn't seem to make sense. And not getting magical express, etc. And I have a preschooler, so it would have been me and him in one room and the two teens would have been together. I think he figured easier to suck it up and fly, then spending 24 hours in a small roomette with his sister, listening to her whine about taking the train. After that he'd probably be willing to jump out of a plane

Thanks everyone.