Anybody ever get to Disneyland via Amtrak?

[BlueBayou]

We are thinking about taking the train to Anaheim. Has anybody every done that? We would travel overnight and then change trains in LA in the morning. I think we would be at DL around 11am.

 

[darph nader]

Thought about it,but the schedule is too weird from here.

 

[Gisele]

Yes, I have, from Sonoma County, Ca. It was quite a long trip, but I enjoyed it, all the same, for I knew eventually I would be in Disneyland. It was interesting watching the various people boarding and departing the train. Especially the men that were wearing white t-shirts and jeans, that were holding what appeared to be personal belongings. See there is a detention facility in one of the towns that the train stops at, I forgot the name of it at the moment. There were not any problems, but the train conductors are very well aware of when the inmates are released, and are going to be boarding the train. So don't worry... I did keep an eye on them all the same, because I will not tolerate any kind of foolishness that might occur as a result of men that have done there time. I have zero tolerance for stupidity.And I will not allow anybody to be harmed!
OK so back to Amtrak..... they have a snack bar aboard, and the pricing was not bad, and I found the food to be tasty too. I saved the menu from my trip as a souvenir. I rode Amtrak back in 2008, in August.
Coming back, took even longer, because someone in So. Ca. tried to beat one of the trains......... and lost. So literally 10 plus hours later, back in town. Arriving at the Amtrak Station, took about 8 hours, which is long enough. But is so much better from 10. I am interested in riding the train again to Anaheim.
You will enjoy your trip I am certain, jail birdies or not. Besides, you are coming from the south, the released inmates were coming from the north of you. And by the time the train was to make it's bus connection so as to travel to LA, the inmates were either already dispersed by this time, or would be completely before arriving in Anaheim, or close enough. Anyway.... I was not mugged, so that is good.

 

[bumbershoot]

Biggest most important thing to remember about Amtrak is that it is almost ALWAYS late. Give yourself plenty of time.

Once you get on the train from LA to Anaheim, know that you'll be let off in the wasteland of the Angels parking lot. Looks like nothing until you follow the path and come through the tunnel...suddenly you're in a parking lot with taxis and people! (I was really freaked out the first time I took the train up from San Diego to Anaheim so I really try to prepare people for how weird a stop it is)

Taxi from there to the Disneyland Hotel, by meter, was $13.

If your'e traveling overnight and you get a roomette or family room etc, your meals are included.

 

[BlueBayou]

Gisele - how did you get to DL from the station near Angel's Stadium? Cab?

We will be staying at the DL hotel and 3 miles seems a tad far to walk with bags

 

[nunzia]

We do it all the time. With our schedule and route we find it easier to get off at Fullerton rather than going all the way in to LA and then get on another train to Anaheim. The Fullerton train station is very close and there are cabs waiting to take you to the park. So, depending on where you're coming from, this could be a possibility for you too.

 

[nunzia]

Biggest most important thing to remember about Amtrak is that it is almost ALWAYS late. Give yourself plenty of time.

Once you get on the train from LA to Anaheim, know that you'll be let off in the wasteland of the Angels parking lot. Looks like nothing until you follow the path and come through the tunnel...suddenly you're in a parking lot with taxis and people! (I was really freaked out the first time I took the train up from San Diego to Anaheim so I really try to prepare people for how weird a stop it is)

Taxi from there to the Disneyland Hotel, by meter, was $13.

If your'e traveling overnight and you get a roomette or family room etc, your meals are included.

I have to give credit where credit is due..this used to be the case ALWAYS...our last several trisp have been spot on and even early. I just read an article that said a previous on time rate was 30% and was now 80%..I believe this..so, yes, things can happen but in the last few years we have been VERY pleased with on time perfromance. And..at least on a train if something hapens and you are stuck you aren't on some smooshed plane with no where to go...

 

[BlueBayou]

Okay two more questions:

1) Can you move two and from the sleeping car and other cars when the train is moving? If so - based on the car floorplan - it looks like you do it on the second level.

2) When you book sleeping space - do you still get seats elsewhere - or are your only seats in the sleeping car?

 

[nunzia]

Okay two more questions:

1) Can you move two and from the sleeping car and other cars when the train is moving? If so - based on the car floorplan - it looks like you do it on the second level.

2) When you book sleeping space - do you still get seats elsewhere - or are your only seats in the sleeping car?

Your sleeping space converts to regular seats. All your meals are included in the dining car. There is a bathroom and always coffee water and juice available on your level. There may be ice. You may eat in your room or in the dining car. You can go wherever you want, probably the observation car or snack bar and dining car will be the only places you'll want to go. Coach passengers cannot access the sleeping cars, so the sleeping cars are located behind the dining car. You will have a steward (please tip him/her). You will have an electric plug in your room and a locking door. You will be on the second level unless in a handicapped area. Yes, car to car is on top level. Some trains in the east are only one level..tunnels were built too low These 'rooms' are TINY..get yarn and measure it out on the floor to get a true idea of the size. I love this type of travel..so relaxing and makes getting there part of the vacation.

 

[LuLusApple]

Am I missing something lol I can't find any routes that don't include mostly bus hours serious bus hours like 5-8 hours and only a couple on the train I can't find any stations either it all starts out with a bus to the bay area. Gisele where did you start yours? I couldn't find anything other than bus routes in Sonoma either Cloverdale is bus, Healdsburg is a bus I am so bummed I got so excited reading this thread I never even considered the choochoo

 

[bumbershoot]

Gisele - how did you get to DL from the station near Angel's Stadium? Cab?

We will be staying at the DL hotel and 3 miles seems a tad far to walk with bags

In case you didn't see my post after you made your post (since probably just seconds separated them)...

Taxi from there to the Disneyland Hotel, by meter, was $13.

Getting to the DLH from there is a bit annoying, with lots of lights and turns and such. The cab driver and I had actually worked out a flat rate (just a couple bucks under meter, and of course he got it all back in tip), but he wanted me to see the deal so he left the meter on, and it was so annoying watching it go up and up with all the little intricate turns and such. But if you budget for it, it seemed a convenient way to go. I hear there's an ART stop at Angels Stadium, but even I would find that annoying with lots of bags (and I took public transit to the Seattle train station, then trained it up to BC for our *honeymoon* cruise, so it's not like I look down on public transportation!).

 

[LavenderPeach]

Am I missing something lol I can't find any routes that don't include mostly bus hours serious bus hours like 5-8 hours and only a couple on the train I can't find any stations either it all starts out with a bus to the bay area. Gisele where did you start yours? I couldn't find anything other than bus routes in Sonoma either Cloverdale is bus, Healdsburg is a bus I am so bummed I got so excited reading this thread I never even considered the choochoo

I would like to know this too. Every time I've looked at the amtrak site to find a possible route up to Northern California (Santa Rosa, actually), I see mostly bus routes. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to pick "train only" and then see what stations are available along that route. I don't want to take a bus, i just want to know where the train goes.

 

[jlmarr]

Train-only from Northern California would be the Coast Starlight. Closest stop to Santa Rosa would be either Martinez or Emeryville (or maybe a short bus connection from SF).

 

[BlueBayou]

We are going to do it! We booked a Family Sleeping room. Let's hope the kids will sleep They are expecting it to be like Harry Potter's train...

 

[LavenderPeach]

Train-only from Northern California would be the Coast Starlight. Closest stop to Santa Rosa would be either Martinez or Emeryville (or maybe a short bus connection from SF).

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be a very good station for getting to santa rosa. I was just curious what Gisele did since she was coming from sonoma county. I would love to try the train sometime if I could figure out a good station to start and stop at.

We are going to do it! We booked a Family Sleeping room. Let's hope the kids will sleep They are expecting it to be like Harry Potter's train...

That sounds like it will be a lot of fun! Let us know how it goes!

 

[jlmarr]

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be a very good station for getting to santa rosa. I was just curious what Gisele did since she was coming from sonoma county. I would love to try the train sometime if I could figure out a good station to start and stop at.

It looks like there is a bus from Santa Rosa (station code SRC) to Martinez (MTZ), but as you say all of the connections that the Amtrak site shows from there go the San Joaquin route, which involves a bus to get you from Bakersfield to LA. I think the problem is that the Coast Starlight arrives at MTZ at 7:30am, and they don't offer a bus that runs that early. If you can get someone to schlep you to Martinez that early you can take the Starlight/Pacific Surfliner for $65 one way. (Same train leaves Emeryville at 8:20am - that might work better.) Long trip though - it gets into LA at 9pm, then the Surfliner arrives in Anaheim at 10:49pm.

 

[Eeee-va]

We are going to do it! We booked a Family Sleeping room. Let's hope the kids will sleep They are expecting it to be like Harry Potter's train...

Have a great trip! I only rode Amtrak once, for just a few hours (Chicago to Toledo) but I thought it was really neat. If I had unlimited time and funds I reckon a sleeping car would be more fun than a plane.

 

[LuLusApple]

We are going to do it! We booked a Family Sleeping room. Let's hope the kids will sleep They are expecting it to be like Harry Potter's train...

Oh how fun! I am excited for you
I am a Harry Potter maniac drive my 13 year old nuts! Lol I was looking Into trains to HP Wizarding World since I can't seem to find a train anywhere near me
be sure to write a trip report I bet it'll be a blast

 

[skiingfast]

We are thinking about taking the train to Anaheim. Has anybody every done that? We would travel overnight and then change trains in LA in the morning. I think we would be at DL around 11am.

What train are you taking? Just curious because a few come through the southwest to LA.

 

[Gisele]

Gisele - how did you get to DL from the station near Angel's Stadium? Cab?

We will be staying at the DL hotel and 3 miles seems a tad far to walk with bags

I took a cab. There was a nice selection of cabs, even a shuttle type of van, waiting just outside of the station. It is nice to have a selection.