pepe of ohio
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2001
- Messages
- 6,721
After over 30 trips to WDW from Ohio, some by car, some by plane but lately most have been on Amtrak, we still prefer the train. We're not into flying as a choice and driving equals the same gas and time wise as amtrak. We've had great trips and some bad. It's a long haul from Ohio to Kissimmee, Kissimmee is the better station for WDW arrival. Its closer, cab fare is cheaper, and less congested, about 30 minute ride to the World. Mostly is the other travelers and how they police their children that make a trip good or bad. We're in our 50's and like the quiet of the car. Amtrak suposidely has a quiet car on most of their runs that you can request. Since we have used the train alot we have built up a huge log of "train miles", and we use them to get a roomette from Washington to Kissimmee. I believe this room cost for that leg about $150.00 extra but it has 2 beds, ones a bunk and an in room toilet and sink. Room is very small but we get on the train in Washington around 4pm and sleep till Kissimmee. This price includes all meals while on the train and the dining is very good and the dining car is full linen and not nuked food. We get a newspaper in our "room" in the am with juice until breakfast time.
For us its about a 27 hour trip, costs us about 420.00 round trip for the 2 of us and its a no hassle trip. A little tip, in the stations, use the red caps. You only have to tip them and they take you and your bags to the train way before the other travelers are standing in line waiting to be called. Less hassle and with our 4 bags , 5 or 6 bucks keeps them happy. Driving is stressful now a days and for us about a 22 hour drive straight through is not fun, stopping mid way is time consuming and expensive and rooms not all that great. Long ago, driving was fun or I was just alot younger but there were less cars on the road and during the night part, hardly no one was out there. Different no-a-days!! We take our portable DVD player and novels and just relax, watch the scenery and let the train lull us to sleep.
Some day we may get back into flying but watching prices, unruly people, airport security is not our cup of tea but you can't beat the time frame. One and a half hours to Florida is great but its an hour drive to the airport, pay for leaving car, arriving 2 hours before flight and ditto on the other end and then the reverse going back. To some, they like it and after more than 15 train trip to and from Disney to Ohio, never had a train incident.
For us its about a 27 hour trip, costs us about 420.00 round trip for the 2 of us and its a no hassle trip. A little tip, in the stations, use the red caps. You only have to tip them and they take you and your bags to the train way before the other travelers are standing in line waiting to be called. Less hassle and with our 4 bags , 5 or 6 bucks keeps them happy. Driving is stressful now a days and for us about a 22 hour drive straight through is not fun, stopping mid way is time consuming and expensive and rooms not all that great. Long ago, driving was fun or I was just alot younger but there were less cars on the road and during the night part, hardly no one was out there. Different no-a-days!! We take our portable DVD player and novels and just relax, watch the scenery and let the train lull us to sleep.
Some day we may get back into flying but watching prices, unruly people, airport security is not our cup of tea but you can't beat the time frame. One and a half hours to Florida is great but its an hour drive to the airport, pay for leaving car, arriving 2 hours before flight and ditto on the other end and then the reverse going back. To some, they like it and after more than 15 train trip to and from Disney to Ohio, never had a train incident.