Anyone ever travel to WDW on Amtrak?

[meloneyb21]

We have plans on doing so in April and I want to know how your experience was......

 

[8 Ears]

I have not done this but have heard of people who have. Basically signing on to the thread

 

[Nanu57v]

Again, not done this. But my uncle and brother did. One time they had a sleeper, one time just chairs. The sleeper was nice, but costly. The chair only was just too long for 22 hours they said (from Philly). This time they drove, so at least they could stop and sleep in a bed overnight. I just fly.

 

[ChrisH127]

My MIL and Son took the train - from Boston in August- (MIL scared to fly) - my son who is 14 said it was not to bad- he met lots of people and played cards etc.. only down side for him feeling yucky from lack of shower - that was the first thing he did when they go to hotel - jumped and shower and totally refreshed- On the way home they did have a delay - missed the connection in NYC and did not get home until following afternoon - Amtrak did upgrade them for the NYC to Boston leg for the trouble though. Bring portable DVD with headphones- cards- books- that is what my son and MIL did - Me - I take the 3 hour plane ride .... hope this helps.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Last december and this august my son and i took the auto train from Washington dc to orlando (son needed car in florida).

I actually enjoyed the trip, once on the train there is no stress, we had a sleepette (?) (the smallest sleeper available). You can walk around, they give you water, coffee, tea, breakfast and dinner and a movie is included in the cost. You leave Washington at 4pm and arrive in Orlando at 8am (approximately 14 hours). We had our laptop to watch movies, books etc..and small snacks. There is also a car that is a bar/snack area.

early december trip(orlando to Washington dc) was a little less expensive then the aug trip (washington de to orlando).

There is a thread on this board all about the auto train, you should check that out

 

[luapgib]

We took the train from DC. The ride started out ok (we didnt spend for the sleeper) but after 22 hours it just sucks. Obviously not as bad going down because you have Disney to look forward to, but the return was horrible because it was just as long and we had to go to work the next day. The trip is listed at 18 hours so you can see that it can easily get off schedule.

 

[donnabc]

My husband went down the end of December to work in the Flordia area. So, me and my 5 yo son took the train from Wilson, NC down to Orlando and he met us there.

Here's some tips for you...
1....If you can afford a sleeper, GET ONE! The chairs are great for sitting, but I got virually NO sleep that night.

2....If you can't afford the sleeper (like me)...I saw several people "camped" out in the snack area, sleeping on the nice cushioned seats...wish I had thought of that

3....Plan on NOT getting there on time....because you WON'T. We were several HOURS late getting to Orlando. Other people we ate with that morning on the train said that this was par for the course on Amtrak and they just always plan on being later than the schedule says.

4....Bring snacks and juices or soda. We ended up waiting 5 HOURS (instead of 30 minutes) in Raleigh for our connecting train and there was NO snack bar and NOTHING in walking distance to eat....only one machine with very few options We got on the train 10 minutes before THEIR snack bar closed for the night...I'm sure it was comical to see me and my 5 yo son litterally RUNNING down the isles to get there in time...of course we were just about as far away as you could get just did make it

5....Make sure you have plenty to do during your waits (magazines, game boy movies and games, coloring books, etc)....Thank god I never leave on a trip with out these necessities but there were quite a few other less fortunate individuals there (we shared).


It was an experience and DS loved riding on the train...but I don't think we'll do it again anytime soon.