Anyone travel by train from NYC?

[cheap traveler]

I am looking for anyone who has travelled to Orlando from NYC (or through it if you started north of there, like I am) by Amtrak train (not the Autotrain).

What can you tell me?

My details:

Me: 29(and holding), Mom
DD8: very good with sitting still, will keep busy with her DS or iPod or book
DD6: non-stop wiggler, needs lots of reminders to stay quiet, jumps from one activity to another, but can stay fairly well occupied with a variety.
All of us: like to snack, picky eaters, have to pee every 35 seconds
-going to the world in August for a week.
-drove to Orlando in February, with no problems.

I have been doing all the research I can on Amtrak travel, and keep getting conflicting info. My basic questions are:

~wifi on the train? (Silver Service trains)
~are there outlets at every seat? (trip reports say yes, Amtrak says no)
~is the food awful? We are packing food for the trip down, but not the return
~will the ride be too bumpy to write neatly?


Any additional info is also VERY GREATFULLY APPRECIATED!! This is my first train trip lasting longer than 2 hours, and nobody I know has travelled long-distance by train either.

TIA

 

[tstidm1]

I've traveled alot on Amtrak Trains and can answer the questions you have on them. They are:

-There is no Wi-Fi. They haven't put in the signal repeaters on those trains. YOu can get Wi-Fi while in the Northeast region stations (NYC-WAS). Outside of that area, you need a card and a cell company to get service.
-Most cars have outlets at every seat. It also depends on the setup of the car you get that day, so it isn't a 100% guaranteed.
-Food is actually pretty good especially in the Dining Car. If you want to take a step up one way on the trip and can afford it, Get a Bedroom. They hold four people (including kids) Comfortably and you get all meals on the trip for everyone in the Bedroom. You also get more space than coach. You also get a bigger table than in coach along with an in room toilet.
-I've never had that bumpy of a ride where I Can't watch or have electronics break on me. It's a smoother ride than an airplane.The Tables at your seats in coach

Some other things to realize:

-There is a lot of padding (especially south of Washington) due to the trains sharing freight tracks. You can find yourself early to Orlando or Kissimmee (Depending on where you are staying) or really late. Get a schedule.
-http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/22488-things-to-take-with-you/ is a good thread on Amtrak Trains Discussion board about things to take with you for the trip.
-Book your train trip to Orlando instead of Kissimmee. If you are staying on Disney World Property (at the very least), Mears runs a shuttle from there cheaper than a taxi from Kissimmee round trip ($21 one way or $35 round trip). It's shared shuttle service though.
-Take pictures especially on the Northeast corridor. You get great views of DC, New York, Philly and Baltimore from the left hand side of the train. Get seats there.

I hope this helps you in preparing for your trip.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I am looking for anyone who has traveled to Orlando from NYC (or through it if you started north of there, like I am) by Amtrak train (not the Autotrain).

What can you tell me?

My details:

Me: 29(and holding), Mom
DD8: very good with sitting still, will keep busy with her DS or iPod or book
DD6: non-stop wiggler, needs lots of reminders to stay quiet, jumps from one activity to another, but can stay fairly well occupied with a variety.
All of us: like to snack, picky eaters, have to pee every 35 seconds
-going to the world in August for a week.
-drove to Orlando in February, with no problems.

I have been doing all the research I can on Amtrak travel, and keep getting conflicting info. My basic questions are:

~wifi on the train? (Silver Service trains)
~are there outlets at every seat? (trip reports say yes, Amtrak says no)
~is the food awful? We are packing food for the trip down, but not the return
~will the ride be too bumpy to write neatly?


Any additional info is also VERY GREATFULLY APPRECIATED!! This is my first train trip lasting longer than 2 hours, and nobody I know has travelled long-distance by train either.

TIA

If you dig thru the transportation board there is a huge thread going but to answer some of your questions.....

We come from Ohio to DC and then head south to Kissimmee......it is a long trip.....but you seem to have a grip in keeping your youngsters busy for the trip...just remember that any electronic needs earphones......not to disturb others.....

We always go coach but have opted for a roomette from time to time (roomette is a sleeper, first class) and coach is very doable....we bring a cooler with snacks, drinks and sandwiches for the trip down (food is very good on board but very expensive (food is included in the first class section price)...

It gets quite cold on board, especially when the sun goes down so a blanket is recommended, even a small pillow but Amtrak gives one out (sometimes) it's small but works...as for receptacles.....used to be pot luck as to every seat but from our last 3 trips, the cars have had them at every seat....still could be the age of the car and the luck of the draw.....

We had no wi-fi headed south or on the return trip but in DC station there was wi-fi.....back to the food, there is a club car that serves hand food for a moderate price and then the dining car with full blown meals, like I stated earlier....decent but pricey....

The ride is not bad, there are some spots that quite a bit of swaying goes on for a stretch, interesting when in the dining car...seems what you have on your fork may end up in the persons mouth next to you...funny at times....but mostly the rails are smooth, continuous, with no seams anymore....

From our lengthy 39 hour trip, you either like the train or hate it.....it can be boring and monotonous, but can also be adventurous and relaxing....it's all in how your travel, what you bring to occupy yourself with and how you cope with steady moving...and remember, Amtrak doesn't own the rails so CSX freights have the right of way and makes for delays and arriving late on Amtrak.....but it is fun....

 

[sorul82?]

have to pee every 35 seconds

The train is a perfect option! LOL My DH used to take a diuretic. Stopping every hour makes for a loooong trip.

I just saw pee and posted....I guess I better see what other questions you have.

 

[cheap traveler]

The ride is not bad, there are some spots that quite a bit of swaying goes on for a stretch, interesting when in the dining car...seems what you have on your fork may end up in the persons mouth next to you...funny at times....but mostly the rails are smooth, continuous, with no seams anymore....

That paragraph just cracked me up!

Thank you all for the great info!! The wifi would have just been an added bonus, certainly not going to ruin the trip. My biggest hope is for an outlet, letting the kids watch a movie is going to KILL the laptop battery.

I am planning to pack us each a small pillow (like the size you would put on a couch), in a pillow case, with a fleece blanket tucked in there too.

Thanks for the info on Mears. When I checked their site, they indicated that the "route I chose" would require a chartered car ($135 each way), so I decided on Kissimmee for the lower taxi fare. For the 3 of us to get to Pop, it is estimated to be under $40. Is the Mears fare you mentioned per person?

Keep the great info coming!
(All I could find on the board was the Autotrain thread, which is quite a bit different. I'll keep looking)

 

[tstidm1]

Thanks for the info on Mears. When I checked their site, they indicated that the "route I chose" would require a chartered car ($135 each way), so I decided on Kissimmee for the lower taxi fare. For the 3 of us to get to Pop, it is estimated to be under $40. Is the Mears fare you mentioned per person?

Keep the great info coming!
(All I could find on the board was the Autotrain thread, which is quite a bit different. I'll keep looking)

That is per person and you have to call their shuttle service folks. It isn't available on the web. That number is (407) 423-5566.

 

[pepe of ohio]

That paragraph just cracked me up!

Thank you all for the great info!! The wifi would have just been an added bonus, certainly not going to ruin the trip. My biggest hope is for an outlet, letting the kids watch a movie is going to KILL the laptop battery.

I am planning to pack us each a small pillow (like the size you would put on a couch), in a pillow case, with a fleece blanket tucked in there too.

Thanks for the info on Mears. When I checked their site, they indicated that the "route I chose" would require a chartered car ($135 each way), so I decided on Kissimmee for the lower taxi fare. For the 3 of us to get to Pop, it is estimated to be under $40. Is the Mears fare you mentioned per person?

Keep the great info coming!
(All I could find on the board was the Autotrain thread, which is quite a bit different. I'll keep looking)

We always get off and on in Kissimmee.....everyone else gets off in Orlando....Orlando is the first stop headed south but the amount of people trying to board to go home turns us off.....imagine 100 or more people, dragging and carrying everything they own and bought....lined up outside the station in the hot Florida sun....trying to get it all in a narrow door, up the steps and down a narrow aisle looking for their seat number......it's why the Orlando stop is like 30 minutes......we've seem the people all sweaty and miserable board and what could have been alot easier and quicker was to board in Kissimmee.....train is in station about 10 minutes since feww get off and board which makes this station ideal in the hot sun......

I can never figure why people get off in Orlando and go thru that process when 20 imnutes more down the tracks is Kissimmee and it doesn't cost anymore to use.....only reason most use Orlando....they don't know about Kissimme being closer to WDW and there are no car rentals at Kissimmee.....to each their own but we'll stick with Kissimmee.......

I'll try posting a link to the other Amtrak thread or just bumping it back up....

 

[pepe of ohio]

Amtrak train info w/pics!All Aboard-Choo-choo!UPDATED ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page)


This is back on page 10.....but will bump

 

[TandyR]

I can never figure why people get off in Orlando and go thru that process when 20 imnutes more down the tracks is Kissimmee and it doesn't cost anymore to use.....only reason most use Orlando....they don't know about Kissimme being closer to WDW and there are no car rentals at Kissimmee.....to each their own but we'll stick with Kissimmee.......

We do the Orlando train station because of the car rental. We have never had problems getting on or off in Orando, but we always get a sleeper of some sort. I have to say it is hard to know what I am looking forward to more. The train trip or being at WDW.

 

[aprilgail2]

We are heading down on amtrak in July- when I booked the roomette the description of it says there is a toilet in it but people who have taken amtrak (not the same train though) said there is not---anyone know?

 

[TandyR]

We are heading down on amtrak in July- when I booked the roomette the description of it says there is a toilet in it but people who have taken amtrak (not the same train though) said there is not---anyone know?

There are two types of train cars in Amtrak's fleet. The viewliner and the superliner are the type names names, but I get confused which name goes where. The type that goes to Orlando has a toilet in the roomettes....the other type which seems to be used out west more doesn't have toilets in the roomettes. I hope this answers your question.

 

[aprilgail2]

There are two types of train cars in Amtrak's fleet. The viewliner and the superliner are the type names names, but I get confused which name goes where. The type that goes to Orlando has a toilet in the roomettes....the other type which seems to be used out west more doesn't have toilets in the roomettes. I hope this answers your question.

Yes thank you! I booked it just because I wanted my own toilet LOL-glad to hear it has one! I took a train from NY to Buffalo years ago and those bathrooms were so gross by 6 hours into the trip I didn't want to have to go through that again!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

I will bump up my thread for you to see

We travel from Albany to WDW so it is the same route you asked about! lots of info and pics so have fun reading it

 

[cheap traveler]

Thanks everyone for the help. Going to look for that thread lisa-upnorth. 94 days to go!!