auto train or regular amtrak?

[disney_girl125]

If you live close enough to the auto train which do you prefer to take to wdw? I have taken the auto train the last few times and never the regular amtrak train. I'm debating on taking it this time, but money wise they're about the same for me. I live about 3 hours from the auto train.
The auto train is about $200 more for us fare wise. But if I take the amtrak I have to figure in food (since it's not included), cab to/from resort, I have to buy luggage (I don't have any). But if I take the auto train I have to drive 3 hours to get there, then an hour to get to pop. All the while I don't use my car at all at disney. So, help me decide!! What's amtrak like over the amtrak auto train?

 

[scottmel]

Please dont think I am a moron but here goes.....I have been pricing out airfare and I can get the 3 of us for around 750 from pgh which is more than I wanted to spend. I saw your post and was curious so I priced out what I THINK is plain old amtrack for 1000 round trip for 3 people?? That seems crazy high to me unless I am doing something totally wrong....Do you take the train to save and if so how do you save over airfare? thanks!

 

[disney_girl125]

I am scared to fly, I just can't do it. Therefore my only option is to drive or do amtrak. How far in advance are you trying to price it out for? The farther out you plan the cheaper the rate.

 

[scottmel]

My trip is in June. We always go in June and I always get my airfare in Dec. but the window it opened the prices weren't that great. Looking thru last year's notes the price dipped again in March and I readjusted my tickets then so I guess there is time for a price dip but oh wow to pay 1k to sit on a train for 30 hours?? I couldn't do it.....Flying is not my favorite thing but any means but honestly I pray weeks ahead of time and am completely at peace with it. I don't enjoy it but I am not afraid. Prior to these prayer sessions I am a nervous wreck about it but praying helps!!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've uesed regular Amtrak for over half our trips.....44 total trips to WDW and it's the only way to go. I've flown long ago and hate it. No more flying for me and driving isn't a peaceful relaxing task as long ago.

We have used Auto Train many years sgo, its a 48 hour drive to Lorton for us but we didn't know Disney had free transportation on property, this was the late 70's. After that trip, we discovered Amtrak and decided to give it a try. Well, it's worked great for us and we continue to use it. Not any different than the Auto Train except it makes a few stops in route. Cars are the same, seating, everything is the same.

Some say you need to buy food on Amtrak, true but you can bring your own, we bring sandwiches, chips etc plus drinks and eat in our coach seats. sometimes we opt to up grade to a sleeper (roomette) in route (usually DC to Kissimmee) since we're coming from northeast Ohio and board in the early am, and don't need it the whole trip. We've done coach the whole way too, sleeping in coach is doable since those roomette are very small and I get alittle claustrophbic. Food is good but pricey, hence we bring our own.

Since we require no car in WDW, taking one on the Atuo Train would be a stupid expense so regular Amtrak works for us. Long trip for us, 34+ hours, Ohio to DC then DC to Kissimmee but alot less stressful. Never could figure some people drag their car on the train ,pay for the added expense when you could rent one alot cheaper than taking it with you in Orlando but do what you must....we require none and use the regular train...good luck and if you need further train info, PM me or ask....always glad to help!

 

[disney_girl125]

Thanks for your help! What station do you get off at? Also do you rent a car or get a cab? I don't think I want to pay for a town car, I just want the cheapest option.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks for your help! What station do you get off at? Also do you rent a car or get a cab? I don't think I want to pay for a town car, I just want the cheapest option.

We always get off in Kissimmee....station is alot smaller...98% of the train gets off at Orlando which makes this station total chaos, alot of people looking for transportation and their luggage. Kissimmee is 20 minutes more south, the next stop and maybe 10 people get off, they unload the bags fast, grab them and go, same for boarding...no standing waiting in a huge line like Orlando trying to board one by one in the heat.

We never rent a car...no need once we're there (44 trips) disney transportation serves us well. Years ago before we found out about car services, we used the taxi's...35-40 dollars one way from Kissimmee and 50+ dollars from Orlando (Kissimmee is closer to WDW than Orlando) When we found car services that would pick up in Kissimmee and include a 20 minute grocery stop in route for 100.00 round trip...we began using them every trip. Groceries and drinks purchased off property saves us a ton of money. So not doing a grocery delivery company (17-and up delivery fee) or getting a cab once we check in at Disney (20+) fare...the car service wins hands down...personalized service, they monitor the trains arrival to be there when you arrive, huge SUV, very clean and smoke free....it's worth it.

 

[disney_girl125]

Ok can you pm me the name of the towncar company you use, if you can't post it on here? Thanks!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Ok can you pm me the name of the towncar company you use, if you can't post it on here? Thanks!!

Sorry, can't do either....banned company!

 

[bdcp]

Love the Autotrain. No stops to pick up anyone in between Lorton and Sanford and we have our car. I can't imagine making all those stops. We also feel safer on the Auto Train as people aren't constantly getting off and on the train.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

If price is not that much different, the Autotrain is a much, much better way to go. Since you only stop once (which is just a staff change not an actual passenger stop) it is soooo much easier. Plus, Autotrain is overnight and seating is reserved, meaning you actually are assigned a seat number for each in your group, whereas regular train is open seating.

 

[pepe of ohio]

If price is not that much different, the Autotrain is a much, much better way to go. Since you only stop once (which is just a staff change not an actual passenger stop) it is soooo much easier. Plus, Autotrain is overnight and seating is reserved, meaning you actually are assigned a seat number for each in your group, whereas regular train is open seating.

I believe you must have a car to use the Auto Train...and you pay for that car. when traveling from DC to florida, it's at night....not alot of people board but usually everyones asleep.....who's to kbow if the train stops? I can't see taking a car to WDW, let alone paying the train to haul it. I can rent one in Florida cheaper that hauling it.

In all our trips, over 20, we always have a seat on the regular Amtrak...coach seating in reserved coach....we get our seating number when we board, no big deal...they keep groups together and mostly by car destinations....I'm not bashing the AT but regular Amtrak is cheaper since you really don't need a car in WDW.

As for one safer over the other...it's all in the eyes of the beholder...we never had any issues aboard Amtrak...conductors and porters are always walking thru the cars....and as for stops along the way...those are people just like me boarding to go someplace...not big deal either way to us.

 

[DC7800]

Yes, a vehicle is required to travel on Auto-Train, making it significantly more expensive than other trains. The stops are built into the schedule, and even afterr making them the other trains are still faster than Auto-Train.

Autotrain is overnight and seating is reserved, meaning you actually are assigned a seat number for each in your group, whereas regular train is open seating.

Seats on the "regular" trains are also assigned (by the car attendant).

 

[Pooh2]

The autotrain does have a scheduled stop (don't recall what town or what time the stop was) for maintenance. Might have been around 2 am? No new passengers are loaded or unloaded at that time.

We took the autotrain last year for the first time and enjoyed it. We had a 9 hour drive to get the the train station, stayed over night and got the train the next day.

After reading Pepe Ohio's post, I am rethinking just taking the regular Amtrak from Boston (i think it would be about 24 hours to FL) and getting the car service to Disney from the station. We would get there a day earlier and not be waiting around in VA to load our car. The only time we ended up using our car in a 2 week stay was to go to Mass in Celebration. We had planned to drive to the gulf coast but were content to stay at Disney the whole trip.

One of the best parts about the autotrain, was that I could bring as much luggage as I wanted. And had tons of room for souvenirs on the way home.

 

[NJBILL]

The Auto train will be generally more expensive, but faster as it has less stops.

Good luck with your decision. here is a link to some Amtrak Discounts for 2011

http://travelweather.weebly.com/disney-weather.html

 

[DarleneW]

It must depend on where you leave from. I just checked prices for Amtrak from both Newark Airport and Penn Station, NY (this one was actually a nonstop) and it was more expensive than the Autotrain (of course we would have to drive to VA).

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Love the Autotrain. No stops to pick up anyone in between Lorton and Sanford and we have our car. I can't imagine making all those stops. We also feel safer on the Auto Train as people aren't constantly getting off and on the train.

 

[sweetb]

I am in NJ and am thinking of driving to Virginia for the auto train to Disney. I just checked prices and it will cost me 778 dollars for me and my two children to take the auto train with my car.

I also checked out some flights and the cheapest flight for me and my two kids was 674 dollars. Since we plan on exploring parks off site while at Disney we will need a car that is large enough for my ecv. So for an eight day car rental it will cost 643 dollars. So flying and renting a car is much more expensive than riding the train with the car in tow.