Auto train vs Southwest

[Dawn68PA]

ok peeps - I need some professional advice!

We have always driven from PA to Disney. We love the drive down. We leave early, stop for breakfast after we pass DC, sing to the radio, etc. we get to our hotel about an hour or 2 outside Disney around 9 or 10 pm. Great day.

The drive home is a killer.

We don’t leave Disney until about 9:30am and don’t get home until between 2-4 am. We are too old for this crap lol

So here’s our options. Southwest. Fly from BWI. I think the lowest costs I’ve seen for decent times are about $126pp one way down, home from MCO I’ve seen $96. Pay for parking ($56 is the cheapest for a week). Pay for early bird. All this totals about $550? Plus Owners Locker

Auto train just for getting home. Sleeper car is about $580 I think. Regular seats, about $350? These both include the truck fee. Plus the cost of a hotel the night before check in. But we don’t have to get Owners Locker.

Anyone done both of these? Recommendations? Advice?

TIA

 

[Soarin4us]

Southwest from BWI! Free checked bags, good rates, good service. Some of the airport motels offer free parking included in your rate. They’ll shuttle you to the airport & back. If you’re trying to save money, skip Early Bird and check in at exactly (!) 24-hours before your flight.

 

[Spunky946]

I’d fly.

 

[jvalic33]

ok peeps - I need some professional advice!

We have always driven from PA to Disney. We love the drive down. We leave early, stop for breakfast after we pass DC, sing to the radio, etc. we get to our hotel about an hour or 2 outside Disney around 9 or 10 pm. Great day.

The drive home is a killer.

We don’t leave Disney until about 9:30am and don’t get home until between 2-4 am. We are too old for this crap lol

So here’s our options. Southwest. Fly from BWI. I think the lowest costs I’ve seen for decent times are about $126pp one way down, home from MCO I’ve seen $96. Pay for parking ($56 is the cheapest for a week). Pay for early bird. All this totals about $550?

Auto train just for getting home. Sleeper car is about $580 I think. Regular seats, about $350? These both include the truck fee. Plus the cost of a hotel the night before check in.

Anyone done both of these? Recommendations? Advice?

TIA

So funny to read this. We were you last year. We drive from PA, lots of company in the car, really don't mind the drive and there are actually some things we miss. We used to take our time and stop in Virginia and then Savannah and had some great memories in both places. We would search on yelp for awesome places to stop and eat on the way and always had a blast every where we stopped. Last year, however, we tried the Autotrain.

The ride down was rough at first because we were put on top level and right by the stairs which I think they thought would make it easy with the kids and the bathroom but the lights were so bright that the kids couldn't really sleep. We got smart and rode back on the lower level. There are only around 12 seats or so on the lower level, there is a door that separates you from the bathrooms and the actually door opening and closing is a little loud, it only opens as much as the people in your car leave it and didn't really bother me at all. On the way back to PA, depending on the time of year, the train will be almost empty.

It was so nice to have hands free and be able to play and talk with the kids, use my laptop and get work done, read a book and be able to walk upstairs to the dinner car and get a coffee or tea and just not have to worry about that Godforsaken speed trap in Virginia (beyond the Autotrain stop).

The food is slightly better than airplane food, the people were all so nice and the air, while not superb, is waaaaaay better than airplane air which always bothers me for some reason.

We did not do a sleeper car because of the cost and the fact that my husband is so big/tall he would never fit in a compact bed and there was lots of room on the lower level of the autotrain for his legs.

The kids are so excited to be going back on the train and the only thing we'll do different this year is bring some of our own food and snacks. I felt much more relaxed taking the autotrain, despite the fact that we stopped and slept in hotels on our drives down, the autotrain was still more relaxing. When we drove and stopped we would get there late, with kids, have to wake people up in the car and move them to beds. The autotrain was much easier. I think it's definitely worth a try and on the way back there is no need to pay for priority off loading or anything because really, it won't be busy at all and if you can somewhat sleep most of the late night, you wake up and before you know it your in Disney or home. It's great!

 

[cassie58]

SW - 2 hours vs 2 days is how I look at it - can get more time in at WDW! Those are good rates, and agree with PP that you could save on Early Bird if you are able to check in at 24 hr - you usually get early to mid B, which allows a good choice of seats especially if there are just two of you. Also less wear and tear on car down, can put your gas, toll, and food money for way down towards the airfare.

Have done both - did Autotrain down once with kids years ago, because of summer special cost for $400 and to do Myrtle Beach on way home. Fun adventure, and DD would like to do it again, but just takes that extra day, which is tough with school schedule. We are in South Jersey and always do SW, but have been doing BWI vs PHL recently for cost. Very easy airport to navigate. We use the Parking Spot and have been happy with it - you can join their program for easy access, and there is coupon on sight.

Having recently driven to NC several times in the last few months for DS's freshman year at NC State, and having several extra hours added to trip on 95 through VA for various accidents, construction, etc., I was very happy that I had booked cheap flights for his fall break and Thanksgiving, because I'd much rather drive to BWI to pick him up!

 

[Dawn68PA]

Good to know about the beds on the train. My DH is also very tall!

 

[jarestel]

There are aspects of both flying or taking the train that are unappealing to me. We've been driving to WDW from New Hampshire for years which is my preferred method of transportation, but like you, I find that advancing years is starting to diminish my fondness for driving the route. We have decided that if we're going to choose an alternate form of transportation, we're probably going to take the quicker option - flying. Good luck!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would fly. It gets you there faster. SWA is a great airline.

 

[jvalic33]

One other thing is that it is nice to have your car in Disney. If anything happened and we needed to leave sooner, it's something we've come to get used to.

 

[nkereina]

Southwest also gets my vote. We come from NY - my retired parents enjoy the drive and take it at a leisurely pace. DH and I, who still work, want to maximize our vacation time and get there (and home) as quickly as possible. We always fly Southwest and like it.

That said, if cost is a concern, why not just get a hotel for the night on the way home to break up the drive? One night in a hotel would definitely be cheaper.

 

[Piglet]

We are also from PA and have done both. I vote for SW - we also got their credit card and ended up with enough points to pay for our flights - we just had around $150 for fees and early bird.

 

[shafke]

Pluses for the train (Time saved is not one of them)
- You have your car the whole time
- You are limited to what to pack only by how much the car can hold
- You can bring liquids
- Very minimal security... no pat downs, scanners, etc...

Flying
Save time

Cost on both will probably be comparable especially if you do not opt for a sleeper/bedroom

 

[NH-to-FL]

DW and I have flown many, many times from NH and driven once, three years ago. Once was enough for us. Southwest non stop is great.

I think we are just a bit too far north to make the auto train a reasonable option.

 

[Dawn68PA]

Thank you again for all of the input, keep it coming!

 

[Pooh2]

We have done the autotrain from NH. We drove the day before the train to Lorton, so involved one night hotel. Then kind of just hanging around the next day waiting to get on the train.
If we did the autotrain again, I would only do it on the way back. We went to the MK on travel day for a few hours, got to the train about 1pm. Felt like less wasted time hanging around.

 

[Shanti]

I would fly as it's faster and easier (and for just two people, cheaper), and I don't want to arrive tired for my vacation.

 

[dromio42]

My husband is 6'3" and fits in the top bunk of a roomette. If you enjoy the travel time - time to talk, connect, have fun and relax, I suggest the train. We love it. Did coach for years which was doable but ahhhh....the roomette. If you can swing it, take the room. When considering costs, think about whether you will rent a car if you fly. We need a car (Sea World, Universal, independence). We drive from Mass the morning of, no need to stay overnight and it makes us sleepier for the overnight on the train.

 

[MrKnight]

It really depends on your time constraints, if you are not in a rush to get to your destination and have ample time then Amtrak/Auto Train would be a great choice, however, if you are limited on travel time then a plane would of course be the fastest method of travel.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Just a heads up. Was just at Amtrak's website booking a Silver Service reservation and saw a blurb on the screen that noted an AutoTrain sale.
No idea what the price or time frame is but you might want to check it out.

 

[richmo]

One thing you can't buy is time. Whether you drive both ways or work in AutoTrain somehow, you're using up a significant piece of your vacation driving. It sounds like your trip is about a week...I wouldn't want to sacrifice that time driving. I'd fly it...