back today!!! loved the train

[njcarita]

just got back this morning from the disney!!!!

took the train for the first time with our three kids- i don't think we will ever drive again- it was the most relaxed trip of our lives-

and it was alot cheaper than us driving- !!!!

 

[MommieMommie!]

all about the train! We are taking the train from Raleigh in late October. This will be our first trip on the train and I have been a little apprehensive. We will be taking our 4 DDs (11, 8, 5, & 4) and their grandparents. How was the sleeping? Did you have a sleeper or coach? How clean/dirty was it?

Thanks!

 

[shatzjsl]

I looked into taking the train from Dallas to Orlando. Cheaper than flying if you don't mind going through Chicago and D.C. to get there I would leave Dallas on the 14th and arrive in Orlando on the 16th. Think I'll fly!

 

[kangareaux]

shatzjsl,

Have you tried booking a trip to New Orleans and then on to Orlando? We had the same problems trying to book a train trip from hammond, la to orlando. All route took me either through chicago or DO (OR BOTH!). Hammond was the next stop west to east before new orleans. Turns out they are 2 different trains (Both amtrak though.) Try to book a trip to New Orleans then book a trip from New Orleans to Orlando and see if you can do it tht way. If so, you might can call amtrak and have them book a multi-leg journey for you. (There is supposed to be a way to do that online, but I haven't figured it out yet. LOL! )

HTH

~T


ETA..... I checked. You can take amtrak from dallas to houston.....then houston to new orleans.....then new orleans to orlando. A few changes in the route, but that's part of the fun.

 

[GaryWT]

Glad to hear it was good. We leave MA in April on the train for a 28 hour ride/adventure. We are looking forward to it.

 

[shatzjsl]

Thanks kangareaux (cute name)

I'll have to look into it for our next trip (and there WILL be a next trip no matter what DH says).

 

[njcarita]

MommieMommie!

we went coach because we got our tickets with the rail sale- it was only $20.70 each form nj to orlando- so for the 5 of us it was only a little over 200 round trip-


the bathrooms were pretty clean - no complaints.

the restuarant food was great!!!!
the snack bar food- wasn't bad- burgers, hotdogs chips etc.

my children are 2,6 and 8 and sleep right thru the night- my husband and eye woke up a lot- but we still arrived more rested than if we had driven down- and we usually stay overnite 2 nites to drive down.

my only suggestion - is to bring extra blankets- it gets very cold aboard at night-
and bring juice boxes and snacks for the kids.

have a great trip!!!!

 

[AspiringCindy]

How did you get that incredible rate? Where did you leave from? Newark?

Originally posted by njcarita
MommieMommie!

we went coach because we got our tickets with the rail sale- it was only $20.70 each form nj to orlando- so for the 5 of us it was only a little over 200 round trip-


the bathrooms were pretty clean - no complaints.

the restuarant food was great!!!!
the snack bar food- wasn't bad- burgers, hotdogs chips etc.

my children are 2,6 and 8 and sleep right thru the night- my husband and eye woke up a lot- but we still arrived more rested than if we had driven down- and we usually stay overnite 2 nites to drive down.

my only suggestion - is to bring extra blankets- it gets very cold aboard at night-
and bring juice boxes and snacks for the kids.

have a great trip!!!!

 

[kangareaux]

Thanks about my nic shatzjsl. I never have to worry about it being taken when I sign up somewhere. That's nice! LOL!

I have the same determination as you. We are going in 2005 no matter WHAT DH says! He's never been. Actually, never been on ANY *real* vacation, so doesn't see what all the fuss is about. I think I'm about to drive him nuts! LOL! I've been THREE times, but each time was for only 1 day. WHAT A WASTE! We are going for 5 days this next time. I WILL see it all! LOL! (At least all of the kingdom! )

~T

 

[njcarita]

AspiringCindy



yes we left form newark-

we got the rate thru the amtrak web site- thru the railsales- they updated weekly.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

to GAry w make sure you either wear or bring like long sweat pants or jersey pants, long sleeve shirt, jacket or sweat shirt cause let me tell you it gets really COLD with the AC. we go every Aug. and make sure ., also we bring a light blanket, one year we bought a blanket on the train, i think it was $10.00. we bring a little rolling suit case with like crackers, raisins,cereal bars, etc cause i am a pick y snacker. the meals are good on the train. i get my tea,coffee, diet pepsi, ginger ale on the train. to heavy to carry from home. haha. the snacks i find are exp, like a pack of M&M is 1.50 or 1.75, so thats why i bring a little stuff. also a the disney hotel if we need iget snacks for the ride home. its just that we like certain snacks. anyquestions please ask..

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

oh sorry, i forgot to post last summer i brought a travel pillow. if found it worked great for napping and sleeping , my neck did not bother me at all. course my daughter thought it was funny.

 

[GaryWT]

Bring up this old post, funny thing, besides all the other problems that we had, we found 3 of 4 trains to be very warm. Shorts and t-shirts only all night.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

oh yeah thats cause we went in the summer months with the AC on, and believe me , it was quite NIPPY at night. glad you had a good trip. we may be going again this Aug. or Nov. trying to get some stuff done on the house, so we will see.

 

[disneycrazed139]

We have been on the train twice now--once in coach and once in the sleeper.

Coach was fine on the way down because we were excited about getting there, so didn't mind the lack of sleep. On the way back, it was pretty unbearable. We were exhausted when we arrived around 2 p.m. I slept until 10 that night and my sleep got pretty messed up. Just wasn't worth it for me.

The next time, we decided to try the sleepers. We were able to sleep for a few hours in them, but they are very small and I still think I would like the luxury of just flying home.

So this time, we are taking the train down in the sleeper because we relish the journey there and are flying on the way back. I think it's the way to go.

BTW--Glad you loved it!

 

[daisylove]

How did you get from the train station to Disney? We are considering the train (short ride for us) because my DD is dying to ride it. I am concerned regarding getting to the hotel and back for the return trip.

 

[njcarita]

i used tiffany towncar service-

 

[doodle]

Were the trains on time? Did you schedule the town car in advance? What was the charge to WDW? We're giving the train some thought so thanks for any info!

 

[dbal]

I would love some more info. on the train as well. Was the train/flight plan a package or did you book them separately? How long was the trip by train from Newark? How far in advance did you book the tickets? Thanks.

 

[vacationwoman]

Tiffany's Town car is $85. from Orlando train station to WDW. $80. if you get the $5. coupon from there web site. All the town car services charge the same rate as if they were picking you up at the airport.

We booked Tiffany's ahead of time. They watch the train schedules and know what time you will be in. If your coming from the NE section of the country(NJ, PA and above) the train "will be late".
It's supposed to be 20 hours from Philly but it's usually 21 or 22. Twice it took 24 hrs.

We always get the deluxe sleeper and love it.
Meals are included with any sleeper and the food is not bad. We do not particually like the coach cars and the small sleepers . The deluxe sleeper has a private bath (very small) and that's a big plus for us. Plus you have a "couch" and chair. Very comfortable for 3 adults (we once took my Mom)

Only drawback is the cost. Deluxe sleepers run about $1700 round trip for 2, smaller sleepers about $700 round trip for 2.(from Philly)

I just consider it a very big part of my vacation because I love it, so I don't mind the cost. I could take a vacation just riding back and forth from Philly to Miami and be happy.