Drive OR Autotrain? (PLEASE - NEED ADVICE!!!!!)

[kandb]

We are going to Disney on Oct. 8th, have reservations with the autotrain. We'll be taking the autotrain back on Oct. 18th, arriving the 19th. Here is my dilema:
1) The autotrain is costing us (dh, 3 year old twins and me) $800 for 4 coach seats and we are taking our Toyota Camry (since it's cheaper then our minivan). We have to drive 250 miles to get the autotrain anyway. We live outside NYC.

2) If we drive it would be much cheaper. We would probably leave around 2-3 pm and drive till we get to Savannah, GA and sleep there and go to Disney the next day. (4 hour ride). We would be able to take our mini-van. The kids will sleep part of the way.

The main reason I decided on the autotrain is because I think my daughter will be unhappy in the car. We have a dvd player but I don't think I could entertain her for long periods of time. I think my son would be fine.

I'm so on the fence about which we should do. With the train, she can sit on my lap and I can read her books or play things with her as opposed to her being in a car seat.

I don't know what to do. We can still cancel the train and drive. Thanks for any advice, Linda

 

[bdcp]

We drove long distances with our boys when they were small (20 and 22 now) and we never had any issues (and this was before dvd players and laptops). The most they had were gameboys by the time they were 6. Our first long car trip they were 1 1/2 and almost 4 and it wasn't a problem at all. They colored, talked to us, napped and we stopped every 3-4 hours to swap drivers, eat and let them walk. They didnt expect to be entertained.

That said, if we could have afforded to auto train for our first Florida trip we would have taken it. I didn't even check into it. We made other trips to Alabama and Texas when they were small and they traveled great. We never once the whole time they were in car seats had an issue about them staying in them because that's what they knew. Kind of like traveling, they knew we all sat in our seats, buckled in and rode. Everyone I knew growing up took car trips everywhere they went and our parents certainly didn't entertain us.

But, if you can afford to, take the train. Our decision was always financial, not whether the kids could sit still. They really had no choice.

 

[kylara]

If you leave the NYC area between 2-3pm you will not get to Savannah until the next morning most likely. It is about a 15 to 16 hour drive. Also leaving at 2pm would put you in DC right during rush hour traffic...expect long delays.

The argument for driving is that it take about the same amount of time as the auto train (which is known for being late). However, you won't be as well rested, specially the driver.

If you do drive, I would suggest you leave about 2am...that way the kids can sleep for the first part of the drive, there is less traffic and you should be able to get through DC before the worst of morning rush hour traffic (by the time it hits heavy rush hour, you should be past dc and heading in the directions away from everyone). Then you could drive the 16 hours til evening and stop in Savannah for the overnight. Get up early and be in Orlando by mid-day.

 

[jodifla]

We've done the Autotrain twice in the past 18 months, and loved it. But we got pullman cars. I wouldn't like sitting up all night on a train.

You could try the Autotrain one way. That way, you could see if it was for you.

To my son, being on the Autotrain was an attraction. He liked it almost as much as Disney.

 

[disneysnob]

We tried the autotrain this past July. We have driven down from Boston twice before and thought this might be a different 'adventure' for the kids. We drove down and took the autotrain back. BIG mistake-for us anyway. We had coach seats and they were running a kids go free deal, so for us it was about $500 one way.(me, dh, ds11, ds13, dd9) After the first hour or so, the novelty wore off. You really don't get a good sleep in the coach seats, people walking by, light on in some parts...We were supposed to get to Lorton at 8:30 am, but we were delayed because of freight trains, flood waters, and whatever else you can think of. We arrived at 3:30pm. I think the part that bothered me and DH most was that there was never any announcement of what was going on, or estimated time of arrival...At one point we just stopped for a good 45min, no reason was given. Also the fact that we had driven before, and knew that we would've been home much sooner instead of sitting idle on the train was the worst part. I'm sure the sleeper cars are much better (my brother, his wife and 3 kids go all the time) but they are way too expensive. I would've rather drove all day and stayed overnight at a hotel on the way home. It would've been much more relaxing. That was just our experience. We tried it once and we will never do it again.

 

[QueenGoblin]

We booked the autotrain for our upcomming trip (we leave on Saturday ) So I can't tell you how it was yet, but I can tell you our ratinale.

For us the cost was a bit more of a wash, since we booked with the kids ride free package so for DH, DD (3.5) myself and our car it was only $600. When I priced out the mileage, stopping at a motel overnight, and meals the cost of driving was very close to the same.

I am the primary driver in our family...even if DH is behind the wheel I still DRIVE so I never really relax. I knew that if I drove down I would be a wreck for at least the first day, whereas if we took the train we would get there with me being a bit more relaxed.

DD has taken long car-rides in the 6-10 hour range (with breaks) and she tolerates it but it is definately not her favorite thing and it can kind of ruin her mood. I wouldn't be looking forward to putting up with 20+ hours in the car. I really like the idea of her (and us) being able to get up and move around whenever we feel like it, and change the scenary by going to the lounge car, and the dining car for meals.

I know the autotrain gets knocked for being late b/c on occasion when it is late it is VERY late. But we took two road trips this summer, once up North to Newport/Boston and once South to Charlottesville, VA. Both times we got stuck in long (hours) traffic jams due to accidents. Personally I would rather have my feet up and be reading a story or watching a movie with DD on the train than sitting looking at someone else's bumper while DD asks for the thousandth time from the backseat "why aren't we moving?"

But those are just my reasons and everyone's family and personality is different. Whatever you decide I hope you have a wonderfult trip!

 

[AshAlytwins]

We have driven the trip twice and taken the autotrain twice....I pick the train definetly over the drive. My girls will be 14 (twins, too) this year for our trip and the train works fantastic. The first time we did the sleeping in the seats thing and we hated it. We get the family rooms now and it is wonderful.All the homeowrk gets done and we get a somewhat good nights sleep. If you can afford it do the train and get the rooms. We arrive in Sanford, get our car and have been in the parks by 10:30!!!

 

[Ms. Belle]

I've driven and taken the train (several times) and would pick the train. I used to live in CT and it is a long drive to FL. Doing the Autotrain, I would leave CT about 3am (I didn't want to hit traffic through Fairfield County, NYC or DC) and be in Lorton in plenty of time for the train (I think it leaves at 1pm? not sure). We would arrive in Lorton around 9am, have breakfast and get in line to load our car. I didn't have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel, which was my biggest concern. I have gotten a family bedroom and also ridden in coach and the bedroom is more comfortable. I would still take coach over driving. It can be noisy at night, but to me, I have more peace of mind than if I were driving. I only had one arrival delay and I think we were 1 1/2 hrs late. I'm not sure how your kids sleep, but the train does sway alot from side-to-side and can sometimes be jolty enough to wake you up in the middle of the night.

 

[bdcp]

The train leaves at approx 4 pm. Sometimes a few minutes earlier. You have to be there a couple of hours before the train departs to get your car loaded. We took it last Nov and are taking it again this Nov. I vote with it's more fun to sit on a train that's stopped than traffic and it's also less stressful. We left both ends ontime and were 1-2 hours late arriving, but so what? We planned this into the trip and on the day of our arrival, we went to SOG, checked in and relaxed. The only thing we had planned that day was dinner at Ohana. And for our return, we were on a cruise that got back in early in the morning so we had plenty of time to get to Sanford with a stop for lunch beforehand. The tracks aren't under Amtrak's control, they belong to CSX so you do have to expect freight train delays. We had a freight train break down in front of us last year and we lost around 45 minutes. No biggie. We see the train as part of the adventure/vacation and don't sweat it. There are delays in every mode of transportation. At least on the train you can get up and walk. The train sways very little and I was never jolted awake, but didn't sleep more than 4 hours at a stretch which was fine. We weren't exhausted or even tired after the trip.

As for driving, we always leave around 5 am after everyone has had a good night's sleep. Our boys always fell back asleep when they were small anyway. Driving at night after less than normal sleep can be very dangerous.

 

[Straughn]

We live about 20 minutes from the Lorton station and always take the auto train-we would never consider driving. I'll take my chances on the train being late (and it has happened to us twice in the last two years) over sitting in a traffic back-up for hours. On the auto train you can move around and there is always a bathroom nearby. Nothing is worse than unhappy children confined to a car in stalled traffic and having to go to the bathroom with no idea how long to the next exit.

 

[katvan]

Just a quick thought. If you are not opposed to flying, JetBlue has a current fare sale through 9/14/06. Your entire family could fly down for probably 850.00 if you are staying on Disney property you could use D Magical Express to transport from the airport. Hope you have a wonderful and safe trip!!!!!

 

[Dizz42]

DH and I love the AutoTrain. I agree with other posters here tho' - if you can afford it, get a Family Bedroom and/or maybe go one way. Drive down 'cause you're excited and anxious to start your vacation; take the AutoTrain back home 'cause it will give you something to look forward to. It's an "adventure" and makes leaving Disney easier to take.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I'm not sure that a looooong train ride is enough of a novelty for three year olds that it will be any more pleasent for them than a car ride. Plus, you have a fairly long drive just to get to Lorton.