Driving from Boston or take the Auto Train

[vacationer1954]

A regular bedroom. We booked it 11 months prior.

 

[bdcp]

How did you get that price? Is it a family room or roomette?

The farther out you book, the better prices you will usually get. DH and I have done round trip (going in bedroom, returning in coach) for under 1K before. Booking in the first price bucket will do that.

Heck, our roomette for this upcoming trip was only $138 (lowest price).

 

[jwboucher]

Debating on whether to take the auto train with roomette both ways or drive one way. I am in CT so it's an 8 hr drive just to get the train. Have to decide soon, we are going 9/2014.

 

[bdcp]

Debating on whether to take the auto train with roomette both ways or drive one way. I am in CT so it's an 8 hr drive just to get the train. Have to decide soon, we are going 9/2014.

We meet people on every trip that drive from NJ/NY/CT/PA, etc to get to the AT to cut hours off their drive. Most of them are snowbirds, but not all. We're fortunate that we live 45 min from Lorton.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Debating on whether to take the auto train with roomette both ways or drive one way. I am in CT so it's an 8 hr drive just to get the train. Have to decide soon, we are going 9/2014.

Again, I can't see the hype of using Auto Train just to have your car in Florida... You drive all that way to Lorton, and pay to haul your car...

Why not just book regular Amtrak from the nearest station to you and just rent a car in Florida... Has to be cheaper, plus you don't have to worry about scratches and dents on the train or in and around WDW....both train have the same cars and sleepers....

 

[vacationer1954]

The cost of "hauling" the car on the Auto Train is actually pretty modest. We justify it based solely on the cost of a rental car, the risk associated with the limits on the coverage our insurance offers when we're driving a rental car, the cost of the excess luggage charges we would have from the airlines, and the peace of mind that comes from driving a car you're familiar with and comfortable in.

The coach cars and sleepers are not the same. See message #15.

 

[bdcp]

Again, I can't see the hype of using Auto Train just to have your car in Florida... You drive all that way to Lorton, and pay to haul your car...

Why not just book regular Amtrak from the nearest station to you and just rent a car in Florida... Has to be cheaper, plus you don't have to worry about scratches and dents on the train or in and around WDW....both train have the same cars and sleepers....

Scratches and dents? As opposed to driving around where you normally do? You are really trying to talk people out of using the AT. Not sure why, as most of us that use it, love it. You don't have to ever take the AT, but when someone asks for info, I'll give info on our experiences, which have been good. Perfect? No, but nothing is.

 

[jwboucher]

Again, I can't see the hype of using Auto Train just to have your car in Florida... You drive all that way to Lorton, and pay to haul your car...

Why not just book regular Amtrak from the nearest station to you and just rent a car in Florida... Has to be cheaper, plus you don't have to worry about scratches and dents on the train or in and around WDW....both train have the same cars and sleepers....

I debating between driving or taking the auto train. Taking the train without my van is not being considered at all. I don't like depending on Disney transportation. Being packed like sardines in a bus is not my idea of a good time, we drive to the parks. Train and rental car would be too expensive and we prefer our own van anyway. So far I planning on booking the auto train with roomette on the way down and driving back.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Scratches and dents? As opposed to driving around where you normally do? You are really trying to talk people out of using the AT. Not sure why, as most of us that use it, love it. You don't have to ever take the AT, but when someone asks for info, I'll give info on our experiences, which have been good. Perfect? No, but nothing is.

Letting others know that there are alternatives using the train seems to be a problem with you... Easy fix... Don't read my posts..!

We used the AT, and Amtrak... Good and bad to both... Letting others know about regular train travel, renting a car at the destination is an alternative to pay for hauling in on the AT...what, you work for the AT and has to be your way... I don't work for either and like giving options... Said and done with this thread..

 

[jwboucher]

I ended up taking the auto train both ways. Already booked next years trip. We will try the train the whole way and rent a car. The local train station in RI is 40 mins away. I will no fly so that isn't an option. Auto train rates have gone way up so we are actually getting a cheaper rate without having to drive 7 hrs to get to the train.

 

[cranbiz]

From MA, it's a 18 to 24 hour ride (24 on a bad day). The halfway point is Roanoke Rapids NC. Emporia VA is close to that too. The additional drive from Lorton to Roanoke Rapids is about another 3 hours.

The Auto Train to me is more hassle than it's worth, but I used to travel with just DW and myself. With kids, the Auto Train makes a lot more sense, especially if you have a bedroom.

With the current price of gas it may be worth it to drive the entire length of the trip. Remember, you are still an hour away from WDW at the Sanford terminal.

 

[vacationer1954]

We stayed in Emporia VA several times, on trips when the Auto Train didn't work for us. There's a nice Hampton Inn there.