driving or Amtrack??

[MommySue]

Hey
I'm just begining my third trip to WDW from Virginia. I'm trying to figure out which would be more cheap..lol..renting a car and driving (16 hours) or taking the Amtrack train? Does WDW do transportation to the hotels from Amtrack? I'm just trying to figure it. I've never been on a Amtrack before. Thank you for any input or suggestions!!~ <3

 

[ancestry]

To the best of my knowledge you are on your own to get to Disney if you take Amtrack. There is no Disney provided transportation. You would either need to take the auto train and bring your own car, rent a car, or take a cab/shuttle to Disney from the train station.

As far as which is cheaper you will need to figure that out. My kids have been wanting to take the train for several years now and it is always significantly more than flying for us from New England (either Maine or Boston).

 

[Reddy]

Hey
I'm just begining my third trip to WDW from Virginia. I'm trying to figure out which would be more cheap..lol..renting a car and driving (16 hours) or taking the Amtrack train? Does WDW do transportation to the hotels from Amtrack? I'm just trying to figure it. I've never been on a Amtrack before. Thank you for any input or suggestions!!~ <3

I wish we could use Amtrack. i looked into - why do we have a stop in Chicago when going from Dallas to WDW?? then you would have to take a taxi or rent a car.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Hey
I'm just begining my third trip to WDW from Virginia. I'm trying to figure out which would be more cheap..lol..renting a car and driving (16 hours) or taking the Amtrack train? Does WDW do transportation to the hotels from Amtrack? I'm just trying to figure it. I've never been on a Amtrack before. Thank you for any input or suggestions!!~ <3

We use Amtrak almost exclusively.....we used to drive in the late 70's and 80's.......flew a couple of trips to (I won't fly anymore no matter how cheap) drove a few more times and then used Amtrak for a few and now for the past 15 or more, have taken the train....we used to rent a van when we drove....but we were younger then, alot younger....now driving is just a hassle for us....too long a trip 19 + hours and we hate stopping in route and going straight thru is tougher....

We like the train...it's alot longer than driving...big lay over in DC to switch trains but no more stress of the road, finding gas, dealing with maos and traffic and road rage and speeding cars and the endless miles of each state....we sit back, munch our food and relax...it costs us about the same for driving maybe even cheaper by train if we spend a night at a hotel by car....we pay 450.00 round trip for the 2 of us via Amtrak...we leave at 3am and arrive in WDW at 1:30pm following day....we don't mind the trip, actually enjoy riding the rails and seeing the country roll by....doesn't take away from our Disney stay either, we still do 9-12 nights at WDW

We get off in Kissimmee...next stop after Orlando...smaller station, easier to board there but the Orlando station has car rentals....Kissimmee has cabs and is closer to WDW...we use a car service to pick us up and take us back...about the same price as a cab but the car service grants us a 30 minute grocery stop which we enjoy, we pick up sandwich material, snacks, beer, wine, alcohol and pop and whatever else we want handy once we're on property....car service runs about 110.00 R/T ....cabs about 40.00 one way plus tip....

Last trip to WDW, past December we drove with our son in law, daughter and their new 11 month old baby......straight thru 19 hours and being cramped in the car for all that time made me realize how comfortable the train really is....never mind the extra time required for train travel, but they were hauling alot of stuff so we did the car thing.....this trip, September, we back on Amtrak.....wandering around the train, bathrooms in each car and very comfortable seats in coach.....coach is fine for one day...sleepers are too expensive and really not necessary for one day and we never use a car at WDW but have relied on Disney's transportation system all 44 trips we've taken....others awear by the Auto Train, but to pay to haul a car on board when you can easily rent one in Florida if need be .....we prefer regular Amtrak....never been a problem for us...

If you never been on a train, it's worth a try, not for all but we enjoy the freedom and rather see the country from ground level than the clouds at 30,000 feet....

 

[Minniemouse07]

We found it the Auto Train to be priced competitively (if purchased early) with driving when including meals and a stopover in a hotel for one night each way.

This was also significantly less expensive than flying for our family of four, never mind the additional cost of renting a larger vehicle (we will be there for 2wks and need transportation that isn't WDW...cruise, KSC, etc).

You may find this an alternative to flying or driving.

 

[ldeflavia]

We'll be heading to WDW over Thanksgiving break. We were able to get a cheap flight down but the flights home are super expensive. So we've opted to take Amtrack home.

We'll be going from Orlando to Philadelphia. I thought the cost was very reasonable for a family of four and we got a AAA discount for being members. It was half the price of what flying home will cost.

We're going coach (no sleeper car for us). So I'm a bit nervous how the kids will be and if they'll be able to sleep and for being on the train for 22 hours! But we're looking at it as an adventure for the kids.

We won't have a car in WDW, just plan on using the disney transportation. So we'll be taking either a cab or car service from the hotel to the train station.