for those of you who take the train

[mommiepoppins]

What time do you get on. I will have to get on at 6 20 am and switch trains around 330 and then stay on until 1230 the next day. Now My kids are going to be sleepy(and me) any info you have would be great . I will not have a sleeper. We usually drive so they train should be better? Help any info!

( The price for all 6 of us is under 900) The price is great!

 

[Edd]

The hassle of riding a train is a whole lot greater than the savings. Just picked up a 2 adult and 2 child family coming from Pa. Had a 15 month old and a sleeper. They said it was an experience but wouldn't do it again.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've used Amtrak the last 6-10 trips, we've had mostly good trips, only one not so good but all in all, very pleasant. We board at 3:30 am and switch around 3:30 pm arriving in Kissimmee around 12:30pm. We're mostly late getting in. Experience, if you do not fly is fun. We roomette the second leg of the trip, DC to Kissimmee. Even have taken coach seats the whole way but sleeping in a seat for one night is enough. The roomette includes meals, we can sleep lying down and arrive refreshed and relaxed. Its better than driving for us, too much stress on the highways anymore, as for cost, about the same as driving, time wise train is alittle longer but the stress factor is nil. We're never lost, looking for gas or a motel and the trucks on either route to Florida is nuts plus the big cities you have to go through. Some people, or most, can fly, others like me can not nor will not and the train is ours means to get to WDW, doable, certainly, fun, yes, relaxing, its what you make of the trip.

 

[torinsmom]

We did it last March and I will never do it again! We went from Raleigh NC to Orlando. Were supposed to leave Raleigh at 9pm, left at 11pm. They did not check any baggage, the ones checked or the carryons. They didn't even check anyone getting on for weapons. They did not have assigned seats, it was first come, first served and we were waiting at the wrong door. So, our friends and us got separated and I almost didn't get a row with my son! We rode coach, the car was cold, cramped and the bathrooms were not clean. Food was very pricey. There was guy near the bathrooms making very rude comments to all the women who passed. We stopped several times during the night and just sat there on the tracks(waiting for freight trains that have the right of way) We arrived over 4 hours late in Orlando at 1:00pm.

The ride back was even worse. There was a loud bunch of kids in our car and the attendants would not do anything about it. They wouldn't let us move to another car and they wouldn't speak to the parents. They finally stopped from abour 10pm-5am and then started up again. It was really tiring and we barely slept. Train was 5 hours late getting back to Raleigh.

My son liked jumping between the cars, and would love to ride again. I told him he can ride when he is grown, because I will never again do more than a day trip on a train.

I'm sure the experience would be better with a sleeper, but then the price is as much as flying. We drove in Sept, got there in 8 hours and had a much better experience.

Marsha

Marsha