Getting to the Orlando train station from WDW?

[AussieAngel]

So Disney World is in the middle of our 7 week adventure of the USA. Yay!!

We're flying into Orlando from Las Vegas, and getting the Magical Express to Pop, where we're staying for the week.

When we leave, we'll be catching the train from Orlando to Savannah. We could have easily flown, but we thought it might be fun to do a train journey!!

So my question is... how would be go about getting from Pop Century, to the Orlando train station, which is on Sligh Boulevard in Orlando. No idea where that is, considering I've never been to America before, let alone Orlando! Tehee!

Any advice about our options would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Taxi or town car BUT! My understanding is that the Orlando train station isn't in the best area, and that the Kissimmee station, while somewhat isolated, is both closer to Walt Disney World and has the same fares/rates. If you haven't already purchased your tickets, you might want to alter your plans; and if you have gotten them, check with Amtrak and see if you can board at Kissimmee (earlier stop than Orlando) at no extra charge.

 

[DC7800]

A taxi or one of the towncar services will get you there. If you don't have more luggage than you can manage yourself, you could also go by Lynx - the Orlando public bus system (http://www.golynx.com). Certainly the least expensive way to go, and it departs every half hour from the Transportation & Ticket Center.

Though the Orlando station may seem slightly inconvient from the "tourist" parts of town, its not that far away. Kissimmee is marginally closer to WDW, and taxi fares from Pop Century would be somewhat less (Lynx goes here too). If you already have tickets I wouldn't go to the trouble of changing.

 

[AussieAngel]

Ooh, thanks kaytieeldr and DC7800 for your suggestions!

We do already have our train tickets from Orlando station... I'm a bit worried now that you say it's in a bad area, kaytieeldr! Is it really yuck? Or just a bit further out?

I don't suppose you happen to know how much a taxi fare might be to either Orlando station or Kissimmee station, from Pop? A rough guess would okay!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not criminally hazardous, just not um, good question, among the places one would feel safe wandering alone? I'm sure it's fine - after all, you won't be the only people boarding the train there!
Using the Mears taxi fare calculator (!), Epcot to the Kissimmee station is fourteen miles and about $29.75; Epcot to Orlando is twenty miles and about $41.75. Pop might be a LITTLE closer to either station than is Epcot, so your fare might be a little less.

 

[AussieAngel]

Thanks so much, Kaytieeldr!! Three cheers for looking up that info for me!!

 

[ztbz]

Before you take the Lynx Bus to Orlando or Kissimmee you may want to check to see if Luggage is allowed on the Lynx Buses. I would hate to see someone go over to TTC and find out thew won't take your Luggage, (also Luggage is not allowed on Disney Park Buses).

 

[vacationwoman]

Ooh, thanks kaytieeldr and DC7800 for your suggestions!

We do already have our train tickets from Orlando station... I'm a bit worried now that you say it's in a bad area, kaytieeldr! Is it really yuck? Or just a bit further out?

I don't suppose you happen to know how much a taxi fare might be to either Orlando station or Kissimmee station, from Pop? A rough guess would okay!

The area around the train station is not top of the line but we take the train every year and always use the Orlando station. We have never encountered any "bad" situations. Across the street is a great sandwich shop too.
More porters and baggage help in Orlando than Kissimee.

There is an outside covered area to sit and always a good amount of people waiting for trains and plenty of Amtrak employees around too.
Inside the station there are plenty of benches to sit on, restrooms, vending machines, a ticket window and Hertz rent a car window. The station is in need of a remodeling but it fairly clean (and air conditioned)
Any specific questions you can pm me.
Have fun.

 

[NJBILL]

I have been there in 2001 and in 2003. It is an older station, but I felt safe with my kids at all times. This year we are getting off in Kissimmee,as it is slightly closer to WDW and we wanted change things up a bit. It is not in the most affluent part of town, but I saw no evidence of anything bad.
Not all towncar services frequent Amtrak stations (lack of popularity). here is the one we are using and they feature Amtrak pickup on their website..
http://www.sejactransportation.com/sejac_2_004.htm

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

For photos of the two Amtrak stations, see:

Orlando — http://snow.prohosting.com/usarail/orlando.htm

Kissimmee — http://snow.prohosting.com/usarail/kissimmee.htm

On the page of Orlando photos, ignore all pictures below the red text, "1887 Atlantic Coast Line Rail Station (Orlando Downtown). That's a different station that no longer serves as train station.

Both stations are in need of restoration. The good news is that neither station was "modernized" in the 1950s or 1960s, so both retain their original architecture, appearance, and charm. They're just a little run down and in need of tender loving care. The Kissimmee station is smaller and much less busy.

Because you're heading north, an advantage of the Orlando station is that your train ride will be shorter.

I would contact a towncar company, such as this site's sponsor and perhaps one or two other companies, for quotes from POP to both stations. If Kissimmee is much less expensive, then look into changing your train tickets. But if the cost is similar, then I'd stay with Orlando. The cost might be similar because Kissimmee might be more out-of-the-way for the towncar company.

Bring books because Amtrak is not known for being on time. Amtrak is not Deutsche Bahn or SBB.

In Savannah, consider having traditional Southern food for lunch at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room in the historic district. Here are the TripAdvisor reviews of Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room.

Enjoy your 7-week adventure of the USA!

 

[AussieAngel]

Thanks SO much everybody, for your help!!

I can deal with the train station being a bit run down. Hopefully we won't be there too long, even if the train is running late! And train stations here in Australia are definitely nothing to write home about! We'll be spending a lot of time in airports all over the country - at least it will be something different to be in a train station, anyway!

We're going to stick with the Orlando station - we might pay $10 more in a taxi fare, but it cuts almost an hour out of the train journey.

I might look a bit silly here, but what's a town car!? I don't think we have them in Australia! Are they different from a taxi? If so, are they generally cheaper or more expensive?

And Horace Horsecollar (What a name!!) - thankyou for your Savannah dining suggestion! We've heard about Mrs Wilke's Dining Room - It looks so bizarre, we might just have to go!

 

[NJBILL]

A taxi is a traditional standard vehicle that holds 3-4 passengers. A towncar is usually a limouisine or a van that holds more than a standard vehicle. A towncar and Limo cost more than a standard taxi in most cases

 

[seashoreCM]

You might consider Magical Express back to the airport and a much shorter taxi fare from the airport to the train station.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm