Ground transport from Orlando Amtrak?

[mercat]

Hello, all--new to this board. We're taking an overnight Amtrak at the end of this month from D.C. to Orlando. We're having a hard time finding information about reliable ground transport from the Orlando station to our resort, Pop Century. Can anyone recommend a shuttle service? Are there any that regularly run between the station and Disney resorts? Thanks.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've used Amtrak alot from Ohio through DC to Kissimmee. We never detrain in Orlando, way too many people getting off there, waiting for luggage, rides etc. We stay on one more stop and detrain in Kissimmee. smaller station, only about 10 people get off, stop is only about 5 minutes compared to Orlando's 30 minutes, makes a big difference when its time to go home and you're standing out in the Florida heat waiting in line to board. Taxi fares are cheaper for us from Kissimmee depot to MK resorts, approx. 36.00 cab fare one way, takes approx. 20 minutes and from what I've heard and read, Kissimmee station is in a better area than Orlando.

 

[mercat]

Thanks. Unfortunately, tix are purchased and they're for Orlando, so we'll be stuck dealing with the crowds there, I guess.

 

[Edd]

It could be worse if you are getting off a train in Washington or New York. I have seen crowds at Orlando that total about 20 passengers maybe getting off. I have seen where Sunray pickes up at Orlando, also Murray Hill. Most companies who pick up at the airport will also pick up at the Orlando Amtrack. There are also metered taxis sitting at the Amtrack. In addition if you wait to get off at Kissimmee, you could be checking in at a Disney resort the same time the train is getting to Kissimmee, had you got off at Orlando.

To tell you the truth, being familiar with both stations, I would rather be picked up at Orlando. The Kissimmee station is much smaller and really a dump. The Orlando station is old, but kept up better than the Kissimmee station. Travel to Disney would be much faster from Orlando as it is highway. Not so with Kissimmee.

Just an addition after reading the above post. Kissimmee Amtrack is not located in a better area than the Orlando Amtrack. That is a big fallacy. Both are located in old areas of each town. All housing, around the stations, is low income or older housing.

 

[DC7800]

While you could always buy a second ticket to travel Orlando to Kissimmee (about $5), that's probably not worth doing at this point. Twenty passengers would be an awfully small crowd for Orlando, though - maybe several times that number at a minimum.

The Orlando stop is a bit lengthy, and it will take longer to claim any checked baggage here, but Kissimme is closer to WDW (but stop-and-go traffic) and the crowds are smaller.

Both are located in old areas of each town

Would you believe that Amtrak's Sligh street station in Orlando was built as the suburban station?

 

[mercat]

Appreciate the comments/advice, all. I figured there'd be cabs sitting there, but just wondered if there were any better deals from local shuttle companies. Thanks.

 

[Edd]

On a good day, maybe twice a year you would get 50 passengers in Orlando. The train is not the most popular way to travel nowadays.

 

[DC7800]

In 2006 the Orlando station served 121,057 passengers, an average of 332 per day. This is the second busiest Amtrak station in Florida, while nearby Kissimmee is at #8. That doesn't sound like much compared to OIA, but there are only two trains a day (each direction), with less than 300 seats per consist. This leaves us an 'average' figure of 83 passengers per train in Orlando; The vast majority of the business is to and from points north.

Were the train consist not artificially constrained, these numbers would be much higher. Trains - long and shart distance - tend to prove popular where they are offered and, indeed, ridership is generally growing nationwide.

Some Orlando-area passengers also use the Kissimmee or Winter Park stations, else Orlando would be even busier.