Has anyone ever taken Amtrak to Orlando...

[TandyR]

Portland, Maine's train station is brand new and the people there are some of the most helpful people. I was there with my DD2 and they offered to show her the trains and stuff like that. They were so nice. So they are not all equal.

 

[dsnycrzy]

Our train station here in Wilmington, De is very nice. It's clean and the staff is friendly (and farely honest I must say. Little story, last year I was putting the tags on my luggage and in the course of my craziness, sat down my envelope with the "shuttle van" money on the counter and they returned it to me) .
I'm glad for that walking from Orlando train station to our Kissimmee hotel would have been horrible. That said I have also been to N.Y Penn Station and I hated it. There was all kinds of crazy people lerking around and I was lost.

 

[Selket]

I did an across country round trip on a train many many years ago when I was a teenager with my mom. We slept in the seats and I agree with folks that it isn't the easiest thing to do. I had considered taking the train down to Orlando with my husband and son (before I had a 2nd child) and ruled it out. I know I wouldn't sleep well and I don't think my child would have either (don't know about DH!). I think the money you're going to save on the trainfare you'll use up on food and entertainment for the kids! Plus throw in a little bit for pain and suffering! Train travel is wonderful....but would be much easier with an older child unless you are getting a sleeper car perhaps. Unless you have fears about flying, I'd take the plane! You'll arrive in hours, not be nearly as exhausted, and not spend that much more money in the end.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm glad to hear the station in Portland is nice, I think my family is going to take the train to Orlando in September. The 4 of us can take the train for about $600 while it would cost $1200 to fly. Plus my 6 year old really likes trains!

 

[BounceyOne]

We've done auto train, but not the regular amtrak. We always get a sleeper car, DD goes to bed early 7:30 and I couldn't picture her falling asleep as everyone else was still chatting and other children were up and about.
It is not the cheapest way to travel, but we enjoy the train ride. And as someone else mentioned, we look at it as an adventure. Some train rides have been more of an adventure then others.
We have some friends that took amtrak from NYC in april, we drove in april(from NYC) we got there in less time then they did.

 

[ppppiglett]

We went coach once, and that was the last time. The people across the aisle from us were so noisy that we didn't get any sleep and as someone else said, the bathrooms are filthy in coach. We do go by autotrain and love it. You start your vacation as soon as you step on that train. However, I highly reccommend the sleeper cars to anyone. I would also like to say that the food was GREAT on the autotrain. And with the sleeper you get to eat off of real dishes instead of paper plates. Oh yeah, you get wine with dinner too!

 

[babiluvsdisney]

Originally posted by Blondy876
With airline prices so high my dh and I have been looking at alternative ways to get us (including our 4 year old) to Disney in November. We are in NJ and are thinking about taking the train out of Philly to Orlando. It's about an 18 hour ride. We would be leaving at night so we would sleep for a portion of it. It would be $457 compared to plane tickets around $740. This is not a sleeper car just 3 seats. Has anyone ever taken the train before? According to Amtraks website we can sleep in the seats. I'm just not too sure. I've never been on a train before.

Jennifer

We just booked, party of three, 2 adults and one child $320.00 rd trip for late Sept. into Oct. Use code H315 25% off hurry Amtrak offer expires June 15

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by babiluvsdisney
We just booked, party of three, 2 adults and one child $320.00 rd trip for late Sept. into Oct. Use code H315 25% off hurry Amtrak offer expires June 15

I used this code to check rates for our October trip. It's only $148.50(coach) for DS and I. A sleeper would cost $444.50, about $100 more than airline tickets.

 

[vacationwoman]

Originally posted by babiluvsdisney
We just booked, party of three, 2 adults and one child $320.00 rd trip for late Sept. into Oct. Use code H315 25% off hurry Amtrak offer expires June 15

While I love the train and consider the ride a part of my vacation experience be forewarned sometimes the trip can take up to 24 hrs. so don't be suprised with delays (due to weather, CFX trains bumping Amtrak, etc.)

Also the restrooms in the coach cars are not very clean (can't figure out why since they have an abundance of employees on the train, guess no one "does bathrooms")

We always get a deluxe sleeper (includes all meals/drinks and you can have them in your room if you want . )

This is "much" more expensive than flying first class but I love it. (and wouldn't fly if you paid me)

The trains are very cold, take a blanket and wear long pants/shirts. Take a sm. cooler with your own drinks/snacks also to cut back on costs