Help!

[amicrazy?]

Hello everyone!!

I've been lurking around here for a couple of days and found your tips and information to be very very helpful!

However, I need some help!! My family and I are traveling to Disney World for Christmas (a little nuts I hear) There are 8 of us going (inlaws and what not) There are 7 adults and only 1 child (my son whom is 8, will be 9 at time of travel). This is the first time for everyone excluding me. I've been twice when I was small. We are staying in Kissimmmee which we figured would save us some much needed $$! But after reading some posts I'm thinking we were better off staying on site. But too late being that we've already paid for our rental! Does anyone know of public transportation to the parks from Kissimmee? And for the magic hours I see they are only for on site guests. I can't find the normal operating hours for off site guests! I'm getting a headache already!!

Here's my problem (one of them anyway!) originally we were traveling by train (we are in maryland) which is about an 18 hr train ride (yikes!) The train tickets are not "booked" as of yet but are "reserved" so we get the specific price. I've looked for airfare and found air tran to be pretty much the same price as the train tickets! So I would much rather be on a 2 hr flight than an 18 hr train ride! But not everyone is willing to fly. Does anyone have any train experience being on this long of a ride! I'm thinking of flying because that gives us more time in disney!!
Also the train will take us to either Kissimmee or Orlando. We are renting vehicles (which on the size of my party we would need two) And not everyone is wanting to do the same things on the same days
So here lies a problem.. I can't find any rental cars near the Kissimmee station but it makes more sense to go to Kissimmee since that is where we are staying.. So my question again is does anyone have any experience with either train station??

I'm both excited and frustrated!!

Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[Kevenswife2]

I'm feelin' your frustration! This is why I like to travel as just the 'three of us'. Selfish, but true!

allearsnet.com has the hours listed under 'parks' I think. The hours listed will be for anyone, offsite or on.

Since you're asking about train travel you might want to post a simular post on the Transportation board. I know I've seen posts there about Amtrak, the good and not so good.

As for flying versus the train...I'd choose flying hands down. We used to drive the 17 hours from Ohio...never again! Flying (and staying onsite) spoil you (even if it is a value resort).

 

[amicrazy?]

I'm going to go check that site out!
And I will post the question on the Transportation board! I'm still trying to figure the boards out!

Thanks!

 

[Christmas-in-Disney]

I see you are from MD...we are from WV and will be traveling on the train, leaving from Union Station...also at Christmas! Our trip is Dec. 21 - Jan 2. I've dug and dug for train info and came up with little. There are some posts on the Transportation board as the last poster said. From what I have found about train travel...one either LOVES it or HATES it! We are giving it a whirl though. For us, plane tickets were over twice as much! We reserved our train tickets early, they've already gone up over $400 for our party of 4! We will be taking a town car from the station and we are staying on-site so we will use the Disney transporation to get around. As for you wanting to rent a car, from what I understand the Orlando station has a Hertz. Don't know about Kissimmee. Some say Kissimmee is the better station to go into because it is a little closer (the Orlando station is apparently downtown) and also because it is less busy. Some car rental places will reimburse your cab fare to their office. Maybe someone will post about that, because I am not sure which ones specifically.

Since you are staying off-site and need cars, did you look into the Auto Train? It leaves from Lorton, VA and goes into Sanford, FL. You load up your own car onto the train and take it with you. It IS a bit more pricey but maybe when you consider what the rental will cost you...you might want to at least check into it. I also heard (might want to verify) that the meals are included in your price on the Auto Train. Someone has a nice post on the Transporation board of the Auto Train, complete with pictures and all! I enjoyed looking at it even though we are traveling on the regular train because I figured they are pretty similar.

Other train tips I picked up along the way:

*Bring lots to do...books, DVD players, iPods etc...

*Pack a cooler of snacks, apparently the food on the train is expensive and sometimes they run out.

*Expect delays. We actually backed our trip up one day to compensate because we already had ADRs for the 23rd that we did not want to chance missing! Now we arrive ont he 22nd and have no plans for that day there than getting there and checking in.

*If you do arrive into Orlando, the WDW rep I talked to on the phone said expect the travel from the station to WDW to take up to 1 hour or 1 1/2 hours and a half depending on traffic. She said she travels that route every day, so she knows well. She said in ideal conditions, it could be 1/2 hour IF we got lucky!

Well, like I said I have never actually taken the train, just gathered info for our upcoming trip. But, hope some of that helps.

I'll go look for that Auto Train thread and give you a link if I can find it.

PS - When are you traveling? Wouldn't it be funny if we were on the same train?

 

[Christmas-in-Disney]

OK, I found it...here's the link the Auto Train post:


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1925888

 

[sandycarroll]

I have been afraid to fly since 9/11, which also was the same year I became a mom. I have not been able to fly with my husband because the thought of the 3 kids at home...well you get it.
So last year my husband and I trained it halfway across the country and back. It was the worst experience ever! We actually got off at one city, rented a car and drive home.

I highly suggest flying. I now have two flights booked in the nest seven months. The train removed my fear of flying...well not really...but it made realize that sometimtes there is no better alternative!

 

[amicrazy?]

Ok, so we've purchased our train tickets! Blah! I'm not looking forward to 18 hrs on a train but know it will all be worth it when we arrive in WDW! Thank you all for your help!
Christmas in Disney- I looked into the Auto Train and I think it was just as expensive as renting a car (if not more) So I figured by the time we drive to Virginia it was just a waste. Being that we are a hop, skip and a jump from the Baltimore station. We've decided to go to the Kissimmee station and actually have found some pretty decent deals on rentals... I'm beginning to breathe a little better and actually have room for excitement!

 

[imthatgirl]

so let them take the train and you and your son fly.
in 2003 we went with my inlaws and everyone wanted to drive the 24hours to disney. i was pregnant. there was no way in hell i was doing that. i was perfectly happy leaving aday later and flying. theres no reason everyone cant be happy.

 

[Ilivetogo]

Hi amicrazy! I posted on one of your other threads. (not sure where now?? I'm losin' it.) Anyway, we are taking the train also ... from Philadelphia. Same dates as you. I looked into going to either Orlando or Kissimmee also, but the car rental rates are much higher in Kissimmee and it really isn't that big a deal to drive the extra distance. It was a substantial difference in the car rates. (The guy at one of the car rental places is the one that told me that - then I checked and found he was right.) Especially since you guys have to get 2 cars!

Our family has always gone via plane, but with the way prices are right now for flights, for us at least, it's WAY more to fly than to go by train. So, we have all adopted the attitude that this is a new adventure, and we're going to make the most of it and enjoy it. You can take 2 carry-on bags, and check 3 bags!! And you don't have to pay to check anything on the train! Woo hoo.

 

[Luhts]

We are staying in Kissimmmee which we figured would save us some much needed $$! But after reading some posts I'm thinking we were better off staying on site. But too late being that we've already paid for our rental! Does anyone know of public transportation to the parks from Kissimmee?

I am not sure where you are staying, but we are staying in the Windsor Hills area. After much searching, we learned that the area offers a shuttle service to WDW, but they charge $10 per person! Parking for a vehicle at Disney isn't much more than that, so we are renting a car. This will also be more convenient if we want to go to SeaWorld, outlet shopping, off-site restaurants, etc.