I can't decide... Drive or Amtrak?????

[TruBlu]

We always fly to Disney, but I started late this year and can't get cheap tickets.

So our two options are drive or Amtrak. We've never ridden the train. The trip would take about 13 hours.

Anyone who has ever ridden the train have any advice?

 

[Ham Ham]

We always fly to Disney, but I started late this year and can't get cheap tickets.

So our two options are drive or Amtrak. We've never ridden the train. The trip would take about 13 hours.

Anyone who has ever ridden the train have any advice?

I thought it was only about 10 hours from NC to WDW?

 

[LollipopPanda]

We always fly to Disney, but I started late this year and can't get cheap tickets.

So our two options are drive or Amtrak. We've never ridden the train. The trip would take about 13 hours.

Anyone who has ever ridden the train have any advice?

AllegiantAir has some really cheap flights to Orlando right now. Some flights are as low as $19-$29 one way! Are you close to Greensboro??? or Willimington??

 

[TruBlu]

I thought it was only about 10 hours from NC to WDW?

I think for us it would be around 12 hours. Amtrak would take around 13 hours. We just really don't want to drive. We were wondering if the train would be easier since we could walk around, sleep, go to the dining car, etc. We never ridden the train, so it really is a guess for us.

 

[TruBlu]

AllegiantAir has some really cheap flights to Orlando right now. Some flights are as low as $19-$29 one way! Are you close to Greensboro??? or Willimington??

Do they fly into Orlando or do you have to go to Sanford and rent a car?

 

[OrdainedDeacon]

From Greensboro to Sanford airport.
They do fly Sat to Sat.......although the times are not that great.
But the prices are!!

You can easily rent a car at Sanford.

Southwest Airlines is offering flights form Raliegh to Orlando (MCO), about $200. This is non-stop.

Just an freindly FYI!!

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

Do they fly into Orlando or do you have to go to Sanford and rent a car?

My question is how far is it from Sanford to MCO?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've been using Amtrak for quite a few years. We used to drive to WDW but that was back in the 80's and we were alot younger. We did a car trip a few years ago, waited too long to book the train and it was full, and that cured me of the driving deal. We're from northeast Ohio, good 20 hour drive and with the amount of trucks and cars made the whole trip like an endurance race. We have about a door to door train time of 36 hours due to a DC layover. If the train would stay on schedule, it's a nice trip, but trains are noted for running late. A couple of weeks ago, we took Amtrak to WDW for our 42 trip and the train was 6 plus hours getting in, peeved the wife to no end, coming home, another 3 hour delay in Savannah, just be prepared.

Your stop should be in the evening or alittle later and the train should arrive around 1:30pm. You'll be traveling thru the night and is not that bad, even in coach, sleepers are nice but very costly. I'd say give it a shot, the seats are quite comfortable, recline, take some food and drinks and let us know how it goes. Our last trip in January, round trip for the wife and me was $450.00, can't drive for much less but it's all no stress.

 

[TruBlu]

We've been using Amtrak for quite a few years. We used to drive to WDW but that was back in the 80's and we were alot younger. We did a car trip a few years ago, waited too long to book the train and it was full, and that cured me of the driving deal. We're from northeast Ohio, good 20 hour drive and with the amount of trucks and cars made the whole trip like an endurance race. We have about a door to door train time of 36 hours due to a DC layover. If the train would stay on schedule, it's a nice trip, but trains are noted for running late. A couple of weeks ago, we took Amtrak to WDW for our 42 trip and the train was 6 plus hours getting in, peeved the wife to no end, coming home, another 3 hour delay in Savannah, just be prepared.

Your stop should be in the evening or alittle later and the train should arrive around 1:30pm. You'll be traveling thru the night and is not that bad, even in coach, sleepers are nice but very costly. I'd say give it a shot, the seats are quite comfortable, recline, take some food and drinks and let us know how it goes. Our last trip in January, round trip for the wife and me was $450.00, can't drive for much less but it's all no stress.

THANK YOU so much for posting!!!! That is just what I wanted to hear. Our trip would be overnight, so I was thinking that sleeping most of the way would be much less stress than driving.

How do you get to Disney from the train station? Do you arrange for a car before you leave?

 

[RussellDisney]

I have never taken Amtrak to Orlando, so I can't comment on the specifics of getting from the station to WDW.

However, several years ago I took a two week Amtrak trip through the American West and it was FANTASTIC! As pp said, the coach seats are very comfortable for sleeping. The amount of leg room cannot be compared to an airplane, even first class. There is at least 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the front edge of the seat bottom cushion to the back of the seat in front of you...no lie!! The seats are also wider than most airline seats, probably the width of a first-class air seat. In addition, there is a fold-out leg rest and the recline is much greater than the airlines. The seat is much more akin to a lay-z-boy recliner in your home than an airline seat. I was able to sleep comfortably for two nights in a row in these seats. (I took a couples days off-train to sightsee and sleep in hotels along the way, wonderful way to see the West! )

As you mentioned, you can move around the train as you wish, visit the snack bar and dining car, etc. The windows on the train are huge and provide a nice view.

I will also say that the delays mentioned are fairly common. I didn't experience anything outrageous, but we were rarely "on-time".

 

[pepe of ohio]

THANK YOU so much for posting!!!! That is just what I wanted to hear. Our trip would be overnight, so I was thinking that sleeping most of the way would be much less stress than driving.

How do you get to Disney from the train station? Do you arrange for a car before you leave?

Since we always detrain at the Kissimmee station, closer to WDW and alot less hectic, majority of travelers on the train get off in Orlando, and boarding to go home can make for a long line out in the Florida sun, Kissimmee is a small station and few people use it, works great for us. We have been using the same car service for 5 years, can't say who, banned company, will send you a PM on subject. It's a great trip if you have the time, we enjoy it but delays are flustrating.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Since we always detrain at the Kissimmee station, closer to WDW and alot less hectic, majority of travelers on the train get off in Orlando, and boarding to go home can make for a long line out in the Florida sun, Kissimmee is a small station and few people use it, works great for us. We have been using the same car service for 5 years, can't say who, banned company, will send you a PM on subject. It's a great trip if you have the time, we enjoy it but delays are flustrating.

Sent you a PM awhile ago but haven't heard back, just wondering if it went out and to right person. Gladly give our car service but has to be done on home email.

 

[Tina May]

Hi,

Just wanted to put in a 2cents if you will, we are taking amtrak in june 09 to WDW from PA. We used AAA and got almost $30 off each way per ticket, so if you have triple a definetly use it( through a agent though, internet is only 10%). Also, I found out through research that it is 23 miles from Orlando Amtrak to WDW. I found a company called CBC transportation (google) they have the absolute BEST price to be picked up and taken to WDW. they monitor when the train arrives as to when they are there to get you. We also got a small discount from them (military) we needed a van for 8, so all the companies I found averaged 130 -250 round trip ,,,, they are $90 plus the discount. Just a little FYI

 

[Tina May]

Hi Pepe

on the amtrak issue and kiss, is that an option, when I did the reasearch for arriving in ORL, I didnt know there was a station at Kiss, how much closer is that to WDW, ( we are actually staying at Shades of Green)

 

[Tina May]

sorry to keep bugging you, I've been worrying so much about the details of this trip, boyfriend says I'm worrying waaaaay to much, just go with the flow, We are supposed to there at 12:55pm, you say you were 6 hrs late, I think my head will explode, literally. We are to be a "direct connect" does that hold true or are there stops???? Thanks so much , any info greatly appreciated.

 

[pepe of ohio]

sorry to keep bugging you, I've been worrying so much about the details of this trip, boyfriend says I'm worrying waaaaay to much, just go with the flow, We are supposed to there at 12:55pm, you say you were 6 hrs late, I think my head will explode, literally. We are to be a "direct connect" does that hold true or are there stops???? Thanks so much , any info greatly appreciated.

Our Amtrak travel goes back alot of trips and years. Here's a web site to check on recent arrivals: amtrakdelays.com punch in your destination station and train number and you can see the arrival times for the past 4 weeks. We're always on train 97 out of DC, most of the time close to schedule but 30 minutes and on up is the norm. January 2009 trip our 6 hour layover in DC, waiting for 97 from Philly, ended up an extra 6 hours due to the train in Philly having engine trouble and returning to Philly to swap out the engine. We were not happy, Amtrak has contacted us and is making resitiution, we'll see. Wife was peeved losing 6 plus hours at WDW. Also, the train makes some stops at other stations along the way, some quick, some longer to change crews and maintenance plus letting people exit for a smoke, but you're traveling most of the night after boarding in DC and getting into Disney approx. 1:30pm. There is an early train out of DC but our connection from the eaast usually misses it, belive it gets into Kissimmee at 12:30pm do not know its number but these 2 trains run every day.

When we look or book our tickets, we punch in destination as Kissimmee, some times you can pick up a rail sale on line cheaper than by phone. We've also seen people susposed to detrain in Orlando and stay on and get off in Kissimmee. All I can say from our experience, watching all the people detrain in Orlando, long stop here, 30 plus minutes, scramble for available cabs and rentals and just being confused and lost, we'll stay on and go the 20-30 minutes further to the Kissimmee station and get off with about 10 others. Cabs are available there too and as I stated before, its closer to WDW, good grocery stores on RTE 192 and not the big city.

 

[Tina May]

thanks so much! We are leaving from Pittsburgh pa to Philly, 2 hr layover then to ORL. says direct connect, guess we'll see. Im looking forward to it, all 8 of us have never done the train thing, so it should be an adventure. I absolutely cannot wait to get to disney!

 

[pepe of ohio]

thanks so much! We are leaving from Pittsburgh pa to Philly, 2 hr layover then to ORL. says direct connect, guess we'll see. Im looking forward to it, all 8 of us have never done the train thing, so it should be an adventure. I absolutely cannot wait to get to disney!

We used to board at the B&O station in Youngstown, 7 miles from our home but they closed that station years ago. That train used to go to Philly and we would switch there, layover of 2 hours is not bad and the Philly station is alot nicer than DC. Layover means all off train and wait for the south bound to come in so you can board it. It is probably the same train we board in DC, number 97. Anyhoo, it is a unique experience, take a small blanket, gets chilly on the train, books, gamebos, DVD player and pack a lunch. All you need to do is sit back, recline, munch and drink yourself to Florida. Alittle tip, in Philly, before you board to head south, have a Red Cap aid you with luggage, he'll take you to the train car before all the others waiting to normal board, only cost you his tip, $1 or $2 a bag and he carries the stuff. Nothing better than not waiting in a people line trying to enter one little door. We use them with and without bags.