I don't want to spend 2 days on a train!

[TrueEeyore]

I am trying to figure out a way to take a train to Disney for my honeymoon in May 2007. But if we leave on the 6th, we won't get to Disney until the 8th! I really didn't want to have to drive down there, because it takes 11 hours and I wanted to be able to relax on the way there
And please don't try to make me go on a plane, I really can't do it. Anybody have anymore ideas? I know, there's really no other options, but maybe you know about a train schedule that I don't know about?
I feel like my honeymoon is going to be ruined by this!

 

[simzac]

Your location says Louisiana, does it really take 11 hours to drive to Orlando from there

 

[cranbiz]

11 hours is not really that bad of a ride. I drive 18-22 hours out of MA frequently.

Why is the train 2 days? Do you have to change trains? The train from Boston to Florida is only about 26 hours (IF there are no delays).

 

[Chuck S]

I drive from the San Antonio area (unless airfares are really cheap). How are the road/gas conditions in Louisiana (I-12 to I-10) now? It is a long drive, but when the roads are in good shape it isn't a bad drive.

I would like to take the train, too, but service is still not operating from New Orleans to Orlando, so it would be a 3 day trip via the Northen Amtrak route Any estimate on when the tracks will be repaired from the hurricanes?

 

[ducklite]

Um, have you considering flying?

Anne

 

[TrueEeyore]

Yeah, it takes two days because I'll be coming out of my hometown, Hammond, and I'll have to switch trains twice, which wouldn't be a problem except when we'd arrive at the next train station, the other train wouldn't be leaving for about 10 hours, so that's why it would take so long.
Chuck S, I'm not sure when it would be repaired, but I don't think it would take that long. If you're leaving from LA, there's train stations in Slidell and Hammond and a few other places I've seen.
simzac, yeah it usually takes that long, even leaving at night when there's not as much traffic. it's long but it's worth it! The ride back is a killer though
ducklite, absolutely, no way could I fly. I'd have a horrible time on my honeymoon knowing I had to fly back home! It's a huge phobia I have and I can't bring myself to get on a plane. I'm sorry if some people think that's weird just because they're not afraid of it, but I am. LOL, believe me, if I could, I would, it'd be alot faster and easier. It's just not an option in my book. You'd have to get me some happy Mickey pills to fly!

 

[ducklite]

You'd have to get me some happy Mickey pills to fly!

Fortunately there are prescription drugs with little or no side effects which would help you. A lot of people take Xanax. It's a muscle relaxer, and it calms the mind. Your MD would be able to prescribe it for you and give you details on usage. Thousands of people every day take a mild relaxer before getting on a plane. You seriously might want to think about it.

Sure seems like that would be a lot less stressful than fretting about a long journey on top of those wedding plans.

Anne

 

[Kath2003]

If you have to change trains twice, why don't you drive to the station where you make your final change and take the train from there?

 

[AMcaptured]

Drive.....There is NO way I would take a two day train ride over an eleven hour car ride....If you can't fly, drive, it is very simple.

Remember, however long it takes you to get there chances are it is going to take you that long to get back. I would not want to start my marriage with four days of train travel.

Good Luck

 

[Suzyq9241]

Even if you drive you can still relax....
I drove from NJ and I wanted to take time to drive to orlando....
It took 4 days for us to get there but we stopped and went to other places which was cool ...
But It to us 18 hours to drive home and we did it in like 1day and a half...
And I still relaxed.....

 

[NotUrsula]

Drive and make an overnight beach stop in Alabama or the Panhandle; splurge on the Marriott at Point Clear if you really want to make it memorable (They are reopening on May 1.)

 

[Drake]

Actually, I've taken the train many times on my travels, not because of problems with flying.....but because it is a wonderful mode of transportation! You get to relax and see the scenery in the different states you travel through. It is more expensive than flying, though. We get a sleeping compartment which includes meals. What an adventure! Sure it takes longer than flying...but, if you have the time....it's great!

Last year we took the auto train from Virginia to Florida. We use AAA for discounts on the basic ticket, which helps. It's fun to go to the dining car for dinner and breakfast. The food is good considering you're on a train...and, we would take deserts back to our sleeping compartment!

If you have the time and money.....it's a wonderful experience!

 

[bg4]

Let me try to understand this.

The wait for the train is the same amount of time you could drive the route - And you want to spend the first two days of your married life together on a train. Seems like a no brainer. DRIVE -

Take two days to drive - Drive 5 1/2 hours each day - 2 1/2 in morn and 3 in afternoon. It will be much more relaxing than train and you will only spend one night on road vs two? with Amtrak and you will save a ton of money.

 

[NotUrsula]

but, if you have the time....it's great

If I lived on the East Coast, I'd agree. Unfortunately, the East Coast is the only part of the US where Amtrak is at all reliable in terms of scheduling.

Two weeks ago my sister took the train the OP is referring to, but she was only going as far as Alabama. The trip took 50% longer than it was originally scheduled for. If that happens to the OP she will be on the train for 3 days instead of 2 -- she could practically get there on horseback in that much time!

I love rail travel when it is reliable, but outside of the NE Corridor, Amtrak just isn't.

I've always thought it was a shame that there is no cruise service from the western Gulf Coast to Florida. I could easily see a boat doing Houston > New Orleans >Tampa, or something along those lines. When I was a kid (before I-10 made it as far as New Orleans) we always went to Florida via water, on my dad's trawler. Not luxurious, but nicer than a two-lane road with no a/c in the car!

BTW, I did spend two days of my honeymoon on a train. In a private sleeper compartment crossing the Canadian Rockies. It was a VERY nice two days.