Live from the autotrain to disney

[PEANUT1]

Thanks everyone for following along! I am really bad at the quoting thing so if I haven't acknowledged or answered any questions, please forgive me..I have never done a trip report before.
Someone asked abut the autotrain and lounge cars. We were in a sleeper car, Yes, the room can be a little clausterophobic...but there are plenty of places to go and walk around. There are 2 loung cars on each train section and they were not full at all. I saw people at the tables playing games, having snacks etc. I can not speak to the coach areas..I didn't see any of those.

Back to the trip:
We had an absolutely magical day!! It was 80 degrees, sunny and glorious. We woke at 7am and had our breakfast out on the patio while the girls played in our backyard I really like having this room with this grassy area behind us...it is wonderful.

We walked the 20 minutes to HS..it is a rough walk with a stroller..my legs are sore..we did this walk twice today. We picked up our GAD fastpasses and headed to the first Little Mermaid show..then rode TSM (our first of 3 rides today) The wait time was approx 60 minutes all day but we got 3 fastpasses for our GAD voucher..we LOVE THIS RIDE

A few magical things happened today...my daughters rode Tower of Terror..Abby for the first time..Belle for the second. Abby was excited..Belle was petrified. Here is the before and after picture.

I was really proud of her.

 

[PEANUT1]

after Tower of Terror, we rode TSM again and headed took a pic with Buzz..then headed for Pizza Planet for lunch..

Abby really loves her Buzzy

After lunch we did Muppets and then headed to American Idol..this was cute. It was our first time doing this.
We then headed back to the hotel at 2pm to swim..well Belle swam. Abby fell asleep in the stroller on the way back and woke up at the pool very cranky I have no pics bc Bob took my camera by accident when he ran to the store.

After swimming, we went to Kimonos Sushi bar at the Swan for dinner..it was phenomenal. Except for when they brought our our Dragon roll and Abby proceeded to grab the prawn at the end and pull the black eyeballs out and eat them...saying "these are so yummy mommy"....

my girls as such amazing little eaters

We then headed back to HS where we rode TSm for the third time today..Bob beat me every time then we headed to see the Osbourne lights...I can't believe I have been to disney over 20 times and have never seen this amazing show!!!

This was a great day..we then headed back to our room to watch our Eagles on Monday night football.

Up tomorrow...MVMCP!!

 

[DizneySoulMates]

Hi. I just found your live report. I'm quite excited about reading the rest. We are also taking the auto train in a few weeks cool1: ) as well as staying at AKL. Can't wait to read the rest.

 

[Pumba's Truth]

Awesome day at DHS - sounds like what we have planned for our day on Sunday.

Your TR is getting me totally psyched for our upcoming trip .. keep it coming.

That's really brave of your gals to go on ToT. I took my DS (8 at the time) and I had forgotten how dramatic it can be, needless to say he didn't trust me about any rides after that .

Here's hoping that he'll be a bit more adventurous this year. After all he's now in the double digits, we're doing a late celebration of his big 1 .. 0.

Cheers.

 

[Mindy5767]

I'm impressed with your sushi eating, ToT riders! My DD8 would NEVER try any unfamiliar food.... or ride such a scary ride. I read your description of the prawn eating to my DH and he went

 

[PEANUT1]

Awesome day at DHS - sounds like what we have planned for our day on Sunday.

Your TR is getting me totally psyched for our upcoming trip .. keep it coming.

That's really brave of your gals to go on ToT. I took my DS (8 at the time) and I had forgotten how dramatic it can be, needless to say he didn't trust me about any rides after that .

Here's hoping that he'll be a bit more adventurous this year. After all he's now in the double digits, we're doing a late celebration of his big 1 .. 0.

Cheers.

I totally understand...Belle took a lot of convincing but I kind of bribed her I told her if she was brave for her little sister then I would let her spend some of her gift card. That worked pretty well. I know her well and knew she'd like the ride..

I'm impressed with your sushi eating, ToT riders! My DD8 would NEVER try any unfamiliar food.... or ride such a scary ride. I read your description of the prawn eating to my DH and he went

Yes I felt that way too!! My girls are amazing eaters..their favorite meal is Chicken Curry

We are just hanging in our room now. Girls were up at 730 and are watching cartoons..I have coffee brewing and plan to sit outside and have breakfast..another gorgeous day here in FL.

 

[drakes]

The weather sounds fabulous, and based on wearing shorts and tshirts, it must be warm ! Our DHS day sounds amazing! I can't wait for TOT! Although my DD will never ride it, to each their own

Thanks for the live report... your room with the "backyard" is amazing... one of the perks to a ground floor room! Sitting on the patio with a coffee in florida, what better way to wake up!

 

[PEANUT1]

So we are home..

The return home trip on the autotrain was really great. I don't know if I was less nervous about it but I really enjoyed it much better. I was able to relax and slept really well. The food and service again were very good. We also arrived way early at 8am.

The rest of our disney trip was wonderful!! Perfect weather, perfect days, perfect kids.. I think it may have been our best disney trip ever (and we've had a few)

 

[cm8]

So we are home..

The return home trip on the autotrain was really great. I don't know if I was less nervous about it but I really enjoyed it much better. I was able to relax and slept really well. The food and service again were very good. We also arrived way early at 8am.

The rest of our disney trip was wonderful!! Perfect weather, perfect days, perfect kids.. I think it may have been our best disney trip ever (and we've had a few)

, Thanks for the update!!!

 

[Native NYer]

Great report!
I may have to try the autotrain one day

 

[AnnaS]

A little late but I enjoyed reading it all and wonderful pictures too. Beautiful family.

We have taken the Autotrain once, booked roomettes once and taken coach twice from NYP to Kissimee and West Palm Beach.

We fly all the time but I really don't like it. It's not about the money - I know we can be there in two hours and it actually is cheaper to fly sometimes. Last time I took it was from NYP - Amtrak - two years ago. I think the Autotrain was 5 years ago.

 

[sjs314]

So we are home..

The return home trip on the autotrain was really great. I don't know if I was less nervous about it but I really enjoyed it much better. I was able to relax and slept really well. The food and service again were very good. We also arrived way early at 8am.

The rest of our disney trip was wonderful!! Perfect weather, perfect days, perfect kids.. I think it may have been our best disney trip ever (and we've had a few)

Welcome back. Was great to read about the auto train here as well or next trip we have to fly to use our credits from this years cancelled trip but who knows what the future might bring, DH has said for some time he would like to take a train trip , its been me holding back since I rode coach once from Kentucky to DC (12 hours) then a 4 hour layover then onto Connecticut(I forget how long) I do think with a sleeper and having the dining car access it might be fun.

Your girls are just darling and I was quite amazed at what they would eat food wise, normally all you hear is how picky kids are.

Glad you had your best trip ever this time!

 

[PEANUT1]

Thanks guys!! We have even decided we are going to go next year, even though we originally said we would skip next year

 

[Shelli_5]

Your family is lovely & I enjoyed reading your trip report! If we had an autotrain option here in NC, I would definitely be up for the experience. BTW, I am also a pediatric RN in a large teaching hospital.

Shelli

 

[kjasmin]

I take Amtrak from Connecticut to Orlando every time I go to WDW. I'm so happy you seem to be enjoying the trip. I also sleep well on the train in my little roomette. The rooms are a little different on the Auto Train than the passenger train. I found the food to be good ,and enjoy meeting other passengers. I meet quite a few people who are going to WDW, and sometime run into them in the parks. As for the emergencies. That sometimes happens as there are alot of elderly that take the train to Florida, especially this time of year. Amtrak seems to be able to make up lost time very well. They are using tracks owned by CSX Railroad (freight) so they don't get priority as freight trains do. CSX works well with them though as Amtrak pays to use the tracks. Sometime a freight will stall out or take priority and Amtrak will have to wait to let it pass. Well you should be getting your car soon so have a great time and magical trip with your family.

Hey car55,

How many people travel with you when you go to WDW? And do you get the viewliner roomettes?