Merry Christmas Ya'll! Riding the Rails to WDW in December PTR!

[katybugsmom]

Hi everyone!
Thanks to all the other wonderful DISers who have posted their Amtrak reports and for those that helped us make our decision to ride the train in December-you know who you are!!!!
That said, there have been a ton of questions about Amtrak travel and I'm learning new information everyday! My family has never ridden on Amtrak before, but I hope the information I share in my PTR will help others trying to make the decision to ride the rails!!!!

Here's what has happened so far:
April, 2010-We decided to take our third trip in as many years to WDW!
We went through our wonderful TA to book our trip. We decided December 16-21 at WDW and December 21-23 at UO. We paid our $200 deposit for WDW and $100 deposit for UO.
We ordered our MVMCP tickets as soon as we could for December 16! We were so excited!!! We didn't have any other ADR's to make-we decided not to do any table service meals-we did all character meals two years ago and counter meals/ate off site last year.
I was disappointed when we got our MVMCP tickets in the mail-regular tickets-not Christmas ones.
I started searching for info. on Amtrak in April, but soon decided against it because we would need a car traveling from WDW and UO.
Jump to July, 2010-DISboards has been my obsession for the past few months! We take our son to see the Sorcerer's Apprentice and DS 5 recognizes the music from Mickey's Sorcerer's Apprentice! We decide to try to get the Fantasmic Dinner Package-TA is unable to get one for either date-December 17 or December 20! I try several days later and as luck would have it, I get a reservation for the 20th!
Thought we were set, but we come home one Friday night to find our AC unit (central heat/air) has died and is beyond repair! Rather than take out a loan, we decide to cancel the UO part of our trip.
More to come...

 

[Vickis3js]

So you got a F! package for the 20th? We will be at MM that night for one as well!! Sorry you had to cancel part of your trip!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Joining.

I checked into the Auto Train, but it would cost almost as much as flying and would take a whole lot longer. The ride would be overnight, so we would have to get a room with beds for the kids at the very least. I could sleep in a seat, but I don't think the kids would.

 

[katybugsmom]

So you got a F! package for the 20th? We will be at MM that night for one as well!! Sorry you had to cancel part of your trip!

Congratulations to you too! We plan on doing UO another trip!

 

[katybugsmom]

Joining.

I checked into the Auto Train, but it would cost almost as much as flying and would take a whole lot longer. The ride would be overnight, so we would have to get a room with beds for the kids at the very least. I could sleep in a seat, but I don't think the kids would.

Our trip will last approx. 9 hours and 27 minutes, but for us its not too bad! We board at 3:38 in the morning and with any luck the kids will go back to sleep! I've bought travel pillows/blankets for them so they will be warm and snug! The breakfast car opens at 6:30 and it's first come/first serve so if the kids are awake we will probably go ahead and eat breakfast early. The kids will take electronics, Color Wonder activity books, etc. so they will have plenty to do. We arrive in Orlando at 12:55PM. I really wish the Auto Train boarded at several locations heading south. I think it would be ideal to ride it and have my car too!

 

[katybugsmom]

Okay, so my Central heat/air unit died last month and had to be replaced and tonight my washer dies before it goes to the spin cycle!!!! Now I have a washer full of blue jeans in a tub full of water and our local handy repair man coming first thing in the morning! When our unit died last month we had to cancel the UO portion of our trip, so what is God trying to tell me now? I was planning on sending our final payment to our TA this weekend and then I would be done!

Anyway, I was able to book our tickets with Amtrak last month and our roundtrip total w/AAA discount was $302.40!!!! Two adults and 2 children-coach seats.
Tip: I called and asked about Amtrak's cancellation policy-may have to use it if I can't get my washer fixed
If you pick up your tickets ahead of time and cancel you will receive a refund minus 10%. If you leave your tickets at the station and plan on picking them up the day of the trip and have to cancel you get a full refund.
Thanks to another DIser for the advice I received about checking our baggage. We had planned to take carry on luggage and not check any baggage. Policy states you can take two pieces of carry on luggage with you so I thought there would be enough room for it all, but I was told there's very little room for storing luggage so we are back to checking our bags at the station.
Here is a wonderful website I found a few weeks ago that gives you a lot of great info. for train rides:

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/index.shtml

Wish me luck tomorrow! I hope I don't have to go to Sear's tomorrow afternoon to buy a new washer!!!!!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Our Dishwasher is on it's last legs. Hoping it holds out until next year. I'm crossing my fingers for you.

If the Auto Train only cost $300 I probably woulde have taken it, but to get it I leave at about 4 in the afternoon, and would add an extra day off of school.

 

[katybugsmom]

Thankfully it was only a switch-cost $45.00! A whole lot better than having to buy a new washer! WDW, her we come!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

$45? That's great. I guess you only need to give up half of a meal or something.

 

[exwdwcm]

glad the washer was a cheap fix! scary huh?

i am subscribed and can't wait to hear more about your trip! so how old are your kids and where are you staying at?

Love the idea of the train- i bet my DS would love that! can't wait to read more.

 

[katybugsmom]

$45? That's great. I guess you only need to give up half of a meal or something.

I guess I won't get to eat when we do the Fantasmic Dinner Package!!!!
That should just about make up the difference!!!!

 

[katybugsmom]

glad the washer was a cheap fix! scary huh?

i am subscribed and can't wait to hear more about your trip! so how old are your kids and where are you staying at?

Love the idea of the train- i bet my DS would love that! can't wait to read more.

Glad to have you aboard!!!!
We are staying at POP for the first time December 15-21! We have stayed at ASMO's our last three trips.
DD is 11(going on 21 )and DS is 5(he's into super heroes-he spends his time running and flying through our house all the time!)

This is our first train trip and we are really looking forward to it. Not having to drive and being able to spend the extra time with the kids should be a lot of fun!

 

[katybugsmom]

Hello everyone!
Went back to work today! Lots to do before the kids come back next Monday!
I'm sending our final payment for our trip to TA tomorrow. I think I have everything lined up!
Here is a link to the menus on the trains we will be traveling on. My DS doesn't understand there is a car where we can eat while the train is still moving! We plan on eating breakfast early-the dining car opens at 6:30 and it's first come, first serve. You have to make reservations for lunch and supper-someone comes around-I don't know if you get to pick a time or they give you a time-the times are set at 15 minute intervals. We may miss lunch-we arrive at 12:55 so we may have to eat once we get to POP.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241305537990

Click on National Dining Car Menu to see a copy of the menu

 

[onescgirl]

Joining in!
I saw your title "Merry Christmas Ya'll" & just had to look! Sure enough it's a fellow South Carolinian!!!!! So, Hey neighbor!

I'm sad school starts Monday because I'll miss my babies!

I cannot believe the price is only $300 for Amtrack! I just now looked at my planning book from when we went to WDW 2 yrs ago & it cost us $188 in gas. So that's not a bad price you have!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[katybugsmom]

Joining in!
I saw your title "Merry Christmas Ya'll" & just had to look! Sure enough it's a fellow South Carolinian!!!!! So, Hey neighbor!

I'm sad school starts Monday because I'll miss my babies!

I cannot believe the price is only $300 for Amtrack! I just now looked at my planning book from when we went to WDW 2 yrs ago & it cost us $188 in gas. So that's not a bad price you have!

Can't wait to read more!

Glad to have you aboard neighbor! We live about 30 minutes N of Florence! I'll be MIA for a little while-very hectic at school right now! Worked there until 6PM last night and was back at 10 this morning and had to work until 7 tonight! Our kids start back Monday too! Where did the summer go?!?!

 

[exwdwcm]

Glad to have you aboard!!!!
We are staying at POP for the first time December 15-21! We have stayed at ASMO's our last three trips.
DD is 11(going on 21 )and DS is 5(he's into super heroes-he spends his time running and flying through our house all the time!)

This is our first train trip and we are really looking forward to it. Not having to drive and being able to spend the extra time with the kids should be a lot of fun!

how fun- POP looks fabulous- i can't wait to try it someday! sounds like the kids are a perfect age to really enjoy the train ride!

doesn't it feel good making that last payment? congrats!! and welcome back to work- hope it goes great!

 

[katybugsmom]

how fun- POP looks fabulous- i can't wait to try it someday! sounds like the kids are a perfect age to really enjoy the train ride!

doesn't it feel good making that last payment? congrats!! and welcome back to work- hope it goes great!

Yes, it's wonderful to make the last payment! The only thing we have to pay for now is our transfer from the train station to POP and we can't pay for that until we are picked up! We won't need money for food because we have Free Dining too!
School is fine so far-teachers went back to work last Monday and we started our staggered entrance this week-so far, so good! Friday will tell the tale-we will have all 30 4K for the first time, but I know everything will be fine!

 

[stephielela]

subbing! I like the idea of taking the train, but unfortunately we are on short time this trip. I think I will look at it just to see what the pricing is like for nex time! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[katybugsmom]

subbing! I like the idea of taking the train, but unfortunately we are on short time this trip. I think I will look at it just to see what the pricing is like for nex time! Looking forward to hearing more!

Welcome aboard!
It looks like we will be at WDW around the same time! Where are you staying?
I was right about Friday with my little ones-I have never been so tired in my life! They really kicked my tail! We had six crying during quiet time-they were exhausted!!!! We made though and they all got home safe and sound!

Trip news:
We've decided to try the Space Bag Travel bags to help cut down on our luggage. I usually pack the kids clothes in zip-locs, but this will help us all! Also bought travel hampers for $1.00 a piece at our local IGA grocery store this morning! They fold into small, compact circles so they will be easy to pack. I love finding great bargains!

 

[stephielela]

Welcome aboard!
It looks like we will be at WDW around the same time! Where are you staying?

We are spending our first night (the 17th) at CR and the rest at CBR.