need opinions on Amtrak

[disneydebi]

I know this has come up before, but I'm looking for opinions on Amtrak.
we'd be going from Boston to Kissimmee.
2 adults, 2 children (almost 7 & almost 11 at the time).

My husband refuses to fly all of a sudden.... I hate to fly as well, but It's the fastest way to get there...

We just came back from a road trip vacation from Boston to Nashville, and I really don't look forward to another driving vacation. Nashville is almost manageable at about 9 hours each day, with an over night stay... But Disney will be even longer (we did it a few years ago and it was long...)

He has suggested taking the train so he doesn't get stressed out/tired from the drive. He has "fond" memories of a family train ride to Disney when he was 15 (mind you, that was over 25 years ago - so I'm guessing some selective memory is at work here!).

I'd like opinions from those who have done the train, and especially those who have done it with children. Is it easier on everyone than the 2 day drive? Is it "okay" (not gross or nasty?). We wouldn't be getting a sleeper car or anything, so it would just be regular seats....

I'd love some input.... I don't think flying is going to be an option, so it would be driving vs train.

Thanks all!

 

[owtrbnks]

There are those that LIKE the train. Didn't you see the recent news story about the people STUCK on the train for 48 hours? Screaming kids, dirty bathrooms, etc? But, some people will tell you it's the way to go.
My 2 cents says have a few drinks and fly Jetblue from BOS or SWA from MHT. You'll be there in 3 hours!

 

[disneydebi]

no, I didn't see the story..... eek.

I'd fly (with a little help from some "happy pills"), but I can't convince my husband... I don't think there is any way I will be able to change his mind.

 

[DisneyDotty]

If your husband insists on the train, I'd insist on a sleeper car. I took a 5-hour train ride from Chicago to St. Louis that seemed much longer, and I can't even imagine an overnight in those seats! You would be so much more rested and refreshed if you had a chance to spread out and sleep!
And don't count on the train running on time...
And yes, the bathroom in our car left much to be desired.
Good luck!

 

[disneydebi]

oops, sorry double post.

 

[garydeb]

Hi,

We take amtrak autotrain all the time to WDW. We always get a sleeper. It's the only was to go on the train. The regular coach seats are more comfortable then the airlines. It's hard to sleep in coach with people getting up and down all hours of the night. As we know some people just don't think about others around them trying to sleep. Good Luck with the Train and insist on a SLEEPER...

-Debbie

 

[puffkin]

A co-worker took Amtrack from Philadelphia to Kissimmee and had a horrible experience. His wife was terrified of flying, but she refused to get back on the train so they ended up flying home.

After seeing that news story on those poor people stuck on the train for 48 hours, well I would never even chance it. They ran out of cash and Amtrack wouldn't even make arrangement to give them food. Can you imagine? Overflowing toilets, no place to sleep, cranky children and adults. Sounds like a nightmare to me!

I have never taken the train so no first hand experience, but i would rather deal with the hassles of flying. My vacation time is too precious to waste it sitting on a train somewhere along the east coast.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We have been using Amtrak from Ohio the last 4 years, probably over10 trips to WDW. Its total time is about 31 hours but thats the only way I'll go. Have driven and flown in the past but won't anymore. Too stressing and am not comfortable in the air any more.
Last 2 trips we have booked the "roomette" in the sleeper for the 2 of us. We only use this car on the second leg going down and the first leg going home. Ohio to Washington is from 3am to 2 pm and coach setting is just fine and from Washington to Kissimmee we use the roomette. That leg costs the 2 of us 151.00 total and includes meals, beverages and a newspaper. We average around 570.00 round trip for the 2 of us but have taken many a trip before just staying in reserved coach seats. Seats are comfortable enough for sleeping, restrooms are not that bad, I've seen worse and the train is comfortable air and heat wise. Little secret we found out recently and utilize are the Red Caps. Take your luggage to them or carryons and all you have to do it tip them and they take you down to the train before all the others quening up in line get to board. We are the only ones boarding, get to pick our seats and are settled about 10 minutes before other travelers start boarding.
We've been delayed, late, shut down in WDW because of hurricane Wilma , and have read about the train problem few weeks ago but it was a CSX problem. I've been in log jams in my driving days and stuck but train wise they are infrequent. Still will use Amtrak, only get off at Kissimmee, its closer to WDW than Orlando, area is safer, cab fare is cheaper and its only about 15 minutes down track from Orlando. We use the taxi service from there, costs about 35.00 one way for the 2 of us and its usually a van taxi.
We take food and drink with us, books, games and portable DVD player just remember to be considerate of others, ears phone requires and I wish they'ld ban cell phones, hate them ringing and hearing other peoples conversations
Enjoy the train, sit back and relax and watch the scenery go by.

 

[disneydebi]

has anyone done Amtrak with 2 kids in tow? I don't think a sleeper is an option given that the ones on our route have roomettes or sleepers for only two people, so we'd end up having to split up.

Thanks.

 

[disneydebi]

Also, one more question about reserved coach...
do they assign actual seats like airplanes, or is it open seating (like SWA?).

 

[Rae&familyxmas05]

Took Amtrak during Xmas holiday, 12/21-12/27 with DD3 and DN5. Trip down was fine, rode in regular coach seats. We were two hours behind schedule but the girls were fine. Had dinner on train going to WDW food was good. Trip back was delayed from Orlando up to Delaware. Although trip home was long it still was a bad ride, staff on return trip was not as friendly. Thankfully we left before the "incident" with the freight train. By the way all of our delays was because of freight trains. We will be flying or driving next time.

 

[torinsmom]

I am most likely taking the Amtrak from NC to Kissimmee in March. What someone suggested I do was to check the train status on amtrak.com each day and see how the train has been running. WOrst so far from watching a week is 2 1/2 hours late. That may change today, as it says service is unavailable? May be because of that commuter train derailing in DC, because they share those rails. At any rate, I will just be prepared for delays. We can't afford a sleeper car, so we will bring our blankets and pillows and earphones, and plenty of cash, since they don't take CC's. I don't think we'd sleep anyway with the anticipation of Disney, LOL.

We had planned to do one of the smaller parks on the day we arrive(scheduled is 10:55), but now I have decided we will do our shopping for food and explore the Old Town near our hotel. That way, it won't really matter if we get there a few hours late.

Marsha

 

[pepe of ohio]

I have an e-mail ready to your private e-mail but your address is invalid. If you still need the info, you're not registered on the dis board, send correct e-mail address. I've tried sending through board but that address was invalid also.