Planes, trains, and automobiles.

[carrielovesdisney]

How do you get to WDW? I am a nervous flyer. We flew in 2011 and are planning a trip back in 2013. How many of you take the train? Are there any prom codes out there? We are coming from Maine! Any suggestions?

 

[richmo]

Wow, Maine is a long way.

I'm not a big train person, but one thing you could do is drive down to a little south of Washington DC and take the AutoTrain from there. That way you don't have to do the whole drive and you'll still have your vehicle. AutoTrain isn't cheap, though.

Of course, you could also get to Boston and take train(s) from there and rent a car in Florida.

Easiest is flying though. I'd rather be nervous for 3 hours than riding for 24+.

 

[wiigirl]

I have to say the train takes MUCH longer than a plane ride.

 

[carrielovesdisney]

it makes sense to take the plane...

 

[pepe of ohio]

Makes no sense to use a plane if you're afraid to fly.... Nothing's going to get anyone over that hump....

We all know the time difference between flying, driving an using the train.... Another moot point!

I don't fly, we drive and use the train, Amtrak... To me it's senseless to use the Auto Train-- cost of taking your car negates saving money, same with using a sleeper ... For one night on a train , easy to sleep in coach and as for using the AT, cheaper to rent a car in Florida than hauling yours on a train.... No car is needed for a WDW vacation...

We use regular Amtrak from northeast Ohio, layover in DC for south bound train.... Easily sleep in coach, we pack sandwiches, snacks and drinks and lie back and watch the states roll by...

If you're in a hurry, like flying, by all means fly... For those unaccustomed or afraid to fly, Amtrak is a great alternative, get a chance to see some of the country, lie back and enjoy a good trip and the company you brought with you!!

 

[Greysword]

If you decide on a train, Amtrack has a Frequent Flyer club you should join. Plus, it is a transfer partner for Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you may be able to use signup bonuses to offset the cost, much like airline credit cards.

Here is an article by the New Girl in the Air blog about Amtrak. Also, here is a link to all current articles on Amtrak on BoardingArea.com
Finally, The Points Guy has a good intro article to Amtrak's loyalty program.

If you like the train idea, you should try it once. If it is something you'd like to do regularly, then you should get to know their elite status levels, how to get them, and how to get free travel, just like on an airplane. (Amtrak Zone Map and reward point costs)

For instance, it seems like their mid-tier (Select Plus) status is the sweet spot, since it offers lounge access and rewards during certain blackout dates.

Plus, Chase has a co-branded Mastercard that offers 12,000 points after $500 spend (use on groceries, gas etc) in 3 months, which seems to be good for a trip from NY to Miami (example that was used). However, the UR cards from chase can earn more for target spend.

Good luck!

 

[richmo]

... To me it's senseless to use the Auto Train-- cost of taking your car negates saving money...

Usually true; Exceptions may be if you're there for longer than the typical vacation period, or renting a non-standard car at a peak time. Doesn't hurt to price it out, but pepe is probably right.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm a nervous flyer too, but I do it. I can handle being nervous for 3 hours if I know Disney World is on the other side of it.

You know what works to calm my nerves? One drink. Only one. It makes me relaxed enough that I can fly without being a bunch of nerves, but doesn't impair me.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Makes no sense to use a plane if you're afraid to fly.... Nothing's going to get anyone over that hump....

We all know the time difference between flying, driving an using the train.... Another moot point!

I don't fly, we drive and use the train, Amtrak... To me it's senseless to use the Auto Train-- cost of taking your car negates saving money, same with using a sleeper ... For one night on a train , easy to sleep in coach and as for using the AT, cheaper to rent a car in Florida than hauling yours on a train.... No car is needed for a WDW vacation...

We use regular Amtrak from northeast Ohio, layover in DC for south bound train.... Easily sleep in coach, we pack sandwiches, snacks and drinks and lie back and watch the states roll by...

If you're in a hurry, like flying, by all means fly... For those unaccustomed or afraid to fly, Amtrak is a great alternative, get a chance to see some of the country, lie back and enjoy a good trip and the company you brought with you!!

Pepe and I agree again----NO planes EVER AGAIN!!!! to damn scary for me

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have never been injured on a plane. A drunk driver has never flown into a plane I was on. The most dangerous part of my flight, the drive to the airport.

You are much safer in a plane then on the interstate.

And sadly if you only take the train there are lots of places you will never see

 

[goofy4tink]

Flying is not my favorite thing to do. But the thought of being in a car, with my dh, for the drive from NE to WDW??? Well, someone is going to end up in jail...and it will probably be me!! Besides, dh feels that there is absolutely no need to be in a car for more than 2 hrs...that's why there are planes. He has no issue flying.
I would take the train, but not with dh...again, he would have to have access to his own bathroom, so there goes the cost!!!! No way would he sleep in coach!!!
So, we fly. I would like to drive to Florida just once....I would take two weeks to do it and make stops along the way....DC, Williamsburg, other interesting spots.

 

[Greysword]

I have never been injured on a plane. A drunk driver has never flown into a plane I was on. The most dangerous part of my flight, the drive to the airport.

You are much safer in a plane then on the interstate.

And sadly if you only take the train there are lots of places you will never see

Alleged Drunk Driver Hits Plane At John Wayne Airport

However, I agree with OCC. You are safer in an airplane than a ground vehicle.

An article I just found on Anxieties.com titled, "How safe is commercial flight?", talks about it.

... if you did fly every day of your life, probability indicates that it would take you nineteen thousand years before you would succumb to a fatal accident. Nineteen thousand years!

Based on train accidents over the past twenty years, your chances of dying on a transcontinental train journey are one in a million. Those are great odds, mind you. But flying coast-to-coast is ten times safer than making the trip by train.

You are nineteen times safer in a plane than in a car. Every single time you step on a plane, no matter how many times you fly, you are nineteen times less likely to die than in your car.

A sold-out 727 jet would have to crash every day of the week, with no survivors, to equal the highway deaths per year in this country.

A few snip-its from the article which I found interesting.