Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

[Mousefanmike]

Now we all know that there are many different ways to travel to the world. But, which is most cost effective? I started to do a bit of research and found that for three Adults a train is about $200 cheaper than driving, from the Philly Area.

My reasoning is that in the past it's about $150 each way for gas plus the hotel we would stay at is in Daytona Beach area, that's about $170 a night. That also does not include snacks and our meals. The train was $110 per person each way. Plus the Uber from the train to DBC is only ~$20.

Now, why don't more people ride the train? Am I just blind and this is a common form of transportation, or is it really a poor choice?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We used to take the train all the time, Amtrak, over 15 trips but the layover in DC, was the trip breaker....we leave from northeast Ohio, train to DC and have an 8 sometimes more hour layover till we catch the south bound.... Makes the one way trip over 38 hours...

We've switched back to driving last bunch of years just based on time...we can drive straight thru in 17 hours, that's one day down and one day home compared to 3 plus days round trip via train....cost wise, driving is still a little cheaper...

But we prefer the stress free relaxing train journey...if they ever tighten up the train schedule or let us book the earlier train out of DC, we'll go back to the train ( they won't let you book earlier train cause east west train hardly on time and will miss connection ) ....also, I do not fly.....

 

[minnie mum]

First, the question you ask in your post is not the same as in the poll. Not everyone chooses their method of transportation based only in cost. The time required is also a factor - a more important factor for some.

As for the train, specifically? Simple. Not everyone is located close to a train station with convenient connections to Orlando. Not all train connections are cheaper than driving for every family.

 

[amcnj]

Plus some of us drivers go straight through so there is no hotel cost involved.

 

[monorailsilver]

We fly.

I live in CT, it's a 2 1/2 hr ish flight.

I would not drive to Disney because it's a 2 day drive for us since we don't want to drive in the middle of the night and then start off vacation tired for a few days.

We took the auto train 2 yrs ago. My dh and I thought about taking it before we were married but it ended up being more money then flying and renting a car so we flew back then. I would not do the train again unless the tracks turn smooth and the feeling of flying out of bed and derailing is no longer present. We did not sleep well but and still had about a 4-5 hour drive when we got off the train plus the 5 hr drive to the train from CT. It was nice bringing everything though like beach chairs, cart, umbrellas, toys, etc....

We were so exhausted after that train trip just as we were from driving the year before. Ou destination was Ft. Myers.

We flew last April and we are flying this April.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The train takes forever, there are too many chances for major delays, it's too uncomfortable, etc.

 

[PACVII]

Always wanted to try the train from Pittsburgh but every time I look (about once a year) it just seems so long and just as expensive as flying. We fly southwest and go mid week to mid week. Saves a few dollars over Friday Monday or weekends. Going this Wednesday come home next Wednesday and airfare down was $68 and home was $97 so overall under $200. Fly on a weekend and it's higher.

We use to go on Fridays and come home on Mondays for as little as $57 stay at a value resort and get 10 days at Disney for under 1500 for a family of 4, not including meals or tickets. That was just a few years back and now we call that the good old days. Airlines no longer give much of a break for Friday and Monday so we go midweek and enjoy it just the same. Many flights and not over booked so you can get a empty seat next to you. Flight is about 2 hours so overall flying is the way we go.

We use to also rent a car but I am ok with magic express and the buses. I hate the pack the bus game they play and I tell myself every time never again. But once I start looking at cost again for the next trip I say I will just deal with the bus so I can get an extra day or two if possible. Then I get roped into the next Guinness record attempt to see how many people we can get on the bus like something out of the 70s in a VW Beatle. I understand the whole cost and moving larger amounts of people but really it gets old fast. Sometimes we now get to travel without the kids as they have gotten older and with school and sports don't always want to go. I guess when you get to go 3 or 4 times a year it's not as exciting but to my wife and I it is. Now if a bus comes up we will sometimes just sit and wait for the next one. We enjoy relaxing and just watching the new world record get set. At most when leaving the parks by simply waiting less then 30 to 45 extra minutes we can miss some of that fun and allow that Disney Magic be enjoyed by others.

 

[Pooh2]

From NH, we've done plane, train (Boston to Orlando), Autotrain (drive from NH to VA and get on the train) as well as drive down towing a camper and a carload of kids. All have their pluses and minuses and make for great adventures!

 

[bdcp]

We always take the Auto Train. We've done 7 roundtrips, including twice in 2015. We'll be back on it in fall 2017.