question for Orlando residents or for those familiar with the area train stations

[disneyholic family]

If I decide to take the train from New York to Orlando, I have 3 Orlando area train stations to choose from: Winter Park, Kissimmee (both on the Silver Star), or Orlando (on the Silver Meteor).

Does anyone know which is preferable, if any?

 

[WDWBlaze]

I am not from Orlando, but I did take the train a lot to Disney from NY as a kid. Kissimmee is the closet to the world.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks!
i'm guessing the kissimmee station is probably also in a safer area than the orlando station...
which would be two votes in its favor..

 

[Justin Jett]

I just got off the Silver Star yesterday, and my close friends travel it regularly.

Winter Park is by fair the nicest area to get off in. However, it is an unstaffed station. No baggage check, and no assistance. Winter Park is the only one of the 3 that is NOT handicapped accessible. It is a long way to Disney from Winter Park.

Orlando is in an older part of downtown. Amtrak considers Orlando to be the "Walt Disney World area" station. There is a Hertz rental car desk in the station. Florida Vanpool provides transportation, amd Mears Transportation's "Motor Shuttle" is available from the Orlando station. Orlando is in a relatively safe area of town, but Kissimmee and Winter Park are safer areas in comparison.

Kissimmee is very small, but it is staffed. Baggage and ticketing is available. Cab or town car service is the only option in Kissimmee.

I personally prefer Orlando because of the station and shuttle services to Disney. I did not wait outside in Orlando though. Stay in well lit areas if you are outside.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Winter Park is the prettiest, but furthest away.

Orlando is biggest and would have the most services....ex. waiting taxis, rental cars etc, but not in the best area.

Kissimmee is the closest but the smallest. Its about the size of an average living room and there are no services.

 

[disneyholic family]

I just got off the Silver Star yesterday, and my close friends travel it regularly.

Winter Park is by fair the nicest area to get off in. However, it is an unstaffed station. No baggage check, and no assistance. Winter Park is the only one of the 3 that is NOT handicapped accessible. It is a long way to Disney from Winter Park.

Orlando is in an older part of downtown. Amtrak considers Orlando to be the "Walt Disney World area" station. There is a Hertz rental car desk in the station. Florida Vanpool provides transportation, amd Mears Transportation's "Motor Shuttle" is available from the Orlando station. Orlando is in a relatively safe area of town, but Kissimmee and Winter Park are safer areas in comparison.

Kissimmee is very small, but it is staffed. Baggage and ticketing is available. Cab or town car service is the only option in Kissimmee.

I personally prefer Orlando because of the station and shuttle services to Disney. I did not wait outside in Orlando though. Stay in well lit areas if you are outside.

thanks!! that's very helpful...
given my aversion to dangerous areas, maybe i'll go with the smaller Kissimmee and use a town car service.

I assume that on the way back from orlando to new york, i can stop off in DC (to visit DH's family). That would be pretty perfect - and i LOVE union station in DC. Now THERE's a proper train station that's perfectly located.

I'm really up for a bit of train travel.
I'm dying to try the California Zephyr, although i'd also like to do a road trip. Maybe the zephyr in one direction and driving the other - on a different route.

Anyway, thanks for the information!

 

[Justin Jett]

thanks!! that's very helpful...
given my aversion to dangerous areas, maybe i'll go with the smaller Kissimmee and use a town car service.

I assume that on the way back from orlando to new york, i can stop off in DC (to visit DH's family). That would be pretty perfect - and i LOVE union station in DC. Now THERE's a proper train station that's perfectly located.

I'm really up for a bit of train travel.
I'm dying to try the California Zephyr, although i'd also like to do a road trip. Maybe the zephyr in one direction and driving the other - on a different route.

Anyway, thanks for the information!

A stop in DC would be very easy to do. If you use the Amtrak.com website....there are two things you could do.....you can choose a "Multi-City" trip, or you can book Kissimmee to DC...then look in the "Deals" section of the website for DC to New York. The "Weekly Specials" on Amtrak's website are fantastic.

If you do book a "Multi-City" trip, I suggest taking the Acela from DC to New York. It is a very nice train, and will cut some travel time off your trip.

Lastly, Amtrak does not own any track south of the DC area. The freight trains have the right of way during the southern part of the trip. This can cause delays for Amtrak. The tracks in the south area pretty rough. The tracks between DC and Boston have been upgraded for the Acela. High Speed tracks are smooth.

Hope this helps.

Skip

 

[disneyholic family]

A stop in DC would be very easy to do. If you use the Amtrak.com website....there are two things you could do.....you can choose a "Multi-City" trip, or you can book Kissimmee to DC...then look in the "Deals" section of the website for DC to New York. The "Weekly Specials" on Amtrak's website are fantastic.

If you do book a "Multi-City" trip, I suggest taking the Acela from DC to New York. It is a very nice train, and will cut some travel time off your trip.

Lastly, Amtrak does not own any track south of the DC area. The freight trains have the right of way during the southern part of the trip. This can cause delays for Amtrak. The tracks in the south area pretty rough. The tracks between DC and Boston have been upgraded for the Acela. High Speed tracks are smooth.

Hope this helps.

Skip

thanks again!
the Acela (however that might be pronounced) must have replaced the metroliner...
we used to ride the metroliner all the time - when we lived in new york and went to visit DH's folks in DC...
and before that, when i was at hopkins in baltimore, i used to take the metroliner down to DC every wednesday while i was working on my thesis...
i'd walk from Union Station to the Library of Congress - such a totally cool place.
You couldn't check books out of the library, but they would assign you a desk and you could "check books out" to your desk. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Lil ole me had my very own desk for an entire year there. And it was for free. At least back then it was (your taxes at work).

thanks for the tips about the weekly deals!!!

by the way, there's a great train riding website - actually more geared to outside the US...but it's a good read either way - the man in seat 61 - www.seat61.com

 

[Justin Jett]

The Acela runs between DC and Boston, and there is a station stop in New York. If you book a morning trip from DC to New York, the Acela should be a choice.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Content_C/1241245661007/1237405732502