Taking the train from NY to Orlando

[Samandmom]

We are considering taking the train in December. I am getting insane prices on airlines $1600-$2000 for the 4 of us!!!!! The train will be $750 for the 4 of us on seats! It's 22 hrs there and 24 hrs on the way back. Looking for opinions for those who have done it. Does the train stop and pick up others on the way? Are we crazy to consider it?
Thanks

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes your train will make several stops. Here is the list
New York - Washington, DC - Charleston - Savannah - Jacksonville - Orlando

Also keep in mind that you will be traveling on a train and there can be delays. For example I just looked at the status of the train on your route for this past Wed. it was 30 minutes late arriving in New York and 45 minutes late getting into Orlando. Tue and it was almost an hour late getting into Orlando. On Monday the train arrived in Orlando 3 hours late. Today the train is expected to arrive in New York 2 hours and 20 minutes late. So those are things to think about. Trains don't have exact departure and arrival times.

Would you be able to drive to Baltimore and take SWA. The flights for your travel dates are $245 r/t per person.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We use Amtrak quite often... Northeast Ohio to DC And then on to Kissimmee... 36+ hour trip for us ( includes an 8 hour layover in DC)....

Though a long journey, it's a pleasant and relaxing one. I don't or won't fly, so pricing is a moot point.... Our trip usually runs us, the 2 of us, round trip , coach seats... 450.00.... Comparable to driving...

It does stop at quite a few town along the way but its never impacted our trip, privacy or well being.... Usually guests are considerate of others..

Trains are known to run late... It can be by minutes or hours... No one can say, Amtrak doesn't own the tracks so CSX freights get the right of ways... Not much you can do but sit back, enjoy the trip and hope for the best....

It's a great journey or more of an adventure, take plenty of things to occupy yourself, we pack a lunch with snacks and drinks, blanket for the cool A/C and cuddle up and watch the country roll by...

 

[Orlando Vic]

Save 15% off of the regular full adult AMTRAK fare with a (free) Orlando Magicard. http://www.visitorlando.com/discounts-and-tickets/free-magicard-orlando-discount-card/

 

[mcuoghi]

If you'd rather fly we're flying from Newark International to MCO on Jetblue for just under $900 for 4 of us. Our dates are 12/4-12/10. It was the cheapest I found for 4 people.

 

[DanBoris]

We are considering taking the train in December. I am getting insane prices on airlines $1600-$2000 for the 4 of us!!!!! The train will be $750 for the 4 of us on seats! It's 22 hrs there and 24 hrs on the way back. Looking for opinions for those who have done it. Does the train stop and pick up others on the way? Are we crazy to consider it?
Thanks

Yes, the train does make stops. Depending on which train you take, there are two options, there are about 20-25 stops between NYC and Orlando, but these stops really won't have a big impact on you.

I am a big fan of the train, we always take if from Philadelphia to Orlando. It obviously takes a lot longer then the plane, but we always consider it part of the vacation and not just a means of travel. We especially appreciate it on the way back since it gives you 24 hours where you have no choice but to just relax, great way to wind down from the vacation. In many ways the train is much more relaxed then flying, lot less security to go through, no worries about what you have in your carryon, freedom to move about the train whenever you like, etc.

One other thing you need to consider is whether to get off in Orlando or Kissimmee. Kisssimee if a smaller and often less crowded station and is closer to the Epcot area resorts, but it's another 20 minutes on the train from Orlando station.

I personally thing everyone should try an overnight train trip once in thier lives!

 

[ParrotBill]

You can usually find a car rental company that will pick you up/drop off at either the Orlando or Kissimmee stations. The other option is a Taxi, and that will be pricey all the way to WDW.

 

[Samandmom]

Save 15% off of the regular full adult AMTRAK fare with a (free) Orlando Magicard. http://www.visitorlando.com/discounts-and-tickets/free-magicard-orlando-discount-card/

Thank you Vic but my dates are black out dates.

I have another question, do the seats recline?

Thanks to the poster who posted about Jet Blue, I"ll check them out. You are traveling in the beginning of December. We are traveling Xmas week. Southwest has a sale but travel is only till 12/18.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thank you Vic but my dates are black out dates.

I have another question, do the seats recline?

Thanks to the poster who posted about Jet Blue, I"ll check them out. You are traveling in the beginning of December. We are traveling Xmas week. Southwest has a sale but travel is only till 12/18.

Yup, seats recline quite far, tall high back seats, thigh leg lift too plus a foot rest... Considerable room around and in a pair of coach seats..

 

[Redcat52]

We have travelled via the train with our 2 kids when they were younger. We spent the extra $$ for the sleepers overnight. At the time, it was considered 1st class and lunch ,dinner, breakfast, and lunch were included for the 4 of us. Sleepers were cozy with video, comfy chairs and table that converts to a bed at night. Our kids still talk about the adventure.

 

[labfan]

My daughter and I just returned from our Disney/Universal trip. We got on the train in Albany-Rensselaer then transferred in NYC Penn Station for the rest of the train trip to Orlando. We actually got a bedroom for the trip and loved it. We would definitely do it again.
Our train arrived on time in Orlando but our return trip home was 1 1/2 hrs late. But we had no problems.
It's a nice relaxing ride.
I'm not sure if the coach seats on the long distance train are different than on the short distance ones. We were in coach going from Albany to NYC and I don't think I'd be comfortable sitting in them for over 20 hours down to Orlando.

 

[Kristibo42]

Out of Syracuse we are paying $245.50 each with JetBlue

 

[kandb]

We took the autotrain a few times. One time we had no "bedroom" and to be honest sitting/not sleeping in the chairs was torturous. No one in my family slept at all. The other families in our train had a miserable night also. For anyone to compare the size of plane seats with trains is silly because you are only sitting in an airplane seat for 2/3 hours not 24+hours. My vote is to find cheaper airplane tickets (and this is from someone who doesn't really like to fly but when you get there in 2/3 hours, it is sooo worth it).

 

[DanBoris]

We have travelled via the train with our 2 kids when they were younger. We spent the extra $$ for the sleepers overnight. At the time, it was considered 1st class and lunch ,dinner, breakfast, and lunch were included for the 4 of us. Sleepers were cozy with video, comfy chairs and table that converts to a bed at night. Our kids still talk about the adventure.

Still is considered first class and meals are still included, although they don't have video in the sleepers anymore.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Still is considered first class and meals are still included, although they don't have video in the sleepers anymore.

Yup, sleepers are still first class and all meal incurred are included in the price ..... We've gotten a few extra meals when the train ran way over... Not to our liking but we were fed for free..

As for the video... Units are still in the roomettes... , not working but would have been nice...coach car used to have screen in the overhead but that went bust too long ago... We just take our portable DVD player, earphone splitter and enjoy a movie or 2 plus we use the player at WDW to aid in the crappy TV stations they have,

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I used to take the train from Philly to Orlando all the time-last time was in 2006. I've gone Coach twice. It was hard sleeping because of all the snoring and farting going on around me both times, and the children I saw trying to sleep were miserable. The last time I went I had a roomette and it was Heaven. I would recommend those above going Coach.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I got to say, above post is just about right, so we just join in and snore and fart like the others.... We use ear plugs, eye masks... Throw our blanket over our head (A/C ) gets murderous cold for us and recline and sleep away... That's in coach!

We've done roomettes a few times... Though the privacy is nice, having a smelly toilet in that cubicle isn't .... Plus it's gotten a little claustrophobic for me, wife sleeps in the upper ( no way could or would I go up there)... The narrow passages in the sleeper cars plays on my mind to going to the dining car... But the food is very good especially when it's included in the roomettes cost ....

Still I prefer the huge area around me in coach, and dozing off for one night is doable.... We always ask in route if any roomettes are available , we get them cheaper than per poking one ..

 

[labfan]

We had the bedroom went we went down which one way wound up being free with our points so they cost wasn't bad. It was nice having the enclosed toilet rather than the roomettes toilet that it out in the open next to the seat.
Totally agree with the very narrow passage in the sleeping cars. Do not like them at all. That's one of the reasons why we didn't go to the dining car for our meals. We ate in our room which was nice.

 

[disneycrazy01]

I've traveled out of NY by Amtrak one time to Miami years ago to save some money because I was paying for my sister to come with me, and what was supposed to be 22 hours ended up being close to 28 hours. The toilets broke down and there was no water. I said I would never do that again, but I did last year.

Last year we planned a 2 week vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia. We couldn't find reasonable non-stop flights so we took Amtrak from NY to Williamsburg, Virginia last summer and what was supposed to be 8 1/2 hours ended up being 10 1/2 hours. It was 3 adults and 2 kids. The kids were 12 and 2 1/2. I don't think I will do it again.

We left late at night thinking the kids would be very tired and would sleep through most of it. Boy were we mistaken. People complained about the 2 1/2 year old running around or crying. They told his mother that he had to stop or she would have to get off at the next stop.

It was a very uncomfortable 10 1/2 hours.

The money you are saving by taking the train is quite a bit, but it will be a very long ride, especially if you are taking children.

Enjoy your trip no matter how you go.

 

[richmo]

I am a big fan of the train, we always take if from Philadelphia to Orlando. It obviously takes a lot longer then the plane, but we always consider it part of the vacation and not just a means of travel.

I guess that's true if you're a train enthusiast, but also factor in that you're essentially throwing away two days of your vacation. Personally, I'd wait and see if airfares come down. Early December should be pretty quiet, so I'd think there would be decent airfares...maybe 2-3 months out, although its hard to predict.