Taking the train

[DAPford]

Well we decided to take Amtrak from Wilmington, DE to Kissimmee Dec18th and returning home on the 30th It will be me DH and DD (11). Does anyone know if the seats can be turned to face each other so that neither me nor DH has to sit alone ( one of us will be with DD ) also any other info you may have regarding this adventure will be greatly appreciated thanks for all your help

 

[pepe of ohio]

As far as I know and have observed using Amtrak for years, is all the seats in coach face forward. I know they flop around for return trips etc but never have seen it occur during a trip. Being that the seating is 2 by 2 separated by the aisle, I don't believe they would turn one seat backwards. Best case scenerio is child and adult together and other adult across the aisle. We use the roomette sleeper for half our trip but and the seats face each other but the room only accommidates 2 people. Sleepers of larger size rooms are accommadating but get very pricey, but they include all meals, paper, coffee, juice and water. Meals are pricey also but the club car has pizza and some sandwiches alittle cheaper.

We always pack our food, make our own sandwiches and bring our own drinks , its a 27 hour trip for us and a soft sided cooler, we freeze 3 minute maid lemonades to keep makins cold and by the time we arrive in Kissimmee its all gone. A blanket is a necessity, gets cold from the A/C at night and you need to cover up. Take plenty to keep yourself busy, books, games, portable DVD players, gameboys etc but remember they all need earphones as not to bother others. My big problem is cell phones on the train, I don't care to hear others have a conversation on a cell, and I guess they think if they talk loud, the other party will hear better, plus the ring tones will drive you nuts, all hours. Some cars have plugs by each seat but most don't so you're only good for as long as you have batteries.

We enjoy the train and the trip to Kissimmee for WDW. We cab from there, cost, 38.00 plus tip. We belong to Guest Rewards with Amtrak, and over the years have accummulated alot of points which we use the second leg of our train trip for the roomette. Its nice to curl up in a bed on a train, upper and lower bunk, and arrive in Florida, have breakfast on the train and be there by 10:30.

 

[DAPford]

Just bumping this thread for more info I see lots of past posts saying they had booked and would love to hear how it was especially for kids We know it could ? be late nd such but since we don't have park plans till the 20th and school doesn't start again till the 3rd I'm not obsessing over that I just want it to be a neat vacation within the vacation.

 

[pepe of ohio]

a train trip is only as good as you make it. Bring things to keep yourself occupied. Mostly you'll be in your seats or in the club car, they try to keep the aisles clear. They run the A/C on the cold side and when the sun goes down, it gets rather chilly, hence bringing a blanket. They do provide a pillow, rather small to each traveler. The seats recline, have a leg rest plus a foot rest with a good reading light over each seat. No more clickity clack with the continous welded rails. Gentle swaying can lull you to sleep.

Though we enjoy it, there are others that say the train is the pitts. Certain times it can be crowded, have know the restrooms to overfill. We've been late, especially in the summer heat when speeds are kept down but we have always arrived safely. We've used Amtrak for over 10 trips now, maybe a few more than that, and its better than driving. I do not like to fly, wife does but likes the train too and knowing I won't get on an airplane, accommadates me by enjoying the ride. Only thing the plane does is get you there fast, we're not in to fast, we like relaxing, watching out the window and using the roomette for the Washington to Kissimmee leg, leave D.C. around 4pm, she likes the dining in the dining car, linen, tableware etc and dessert. Coming back to our Roomette, its all ready for sleep, upper bunk has a large window, that she watches the stars and I have the lower bunk. Pillows, sheets and a blanket plus our own toilet. Paper in the am from the Charleston stop, coffee in the car and breakfast served at 7am. My way of traveling.

Any other info needed, just ask.

 

[disneydebi]

We're taking the train this June -
I have question about carry on baggage.
The Amtrak web site has carry on bags as up to 28"??? that seems pretty large for carry on - where do they put them?

 

[pepe of ohio]

Since we board where there is no baggage car, we each have 2 bags, one large and one carry on. At D.C. they announce about the 2 bags rule, only 2 bags, don't know the consequences for more but when you're traveling and hauling your own stuff, we try to observe the rules plus we're the ones who have to get them from point A to B. There is a space in each car by the restrooms for baggage, not alot but most put theirs in the checked baggage car. Plus there is an overhead space that runs the whole length over both seat sides for your carry ons. They are numbered as are the seats for you own space and bags. As a tip, we always use the Red Caps in station for boarding the train, they will take you to the correct train, haul your bags before the rest of the passengers board in general. All you need to do is tip them, well worth the money to have them get you on the train, missing the public line, carrying your bags and placing you in the correct car all by your self.

 

[vermonter]

If I could get some more information from you regarding riding the train and going to Disney. How much should you tip a "Redhat" (Is that a person who works for Amtrak?), and also, what do you recommend to tip the cab driver from Kissimmee to WDW for four people? Thanks. I don't know who else to ask!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Red caps we tip 2 bucks a bag and as for the cab from Kissimmee, just the 2 of us we tip 5 bucks. We carry our 2 carry ons and the cab driver handles our 2 rolling duffles, hence the 5er.

 

[vermonter]

Thank-you!

 

[pepe of ohio]

You're very welcome !

 

[torinsmom]

I doubt you can flip the seats around, but there is a single seat at the back of each car. Maybe you could request that and the two person row beside it. We just got back from DIsney and took the train. Trip down was decent, but the trip back, train was 2 hours late, then had to sit for over an hour b/c of a disabled train, kids behind us were loud and unruly and noone did a thing about it. I was concerned that noone even GLANCED at our luggage, carryon or checked. Who knows what was on the train with us?We lugged on huge carry-on's on the way, so we could skip collecting our luggage. On the way back, we checked most of it. There are racks above the seat and also room underneath your feet--good to rest your feet when you are trying to sleep. Di bring your own snacks and drinks, much cheaper and much easier

You might want to get off in Orlando, that is a big stop and it will take precious time to get from there to Kissimmee. You can catch a cab there and it is not much more $. Or you can rent a car, mine was only $129 for the week.

Marsha

Marsha

 

[sassy2]

My son and I are also taking the train to Kissimmee this July, Amtrak is offering a 30% discount. Happy Traveling!

 

[disneydebi]

what is the 30% discount. We are going end of June and I didn't see any discounts on the Amtrak Website.

 

[torinsmom]

I know that kids ride 1/2 price on Amtrak, maybe that is it. And there is a AAA discount on top of that. Thats not a code--you just choose that type of ticket when you order.

If you have the option of driving vs. the train, I would drive. We had a rough time both ways. The ride there was supposed to be 13 hours and was 15, the ride back was 16. This is from Raleigh, NC, and I could have driven in less than 10. We had a guy rattling off obscenities on the way and unruly kids yelling and playing loud electronic games on the way back until 11pm. Its hard to sleep in the coach seats too, especially for adults.

If you do go, bring your own pillows and blankets. It gets cold in the cars, and the little pillows they loan you--well, lets just say they are probably carrying a few thousand of their own passengers, LOL. I would get off in Orlando--my friend who traveled on to Kissimmee said they had to stop for an hour for a freight train to pass.

Marsha

 

[disneydebi]

Ugh...
I'm not looking forward to the train ride from MA to FL. Unfortunately, my DH won't fly, and after our last road trip to Disney, I'm refusing to do the drive. It was too long, and left everyone exhausted and cranky.

The train was our "comprimise". I hope I don't live to regret it. I'm just hoping everyone (including the kids), can get enough sleep on the overnight that we aren't all cranky when we arrive via train as well....

 

[pepe of ohio]

is as good as you make it. Kissimmee is not a long way down the tracks as stated by other posters. Its a quieter station, way less people and closest to WDW. I've done both and know what I'm talking about. I've seen over a 100 people trying to load in Orlando and a mess on detraining and getting out of the depot. Kissimmee detrains about 10 people and they are gone in a flash.

As for travel on the train, yes, it can be late, so what, I'm there in one piece, relaxed and ready for WDW. There are delays in flights and bankruptcies, overbooking. Cars are no different. You have to make the best out of any situation instead for griping about it.

Enjoy your train trip and fun in WDW.

 

[torinsmom]

My 11DS was able to sleep for 8-9 hours each night. Kids are just able to get more comfortable in that position than adults are. You will definintely be tired when you arrive, but since it is usually late getting in (12:00noon is about average), I would just plan to relax at your hotel that evening, so you can be fully refreshed for Disney the following day. Hopefully, you will have a day to relax after you arrive home as well. It is not the most terrible experience I have ever had, and my son actually liked it. Walking back and forth to the dining car over the places where the train cars join together was fun for him, and he kept saying that the bumping was like a ride at Disney.

Take a DVD player, a CD player with some CDs, and maybe with a white noise CD in case your car is loud.

Have fun at Disney!

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

If you do only carry-on, Orlando could be quicker. It only took us about 5 minutes to detrain and get in our shuttle. There were taxis waiting, for those who hadn't arranged transportation. I had a friend who got off in Kissimmee and she said the train stopped for 45 minutes between Orlando and Kissimmee, so if I'd gotten off in Kissimmee, I would have been an hour later getting to the resort. I guess it really depends on your situation.

I did make the most out of my experience on Amtrak. However, it is good to make sure that people considering it are prepared for these things. Before reading some of the other posts here, I would have been REALLY upset with my experience. I was expecting delays(happened, but not too bad), lines at the toilets(never happened), obnoxious passengers(could have been worse, for sure) etc. I am just saying to prepare for the worst, so that you will hopefully be pleasantly surprised.

Oh, one more thing. I don't know if this is everywhere, but in Raleigh, there were no assigned seats. Some groups were separated. When you get to the station, ask where the train boards and wait there. The first groups on are more likely to get to sit by each other. They had overbooked our train and did not think they had seats for my son and I together! Luckily, they were wrong.

You can check the train's status on the Amtrak website. That way, if its late, you can just arrive later at the station.

Marsha

 

[sassy2]

Hi disneydebi you can call amtrak @1-800 usa-rail the promotion code is v515 it expires 2/28/2007. The discount is offered from the orlando magic card which can be downloaded from the orlando info site. Happy discounting!

 

[vermonter]

I have heard that Orlando's train station is very dangerous. Also, are there taxis waiting in Kissimmee?