The Train

[spacefly67]

My family is thinking of taking amtrak to disneyworld from Philadelphia.
NOT THE AUTO TRAIN!
Has anyone done this? 4 coach seats (2 adults and 2 kids) are about $800 less than airfare.
I am wondering how to get to my hotel (POP) from the train station.
Also, if we checkout of our hotel at 11 am and the train leaves at 7:30 pm how do I get to the train station later in the day? And what do I do with my luggage all day?
Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Minnesota!]

There used to be a whole thread on here about that. Search it out...very informative. I would love to do that...but there is no straight shot from MN and it would eat up about 3 days each way for me. I love Amtrak - took it 2x/week for 9 months when I was in college

 

[sharona]

I can't comment on the to/from the train and WDW but I can comment on long Amtrak rides with kids. How long is the ride from Philly to Orlando? Last year we took Amtrak from Boston to DC with 4 coach seats and it wasn't that bad. We took the overnight that left at 930pm and arrived in DC at 6am the following morning. It was nice to be able to get up and walk around and we had much more room than you would on a plane. This was Easter week so the train was full, no extra seats to stretch out. The kids slept most of the night, we adults were a little more uncomfortable and only dozed on and off. They were pretty good about keeping the lights low and not making a lot of loud announcement with the exception of the stop at NYC. It was preferable to driving 9 hrs. but not as easy as a quick flight. We did fly home because we found decent fares and the train options were all during the day - we didn't want to deal with a 9 hour train ride while everyone was awake!

The hotel will store your luggage for you after check out.

 

[tobikaye]

For getting to/from the train station to POP, you could use a taxi or see about hiring a shuttle/car service to pick you up. Another option would be to check to see if there are any car rental locations near the train station and check to see what the rates are. If they are good enough, you might want to rent for the entire trip so you have a way back to the train station. If not, you could see about one way rentals. Since you did not indicate which train station specifically as I know some people have mentioned different ones, I am not sure what is available.

As for your luggage on check out day, you can place it with bell services at the hotel and pick it up when you are ready to head to the train station. It just means that you would have to return to Pop before you could go to the train station. If you rent a car, you could probably lock them in the trunk if it is big enough.

 

[wdwrich]

OP- Note that you want to get off the train at the Kissimmee station and not Orlando as Kissimmee is much closer to WDW.

 

[spacefly67]

OP- Note that you want to get off the train at the Kissimmee station and not Orlando as Kissimmee is much closer to WDW.

WOW! I never knew that! thanks!

I can't comment on the to/from the train and WDW but I can comment on long Amtrak rides with kids. How long is the ride from Philly to Orlando? Last year we took Amtrak from Boston to DC with 4 coach seats and it wasn't that bad. We took the overnight that left at 930pm and arrived in DC at 6am the following morning. It was nice to be able to get up and walk around and we had much more room than you would on a plane. This was Easter week so the train was full, no extra seats to stretch out. The kids slept most of the night, we adults were a little more uncomfortable and only dozed on and off. They were pretty good about keeping the lights low and not making a lot of loud announcement with the exception of the stop at NYC. It was preferable to driving 9 hrs. but not as easy as a quick flight. We did fly home because we found decent fares and the train options were all during the day - we didn't want to deal with a 9 hour train ride while everyone was awake!

The hotel will store your luggage for you after check out.

The ride is 19-20 hours, but it is overnight. Leaves Philly at 5pm, gets to Orlando at 12:30 pm. Hoping the kids will sleep most of the way.
Same on the way home.... Leave orlando at 7:30 pm and get home at 5:00pm next night.

 

[sharona]

My DD (11 at the time) thought it was very fun to wear her pjs to the train station and she enjoyed going to the snack car etc. We brought our own snacks. There are outlets next to the seats to keep electronics charged. Don't count on being able to stream anything as we found the wifi to be pretty poor at times - download whatever you'll need before you get on.

One thing to note, we only had carry-ons with us and it was a good thing because we got a text about 3 hours before the train was to leave telling us that there would not be a luggage car and it would be carry on only - a difference from what had been on the website. Fortunately we didn't need to check anything but I can only imagine if we had planned to or if we were already on our way to the station. I'm not sure how common this is as this was our only experience with a longer train ride...

 

[bumbershoot]

WOW! I never knew that! thanks!



The ride is 19-20 hours, but it is overnight. Leaves Philly at 5pm, gets to Orlando at 12:30 pm. Hoping the kids will sleep most of the way.
Same on the way home.... Leave orlando at 7:30 pm and get home at 5:00pm next night.

It will almost certainly be late. Amtrak is awful about time schedules. Having looked at the timetable for the east coast train in the past, you stop SO often, and with amtrak each stop is a delightful opportunity to leave late. And it's hard to sleep when you're stopping all the time.

I actually love taking the train, but I pad my schedule with at least a day for coastal trips and an on being utterly exhausted at the end of the journey.

 

[spacefly67]

It will almost certainly be late. Amtrak is awful about time schedules. Having looked at the timetable for the east coast train in the past, you stop SO often, and with amtrak each stop is a delightful opportunity to leave late. And it's hard to sleep when you're stopping all the time.

I actually love taking the train, but I pad my schedule with at least a day for coastal trips and an on being utterly exhausted at the end of the journey.

We plan on not doing anything except relaxing the day we get there.
the day after we get home is another story.....work, school, etc.

 

[deedisneydream97]

If you DO plan on renting a car, be aware that, if I recall correctly, there is only one car rental company located inside the train terminal at the Orlando station....and you pick the car up right there in the parking lot. I'm not sure how you get to the other companies....if they have a shuttle or what. And.....I am pretty sure that the Kissimmee station does NOT have a car rental place on-site. This may have changed since last year. But if you take a shuttle and don't rent a car....it is closer to Disney and may be cheaper. DD rented a car last year and it was pretty easy and not as expensive as I thought it might be. I think right now Hertz holds the spot at the station...it used to be Enterprise. There are shuttles....but they can be pricey too. I think Tiffany also does this loop.

Oh....and I have actually heard of people having one person from their party take a taxi to the airport to pick up a rental car and come back and pick up everyone (cheaper rates sometimes), but that would be too crazy for the return trip. Unless you pick up an Alamo....then you can return it to the Swan and Dolphin and pay for a shuttle to bring you to the station.

I did the train from NYC with my college aged DD....but we had a sleeper car. It was fun....a little cramped, but I did love having the privacy. Meals were included....I had a really good steak. If you can get by with just a carryon, that would be best. I was astounded at the "luggage pickup area"...but I had a very pushy shuttle driver and he somehow went right up to the front of the line. I was mortified and kind of stood behind a pillar.

The Amtrak is almost always late getting into Florida....but that may have improved lately. They had been doing a lot of improvements in the state and it caused a lot of delays.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[LookingBackAt2Morrow]

We always used to take the train down from Philadelphia when I was growing up because my mom doesn't like to fly. We loved it. We only did coach once though because it did get a little uncomfortable after the first few hours. Every time after that, we got either roomettes or adjoining compartments. The cost was a little higher than 4 airline tickets, but it was worth it for the ability to move around and the scenery alone. Plus, you get access to the First Class lounge at 30th Street while you wait for your train. I hope you have a great time!

 

[Pooh2]

I think Alamo was the car rental desk available at the Orlando station when we took the train from Boston. At that time, the Kissimee station did not have a rental desk but you could look into a limo type service to get you back and forth from the station if you do not want to drive.

 

[kandb]

We did the autotrain roundtrip two times to Sanford, fl. 3 times we had the family bedroom but 1 time going south we just had seats. My husband, I or my children got NO sleep at all. I felt like the night was 20 hours long. The other families on the train were all complaining in the am and saying how they were going to try to get a sleeper car on the way back north. I would never do regular seats overnight again.

 

[DanBoris]

OP- Note that you want to get off the train at the Kissimmee station and not Orlando as Kissimmee is much closer to WDW.

Yes, Kissimmee is closer but it doesn't get you to your hotel any quicker because it's another 20-30 minutes on the train. I have done both stations and really don't have a preference, but I know some people like Kiss better because it tends to be less crowded.

We always do the train from Philly to WDW and love it. We always get sleepers, because personally I don't like trying to do overnight in a coach seat. I always use a car service to get to and from the station, although a cab tends to be a little cheaper. The car services will often include a stop at a store if you want to pick up food or other items for your trip. As for your luggage, the hotel will hold it for you at no cost until you leave, you just have tip the handlers.

 

[kandb]

OP-by the time you pay for sleep cars and a car service or taxi, I would imagine flying is cheaper. I am not crazy about flying and have done driving and/or
train in the past but once you fly, you realize it's a lot easier to suck it up and do something that you are not 100% comfortable with. I understand some people can't fly but if you can, it soooo much easier.

 

[spacefly67]

OP-by the time you pay for sleep cars and a car service or taxi, I would imagine flying is cheaper. I am not crazy about flying and have done driving and/or
train in the past but once you fly, you realize it's a lot easier to suck it up and do something that you are not 100% comfortable with. I understand some people can't fly but if you can, it soooo much easier.

I would much rather fly, but a nonstop roundtrip flight from PhL-MCO is going to run AT LEAST $450 per person (so $1800) on our dates (which we cant really change). The train (4 regular coach seats) is $750 round trip. Thats a HUGE DIFFERENCE! Even after you factor in car service or taxis, still a lot less money.

 

[wdwrich]

Yes, Kissimmee is closer but it doesn't get you to your hotel any quicker because it's another 20-30 minutes on the train. I have done both stations and really don't have a preference, but I know some people like Kiss better because it tends to be less crowded.

True, the overall time to WDW would be a wash, but the cost for transportation between the Kissimmee station and WDW would be less due to the shorter distance.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We used to use Amtrak all the time from Ohio to Kisimmee ( prefer Kissimmee, smaller station less people to board and let off plus closer to WDW )... We used to train from Youngstown Ohio to Philly then switch to south bound train to Kissimmee ( they discontinued that route ) now it's Alliance Ohio to DC then south to Kissimmee...we used a car service for getting to the World ( now out of business ) worth the 100.00+ round trip for the 30 minute grocery stop for lunch meat, drinks, snacks alcohol etc seeing cab one way is about 45.00 one way and cabs are smelly and dirty.

Leaving WDW, we'd check our bags with bell service, go about our day and the 2 hours before train pick up time, our car service would arrive to take us to the station....all easy, convenient and quick....hope this helps..

 

[spacefly67]

does anyone have the info of a reliable car service???