Thinking about switching from Amtrak to Jetblue

[Mickey_Lynne]

I'm really struggling with this. Yesterday we received our Amtrak tickets. We are departing in Wells, Maine and the first stop is at the North Station in Boston. From there we have to board at the Back Bay Station, then it goes to New York (scheduled to arrive 2 hours before it leaves). Lastly it goes all the way to Kissimmee. In the fine print on our tickets I noticed that for the North Station to Back Bay in Boston we are required to have our own transporation to get there. Either taxi or Subway. I think we have about an 1 hour window if everything is on time.....that's what has me worried. If we miss it we've missed our connection and wouldn't be boarded till the following day when the train makes the same New York to Kissimmee route!!! Yikes! I wasn't aware of this when I ordered the tickets. Now, I'm also worried about not only making the other Boston connection but making sure we make the New York connection too. I've read a lot on here that Amtrak is usually 4 hours late. I booked the train cause I went on it over 10 years ago with my DH to Las Vegas and loved it, we weren't on such time constraints then I can't remember how close to on time it was. I am scared to fly but will If I need to. I've been trying to watch a lot of videos on Youtube of take offs and landings. I found a deal yesterday on Jetblue leaving out of Boston nonstop for $99 ahead. I like the idea of a nonstop flight there and I've heard a lot of great things about Jetblue. On the way back there would be one stop in NY. But by then I'd know what to expect having already flown. We'd get there in 3 hours compared to 30 (although I'm sure the train is scenic). This also involves us adding one extra day to our trip to make a 10 day trip. I haven't gone ahead and canceled anything yet cause I'm not sure what to do. Also, I lose $100 by canceling but then I don't have to pay for taxi service from Kissimmee to WDW so it evens out. I really need advice!!

Mickey_Lynne

 

[Edd]

I would take the plane. Three hours of flying and you are in Orlando. What is wrong with that. 30 or more hours on a train is a nightmare. Just think of what a great decision you made flying instead of taking the train and you will get over your flying problem almost immediately.

 

[missmun52]

Personally I would not take the train for that many hours but you liked it from a past experience so you would probably enjoy this one but not if you are worried the ENTIRE time about not being abel to connect! That will put a damper on things, every time the train is late you will wonder. Then you will be rushing around trying to get bags, and everyone off the train to get a taxi amd make it to the next one on time. I would not do it.

I dont like the plane either but its not bad at all really and you will get to be in Disney an extra day. Think about it.....you wake up in the morning and your there for lunch! Sometime even breakfast if you get the first flight out!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You could easily make it from North Station to Back Bay via the T (Boston subway) in less than an hour if the train from Maine is on time.

However, I am not a fan of long AMTRAK rides and wouldn't ride the train all the way from Maine to Florida if you paid me. Believe me, the route from Maine to FL is not all that scenic for much of the route.

Take the plane.

 

[Lewisc]

FLY.

Did you just get your ticket? If you might tell Amtrack you weren't aware you were responsible to arrange your own transfer from North Station to Back Bay until you read your ticket. Subway may not work if you have much luggage.

 

[Evil Princess]

My god, FLY!

 

[danjoan14]

I would fly. It sounds tooooooo loooooooooong of a trip by train.

And by the way, the Wells/Ogunquit area, besides WDW, is one of my favorite locations to visit. I've been vacationing in Ogunquit for over the past 35 years. It's only a two hour drive from RI. The best lobster is in Maine!

Good luck with your plans.

 

[Mickey_Lynne]

Wow! It's seems like flying has received 100% of the recommendations. I have to say I am leaning towards it. I talked to my dr. today about my fear of flying and she has prescribed me Xanax .5 dosage to help with some anxieties just incase! Will let you all know what I decide to do when it is final. If you notice though, I've switched my tickerfactory counter from train to plane

Mickey_Lynne

 

[deedeetoo]

If you do decide to take the train, take a taxi from North Station to Back Bay.

You don't want to be negotiating the subway with luggage when your unfamiliar with it. I used to do it when I lived in the city and its not fun dragging luggage in and out of crowded subway cars even when you know exactly where you are going.

 

[lovesdumbo]

How much more for a direct flight home?

 

[rosiep]

I love the train and have taken it coast to coast (NYC to Oregon), however, for a Disney Vacation I'd say fly!!! Jetblue is a great airline (even if their prices fron NYC to PDX stink these days). Flying will give you all that extra time and the sooner you can Disney the better you'll feel!!!

 

[DC7800]

If you decide to stick with the train, I think you can relax a bit about making your connections. So long as you are on train #680 out of Wells, you should be able to make the connection in Boston from North to South stations (cab is about $8-$9, I think). However, should you miss your connecting train south out of Boston for any reason, you have an alternative: train 2163, the 11:15 a.m. Acela departure from Boston South Station to New York arrives in time (2:45 p.m.) to catch the southbound Silver Meteor, out of New York, to Kissimmee. In an absolute worst case scenario, when Acela 2163 has not arrived New York in time to catch the Meteor, stay on the Acela until Washington. So long as you make it to D.C. before 7:30. you can still catch up to the train to Florida.

As for what I'd recommend, well, there is the saying that a train is the only civilized way to travel...

 

[PrincessMinnie28]

You should be fine as far as time goes getting from North Station to Back Bay because they are both on the orange line and only 5 stops apart. I wouldn't bother with a cab... I think it would take more time to get a cab than to walk down the stairs at North Station and ride a few stops, even with luggage. However, all that aside, I would fly if you can. My parents took my brother and I to WDW via the train when we were younger and they said they would never do it again. I'm sure the cranky children had something to do with it, but I know they hated how long it took and how cramped it was. I also understand that you don't like to fly, but it will save you so much time, and $99 each way is a great price. My DBF hates to fly as well so we made sure that we were on an early flight there and a later flight home so he could sleep... and he did. Also, JetBlue has the TVs and those should help to occupy you for at least some of the time!

 

[DBC]

You're probably thinking I'm kidding but I promise I am not.

You could give me the whole vacation for free and I wouldn't make that train ride. Trains were the only civilized way to travel when horseback was the only other option.

Take the medication and a nap and you'll be in FL before you know it.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[disneysnob]

FLY,FLY,FLY....
I am not a flyer either, but if given the choice between the train and plane, I would definitely fly. The first time we took the kids we flew. The past three times, and starting Saturday ...we are driving. Last year we drove down and then we did the Autotrain back to VA. (first-and last-time doing that) We thought, "Oh, it'll be an adventure for the kids, scenic views...." When the train arrived in VA-7 HOURS LATE-we had enough of the "adventure"! I know alot of people love the Autotrain (it came highly recommended by my brother and his family) but you couldn't pay us enough to go back on it. If you REALLY don't want to fly, driving is another option. You're more in control of your time, you can stop whenever and wherever you'd like....It's can get long and tedious at times, but it's really not so bad.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I would also fly. I fly outta logan in MA all the time. We always fly jetblue and love them. I have never had an issue with them.

 

[jakenjess]

I would fly also. I really was not a big fan of flying for a long time. I would do it in order to go to Disney, but didn't enjoy it at all. Then JetBlue came along, and it really changed the way I feel about flying. I know that probably sounds silly, but we've had such a great experience with them, and the TVs make a world of difference to keep my mind occupied (not to mention my two kids!). We've flown both out of Boston and Portland. If you're very nervous about the flight, fly out of Boston and then it's nonstop and you only have one takeoff and landing to get through!

Good luck!

 

[auroralark]

Fly! I took a trip from NY to Savannah, GA on a train once and it was awful! We were stopped for long periods of time, it was freezing, and the trip took forever. I was never so glad to be home after that ride! I would fly. You'll love JetBlue. You can watch TV the whole trip.

 

[Mickey_Lynne]

Well I've gone and done it, I've booked Jetblue. We have a nonstop flight out of Boston and on the way back have one stop in NY. I've also added an extra day so now we will be arriving on September 27th at 9:30 am! When I called up Disney to add the extra day they just asked the name of the airplane and what the flight # was. I just printed out my new reservation copy and they both say 12:00 am. Is this just standard time that they list or is this anything I need to worry about. He never asked for my flight times, just flight #'s. Thanks for all the advice. We would just be arriving in Boston on Amtrak on the 27th at 9:30am and now that is when we'll be arriving here for a full extra day!

Mickey_Lynne

 

[englishteacha]

Hey Mickey_Lynne...where in Maine are ya? I'm near Farmington. We're flying AirTran out of Portland non-stop in August with one stop in Baltimore on the way home. I'm so excited not to drive to Portsmouth, Boston or Manchester! We used to live in Southern Maine (Sanford and N. Berwick) so Boston was easy...now it's a 4 hour drive. While I love train travel, I'm not interested in 30 hours on a train. Did Amtrak charge you a big cancellation fee?