Train from New York to Orlando

[Portugal1000]

I was thinking for our next trip (well the one after August) that we could combine with a trip to New York. i.e fly to New York from London, stay a for 3 nights and then get the overnight train down to Orlando. Have never been on a train journey this long so relaly just looking for any feedback from anyone who has done this sort of thing to Orlando. Also, are there ever any special fares released or should I just go with whats on the Amtrax website. A complete newbie to this so any advice received with thanks.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

quite the trip you are planning! I have been to both places-and have taken the train you speak of(I will be taking it again in June to WDW) The train trip is not for everyone.It is long-at least 24 hours.It usually runs over due to traffic on the rails from companies moving their product and antrak has to give them the right of way.You can take 24 hours or 29 hours, depends on traffic.That said, we love it We do not fly and don't wish to drive that far. i would STRONGLY suggest you get the roomette to have the free meals and the beds.How many of you are there? A roomette sleeps 2 and is $400 for the trip.This includes non-alcohol drinks and food(which I think is not bad!) as well as the free tv with movies in your room and the newspaper in morning.Private toilet. It is more expensive than just riding down in a coach seat but worth it!!!! I have done both and hated trying to sleep(which never happened) in a chair with my husband and children.You worry about the kids while you are sleeping amongst strangers a foot away.I hated that.Usually price for seat alone is $90 or so. Feel free to ask me anything else.

 

[Portugal1000]

Thanks. There are 3 of us, Husband, son and I. we are lucky enough to be able to visit for 3 weeks each December but even luckier to have an extra trip this August. Wanted to go to New York in December so thought it would be cheaper to combine, that way could save on air fares. I think we would definitely go for a room on the train as I really couldn't handle having to sleep in a seat. I thought it would be something different to come down by train. What are the views like travelling through that part of the country? Also, noticed there were several different stations coming up for New York, which is the easist to board at?
Thanks

 

[pepe of ohio]

quite the trip you are planning! I have been to both places-and have taken the train you speak of(I will be taking it again in June to WDW) The train trip is not for everyone.It is long-at least 24 hours.It usually runs over due to traffic on the rails from companies moving their product and antrak has to give them the right of way.You can take 24 hours or 29 hours, depends on traffic.That said, we love it We do not fly and don't wish to drive that far. i would STRONGLY suggest you get the roomette to have the free meals and the beds.How many of you are there? A roomette sleeps 2 and is $400 for the trip.This includes non-alcohol drinks and food(which I think is not bad!) as well as the free tv with movies in your room and the newspaper in morning.Private toilet. It is more expensive than just riding down in a coach seat but worth it!!!! I have done both and hated trying to sleep(which never happened) in a chair with my husband and children.You worry about the kids while you are sleeping amongst strangers a foot away.I hated that.Usually price for seat alone is $90 or so. Feel free to ask me anything else.

We've used Amtrak for at least the last 10 plus trips and there's no TV anywhere in coach or roomettes. We do coach and have no problems sleeping for one night and pre-booking a roomette is expensive. We ask once on board and if any are available, get it for around half price, usual average has been 150.00 one way, but you play the odds of none being available so we're prepared to just sleep in coach. The food is really good but if paying out of pocket, pricey, we take our own cooler, our trip is in 2 stages and 2 different train, and try to opt for the sleeper for the second leg. Also, the seating has abundant space around it, we never know who's there except for the seats next to ours, the high backs sort of put you in your own world, others around us are never a problem, people seem to mind their own business on the train.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Thanks. There are 3 of us, Husband, son and I. we are lucky enough to be able to visit for 3 weeks each December but even luckier to have an extra trip this August. Wanted to go to New York in December so thought it would be cheaper to combine, that way could save on air fares. I think we would definitely go for a room on the train as I really couldn't handle having to sleep in a seat. I thought it would be something different to come down by train. What are the views like travelling through that part of the country? Also, noticed there were several different stations coming up for New York, which is the easist to board at?
Thanks

NYC in Dec-how lucky are you! You will get to enjoy the famous tree and store windows!An amazing trip FOLLOWED by Disney AMAZING!

That said, to respond to the other poster, we have not done the trip in 5 1/2 years but did indeed have a tv in our roomette then.Maybe they no longer have them.It was small and we had it on maybe 2 hours total anyway.The things you see are what it is all about!We LOVE watching the country roll by! You can see Wash. DC and enjoy the southern trees with moss hanging and the big farms growing produce.Up in northern new england where I live we don't see anything like the southern trees and scenery we enjoy on the train. You get 3 meals a day included and it is a great time in the dining car meeting people on their travels.We ate steak for lunch and dinner!!You can eat whatever you wish(salad,dinner,dessert).Free coffee and sodas are available all the time in your car.For 3 people you would need to book 2 roomettes-we get 2 across from each other then you are all still 'together' for the trip(separated by the aisle which is as wide as a person).Trust me,you will want the room and bed.We have done it 2 times without it and hated it.Overcrowded cars of strangers to sleep with.My husband had to sit 2 rows behind us where there was room for 75% of the trip It is very hard to sleep and so we arrive exhausted and need a day to get back on track.Traveling with the roomette is much nicer. You get on at Penn. Station and go to your room.In a bit they come by and take dinner reservations for times you wish to dine.We watch the city disappear as we room out and head to Disney.We eat,sleep,chat and mostly look out the windows.Depending on times, you may go through Wash.DC at night and see some monuments lit up(like we have). I ran a quick estimate on Amtrak and if you traveled in Dec and had 2 rooms it came to $980 for 3.Not sure of your budget but hope you can swing it
PS-where are you staying in NYC? We love the Marriott Marquis for it's look and location!We went in MAy and had a blast

 

[Vijoge]

Here's a youtube clip of the roomette on the Silver Meteor. And, yes, there is a TV, albeit a non-working one on this viewliner train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsyPKUwkDVI

 

[pepe of ohio]

Here's a youtube clip of the roomette on the Silver Meteor. And, yes, there is a TV, albeit a non-working one on this viewliner train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsyPKUwkDVI

This video is fantastic, yep, it's a roomette, where wife and I have used many a time.. On the TV's, about 4-5 years ago, the company that was installing them in the cars, both sleepers and even coach, went bankrupt. Monitors have stayed for quite awhile and some were removed, we asked the engineer once and we said it would have been nice to have used them and shown movies, but no dice. Sometimes they show movies in the club car. we take our own portable DVD player and use that and it comes in handy for WDW, since Florida, or mainly Disney, cable is awful. It also seems that whether you get a receptacle at you seat is the luck of the draw, some cars have them at every seat some cars have one for the whole car, you never know what you're getting. The roomette is really small, alot of money for an upper and lower and it's tight in there but it's private and we only have it for one night when we get one, bedrooms are bigger but alot more money, not worth it for us.

 

[andijean]

You may want to look at flying if you do not want the long ride. It also will probably be close in price or cheaper to fly. You can try one of the discount carriers...jetblue or airtran. Just look them up on their websites. They fly direct to Orlando 2.5 hours. They are running a special right of $72/each way. What a great trip you are planning. Have fun!

 

[abc999]

It might end up cheaper for you to fly than to take the train and would be a lot quicker.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

without question-the plane is cheaper. But I never fly(and never will) so it is my best option. Yes, the plane will have you at Disney in 3 hours, but the train trip is another part of our vacation experience and it is fun

 

[pepe of ohio]

without question-the plane is cheaper. But I never fly(and never will) so it is my best option. Yes, the plane will have you at Disney in 3 hours, but the train trip is another part of our vacation experience and it is fun

Most train travelers are well aware that flying can be cheaper and quicker but it's the choice we make, I'll never fly again. Posters should just answer the question, we, train users, know the alternatives but are interested in using Amtrak. We're well aware of the time span but it is a unique trip, alot to see from a train window, sleeping on the train is also quaint plus trying to enjoy a meal. Yeah, fliers stick to your guns and let the train people enjoy their mode of travel without all the flying is cheaper and faster reminders.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

Most train travelers are well aware that flying can be cheaper and quicker but it's the choice we make, I'll never fly again. Posters should just answer the question, we, train users, know the alternatives but are interested in using Amtrak. We're well aware of the time span but it is a unique trip, alot to see from a train window, sleeping on the train is also quaint plus trying to enjoy a meal. Yeah, fliers stick to your guns and let the train people enjoy their mode of travel without all the flying is cheaper and faster reminders.

I agree pepe!! I have not flown in 13 years and cannot see me ever doing it again.I hated it and was scared to death! We now regarding the extra time on train as a second adventure to our vacation.We love it! Sitting up in my bed and looking out at Wash. monuments lit up(which I have done!) makes it all worth the trip

 

[Doublekay]

For those of you that have taken amtrax to Orlando, what did you do for transportation to WDW? I guess I would not mind a rental car, but would only want it from train to WDW with a store stop in-between for case of water, and snacks for trip.. Curious what peole did for trans.. There will be 3 adults w the 4 & 6 year olds

 

[pepe of ohio]

For those of you that have taken amtrax to Orlando, what did you do for transportation to WDW? I guess I would not mind a rental car, but would only want it from train to WDW with a store stop in-between for case of water, and snacks for trip.. Curious what peole did for trans.. There will be 3 adults w the 4 & 6 year olds

We get off in Kissimmee, no var rentals there as the station is quite small but boarding and getting off is alot less chaotic, Orlando station has a Hertz I believe, only one....

We used to use a taxi to WDW, 7+ years ago cost of fare was 38.00 one way.....we use a car service now a days, last 6+ trips and they offer a 30 minute grocery stop....which we like, they stop at a Publix in route with a liquor store next door, very convenient and rather pick our own items then using a delivery service...they usually run 100-120.00 round trip, alot out there to chose from. We feel it's quite cheap for the personalized service since a cab to the store will cost alot and a delivery service is pricey plus a tip so the 30 minute stop to us is a bonus with the personalized service...we also have never usd or rented a car in 44 trips so Kissimmee is our preferred station..

 

[Doublekay]

We get off in Kissimmee, no var rentals there as the station is quite small but boarding and getting off is alot less chaotic, Orlando station has a Hertz I believe, only one....

We used to use a taxi to WDW, 7+ years ago cost of fare was 38.00 one way.....we use a car service now a days, last 6+ trips and they offer a 30 minute grocery stop....which we like, they stop at a Publix in route with a liquor store next door, very convenient and rather pick our own items then using a delivery service...they usually run 100-120.00 round trip, alot out there to chose from. We feel it's quite cheap for the personalized service since a cab to the store will cost alot and a delivery service is pricey plus a tip so the 30 minute stop to us is a bonus with the personalized service...we also have never usd or rented a car in 44 trips so Kissimmee is our preferred station..

Great info.. Perfect in fact as I never thought about that and that is what we would want to do is hit the grocery store and liq store.. Not a bad fee either considering.

Thanks!!

 

[Doublekay]

We get off in Kissimmee, no var rentals there as the station is quite small but boarding and getting off is alot less chaotic, Orlando station has a Hertz I believe, only one....

We used to use a taxi to WDW, 7+ years ago cost of fare was 38.00 one way.....we use a car service now a days, last 6+ trips and they offer a 30 minute grocery stop....which we like, they stop at a Publix in route with a liquor store next door, very convenient and rather pick our own items then using a delivery service...they usually run 100-120.00 round trip, alot out there to chose from. We feel it's quite cheap for the personalized service since a cab to the store will cost alot and a delivery service is pricey plus a tip so the 30 minute stop to us is a bonus with the personalized service...we also have never usd or rented a car in 44 trips so Kissimmee is our preferred station..

Do you/ can you recommend one? PM us if you like. thanks Kevin

 

[pepe of ohio]

Do you/ can you recommend one? PM us if you like. thanks Kevin

Sorry, the one we used is banned from being mentioned on this board or in a PM....not for bad service but some board infraction.....