Train?

[bellabambina]

Would you take a train that goes for 17 hours? with 5 year old?
the problem is also how to figure it out? sleeping car seem to have
tinny room for two people only and I have no idea if I could
sleep in one bed with a chidl and husband fit on the other?
the room seem so tinny? has anyone did that before?
buying two rooms is not an option as not only finnancially
but my dd would be frightened to have one parent separated.

 

[bellabambina]

oh.. one more thing.. and what about food ont he train?
do they have kids meals on the train and is it very expensive to dine
in the dinner car?

 

[Cupmom]

Are you taking the auto train?

 

[Big Willie]

We take the train on occasion. The children love it. Our trips are normally 6 hours or less. We have seen the sleepers and they are small. Your plan probably won't work unless you and DD weigh 100lbs combined.

Sounds like you may be coming from Virginia or near by judging on your timeline. Anyway, we could never make this monetarily. Taking the autotrain from Lorton or the regular train from Newport News resulted in approximately 17 hours of travel. PRICEWISE it was no cheaper than flying using either SW (Norfolk or Bmore) or Airtran (Newport News).

Example: Our July 2011 (9 day trip)
Southwest $315 RT - 2 hours flying time
Amtrak $269 RT - 17 hours travel down/17 hours travel back

$46 dollars more cuts 15 hours of travel for us

There is a food car. The prices are moderate. Mostly hot dogs, chicken patties, chips, etc. Nothing fancy. Very vending machine type food.

Good Luck

 

[DC7800]

Would you take a train that goes for 17 hours? with 5 year old?
the problem is also how to figure it out? sleeping car seem to have
tinny room for two people only and I have no idea if I could
sleep in one bed with a chidl and husband fit on the other?
the room seem so tinny? has anyone did that before?
buying two rooms is not an option as not only finnancially
but my dd would be frightened to have one parent separated.

A Roomette would be really tight - almost unworkable - for two adults and a child, unless possibly a small adult can share a bunk with a small child. Think of a room which is basically the size of a twin bed and you have some idea of what you're considering.

A Bedroom - opposed to the smaller Roomette - would be fine for your family, with the added advantage of a private bathroom. Coach is also completely do-able for one night (17 hours); Families with children do it all the time (if you can sleep in a recliner, you'll generally have no problem in coach). These seats recline and are often compared with airline first class, only with more space than the airliner.

Whether you are considering Auto Train or one of Amtrak's other Florida trains - the Silver Star and Silver Meteor - makes a difference also. Both are a pleasant journey and usually considered a far more relaxing way to travel than the hassles of airlines or congestion on the highways.

There is a food car. The prices are moderate. Mostly hot dogs, chicken patties, chips, etc. Nothing fancy. Very vending machine type food

What you are describing is just the lounge car. Each train has at least one, where you can get snacks and sandwiches and the like, but each train also has a full dining car, offering slightly more formal table-service. The food in the diner is typically described as very good to excellent; It most certainly is not a fast-food experience (in service, quality, selection, or price). Kids menu selections are available.

 

[bdcp]

Autotrain dinner and continental breakfast are included in your fare and yes they have children's meals.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Would you take a train that goes for 17 hours? with 5 year old?
the problem is also how to figure it out? sleeping car seem to have
tinny room for two people only and I have no idea if I could
sleep in one bed with a chidl and husband fit on the other?
the room seem so tinny? has anyone did that before?
buying two rooms is not an option as not only finnancially
but my dd would be frightened to have one parent separated.

We're long time train users...AutoTrain no, we're too far from Lorton and we never need a car in WDW but if we did, we'd just rent in Florida that pay to haul ours down.

We've taken our children many times when they were small...no trouble at all and our trips to WDW is 36 hours....back when the children were with us, we always went coach...they slept and played in coach and had a great time. Now that we're empty nester, the wife and I on occasion do the roomette....let me tell you honestly, it is a very small cubicle and getting up to the upper bunk is only for small people....and once the room is set up for sleeping...there's no where to just sit. It's nice, privale..A/C works sort of but it's tight in there and the outside hall is very narrow since there's roomette on both sides.....I've gotten to the conclusion, even though sleeping lying down is great, the roomette is just to claustrophobic any more....coach seats are very accommidating....huge amount of room in a pair and ok to spend one night in....also, the price of the sleepers are ridiculous.

We pack a cooler, small for the train trip, food on the train is quite good in the dining car...but pricey and there is food available from the Club Car too, soup, sandwiches, pizza...hand food.....depending where your car is in conjunction to the dining car, you might have to walk thru a couple of car to get to it.....we can easily manage with our packed lunch and what's served from the Club Car....and can be eaten in your coach seat...tray pulls down from seat back....

I'm one for comfort, but sleepers are too costly for my taste and even though we're on board for 36 hours....doing coach is not that big a deal for a day and a half.....I'm not the flying type and don't mind the long trip and for the 2 of us, quite cheap about the same as to drive but none of the stress and tedium involved....