Update: Thanks everyone but we're taking the train! UPDATED: I'm back!

[katybugsmom]

Good Morning!

Ok, can someone tell me the boarding procedure? How early do they begin? I will be boarding in NYC.

Do you just walk on and pick seats? Are carry ons put overhead like on a plane?

If I bring drinks and sandwiches, I can bring a small cooler on as one of my carry ons?

I 'should' have a plug for electronics? Or is that the luck of the draw?

Is there any entertainment?

How would you pack a pillow/blanket? Should I purchase travel ones instead?

Do my kids need photo IDs?

Whew, I think that's it.....for now!

Hey there!
Worked today,so I'm just checking DISboards tonight!
Go to the website below and it will give you a lot of useful information that will answer a lot of your questions. Amtrak.com has a lot of info. posted as well.

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/index.shtml

 

[omghidanielle]

Amtrak doesn't own the track and thus freight trains have priority over passenger trains. On one trip, our train hit a boat! We sat for about 2 hour until the investigators cleared the train to move.

Lucky for you! When we rode the train, we hit a person! That was an awesome 4 hour delay

 

[nowellsl]

Lucky for you! When we rode the train, we hit a person! That was an awesome 4 hour delay

 

[bunkkinsmom]

You will have a great time! We do the train every year. Last year we had to stay for a few extra days because of the snow in NC, but being from NC I can tell you that the storm in question was a FLUKE!! We are doing the train again this year. Don't sweat the delays, just relax. It's vacation. Bring enough movies (there are outlets at the seats) and snacks of $ for the dining/lounge cars and you will be just fine!!

Check out first choice limo service. You can email them at
firstchoice_limo@yahoo.com

We have used them both trips, one trip for limo to impress DMIL and last trip for an SUV (for 7 of us). Good prices and great service!!

Have a blast!

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks so much for all the help and tips!!

I have a question about the cooler for sandwiches and drinks on the train.

Will a 10 inch (high, not including handle) x 10 inch (wide) x 14 inch (long) cooler fit somewhere or is it too big?

 

[katybugsmom]

Thanks so much for all the help and tips!!

I have a question about the cooler for sandwiches and drinks on the train.

Will a 10 inch (high, not including handle) x 10 inch (wide) x 14 inch (long) cooler fit somewhere or is it too big?

I know people have commented on taking small coolers, so yours should be fine! We are planning on taking a small cooler-ours might be a little bigger than yours, but I think it will be fine-just big enough for drinks and some snacks.
I just wanted to let you know I found travel blankets/inflatable pillows at Walmart for $10.00. They come in sets complete with handle-the pillow is inside-just blow it up when needed. I really liked the colors too-royal blue and hot pink-just right for my two kids! This sets are very compact-I found them in the luggage section.
I also bought locks for our carry-ons. Two locks were around $6.00. I'll feel safer if we leave our seats for any extended amount of time if our luggage is locked. We aren't checking any baggage, but will carry on two pieces each instead-4 carry-ons with wheels, backpacks/cinchsacks for the kids, a small cooler and a cosmetic bag.

 

[beattyfamily]

Wow, I can't believe the trip is only 3 days away!

I'm so excited.

Just wanted to thank everyone for all their help and advice. Thanks to you, I'm taking the train rather than driving!

I'm still debating which cooler to bring. Also, can I pack a couple of apples with the soda and sandwiches? I know it's probably a silly question but I just don't know.

Also, do you actually check the larger luggage like on a plane? I'm asking because my sister says there is no checked luggage on a train.

I've got so much luggage for carry on I don't want to deal with the clothes (bigger) suitcases.

Right now I have a backpack with the dvd player, game boy, magazines and snacks. The cooler. But I also wanted to bring my computer so I guess I need a second backpack for that and the camcorder. I'll just make my 14 year old carry that one!

Sorry, I know I'm rambling. I'm just excited an a bit overwhelmed cause it's been 4 years and the train is new to me!!

Thanks again everyone.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

From what I recall:

Some train stations are manned stations and some are not. At Raleigh (a manned station) you can check luggage. We did that 2 years ago. In Cary (a non-manned station) it is carry-on only. Carry-on is 2 bags NOT including laptop/purse. We travel with 5 people so that's 10 carry-on bags, plus purses and laptops. That's PLENTY for us for the week. The kids each have their own backpack, and each of them carries one other bag. Usually one tote for small blankets, one tote for clothes/toiletries for the next day, and one tote for overflow!

Coming from NC Amtrak is an overnight. So we get on the train, change into jammies, give the kids the Metatonin (night night!!), pop a movie in the laptop and go to sleep. The next morning we grab a small light breakfast, change clothes, brush our teeth, pack up the jammies, and VOILA! ORLANDO!!

Have a fantastic time!

 

[beattyfamily]

From what I recall:

Some train stations are manned stations and some are not. At Raleigh (a manned station) you can check luggage. We did that 2 years ago. In Cary (a non-manned station) it is carry-on only. Carry-on is 2 bags NOT including laptop/purse. We travel with 5 people so that's 10 carry-on bags, plus purses and laptops. That's PLENTY for us for the week. The kids each have their own backpack, and each of them carries one other bag. Usually one tote for small blankets, one tote for clothes/toiletries for the next day, and one tote for overflow!

Coming from NC Amtrak is an overnight. So we get on the train, change into jammies, give the kids the Metatonin (night night!!), pop a movie in the laptop and go to sleep. The next morning we grab a small light breakfast, change clothes, brush our teeth, pack up the jammies, and VOILA! ORLANDO!!

Have a fantastic time!

Ah so that is why some have a carry on policy and some have a checked bag policy. I am leaving from NYC and I'm pretty sure it is a checked bag location. So I can check my two big suitcases and then bring on the two backpacks and a cooler? I hope that's doable.

Thanks!

 

[jlmarr]

Just for grins you might ask the conductor if he has any deals on a sleeper room. I've heard they do that (on-board space available upgrades), but am not sure if the discount is enough to make it appealing.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just for grins you might ask the conductor if he has any deals on a sleeper room. I've heard they do that (on-board space available upgrades), but am not sure if the discount is enough to make it appealing.

Ah, that's interesting. Thank you. I'd probably need two though with 3 of us right? I thought each sleeper room slept 2?

I don't know much about them.

 

[dejr_8]

Ah, that's interesting. Thank you. I'd probably need two though with 3 of us right? I thought each sleeper room slept 2?

I don't know much about them.

A roomette sleeps two. A full room sleeps four.

From our experience, the sleeper car was mostly empty probably due to the price. When we last took the train (2007), a roomette was about $200/night and a room more like $500.

 

[beattyfamily]

A roomette sleeps two. A full room sleeps four.

From our experience, the sleeper car was mostly empty probably due to the price. When we last took the train (2007), a roomette was about $200/night and a room more like $500.

Thank you.

I just looked at Amtrak and it says the roomette and the room only fit 2 people which means I'd need 2. Roomette is $361 for one and the Room is $600+ for one. Way too much money for me!

 

[DMass]

Please post your experience on the train when you get back. I'm planning a train trip to WDW next year and want to see if you liked it or not.

Enjoy your trip!

Hope you have a wicked good time!

 

[katybugsmom]

Hope you guys are having a blast and enjoyed the train trip down! I wish I were there too!!! Let us know how you enjoyed the train ride!

 

[beattyfamily]

Hope you guys are having a blast and enjoyed the train trip down! I wish I were there too!!! Let us know how you enjoyed the train ride!

We leave tomorrow morning!! The train is at 3:15p.

I'm in the middle of packing and checking my list over and over again!

I'll report back as soon as I can. I'm bringing my computer so hopefully I can let you know sooner than the end of my trip!

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

 

[dejr_8]

Please post your experience on the train when you get back. I'm planning a train trip to WDW next year and want to see if you liked it or not.

Enjoy your trip!

Hope you have a wicked good time!

I would not rely upon someone's comments about a train ride to decide if it is for you. I really enjoyed the experience on the four times we took the train to Orlando. But I could also see someone absolutely, positively hating it.

For reference we used to drive straight through to Orlando from Groton MA even when our kids were still babies. If you couldn't do that, I wouldn't recommend the train for you.

Taking the train is an adventure, just like driving through the night with babies and toddlers.

 

[dejr_8]

Just bumping for an update.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm Back!

I came back late Saturday night and was busy with things yesterday.

Hmmm....where do I begin?

Ok, how about this: I believe I would never take the train again. I'm not sure I would even if it meant it was the only way I could go to Disney again!

Now 'maybe', just maybe I would do it again if I could book a Roomette or a bedroom but then I believe the cost would make it not worthwhile and I might as well fly. BUT if I could get an amazing deal on a room, I'd consider it again.

Why didn't we like it?

First, its LONG. It's 24 hrs sitting upright. Maybe if it were only 6 hours or less it wouldn't have been so bad or like I said if we booked a room....
Second, we were a party of 3 so my kids sat together but I sat alone. Going down I was lucky and had no neighbor but coming home, I wasn't so lucky and I had 2 different neighbors; one for 3 hours and one for about 15 hours and at first I wasn't even next to my kids but with persistance, we were finally next to each other after about 3 hours! I had a neighbor through the night and only sat alone for the last 4 hours. Not fun. And my second neighbor should have bought 2 tickets if you know what I mean. I was squished the whole time with her touching me the whole time. But at least I had an aisle seat or it would have been MUCH worse.
Third, you could hear everything. Every snore, every fart and every whining or crying kid. On the way down we had a child in front of us that was either whining or crying the WHOLE way. If he was sleeping, he was snoring. Luckily on the way home, we had well behaved kids around us. We even had a baby that didn't cry once in the 10 hours we rode with him.
Fourth, it was FREEZING both ways. Luckily on the way home we each had a blanket. Going down I had one for my girls to share which just wasn't enough. It really was FREEZING. We were shivering.
Fifth, coming home, overnight after 'trying' to sleep, I woke up with four big bites on my neck/upper back.
Sixth, the bathrooms were GROSS. Kind of like a port-o-potty. They got more gross as the trip went on. People were slobs about it too. Some people came prepared with wet wipes and even lysol spray.
Seventh, you could smell everything everyone was eating and sometimes it just reeked!

Lastly, the clientele just wasn't quite the same as flying. Enough said.

Pros? Well, it was cheaper than flying.
A pro to driving? I didn't have to drive, I could go to the bathroom any time I wanted, I didn't have to stop for breaks or rest.
But the cons far outway the pros. Live and learn.

I'll answer any questions I can.

 

[bored]

The clientele is the reason we'll never take the train again! Some people love, some hate it! I'm the latter.