Using Amtrax Auto-Train

[bicker]

I didn't say time at parks, I said time in WDW. Relaxing by the pool, Chef Mickey's, anything. Still better than spending 40 hrs on a train. JMHO.

And different folks will have different perspectives regarding that. We never relax "by the pool", for example. We do relax on the train, though. It actually fosters relaxation (specifically) in a way that WDW can't. On the train, we are not able to pick up and go to the BoardWalk, or to Downtown Disney, etc. We are essentially forced to relax.

And that's really critical. In the middle of the vacation it would be bad: After we've had a few days to relax and detach from "real" life we are better able to have fun - to really enjoy ourselves, doing things. However, at the start of a vacation, we're still burnt-out from working and the other obligations on our time. Similarly, at the end of a vacation, we realize that we need to "recover" from vacation and get ready to face the real world again. The train actually fits very well with the way our family needs to vacation.

Your train may leave at 4pm but for us we'd have to leave early am to drive to Lorton, VA (missing a full day of school/work).

We have to be traveling during those hours regardless. We leave on Saturday (really Friday evening, staying with family in New York overnight) so no one misses work.

Time is valuable. The point is that spending it on the train is valuable for many people. And we were among those very surprised that that was true for us. We went into our first Auto Train trip ready to hate it and never do it again. We proved ourselves wrong.

 

[Reddy]

I was looking into this & very upset with it
why do I have to go to Chicago from Dallas before going to FL
it would take 3 days when we can drive it in 2 (well the GPS says under 19 hours but I figure bathroom breaks & things)

really needs to be a Southern east/west route

 

[bicker]

Train travel doesn't get the kind of respect and patronage from the general public that it should, and needs, to have a richer array of routes and services. It's a shame.

 

[bdcp]

The Amtrak Auto Train is NOT 99% snowbirds. in Mar-May and Oct-Dec, there are more snowbirds going north in the spring and south in the fall, but they still only make up about 60% during those times. During the summer and school breaks, there are a lot more families onboard. We've always gone in Nov and there is always a full family car as well as a full snowbird car. And then there's usually a car of two of everyone else, singles, couples, families with older children. We're going again in Oct (our fourth trip by AT) and it's just DH and I and we are in our early 50's. We have met all ages onboard. It's a great experience and I love traveling by train.

For us, getting to Lorton is easy. We live about 45 minutes from the train station and do not get on I-95 at all. There are a couple of routes that bring us right to the station from the west.

 

[dvcmom72]

We are getting ready to take our 3rd trip to WDW in September. I've been to WDW zillions of times but we just "discovered" the auto train a few years back. We live in MA and the first time, being worried about the time, we went down a day early and spent the night near the station. There is NOTHING to do there and we felt like that was a wasted night...so the second trip we left VERY early in the morning and made it there in plenty of time. We LOVE being able to just throw everything into the car and not worry about packing for a plane! On our first trip my son was 13 months, we did coach, nobody slept but him. Second trip he had just turned 2, we got the smallest bedroom (2 bunk beds)...we slept much better and had the portable DVD player, it was great. But now that he'll be 3 we have to go with the bigger room, which is more $$, but I think will be worth it. Part of me of course wishes we could spend more of that time with Mickey...but I am not a good flyer unfortunately. And my little guy thinks trains are "awesome"...so for us, it's PART of the vacation...not just the way to get to the vacation. They give you a nice dinner and breakfast, there's plenty of room to move around/walk around...you don't feel stuck in your chair or room...I find the whole experience to be very relaxing and enjoyable. Hope this helps.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

And different folks will have different perspectives regarding that. We never relax "by the pool", for example. We do relax on the train, though. It actually fosters relaxation (specifically) in a way that WDW can't. On the train, we are not able to pick up and go to the BoardWalk, or to Downtown Disney, etc. We are essentially forced to relax.

And that's really critical. In the middle of the vacation it would be bad: After we've had a few days to relax and detach from "real" life we are better able to have fun - to really enjoy ourselves, doing things. However, at the start of a vacation, we're still burnt-out from working and the other obligations on our time. Similarly, at the end of a vacation, we realize that we need to "recover" from vacation and get ready to face the real world again. The train actually fits very well with the way our family needs to vacation.

We have to be traveling during those hours regardless. We leave on Saturday (really Friday evening, staying with family in New York overnight) so no one misses work.

Time is valuable. The point is that spending it on the train is valuable for many people. And we were among those very surprised that that was true for us. We went into our first Auto Train trip ready to hate it and never do it again. We proved ourselves wrong.

We will just have to agree to disagree. The good thing is that we all have choices to do what works for everyone.

I'm not against trains btw. I take one daily to work in Philly so I totally understand the relaxation part. It adds a little to my commute time so some of my SJ coworkers prefer to just drive but tolls and parking would be $15 daily vs $5 by train. Also keeps low mileage on my car and therefore car insurance too since less than 3 mile commute is considered "pleasure" driving vs commuting to work.
The 17 minute train ride each way is great down time esp at the end of the day before switching gears from hosp work to being mommy.
We also loved the Grand Canyon train ride and would recommend it if you ever get the opportunity.
Happy traveling!

 

[bicker]

We will just have to agree to disagree. The good thing is that we all have choices to do what works for everyone.

Definitely. It isn't a matter of "people must take the train" anymore than it is "people shouldn't take the train".

We also loved the Grand Canyon train ride and would recommend it if you ever get the opportunity.
Happy traveling!

My mother took that train ride shortly before she passed away and couldn't stop gushing about how wonderful the experience it was. My wife and I have been talking for years, since, about perhaps doing it ourselves someday.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Definitely. It isn't a matter of "people must take the train" anymore than it is "people shouldn't take the train".

My mother took that train ride shortly before she passed away and couldn't stop gushing about how wonderful the experience it was. My wife and I have been talking for years, since, about perhaps doing it ourselves someday.

When you do, be sure to stay overnight at least 1 nt at GC. We did RT train ride in 1 day because we were staying at a timeshare condo for the week in Sedona and didn't want to pay for 2 different places at the same time. By taking the train, we only had about 5 hrs at the GC incl lunch which is not nearly enough time. Hindsight is 20/20. I'd do it differently next time.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

We are doing our second consecutive trip on the autotrain in a family bedroom in October. We went in November last year and had a blast, the kids don't really recall what they did in disney , they remember the train trip. At one point in the parks, my 4yo asked when we could go home on the train!
The best part was we got to go for FREE!!!!, we had enough Continental mile to get a family bedroom and car allowance for 60,000 miles r/t... no fees at all. No way could I get flights for 4 for that few points. The best part was my delicious steak dinner, they really take pride in the whole experience. It just seems like a more civilized way to travel, stretching out, dining and watching the sunset.
I can't wait!!!! 92 more days for our second FREE choo-choo trip!!!!!
BOB