My 83yo mother in law and my bro-in-law will be taking Amtrak down to Florida. I've confused myself by reading too much.
Originally, I was told to go to Orlando as it's bigger and has more transportation options. Since then, I've read about MANY travelers actually preferring the Kissimmee station - quieter, better part of town, etc.. But no taxis, shuttles, nothing.
So now I don't know what to do. If they go to Kissimmee, do they just call a cab and wait there? Can you arrange a cab to meet you there? How long is the wait? If they go to Orlando, it could be a mob scene, but cabs are probably lined up.
What do you think?
Thanks,
We've done Orlando station back in the 80's....just about everyone on the train gets off there and it's a mad scramble to find transportation and baggage. Back then, we were told to try Kissimmee, next station stop headed south and viola....about 4 -6 people got off....that became our station forever. Orlando station has car rentals, taxi's etc but is still the mob scene...especially when boarding....you wait outside in the sun in a long line, waiting to board one by one with people hauling everything imaginable and trying to find their seats once on board....not pleasant at all....we'll wait for the next stop...Kissimmee... not that big a deal sitting on the train for 20 more minutes to get off and board quick. Kissimmee has taxi's usually waiting or the station clerk will call one for you....we prefer car services since they give you a 30 minute grocery stop, are alot cleaner and less smelly than a cab....car services post the rates from Orlando, but some do pick up in Kissimmee, just ask when getting a quote.
The trip before our last, our car service was jammed and asked if we could get off in Orlando...we said sure and I told my wife, never again....they bring out the baggage on a huge cart and grab a piece and holler the claim number like it's an auction....pain trying to wait and watch for all your bags....parking lot was chaos but we got our car service and told them, never again and we went home thru Kissimmee station....10-15 people boarded there, on the train in 5 minutes and when we got to Orlando and looked out the window of the train and saw the huge line with bags, waiting to get on......sure were glad we were on board and settled.....ever see people trying to squeeze down a train aisle, loaded down with Disney shopping bags and carry ons looking for their seat, one by one....Others will post that by the time the train gets to Kissimmee, they are on their way to the resort from Orlando.....well that 20 minutes more on the train to Kissimmee is alot better than being herded like cattle, and the fire drill going on in Orlando to us than getting off there....the station is small, does have baggage service, cabs available, boards first headed north and alot easier than Orlando and it's closer to WDW, cab fares are cheaper...to each their own but we've seen it many of times and will only do Kissimmee...
We've only used Amtrak once to WDW, but it was during spring break. It was not bad heading south, but the trip north was just a wild and crazy scene. Like the MK on July 4! I'm sure Kissimmee is a much better option.
