From Orlando Amtrak to WDW?

[slappy magoo]

Hey there hi there ho there,

Just wondering if any of you ever went to WDW via Amtrak and how you went about getting from the train station to on-property - cab? bus? car rental? Your own car via Amtrak's Autotrain?

I just booked (via DVC) a trip in December, and my wife has always had an aversion to flying. Our last 3 trips we've driven, and while I don't mind the drive, this will be the first time we go anywhere with our daughter, who will be born next month. So we're certainly not going to be driving straight through, as we'll probably be dealing with some serious lack-of-sleep even after a stopover! I've broached the subject of flying, but really, even I'm not that crazy about flying with an infant. It's not the crying-baby-in-a-tube-full-of-strangers that concerns me (I mean it is only 2 hours plus change on the plane), but I've heard some horror stories about infants developing problems with their ears & ear infections because of the cabin pressure buildup on take off. So between that & my wife's normal skittishness on planes, I started thinking that maybe Amtrak might be a good way to go. We'd probably get at least one of the "Viewliner Roomettes" for a little bit of privacy (no private bathroom), and all meals are included throughout the long trip. Gives me time to play with the baby, we should get at least a little more rest than we would if we drove, I'm sure it won't be idyllic, but hopefully not awful either.

But once at the Orlando train station, I wasn't sure how easy or awful it would be to get to WDW either. So any tips?

 

[eagles]

we leave tomorrow morning. and this will be our 3rd round trip with amtrak.

i know i love it, compared to driving. i have never felt the jet lag of that long drive while taking the train. once i get to orlando and to the resort i am ready to go. lol

one piece of advise i can give you is this: if you do plan to get the room, book early. the closer you get to your travel dates, the prices skyrockets! i have seen the rooms go for $911.
book early and i have gotten them for around $200 plus i think, maybe 232ish.

the meals are ok, nothing to brag about, but good. i have had the room twice now, would have gotten them all the time, but sometimes i just couldn't afford it. i usually get whatever the special is for the day.

the toilet in the room is another good thing, no, its not private, but i have only traveled with my son one time and then my grandaughter, so no problems using it.

be prepared for delays, it you get there on time or early that is a bonus, but expect delays.

i use sunrays for my round trip transportation to resort. they will even allow 1/2 hour grocery stop. 1-800-204-4355
as soon as you get off the train, you have to go down the sidewalk to your left to claim you baggage. sunrays is there holding a sign with your name. they also keep tabs on the time of arrival for the train, since they also know about the delays. but i have never had sunrays run late.

good luck and if you do go by way of amtrak i hope you enjoy it. i just look at it like its part of my vacation.

 

[Master Yoda]

I will not be much help with how the trip on the train will be but the station is right in the middle of Downtown Orlando and right next to I-4. That puts it at a 1/2 an hour drive to WDW tops unless you are driving during rush hour.

 

[Mick G.]

You might want to check the Kissimmee station, which I'm pretty sure is closer to WDW. If you get the addresses of each station, mapquest could tell you the distance to WDW.

I wish the Amtrak Floridian still ran. We took the train out of Nashville a few times in the '70's, and would do it again if the train was still running.

 

[fosse76]

I've never understood how people can take the Amtrak long distances. Coming from New York, it would take 22-23 hours to get there AND cost just as much as a plane ticket. That certainly doesn't seem worth it to me. If I lived in a nearby state (which I would NEVER do) then maybe it would be more feasable. Amtrak always wonders why more people don't take it, well there's the reason. That, and often times they have weird schedules that no normal person would want.

***EDIT

It's not even the travel time, it's the fact that it's the same amount to take a plane that makes it problematic. Why should I spend $220 on the train that will take me 23 hours when I can take a plane for three hours for the same price! They really need to get it together!

 

[slappy magoo]

I've never understood how people can take the Amtrak long distances. Coming from New York, it would take 22-23 hours to get there AND cost just as much as a plane ticket. That certainly doesn't seem worth it to me. If I lived in a nearby state (which I would NEVER do) then maybe it would be more feasable. Amtrak always wonders why more people don't take it, well there's the reason. That, and often times they have weird schedules that no normal person would want.

***EDIT

It's not even the travel time, it's the fact that it's the same amount to take a plane that makes it problematic. Why should I spend $220 on the train that will take me 23 hours when I can take a plane for three hours for the same price! They really need to get it together!

Hey, thanks for not reading my original post! I love repeating myself!

1: My wife really doesn't like to fly, she'll do it in a pinch, but since it's her vacation too, I'd rather not make her anxious if I don't have to.

2: We'll be traveling with an infant, and infants are often prone to developing ear infections or other ear-related problems due to the pressure that builds up in the cabin. Again, if I can avoid it, I'm thinking, maybe I should.

Granted these aren't the ONLY reasons some people opt to not fly. But they are two of them.

And if they're not good enough reasons for YOU...let's see...what's the phrase I'm thinking off....I know it ends with "off"....hmmmm...I know it'll come to me....

Seriously, I gave the reasons why I'm considering a train and not flying, your helpful reply is "I can't see why anyone would NOT fly." Reading. It's Fundamental.

 

[Disney05]

I think this is something Disney could really do something with. They could make a train ride to Disney huge. How I don't know, I'm not that creative. But I bet if they set out to create a Disney experience while on a train to WDW, it could work.

 

[marypoppins68]

Hi!
I had a friend take Amtrack into the Kissimmee station. He took a taxi to WDW. Didn't have any problems at all. I think with an infant, taking the train is the way to go.

 

[Carolyn1717]

Hey, thanks for not reading my original post! I love repeating myself!

1: My wife really doesn't like to fly, she'll do it in a pinch, but since it's her vacation too, I'd rather not make her anxious if I don't have to.

2: We'll be traveling with an infant, and infants are often prone to developing ear infections or other ear-related problems due to the pressure that builds up in the cabin. Again, if I can avoid it, I'm thinking, maybe I should.

Granted these aren't the ONLY reasons some people opt to not fly. But they are two of them.

And if they're not good enough reasons for YOU...let's see...what's the phrase I'm thinking off....I know it ends with "off"....hmmmm...I know it'll come to me....

Seriously, I gave the reasons why I'm considering a train and not flying, your helpful reply is "I can't see why anyone would NOT fly." Reading. It's Fundamental.

There are many reasons people don't fly and that is your choice and no one else's..

What I would do if I were you is call a car service in advance and have them pick you up and take you to Disney. If you booked through a travel agency, they can make all the arrangements for you. Travel time from Downtown Orlando is about 1/2 hour...it could take just as much time from Kissimmee due to the traffice in that area all the time. But definately, traveling with a baby, make you pick up and drop off arrangememts ahead of time. It will make it much more enjoyable for all of you knowing you will have someone waiting for you when you arrive.

 

[nolatron]

I've never understood how people can take the Amtrak long distances. Coming from New York, it would take 22-23 hours to get there AND cost just as much as a plane ticket. That certainly doesn't seem worth it to me. If I lived in a nearby state (which I would NEVER do) then maybe it would be more feasable. Amtrak always wonders why more people don't take it, well there's the reason. That, and often times they have weird schedules that no normal person would want.

***EDIT

It's not even the travel time, it's the fact that it's the same amount to take a plane that makes it problematic. Why should I spend $220 on the train that will take me 23 hours when I can take a plane for three hours for the same price! They really need to get it together!

You can also see some amazing scenery you would never see from a plane, depending on which Amtrak route you are taking.

When taking a train, it's not about the destination. It's about the journey.

 

[Joe]

There is a toilet and sink inside a viewliner roomette. Not the case inside a superliner roomette. (auto train)

I called Mears about a week ago. They will pick up at the Orlando station, but not at Kissimmee. Mears headquarters is located 2 blocks from the Orlando station. You just need to call Mears when the train arrives and they will be there in 5 minutes. Price is $32 roundtrip per person to us 192 resorts. Maybe a little more to onsite resorts.

 

[ljl14]

My family of four took Amtrak about 3 years ago. Not the most pleasant trip for us. But we splurged a little and got a Lincoln Town Car - I think it was from Mears, to pick us up. After the 24 hour bumpy ride from Trenton, NJ it was niced to be picked up and drive to our hotel in leather, air-conditioned comfort!

Enjoy your trip!!!:wave:

 

[eagles]

i don't fly either, so taking the train is the way i go. the cost has never been bad for me, i have paid $138 for myself and child. plus on 2 ocassions i have gotten the room, like i said earlier around 230something.

sunrays, will tell you "by the time your train gets to kissimmee you will be at your hotel in disney world, by departing at orlando"

upon their recommendations, i depart at orlando.

enjoy your trip.

 

[slappy magoo]

well, i did a little more research & apparently, Hertz operates a rental center out of Orlando, but not Kissimmee. According to mousesavers, they'll either pick you up at the station, or reimburse you for the taxi up to $22. Traveling from Newark to Orlando r/t, in a roomette (I stand corrected, roomettes have a sink & toilet, just no private shower) plus an economy rental car, all with a AAA discount is about $1100, and of course that includes meals. Now, how much it woud cost to drve depends a lot on how much gas will cost, though I don't see it getting cheaper any time soon & I certainly wouldn't plan on it. So gas would probaby be about 200 each way, we'd be driving slower as we'll need more bathroom breaks for diaper changing, and a hotel stay each way, and probably 2 full days worth of meals & snacks each way. I'd have to think it'd be at least 900. To me, it'd be worth the extra 200 for the ability to spend more time caring for & playing with my family, reading, resting, and not having to worry about getting sleepy behind the wheel or whether the rest stop winds up being skeevy. And factor in the extra stops from driving, the train will probably be shorter.

My mind's not totally made up, but I'm leaning, obviously, towards the train.

 

[lilclerk]

My boyfriend won't fly ever ever again. Ever. Unless severely sedated, I'm guessing.

We took a greyhound (in a pinch, it was cheaper than the train since we booked so late and it took the same amount of time) and got a town car service from the station to Disney. We used Tiffany Town Car and they were wonderful.

 

[fosse76]

You can also see some amazing scenery you would never see from a plane, depending on which Amtrak route you are taking.

When taking a train, it's not about the destination. It's about the journey.

I was being more retorical than actually trying to pick a fight. I wouldn't mind the train, but personally the length of journey versus the price isn't justifiable. I once looked into travelling from Chicago to New York by train, and the only scheduled trains left Chicago at 2:20am. And Amtrak wonders why no one uses them in quantitities to be profitable! And on top of it, it was $100 cheaper to fly! That's what I just don't get. And of course, obviously, if I refused to fly than the point would be moot. But from where I live and where I want to go, I would never take the train. The only exceptions are Boston and DC, which even then I have occasionally found cheaper flights (but the hassel with the airports would balance out the travel time on a train).

 

[ROTM]

The train station in orlando looks discusting ! :hurl:

 

[maryszhi]

ive never taken amtrack, but know people who have only done it for a pinch. i recommend bring your own food, and make sure you bring your own blanket/pillow/toliett paper.
also: disney should make trains and stuff. they would make money, while doing something for those who hate flying, dont want to drive, and want to have a disney experience

 

[shanny]

the trains (or at least the auto train) were very clean when we took it! they play a movie at night, and the food is pretty good. its nothing fancy, but itll fill you. you can get up and walk around, hang out in the lounge, talk to random people. most of which are possibly going to wdw too i would much prefer to fly, even though i dont enjoy it, but given your circumstances, i think the train is the way to go! oh, and on the autotrain, you just leave your luggage and stuff in the car, no worries on baggage fees and weight. if i couldnt fly, id hop on the train before getting in the car!!!