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Train to WDW
- Thread starter kiawahman
- Start date
joel_maxwell
Permanent Resident of EPCOT
it depends on were you are coming from....... if it was only a couple of hour car trip then id drive, but if it was a day trip then id kick the feet up and just plan on having 1 full day of travel.
MSTINKHERBELL01
New Member
I could be remembering this all wrong but I thought that there was a train out there called FUN TRAIN or something. It was suppose to go to Orlando with all kinds of cool things to do on board. Did anyone else here of this or am I just :hammer:
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
I actually always take the train from NYC to Orlando. It takes about 24 hours and can be delayed. I truthfully don't love it but because we have someone in the family that won't fly I just go with the flow.
Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
I don't fly either... I have been driving to WDW the last 4 years... 6 drives total....
TTATraveler
Active Member
kiawahman said:
The train is going to let you off in Sanford. From there you are going to have to arrange for tansportation. My guess is once you factor in those costs plus the train ride it is probably going to be close to equal or more than flying.
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
TTATraveler said:
There are also stations in Orlando and Kissimee. You don't have to go to Sanford.
SewIn2Disney
Well-Known Member
I took Amtrack from NJ to DC, then DC to Orlando. When we got to Orlando, there were taxis and shuttle buses to take you wherever you needed to go. When we got off, two of us went to get our luggage, and the other went to sign up for a shuttle. It cost us $10 to get to WDW. And he gave us his card so we could call him when we wanted a ride back to the train station. It really was no hassle at all.
Brian_B
Member
kiawahman said:
I took the amtrak autotrain - it goes from Lorton, VA to Sandford, FL which is a few miles north on 4 of orlando. Autotrain as in it's a doubledecker train that takes it's passenger's cars along for the ride. Don't worry about your car, as I handed them my brand new '05 mustang - it came out fine on the other end
They feed you WELL too. It's a great thing, the autotrainIt's the only way to train into the area, as far as I'm concerned.
- Brian
MR. DISNEY
New Member
I also take the Auto Train. I live in NJ drive to DC (3 hrs.) then the train. I have my car. It’s about 20 min. to Disney and I’m free to “go” anywhere, anytime, but when I go I get a roomette on the train. This makes it a lot more money. Your meals are included (dinner at night and light breakfast in the morning). And they have a free wine and cheese tasting before you leave. I HATE to fly. My wife and I just take the extra time to just relax. It’s a long time on the way down, but the extra day to just relax on the way home is great. The personal on the train are great and some even remember us.
bigcarolina77
Member
The train is a ton more comfortable than airplanes and better than driving because you don't have to fool with I-95 and I-4.
miles1
Active Member
Brian_B said:I took the amtrak autotrain - it goes from Lorton, VA to Sandford, FL which is a few miles north on 4 of orlando. Autotrain as in it's a doubledecker train that takes it's passenger's cars along for the ride. Don't worry about your car, as I handed them my brand new '05 mustang - it came out fine on the other end
It's the only way to train into the area, as far as I'm concerned.
- Brian
How long does the train take from VA to Sanford?
MR. DISNEY
New Member
About 16 1/2 hrs. if no delays and then they unload the cars. The longest I have waited was 1 1/2 hrs. they had to unload like 200 cars.
MR. DISNEY
New Member
They also have showers on the train. You can get up early and shower and be ready to start the day as soon as you get to WDW.
dthieme
New Member
Train Experience
We took the Auto Train on our last trip (June 05) and plan to take it again this November (06). The schedule is that it departs Lorton, VA at 4PM and arrives at 8:30 AM in Sanford. Our train did not arrive until 10:30. We sat still several times durring the night waiting for freight traffic to clear the rails. We also had a small fire on the train somewhere around Jacksonville. They shut off the AC while they tended the fire, so it got a bit uncomfortable but we were back on our way a few minutes latter. I found out later that it the fire was caused by the brakes in the car just behind ours. So perhaps this made our trip a bit longer than most. We only had coach seats and next time I will spring for the Roomlette ($219 one way). A roomlette is two seats that face each other by day, and a bunk bed at night. I'm 6'6" and the coach seats just don't recline enough for me. Another 3" of drop and I'd be comfortable. For those of you who don't know the seats are similar to a lazyboy recliner with a footrest, and considerably bigger than 1st class air seats (about 2' wide). You have 3+ feet between rows (an airline would put 5 rows of first class in the same space as 2 rows on the auto train). Cost wise, for a group of 6 in an SUV, its cheaper than air-fare with a rental car; even with 1 roomlette. If we got 3 roomlets the cost would be about the same as flying.
We took the Auto Train on our last trip (June 05) and plan to take it again this November (06). The schedule is that it departs Lorton, VA at 4PM and arrives at 8:30 AM in Sanford. Our train did not arrive until 10:30. We sat still several times durring the night waiting for freight traffic to clear the rails. We also had a small fire on the train somewhere around Jacksonville. They shut off the AC while they tended the fire, so it got a bit uncomfortable but we were back on our way a few minutes latter. I found out later that it the fire was caused by the brakes in the car just behind ours. So perhaps this made our trip a bit longer than most. We only had coach seats and next time I will spring for the Roomlette ($219 one way). A roomlette is two seats that face each other by day, and a bunk bed at night. I'm 6'6" and the coach seats just don't recline enough for me. Another 3" of drop and I'd be comfortable. For those of you who don't know the seats are similar to a lazyboy recliner with a footrest, and considerably bigger than 1st class air seats (about 2' wide). You have 3+ feet between rows (an airline would put 5 rows of first class in the same space as 2 rows on the auto train). Cost wise, for a group of 6 in an SUV, its cheaper than air-fare with a rental car; even with 1 roomlette. If we got 3 roomlets the cost would be about the same as flying.
Frumpy
New Member
How long did the whole trip take?
We took the Fun Train from Hollywood Fl to Kissimmee a few years ago and it was fun, but took 2-3 hours longer than it takes to drive AND we had to get up at like 4 in the morning to catch the train back I'm glad we did it "once" anyway. The train had a game room a restaurant car and a Tiki bar :slurp: sadly they went chapter 11 after a few years....if they could make it up in say a half an hour I bet they might still be around :animwink:
I think they had a magician or a clown or something for the kids too?
We took the Fun Train from Hollywood Fl to Kissimmee a few years ago and it was fun, but took 2-3 hours longer than it takes to drive AND we had to get up at like 4 in the morning to catch the train back
I'm glad we did it "once" anyway. The train had a game room a restaurant car and a Tiki bar :slurp: sadly they went chapter 11 after a few years....if they could make it up in say a half an hour I bet they might still be around :animwink: I think they had a magician or a clown or something for the kids too?