auto-train to Disney - is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Airfare to Orlando is ridiculous for spring break from any of our three DC area airports. There are 7 of us traveling (3 adults, 3 tweens and 1 elem-age kid) and it's like $6k for all of us to fly. We are considering driving (all of us in 1 minivan) but it's a LOT of driving and we'd probably break it up with a night at a hotel. The autotrain would be about $2600 for everyone, but we'd be in seats as all the family rooms are booked already. I can't imagine anyone will get anything remotely resembling decent sleep on the train overnight, but it sounds appealing given the price is right and there's no dealing with I-95 traffic and kids getting restless on the road. Is it worth it for the savings, or will we be miserable on the overnight train and wish we'd just paid for the comfort of flying?

[Anonymous]

Yes! Did it twice. Loved it.

[Anonymous]

With 3 adults you can drive straight through and save yourself 2k on train tickets.

[Anonymous]

Understand the train may have significant delays and plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

heck no. you won’t sleep at all, which will effectively wreck the first day of vacation and waste the money/vacation days you spent on it.

[Anonymous]

We are doing it but it is the first time. One good thing is that we had planned a Disney only vacation but will expand out since we have the car.

[Anonymous]

Have taken several times. It is perfectly fine even fun. But yes, there are often delays. Food is gross.

Average age is 75 plus. I have taken it with my widowed mom. that i why we did it.

Event the family room can in now sleep your family. Really just three people comfortably. So individual double rooms is better anyway.

I would still drive it though.

[Anonymous]

Hell no.

[Anonymous]

Kids will still get restless. There isn't a play area. Just a dining car with lounge area.

[Anonymous]

No!!!

[Anonymous]

I think you should consider going at a different time of year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have taken several times. It is perfectly fine even fun. But yes, there are often delays. Food is gross.

Average age is 75 plus. I have taken it with my widowed mom. that i why we did it.

Event the family room can in now sleep your family. Really just three people comfortably. So individual double rooms is better anyway.

I would still drive it though.

I cannot understand this post.

[Anonymous]

Drive.

[Anonymous]

I booked my dh and sons on the train once, thinking the boys would like it. Even in a family room, it was awful. They still talk about it and threaten to book us on it as a joke. The rest of us drove and had a much more pleasant experience. I mean for those prices, I’d break it up and stay at the cloisters at sea island for 2 nights. Seriously it’s not that awful of a drive. The auto train was also delayed 5 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With 3 adults you can drive straight through and save yourself 2k on train tickets.

This, just rotate drivers. Or, get a southwest credit card and use the points.