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Hi everyone, I'm brand new to this forum and have a trip coming up in Feb to Disneyworld via the Silver Meteor. this will be my family's first train trip (myself, wife and 2 daughters 7 & 8). I'm a little nervous about the connection at NYC- Penn Station. There's about 1:15 between trains. Will that be enought time to figure out the sta, check bags, find track, board, etc? Also, what kind of an issue is motion-sickness onboard. We've booked a bedroom onboard a Viewliner (car #9711) What will the accomodations be like? Does anyone have any pics of that car (interior or exterior)? Any help will be great. Thanks
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. JLS, while you did not note your originating station or carrier, all I can offer is a 1'15" connection arrival "from wherever' (1'15" suggests you will be arriving NYP on #93) at Penn should be "safe" with 97, Silver Meteor.
You indeed made a wise choice to travel Sleeper; I for one would simply not think of the alternative.
Reportedly, Amtrak Dining service has been "upgraded", possibly they even now offer cooked to order steak and eggs. but even if they are still only offereing their pre-prepared menu items on your train, be assured they are of superior quality, and quantity, to an airline meal.
There is "not much to do" on board; I really suggest staying out of the Lounge; while some here talk of its "conviviality' I find absolutely none; and you are paying a steep surcharge for your privacy. Your Sleeper Attendant will make gofer runs for you. If your kids are tethered to the various electronic devices out there nowadays, then bring 'em; I understand they are good "pacifiers'.
Unless you are an arborist, there is nothing... nothing on the route you'll pass by the light of day that could be considered as scenic. Pine Trees? 'if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all".
Regarding tipping, my guidelines would be $10 for the family at Dinner and again for Breakfast next morning. If you have alcoholic beverages with Dinner (their Kendall Jackson varietals @ $12 per half are quite drinkable) add the customary 15-20% to your check.
$20-25 should do it for your Sleeper Attendant.
Finally, if you are detraining at Orlando, there is a staffed Hertz facility complete with autos, at the station (if you need a van or SUV, book it in advance and they'll have it there - good idea to book in advance even if you want just any Sedan) No other station in Florida can make that claim.
jls Member # 6522
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Oh, yeah. The origination point is Boston, South Station, and yes, it is #93 Regional. Good to know about the Sleeper. I've got young kids and it's their first trip to Disney and first time on any train at all, so I wanted it to be the best experience possible for everyone. Looking forward to the trip!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Allow me to expand on the scenery en-route. Now that it has been shared that your journey originates in Boston, I would suggest finding seats on what railroads call 'the Fireman's side". That would be forward riding left side. There are excellent views of the Shore Line starting at Stonington and continuing through to Branford.
However, when crossing the East River approaching New York, there is an excellent view of the skyline visible on the right hand (Engineer's) side.
train lady Member # 3920
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I doubt you have to worry about motion sickness. I can get sea sick in the bath tub but with many years of train travel have never had a problem with the train. You do need to learn how to keep your balance. Just walk with you legs apart. You will soon get the hang of it. The amtrak site(amtrak.com) has all the info you need about your acommodations including pictures. As opposed to Gil's opinion I would suggest you spend a little time in the lounge. Kids tend to get ancy and that is a good break for them. Also they may find other kids there. JUst be sure they bring books, a toy or two to keep them busy . They can put them in their back packs. I always took some small game that was new on a trip and when the time seeme right gave it to my kids. I also suggest they each have a small spiral notebook to make notes about things they see and like or dislike. It is good practice and a fun teaching tool. I recently came across my younger son's notebook in a box of "treasures". What fun to read now. (He is the father of two boys now...Two of my marvelous grandsons!!!!) I wonder if you could check your bags through in Boston. We do for the west and even though they change in Chicago we have never had one lost. One last thing take along a bag of healthy snacks,dried fruit .nuts, crackers and some boxes of fruit juice. Everyone sems to get hungry along the way. Oh yes, try to get the early seating for meals. Much better with kids. I hope this helps you. Enjoy your trip and remember it is an adventure and that means if things are less than perfect just accept it.
train lady Member # 3920
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several other ideas: Give each of the girls a disposible camera so they can take pictures on the train. Before you leave get a map and let them map out the route. Talk about the various states and the land etc. My kids liked to take a small map along and follow it as we rode. You can ge route guides from Amtrak and they can follow that as well/
MetSox Member # 6035
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As sleeping car passengers, you'll have access to the Club Acela lounge in Penn Station. If your train from Boston's not too late, it can make the layover go more smoothly. It's located near the west gate for tracks 5&6 on the upper level. They have free soft drinks and should be able to give you information on whether pre-boarding is available on the Meteor before the "stampede".
If you're traveling anything but Acela First Class on the return trip, you won't have access to the lounge, but here's a tip. All trains to Boston come from Washington or Virginia, so look for your train number on the arrival monitor (about 20 minutes before departure time), instead of the departure board. Track numbers are usually posted on the arrival monitor a few minutes before the train arrives but not on the departure until after it empties out. The arrival monitor will also let you know if the train's running late. Once the track # is posted, you can use the east stairway on the lower level and possibly be on the platform before the train arrives. If that's too intense, you can also be at the gate on the upper level before the stampede. Another option is to give your bags to an Amtrak Red Cap and he will likely escort you to the platform before the departure is announced.
rresor Member # 128
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It's going to be a little bit cramped in one bedroom for the four of you. Getting two of them "en suite" may be price-prohibitive, but you could try booking a roomette in the same car as well, and you take one child and your wife the other. You'll certainly enjoy the trip more.
Using a Red Cap is well worth the $5 or so you'll tip him. He'll get you onto the train ahead of the "thundering herd".
I speak as a veteran of many NYP to Florida trips since the 1950s, when I was a child. I always enjoyed the trip, despite Mr. Norman's comments about "no scenery".
train lady Member # 3920
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I have to diagree with rresor. If it were 4 adults then it would be a bit crowded but with 2 children of those ages there should be no problem.The couch is quite long and there is enough floor space for 2 small kids. My husband and I share the bottom "bunk easily and the girls should have no problem with the top. I wouldn't want to do it for days on end but an overnight is certainly doable in my mind.
jls Member # 6522
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Thanks for all the great advice, everyone! It's helping me feel a lot better about the trip and our first train experience. At this point I'm probably more excited than my wife and girls are:) I'll try to post some pictures when we get back.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Another suggestion: A small portable DVD player and a clutch of DVDs suitable for the children's ages. The players cost about $100 these days and can be had for less, depending on screen size. Your local public library very likely has DVDs for the checking out.
My two sons swear by them for their children on long auto trips as well as two-hour airline flights.
For you and your wife, a couple of exciting mystery novels.
If you meet interesting people in the diner, you could continue your acquaintance in the lounge car, but Mr. Norman is correct in his implications -- lounge car habitues tend to exude all the pleasantness of barflies.
train lady Member # 3920
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On the other hand...On one trip we met awoman rancher from new Mexico who kept us enthralled about her sheep ranching.Another time it was a bar owner from Philly who had wonderful stories, a city planner from kansas traveling with his wife and 6 yr. old son. the child was very excited when I told him about the Santa Fe trail . Then there was apolice officer whom we read about several years later because he had become a VIP in a big ciy police force. My point...you never know who you will meet until you try it. Oh yes, one year I met the Irish author of Romance novels. What fun that was.!!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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OK, it looks like "the gloves are coming off" regarding Lounge Cars.
I noted I simply don't go near them, even if during my "thirtysomething" years I did (I was 29 years of age on A-Day). But I am now 66 and when I travel Amtrak long distance (LD) I have paid the same steep premium Mr. JLS wisely has. That payment is for my privacy - and at my age I want it. I carry a stock of varietals, mainly Virginia Viogniers, that Amtrak simply does not sell on-board. I'll have my New York Times with me, and reading their in-depth coverage of any world event, as well as their provocative columnists, will put me to sleep. I think that covers the waterfront regarding myself.
But "I ain't you'; nor am I author Paul Theroux; perhaps you may want to meet some of the "colorful characters' that hang out in Amtrak Lounges (they mostly are traveling Coach). They are harmless; violent crime aboard Amtrak trains is nil - there appears to be considerably more of such on the Love Tubs.
So hopefully, Mr. JLS, between myself and Miss Connie (Train Lady) you have a "feel' of what you will encounter in a Lounge. Such is simply a Tavern where 'you'll meet 'em all". Best advice, "check it out", but be prepared and be thankful, you paid for a Sleeping Car accommodation.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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When my son was young, he enjoyed playing with a small toy like Thomas the Tank Engine, a Star Ways toy, or soemthing in the upper berth. It was like his own little fort and kept him entertained. As for scenery, it's always fun to watch for river crossings and passage through little towns along the way. Have lots of fun! BTW, the downtown Avis location in Orlando picks up at the station.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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In the past, I have spent 99% of my time on train trips in the lounge car (even when I travel in sleeper, which I usually do) watching the scenery, following my route maps, taking videos, and occasionally talking to people I meet in the lounge car (but I am basically shy and don't do a lot of talking to strangers). On the trip with my wife a couple years ago, however, we spent 99% of the time in our bedroom with the door open, so I can continue to watch the scenery out both sides of the train and follow my maps. On that trip, obviously, 99% of my "socializing" was with my wife.
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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RRRICH: Isn't it annoying when the people in the opposite sleeper keep their compaartment closed all the time? !
I think I am quite like you - spending lots of time in the lounge car with maps, camera, etc.
Michigan_Traveler72 Member # 5858
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When it comes to the Hertz desk at the Orlando train station, it's a joke. My partner and I had a reservation to pick up a car there when we travelled down to Florida during Christmas. They were understaffed (one person dealing with a line of people from the train), were hard-selling the extra-insurance, causing even more of a delay, and they did not have enough cars on-hand to meet the demand. We were actually given the wrong car, because the attendant didn't bother to even look at our reservation info, he simply looked at my partner's license, saw the first letter of his last name, and found someone in the system with a name that started with the same letter and gave us her car. Luckily we noticed before we left, because her reservation was for two days less than ours. I can only imagine what would have happened once we went past the due date on the car. To make a long story short, don't use the Hertz desk at Orlando. Make a reservation instead with someone like Enterprise who will pick you up and bring you to the rental location.
jls Member # 6522
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Well, just got back from the trip! we all had a great time. the connection @ NYP wasn't really all that bad. The Red Cap was a big help getting us where we needed to go. Acela lounge was nice. The Viewliner bedroom was quite nice, although I can tell the cars in the fleet are old (gelcoat chips and cracks here and there, latches that didn't close on closet & cabinet, surfaces that were not terribly clean, etc) The dining car going south was very nice, although again an old car. the suspension moved around a lot especially further down south on the much less smooth tracks & swtiches. The northeast was super-smooth compared to the south (Florida especially). The waitstaff was amazing to watch work in such conditions. The food was suprizingly very good. Our sleeper car attendant, Curtis, was very helpful and couldn't be nicer. The crew back was average in terms of helpfulness. The return dining car was not as nicely appointed and every time the Engineer applied the brakes we got a very bad brake odor in the Viewliner. It also seemed to me that the other passengers that were not happy seemed to be irritated by the excessive movement of the train. For us, motion-sickness was an issue. We wore the wrist bands and that did take the edge off a great deal. I'd recommended them. But, all-in-all we would definately take a train again on our next Florida trip. I'd never go through the stress of driving again and the secenery was very interesting and diverse (went from poor sections to very nice areas)
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by jls: Well, just got back from the trip! we all had a great time. the connection @ NYP wasn't really all that bad. The Red Cap was a big help getting us where we needed to go. Acela lounge was nice. The Viewliner bedroom was quite nice, although I can tell the cars in the fleet are old (gelcoat chips and cracks here and there, latches that didn't close on closet & cabinet, surfaces that were not terribly clean, etc) The dining car going south was very nice, although again an old car. the suspension moved around a lot especially further down south on the much less smooth tracks & swtiches. The northeast was super-smooth compared to the south (Florida especially). The waitstaff was amazing to watch work in such conditions. The food was suprizingly very good. Our sleeper car attendant, Curtis, was very helpful and couldn't be nicer. The crew back was average in terms of helpfulness. The return dining car was not as nicely appointed and every time the Engineer applied the brakes we got a very bad brake odor in the Viewliner. It also seemed to me that the other passengers that were not happy seemed to be irritated by the excessive movement of the train. For us, motion-sickness was an issue. We wore the wrist bands and that did take the edge off a great deal. I'd recommended them. But, all-in-all we would definately take a train again on our next Florida trip. I'd never go through the stress of driving again and the secenery was very interesting and diverse (went from poor sections to very nice areas)
Thanks for coming back with an 'after-action' report. If we're not riding trains we want to hear from people who are!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I'm sorry to learn, Mr. Michigan Traveler, that you had difficulty with Hertz at Orlando. While I've never had any in the past, I guess that they do not have a computer terminal at that facility could present "problems".
I'm also very surprised to learn Hertz has put the "hard sell' on for insurances. That has always been the purview of the "cheapies" such as Alamo...and Enterprise.
But then, I can't think of when I have ever used Enterprise of my own free will (Alamo has long been on the discard pile). Enterprise is where the insurance company always tells me to ge when someone else has whacked my auto. Fortunately, I can report here I have not had too much experience in this life "the other way around".
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