Liz said:
we are having someone drive us to newark, thanks for that tip!
Liz,
Then I highly recommend that you stay with your plan to board at the Newark station. While NY Penn station does have the nice First Class waiting room, driving there will be much harder. That's not to say that Newark is a picnic, but it's certainly better than NY.
Newark even has a loading/unload area. NY doesn't unless you are driving a cab. Be warned however, that they are doing construction on Route 21 which is the main road leading to the station. So allow a little extra time for that. This construction will still be on going next March, as they are preparing for a subway expansion in that area.
Also plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart. If you are checking baggage and/or picking up your tickets, then I would add at least another 15 to 30 minutes for that.
Liz said:
i picked kissimmee because someone on a disney board said that station is smaller (in a quaint way), nicer, cleaner, etc, than the orlando station, and that it's much closer to disney (like 10 minutes compared to the orlando station being 30 minutes - 45 minutes?)... but if we can get a transfer from the orlando station to our disney hotel, that's better for us for sure. we're trying to not rent a car there. but can i just as easily take a taxi from kissimmee if the station is what the disney poster said? we'd rather have our own taxi then wait for other travellers, hotel stops, etc, on a shared van.
I think that Battalion, who lives in Florida and frequents this area, covered the above quite nicely for you. So I won't touch that one.
Liz said:
since you all know so much, maybe i can get an answer for this here too... what happens on the train if someone needs medical attention or has an emergency? my 4yo daughter has epilepsy and i just like to know what would happen in the off-chance we needed attention for her. she's only had seizures with fevers so far, and we probably wouldn't travel with her with a fever, so chances are that we won't need anything, but you never know.
Again I think that Battalion covered this rather nicely. Let me also add that the engineer, and usually the conductor, can always reach someone via their radios, even if you can't reach someone via your cell phone. Sometimes the conductor's radio isn't powerful enough to reach help, but then he'll just call the engineer who has a far more powerful radio to relay the message.
I also think that all conductors must pass a basic first aid class, although Battalion would know better as he's friends with a few conductors.
Liz said:
and... are the cars really clean, or so-so, or yucky? i'm guessing not yucky or you all wouldn't enjoy train travelling so much.
This is always a relative question. What's clean to one person might be immaculate to another, and horribly dirty to a third person.
Amtrak tries hard to keep things clean. You will be sure to get fresh clean sheets on the beds, clean pillows, and clean towels and washcloths. They vacuum the carpets before the train leaves the yard on it's way to the first stop. The toilets and bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized also.
That said however, like any company there are good workers and there are lazy workers. So that can affect things depending on who cleaned your car. Also if a train runs very late the day before, then the amount of time that the workers have to clean it for the next day is decreased. If they are rushing, sadly sometimes things can be overlooked.
Hopefully you'll find it up to your standards, but I certainly wouldn't recommend letting your kids eat off the floor. In fact that's why I highly recommend your bringing a baby blanket to put on the floor, because if your two-year-old is anything like my nephew, then things still wandering into the mouth from time to time. I don't want to scare you, but I also don't want you believing that you are checking into the Ritz.
Finally, from what you are describing it sounds like the Deluxe is the best bet for you. Just be sure that the three of you can fit into what is essentially a standard twin bed. Unless of course you want to squeeze the two-year-old in the top bunk with dad.
Make sure that you place the youngest closest to the wall with the adult on the outer edge of the bed. That way you protect them from rolling out of the bunk.
When you reach Newark, especially if you don't check any bags, but even if you do, you might want to consider finding a redcap to help you with the luggage. The reason I recommend this is that Newark is not a small station. It has six tracks and your train could arrive on anyone of three tracks.
A redcap will know which track the train is due to come in on, before they announce it to the entire station. He will therefore bring you up earlier than the rest of the crowd. This will save your needing to run and find your track and then your sleeping car. The train will typically remain in the station for no more than five minutes.
So under the circumstances, with two little ones and at least some luggage, I'd say that it's worth tipping a redcap a few bucks to carry your bags just so you can get up to the tracks quicker and more easily than you could on your own. Most redcaps expect at least 50 cents per bag, but you can adjust based upon how helpful and friendly he/she was. Please make sure that he/she is indeed wearing a red cap and an Amtrak shirt/jacket, before you turn your luggage over to someone.
Now since I mentioned tipping above, let's talk about tips on board the train. I would recommend at least 10 bucks for your sleeping car attendant, more if he/she really goes out of their way for you. Like bringing you a meal from the dining car.
In the dining car, while your meals are included, you should still tip the waiter/waitress. Most people tip a buck per person for breakfast and lunch, and two per person for dinner. Again good service may well warrant more. Note: While your meals are included, only non-alcoholic drinks are included. You must pay for wine and beer in the diner. If you visit the lounge car for something then you must pay for it.
Finally, while sadly a copyright issue prevents posting the actual page, you might wish to contact HaRRy Sutton at this
page. He's compiled a wonderful set of hints and tips for the first time Amtrak traveler. His email address is listed on the page at the link above. Simply send him an email and he'll be happy to mail you the list.
It's also highly likely that it will be posted at the above link in another two months or so, once the copyright issue is resolved. So you might be able to wait until then and print them out yourself, since your trip isn't till March.
