Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Maybe the people I know are just unlucky, but it seems like the norm to me.>> Last January we took the train from Orland back to St. Paul. This involved three trains; the Silver Star from Orlando to Washington DC, the Capitol Limited from DC to Chicago, and the Empire Builder from Chicago to St. Paul. The Silver Star was about a half hour late, the Capitol Limited right on time, and the Empire Builder arrived at St. Paul about a half hour early. I've done a fair amount of travel by train and the latest I've ever been is three hours. This has been on trains in the Midwest and East. I realize that trains in the west tend to have more problems because of the poor condition of Union Pacific tracks and the heavy freight traffic on those routes.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Kim...I found the rate on the Alaska Airlines site. And, yes, we are flying out of Spokane into SNA. I initially found a rate of $99.00 one way, and a week later, I found the rate of $99.00 one way. For the $79.00 flights, it came to $203 with taxes. The dates were for flying out on Saturday, August 11th, and flying back on Saturday, August 18th. I don't know if this was a special promotion ot not...I had purchased my tickets last september...I was checking for my family. I just checked Alaska for you for the dates you listed. The trick is to fly on a saturday. If you changed your dates to leaving 8-4 and flying home 8-11, you can get the $98.00 one way , or $198.00 round trip fare. I didn't see any of the $78.00 one way fares listed. Good luck.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM I meant to say that a week later I found the fare for $79.00....... fingers not awake yet, I guess.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Whoa Mollysmom! I haven't read your other "plans..." This one is enough. *L* I can't BELIEVE they're doing it that way for the benefit of one person. Don't know about other parts of the country, but I've SEEN the people outside the Greyhound Bus Station here in LV and there is NO way I'd take the trip from here to Disneyland, let alone some 11-hour trip from hell! Then another 28 hours on a train?? Call me "Stir-Crazy!" The family-close-quarters thing...? Yeah, that's torture. But I'd go stark-raving mad even if traveling by myself or with - for example - Johnny Depp. I couldn't stand sitting in a small space like that no matter what. Bleecch! Stay well-hidden at the parks on Sunday, m'dear... and you have my sympathies. ;-)
Originally Posted By familyguy I rode the train (Amtrak) to and from California on the trip I just took and we were on time getting there and EARLY (30 minutes) getting home.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM wonderingalice...where in the heck have you been!!!!!! I've been here the past couple months totally FREAKING OUT because my family is nuts, and you turn up MIA. Mickeynewe has had some words of wisdom that helped a lot, but you know how I look to BOTH OF YOU for guidance. Short version...the 9 other family members (the 3 of us are flying) decided that an RV road trip (19 hours non-stop) would be a fun family bonding experience. THEN...it was them in a 12 passenger van. THEN...it was the train. THEN, I got them flights for $203 round trip, so they considered it. THEN, it was the train again...with the 11 hour bus ride thrown in for giggles. Here's a real kicker for ya... My folks and my youngest sister (not the barfer) came out for mother's day. When they go to leave, sis gets in the front seat, and mom in the back. When I asked why mom was in the back, youngest sis says that when she went on her DD's field trip last week, she GOT CAR SICK ON THE SCHOOL BUS!!!!!!! That particular bus ride consisted of about 7 miles!!!! Good Lord in heaven...this just keeps gettin' better and better!!! Yes, alice...I plan on laying very low until sometime monday.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice *LOL* Awwwww, honey! I must have read Chapter 1, because I remember the RV thing (and thinking... "INSANITY!")... Well, it just kept getting worse, didn't it? Be sure and take youngest sis on the Teacups first thing... Just for laughs! ;-)
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM I'm not takin' her!!!!!!! You come over and take her!!! She and my middle sister (the barfer) can go together. This could turn into a funniest home video moment.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip It's fine to say it's something you wouldn’t do, but don't you think you'll feel pretty foolish if they get to Disneyworld and decide the best part of the trip was the train ride? For some folks it is... it certainly would be for me. <<by Sheila Dykes Olive Branch, Mississippi I am 48 years old now. When I was about eight year old, my Dad started taking my brother and I on trips to New Orleans. Sometimes we would take the "City of New Orleans" three or four times each month in the summer months. Often we would ride the train to New Orleans six times or more each year. He loved the train and wanted very much for my brother and I to appreciate riding the rails. After I had my two girls I never found time to ride the Amtrak to New Orleans. Years went by, my father got Alzheimer's, and I only had distant memories of all our train trips, yet I talked constantly to my girls about all the trips their granddaddy made with us on the train. I would often talk to him about the train while he was in the nursing home. I always thought I could see a spark in his eyes when I talked about Amtrak. Five months before Katrina I suddenly decided it was time for my girls to experience Amtrak and New Orleans. It had been years since I had ridden the train and it was their first time. They had heard so much about it from me over the years. I was so excited it was almost embarrassing! I loved each and every minute on the train and so did my girls. I purchased some pralines in New Orleans and brought them back to my Dad. He ate each one while I talked about our trip. I told him that we visited all his favorite spots in New Orleans, but mostly I told him about the attachment I will always feel for Amtrak. I also told him his granddaughters were thrilled about the train and he would have been proud. I have since taken both of them back to New Orleans on Amtrak. I will not let so much time ever go by again without riding Amtrak. Thank you for a lifetime of very special memories. I always think of my Dad ( he has since passed away) and I smile. Whenever I hear a train whistle I think of all our train trips. You have no idea how much Amtrak means to me!>> Source: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3dzy9g" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3dzy9g</a>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I rode the train (Amtrak) to and from California on the trip I just took and we were on time getting there and EARLY (30 minutes) getting home.>> I don't doubt that a bit. I just checked the arrival status for the Coast Starlight for the last several days. Arrival at Los Angeles May 14 Scheduled 9:00 PM Actual 8:26 PM Status 34 minutes early May 13 Scheduled 9:00 PM Actual 9:17 PM Status 17 minutes late May 12 Scheduled 9:00 PM Actual 8:47 PM Status 13 minutes early
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM roadtrip...I knew you meant to say "Disneyland" instead of "Disneyworld"...it got me to thinking, though. If it takes a total of 41 hours to get from Pasco to Anaheim by train/bus, can you imagine how long it would take to get from Pasco to Orlando????? villains.....you be BAD. LOL
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << If it takes a total of 41 hours to get from Pasco to Anaheim by train/bus, can you imagine how long it would take to get from Pasco to Orlando????? >> Eighty six hours. Drive from Pasco to Spokane 2 hours Empire Builder, Spokane to Chicago 39 hours Layover in Chicago 3 hours Capitol Limited, Chicago to Washington DC 18.5 hours Layover in Washington DC 6 hours Silver Meteor, Washington DC to Orlando 17.5 hours Total 86 hours Three and a half days. That’s really not too bad considering you are going from far Northwest US to far Southeast US. I’d LOVE it!! By the way… Pasco to Los Angeles SHOULD take only 34.5 hours if they had driven to Portland to catch the train instead of doing the bus money business.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Okay last suggestion depending on how their trip down goes - 1. Trip was horrible and everyone is crabby - You simply state that your sorry that the trip was rough (trying to be nice without saying I told you so), but you are happy they made it safely and now that they are in the Happy Place - you would really not hear about the train/bus ride until you are back at home. 2. They have a great trip on the train/bus(could happen) You say I am glad all went well and I would love to hear all about it when we get home. Either way you can enjoy the time in Disneyland and hear about the trip later. I am sure as each of them tells you about the trip - every story will be different. :0)
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM roadtrip...how did I know that you would take the time to actually find out how long the Orlando trip would be???!!! LOL 86 hours...wow. And I totally agree...the bus should take them to Portland...not Eugene. villains...I REALLY hope that the train ride turns out to be one of the best parts of their trip. We won't see them until monday, so hopefully, if it was unpleasant, they'll get over it by then. Besides, once they get to the park on monday, there will be far too many fun things to see and do for them to waste time talking about the trip down...whether it was good OR bad. roadtrip's excellent research has shown that the train has been wonderfully on schedule this past few days, so I am feeling pretty good about their trip this summer.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Take a few minutes to look at this great photo gallery of the Coast Starlight. You might begin to understand why I love the train and think that your relatives just might enjoy the trip!! <a href="http://www.photosbystevenjbrown.com/narp/coaststarlight/starlight.html" target="_blank">http://www.photosbystevenjbrow n.com/narp/coaststarlight/starlight.html</a>
Originally Posted By jmoore1966 If your family was not going to take the train, would there still be an 11 hour bus trip involved to catch the plane? That's the part that blows me away. Someone would add on an 11 hour bus trip in order to take the train. I spent enough time on both when I was a kid to prefer flying, but the train is much better thant he bus. Too bad the stagecoaches aren't running anymore...
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM jmoore1966...that was a good one!!LOL...the stagecoach. I had told them before that the only way they hadn't planned on traveling yet was hang gliding or hitch hiking...the stage is too funny. As far as flying goes...no, there would be no bus involved. My parents, sister and her daughter would fly out of Spokane...about a 20 minute drive to the airport. My other sister, her husband and her three kids could either fly out of Yakima where they live, or drive to Spokane to fly with the rest of the family...about a 3 1/2 hour drive. I agree...while the train might be fun, I would lose my mind on an 11 bus ride. roadtrip...I took a look at the pictures. There are some beautiful shots there, that's for sure. Someone had told me (maybe it was you), that this particular train ride was one of the most beautiful in the country. I hope that it will be daylight when they pass through the areas where those pictures were taken, it would really be a shame to miss that. I'll give ya this, roadtrip...when I saw those pictures, I will admit that it only took a second to see why you appreciate traveling by train. For a moment, I thought to myself that it won't be so bad for them...then, I thought about that 11 hour bus ride. I think that's what's making me so frustrated for them. It's not the train...it's that darn bus ride to Eugene. Have you ever driven through central Washington? If you like wheat fields and a total lack of foliage it's great. It's pretty boring and doesn't look anything like the pictures taken from the train. Hopefully, they'll get to mountains and green stuff quickly. For those of you from central Washington, I apologize for the statement that it is boring, but you must admit, the terrain leaves a lot to be desired. I love to go to Seattle, but there is nothing worse than the trek on I-90 from the time you leave Spokane until you get to the foothills of the Cascades...sheer misery.
Originally Posted By lasvegasgirl We moved from Seattle last summer, down here to Las Vegas........... Love certain parts of WA. (grew up there.....), but I do not miss the cold, dark, WET winters AT ALL...... I miss places like Leavenworth, and Snoqualmie area..... Dad lived in Spokane till 2 yrs ago and then he moved to Las Vegas ! We followed last July........ we love it here !! Hope you all have a wonderful trip to Disneyland ! When all is said and done, let's hope the trip goes smoothly and you all have the time of your lives !! Say HI to Mickey for me....... son and I have our own trip there next month ! Magical wishes and thoughts to you !!!
