Our Penny Pressing Plans - the Photo Finish About This Page:

[cajunlace]

MY DH would have a problem with hitting his head also.

[Diz]

for all the info about the auto train -- especially the little unknown fact about the checkers/chess! That's a thing that I know my Dgang would have fun playing chess.

You're getting so familiar with the auto train! When can we sign up for a seminar?

[chezp]

Fascinating to see all the auto train photos.

[heziggy]

thanks for all the info on the auto train

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

Great update -- I loved hearing about the auto train, very cool.

[katrina30]

love the report so far...can't wait to read more!

[CinderAbby]

So far, so good with the train........... Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks - I'll post more in a little bit.

Glad your side trips didn't hold you up too much. The autotrain looks very interesting! Looking forward to your next update

Thanks. The train is interesting - and it is nice to watch the scenery go by. Especially all the "boat parking lots" as I call them. It's amazing how many bodies of water we go over and how many boats we see.

How cool that you got to see the van being loaded. The pictures of the roomettes look snug but comfy.

Last year it got loaded on the bottom level of the carriers so it was first on - and I wasn't able to get pictures. This year because we have the new high top, it had to go on the top level of the carrier, so it was a while before it went on. I just happen to time my trip outside just right. From where I was standing when I saw the train employee head to the truck, I actually had to turn around, run through the station and go out the other set of doors to get in a position to take those pictures. Luckily no one got in my way .

Great start! I cant wait to hear more!

Thanks. More coming soon.

I wish we had an Auto Train near us, but no such luck. pictures of your van headed onto the train.

Thanks. I'm surprised with it's popularity, it's the only one in the world. Maybe the other freight lines are too busy for Amtrak to run another one with any efficiency. Out of the 5 times we've been on it, it's never been late - it's always been on time or soomething like 1 1/2 hours early so we must be on a slower freight line.

We've never been on a train but I would like to try it sometime. Would you say it is any more expensive than flying?

It depends upon when you buy the tickets. You can book online or by phone up to 11 months out and the earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets. Unlike planes, the longer you wait to book, the more the train gets filled up, the higher the prices go since there's only 1 train per day that leaves, unlike planes where you have your pick of times. Right now, these are the starting prices for everything , so you can do some rough math for your particular circumstances.

Coach seats - 93.00 one way adult / 46.50 one way child (ages 2 to 15)
Roomette - 124.00 one way - sleeps 2
Family bedroom - 226.00 one way - sleeps 2 adults and 2 small children
Regular bedroom - 281.00 one way - sleeps 2
Cars - regular ones that is - 304.00 Round Trip
Oversize vehicles (van's, SUV's possibley mini vans too) - 338.00 Round Trip
And yes, even if you get a sleeper, you still have to pay for coach seats.

For us, it's much cheaper than the plane because I would purchase fully refundable tickets (last time I looked at Southwest they were something like 300.00 one way but I know fares change all the time). Then once in Disney, we would need a rental car, a rental scooter, etc. Even with paying for gas and a hotel room coming and going (since we're so far from the train). it still cost us over 500.00 less than the plane, a car and a scooter.

Nice addition to your story....Your roommettes looks pretty cute. Nice and cozy. Can't wait for more.

Thanks, they are cute and cozy. I would certainly stay in them again.

[CinderAbby]

MY DH would have a problem with hitting his head also

But would he learn after the first time - that's the question? At least with the top bunk, it's easy enough to open and close it so once it's made up, you could close it until someone actually wants to use it. One the way down, the attendant made up all 4 beds just for the 3 of us. We're not sure why he didn't ask where everyone would sleep to save himself a little bit of work.

for all the info about the auto train -- especially the little unknown fact about the checkers/chess! That's a thing that I know my Dgang would have fun playing chess.

You're getting so familiar with the auto train! When can we sign up for a seminar?

Had we known about the checker board, we would have brought ours along. Abby seems to love playing checkers at times. And it would be a good way to pass the time too instead of with electronic stuff.

As for the seminar, I'm happy just giving my info here. Although I suppose if I wanted to put some time and effort into it (I don't right now because I have a lot going on in the next couple of weeks), I could see if the Moderators want to start a Sticky with just Auto Train info.

Fascinating to see all the auto train photos.

Thanks Cheryl.

thanks for all the info on the auto train

You're welcome. I hope you find it interesting and useful

Great update -- I loved hearing about the auto train, very cool

Thanks.

love the report so far...can't wait to read more!

Thanks. I'll have more coming soon.

[CinderAbby]

Monday we were all up bright and early except it wasn’t bright out. Where we live, I’m used to the sun coming up between 5:30 and 6:30 in the summer. In Florida, it doesn’t come up until 6:30 to 7:30 so it was hard to get up and go - but we did it anyway. After convincing Abby that taking a shower on the train is something that can be done, we all took our turns and soon after we were all ready for the day so we headed to the dining car for breakfast. Abby wasn’t overly happy as there were no Cheerios and I had left ours on the truck. We convinced her to try Frosted Flakes instead (Abby, grammy loves them, why don’t you try them) and then she proceeded to cut up her banana to put on her cereal (way to go Abby - she’s never done this before). Lenny had some Raisin Bran and some muffins and I just had a bagel with strawberry jam. A few minutes after we sat down, we saw Pat again. The train attendant was going to seat her at another table but I asked if she could join us again at the same time that Pat said to the attendant she wanted to sit with us. Breakfast on the train is first come first served and if there are less than four people in a booth, the attendants will seat strangers together. Since there were three of us to begin with, the attendant didn’t have a problem with Pat joining us. We talked again about different things and when Pat was done, she said goodbye and left. We dawdled for a little big longer and finally at about 7:45, we headed back to the roomettes. Charles, our attendant had already put the rooms back to normal so I just double checked to make sure all our stuff was together. We were running on time which meant we would arrive at our scheduled time of 9:30. I was hoping for an early arrival, but on time wasn’t bad either. So with another 1 ½ hours to go on the train, I was already bored. I just wanted off the train - as did Lenny and Abby, but to prevent any kind of upsets with Abby, we took out the DVD player for her. She played her two favorite games until arrival - the Little Mermaid and a game with Mickey and Minnie that I don’t remember the name of.

As we finally neared the station, we put the DVD and game controllers away, then Charles came to collect our bags and put them near the door. This surprised me as our attendant last year didn’t do this. It was also at this time that I gave him his tip which he seemed surprised about. Maybe others don’t tip?? Once at the station, Charles even took our bags off the train and put them on a cart - another surprise to me as I didn’t expect that either. Charles helped us off the train, we said our thank yous and goodbyes then waited for our van number to be called. Another side note - it was only 9:30 in the morning, but it was already 91 degrees out.

The Sanford station, compared to Lorton is tiny so Amtrak is trying to make it larger. The construction has already been started and a huge air conditioned tent has been put up as a second waiting room. It was in here that we waited for our van to come off the train. We didn’t have to wait long as our van was the second one off the train and by 10 am, we were on our way to Disney World!

We once again took 417 despite the 6.50 it costs us in tolls. The traffic was very light so we made really good time and we were on Disney property in no time.

It was actually about an hour later, but the time went quickly. Once on Disney property, we went right to AS Sports. While I went to check in, Lenny finished fixing my window. Because he didn’t want the train staff at either station to open or close my window, he had disconnected it and left the door panel off. At AS Sports, he reconnected it and put the panel back on. It didn’t take him long at all.

Meanwhile, I was inside and it wasn’t long before it was my turn to check in. We got our preferred handicap accessible connecting rooms that we wanted. And much to my surprise, they were ready and we could move our stuff in. The only thing I found odd with the whole check in process was the fact that the girl told me our keys would open both doors. I didn’t want to doubt her so I took the keys, found the van and we went to find our rooms. They were in the Surf’s Up building on the parking lot side. The location IMO was perfect. We were close not only to the parking lot and ice machine but also to the pool, food court and laundry. The not so perfect thing?? Our keys only opened one door, not both. I went back to check in, told them the problem and received a second set of keys that I was assured would work. The CM also said she’d send someone by just to reset the lock too. I went back to our rooms and the second set of keys didn’t work either. A couple of minutes later, the CM sent to reset the locks showed up on a Segway. He was able to open our second door with his key so I went in and opened the connecting door so we could at least get in that way. The CM meanwhile did something to the lock then tried my key again. It still didn’t work so he told me he would get me another set of keys. I figured okay, the third times the charm. Well it wasn’t. The third set of keys didn’t work either and the segway riding CM said he’d get someone from engineering out to replace the lock that afternoon but we were free to leave. We didn’t have to stick around and wait.

Since it was already after 1, our stuff was in the room and I could get into the second room, we did just that. We left and went to Fantasia Gardens. It was hot, so there weren’t many people there ahead of us. We used our vouchers and only had to pay for Abby. Between the heat and the vouchers, Lenny and I didn’t try very hard to play and we didn’t even keep score. We did manage, somehow, to get all the water effects to go off which made Lenny and Abby laugh - especially at the mops and buckets section. We were done it seemed in no time at all and after we returned the clubs, we went into the arcade for the first of our pressed pennies.

With the pennies and quarter in hand, we headed next to SSR for their pennies. While Lenny and Abby waited in the van, I ran in only to find the machine was out of order. I headed back to the truck and then we went to DTD for more pennies. Once there, we started with Once Upon a Toy then found the machine by Disney Tails (it’s outside BTW). Next came Captain Jacks where one of the machines was out of order and last came WOD. We did a little souvenir shopping here too and by the time we were done with that, it was 4:15ish and time to head to the Contemporary for dinner at CM.

I was hoping we could check in early and maybe get seated early because we were all hungry. We hadn’t eaten since breakfast on the train. Not used to traveling to or from DTD, we made a few wrong turns but eventually got to the TTC. We unloaded the scooter and headed to the monorail and once we got to the Contemporary, we got in the huge line for CM. We were lucky though because our pager started going off right before our picture was taken. We were lucky with the characters too. As soon as we sat down, they started arriving. As usual we got great interaction and unlike last year, I got Abby’s autograph book out in time. We also got a helping hand from a fellow PP - I just didn’t know it at the time. Donald came by and motioned for me to get in the picture with him and Abby, but Lenny had walked away to the buffet so there was no one at the table to take the picture. From another table someone got up and said she’d take the picture for us and I thanked her. It turns out it was Katrina (Katrina30). . As for the food, I don’t remember what we ate. We did eat enough that we didn’t walk away hungry.

After dinner, we hit the coin machines and got the two quarters we didn’t get last year. Then we headed to the MK. After getting through security and the turnstiles, we had a couple of pictures taken . Next was town hall for a new GAC then on to where else but Fantasyland. Our first ride was the carousel and then IASW (I’m sure nobody who knows us is surprised by that). Abby then wanted Peter Pan followed by Pooh then Snow White. CM’s had already put up ropes around the castle for the fireworks so when leaving SW, you could only go left or right. We went left and ended up in a gift shop. I guess it was a good thing. My purse handle broke at the TTC before dinner and with the t-shirts both Abby and I liked, our total at the store was enough that I was offered this year’s canvas bag for only $10. I also saved 10% because I used my Disney Visa card .

After we left the gift store, we headed to the monorail as Abby wanted to leave and go to the pool. Back at the resort, we still couldn't use our keys for the second room so while Lenny and Abby headed for the pool (with his key) I went to check in once again. With a fourth set of keys in hand, I went back to our rooms. The new set of keys finally opened the second door, but they didn’t open the first one. I was really aggravated by this time because everyone I spoke to assured me my one key would open both doors but after four sets of keys, it wasn’t happening. I didn’t bother to go back to check in though. Lenny still had a key that opened door number one (the CM kept mine when she issued the 4th set) and the new set opened door number two so I finally had a way to get in either door. I was happy with that but still a little aggravated. Soon after we were all back in the room, it was time for bed.

Side note about Lenny and Abby and the pool - that didn’t last long. Lenny said there were so many people in it that the water level was pretty high. He also said the water was so warm - almost hot - that it wasn’t even refreshing. He and Abby got out and used the shower at the pool to cool off. I felt the water myself and it was even too warm for me. I know Abby definitely didn’t like it because she didn’t ask to go in the pool at all after Monday night.

[christiejay]

Sounds like the rest of the train ride went very smoothly. And how nice that your rooms were ready that early, sorry you never did get the keys to work like they were supposed to. You must have had a great time at the MK! Sorry it didn't work out with the pool water. Looking forward to the next update! Oh, and great start with the pressed coins, even with the out-of-order machines (isn't that frustrating!).

[B.M.]

91 degrees at 9:30 in the morning is HOT! I'm sweating just thinking about it; lol. Glad you were seated for dinner quickly and had a good meal! Can't wait to read more!

[lauren-roxy]

The autotrain sounds really interesting, I would love to try it out sometime. Glad you made it to Disney and was able to get your room, but sorry about the key problems.

[KMB733]

Glad your trip down on the train was good. Sounds like once you hit WDW, your trip was off to a great start!

[lazanya]

How aggravating with keys! But glad you still had a great day!

[heziggy]

you guys packed a lot into your first day keep it coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!