We'll be staying in San Diego for several days, and promised the kids we'd take them to Disneyland for a day (a Friday). Do you recommend going by train, and should we take Amtrak or the commuter train? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I do recommend the train. It's a gorgeous route (most of it).

You'll have to take AMTRAK. The San Diego commuter train (The Coaster) only runs as far as Oceanside. The LA-Orange County commuter train (Metrolink) does run to Oceanside so you could make a connection but they only run morning and evening commuting schedules. AMTRAK runs 12 trains a day in each direction.

Your stop for Disneyland will be at Anaheim Stadium. It's a couple of miles from there to Disneyland. I don't think there's a shuttle so a taxi will probably be required. It should not cost much because its a short drive.

Have fun.

I have taken AMTRAK to San Diego twice.There are nice ocean views as you pass near sea level in San Clemente.
It would be better to rent a car if you could. The drive is directly up I-5 with an easy exit to Disneyland parking garage, and much faster than the train.

While I enjoy the train - for this trip I'd recommend renting a car for the day.

You can go directly to Disneyland, park on the grounds and not have to worry about making connections, paying for a taxi, or having to leave early to catch the train back.

I usually stay at disneyland until closing time or nearly so - not possible w/ the train.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. If Amtrak were more reliable, I'd feel more comfortable with the train, but maybe we will drive.

The reliability problems with AMTRAK have more to do with the longer routes. When I lived in the area, I rode the San Diego-LA train at least 3-4 times per month and very rarely was it even a minute late. Often, we would get into a station early and have to wait until the scheduled departure to leave.

You can have a problem if there is an accident on the line or, lately, if a mudslide threatens the tracks but in 17+ years of riding that route, neither of those ever happened to me. That seems like pretty good odds.

No - my issue isn't w/ reliability either. That route would be pretty reliable.

But taking the train involves getting to the station from your hotel, and then getting to Disneyland from the Anaheim station, having to get back to the station to meet the train schedule, etc.

Whereas, you can step out of your hotel, into your car and next stop is the Disneyland parking lot.