Rates are also determined by the season, and also a full size car is $100 more. We took a trip in April 2011 (snowbird season) with a full size car and two people in seats was $900 each way down and up. We took another trip in August 2013 with a smaller car and it was $750 round-trip for two people in seats.
The seats do recline nicely and we had the last two seats in the train car on every trip so we didn't have to worry about people behind us. Check the seating chart with the clerk when you're checking in and ask for those seat numbers. We also get there a little early which helps. However, there is a lot of room between seat rows, nothing like an airplane, so you can do pretty much what you want. I also like the last two seats because there is less people around, and it seems once the train is underway everybody thinks they need to get on their cellphone and tell the world about their train ride.
I figured a drive to Maryland round-trip, motels one night each way, gasoline and wear and tear on your car, that $750 was a good deal. I also didn't miss sleeping, it's a unique experience and I enjoy looking out the window.
We did have one unfortunate experience on our last trip. About an hour before arrival in Sanford, apparently the local drug hangout in Palatka, Florida is the railroad tracks. Our train hit two people on the tracks who they said were probably on drugs. Our train trip had a five hour hold-up while the local police investigated, the train company could inspect the tracks, a medivac helicopter could be flown in to move the injured, and new train engineers had to be brought in to drive the train the last hour. It could of been even longer if we had been further away from Sanford.
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