Naples - Sorrento (train or ferry?). Short tour?

I'm a fan of Naples but it seems like a train trip from Florence to Naples is already a long time in transit. You can play it by ear. If you're feeling energetic and in a great mood, then catch a few hours in Naples. If you're at all feeling tired or grumpy, then Naples probably isn't the best place to visit first. You almost have to be in a very relaxed, roll-with-it state of mind to give Naples an honest shot...and super flexible. But also alert and on your guard with your belongings because it's just easier to be a victim if you're tired and in a somewhat chaotic environment. I would play it by ear. It definitely is a place that you need to spend some time in to not get a knee-jerk adverse reaction. It does grow on you and it's a fascinating place with lots of memorable sites.

As for the hydrofoils/ferries, go on Google and look up the two ferry stations in Naples. I know one is called Mergellina and other Beverelo. You can also calculate the distance from each from the train station. I would guess it's no more than a mile or so, that's a guess based on solely my memory (which could be totally off).

You can eat pizza in lots of places in Italy. The best I ate last month (including in Naples) were in Venice and Rome. If you're traveling on the day before Easter, the Circumvesuviana and the ferry may well be crowded - holiday weekend for locals and big week for tourism. If not, chances are the Circumvesuviana won't be crowded. I'd go straight to Sorrento on the train. You will have views of the bay and Vesuvius from the train.

I don't know how long you'll be in Sorrento, but it's not a stretch to consider a day trip to Naples to explore it at your leisure.

Going to follow this as well, I'll be staying in Sorrento and plan to take a day trip via the hydrofoil to Naples one day. Wondering what to do while we are there!

I'd go straight to Sorrento on the train. You will have views of the
bay and Vesuvius from the train.

I'm with Chani on this one. You're going to land into Naples Centrale with Garibaldi station right THERE for a jump onto the Circumvesuviana, and Napoli, as advised by the posters with an appreciation for it, takes some time to cultivate that love! You can eat pizza anywhere: Naples doesn't have the corner on good pies, and their version isn't even to everyone's taste (so I've read.)

You can take ferries around to some locations on the Amalfi from Sorrento, while you're there. Schedules aren't completely up for the season yet but here are two good resources:

https://www.capribooking.com/en/ferry-schedule?path_id=21

http://www.coopsantandrea.com/en/servizidilinea/servizi.asp

I was going to recommend taking the seasonal Campania Express train from Naples to Sorrento but schedules aren't showing for 2017, and there seems to be some uncertainty whether it'll run operate this year. It cost a few euros more and had limited daily runs but was more comfortable than the regular, battered Circumvesuviana commuter. Anyway, here's a link on that should schedules be posted in the future:

http://www.napoliunplugged.com/campania-express-tourist-train-to-herculaneum-pompeii-and-sorrento

Thank you all for your thoughtful/informative replies. I moved our departure back 2 hours so we can sleep in longer and not be so rushed departing Florence, catching an 11:00 (rather than 9:00) train for the 3 hour trip to Naples. Then we'll go directly to the Circumvesuviana (maybe getting lucky with the new "tourist" lines). This gives us plenty of time to experience the RS walk of Sorrento have a drink with a view and enjoy the weekend only (this time of year) Passeggiata.

Since I will be traveling from Naples to Sorrento in late April, I know I found information somewhere online (though I can't find it again) that the Campania Express would not be running before May 1st. And I am there on April 27th.