Specific train reservations with Global Eurail Passes?

First and foremost, I don't think a Eurail Pass would be a good choice for you. You can probably save money buying point-to-point tickets (which will, when applicable, offer an easy way to make reservations). Your itinerary has some backtracking that could be reduced if you re-shuffle it like this München-Salzburg-Füssen (Neuschwanstein)-Luzern-Fluelen-Stresa-Montessoro al Mare-Toscana countryside-Firenze-Wien-München

I'll only answer a minor question. Yes, Neuschwanstein is open on Sundays, even in the winter. Most businesses in Germany close on Sundays, with the exceptions of restaurants, fuel stations, most cultural sites and of course, hotels.

I agree with Andre. Don't buy passes. While your kids can get 2nd class youth passes, you and your husband will have to buy 1st class passes. If you all want to sit together, you and your husband will have to sit in 2nd class - or you'll have to buy 1st class passes for everyone. And you'll have to buy seat reservations for each leg on trains that require them. Besides, if you book ASAP (90-120 days in advance depending upon which national rail site you need to use for a particular route), you can get cheap discount fares. Any required seat reservations will come with the tickets and will be included in the fare. Here's a specific example. The standard 2nd class fare for Muenchen-Luzern is €108.60. If you book ASAP (up to 92 days allowed) on the German Rail site, you can get a Europa-Spezial Schweiz fare of €39.00. And if either of your children will be 14 or younger on your travel date, that child will ride free. Any day trips you take while exploring Tuscany will likely be on Regionale trains. Tickets are cheap, there is open seating, and no reservations are possible. You may find that you need to take the bus to some of the places you wish to visit. Railpasses won't help you there. If you ask, I'll look up the fares for your other routes. I think you'll be impressed with how much money you can save compared to buying passes. Be aware, however, that discount fare tickets are for a specific departure date and time. They are non-exchangeable and non-refundable so don't book them unless you can commit to the times chosen. Use the German Rail site to see detailed timetables for all your routes, including the ones outside of Germany.

Hi, thank you! Both(all)of your advice is great!
Hey Minnesotan! When is the soonest you can start making reservations? Before 120 days or no? I've streamlined the end of the trip upon this advice now and have since committed to a couple longer agriturismo stays so I'm getting ready to commit to the trains. In particular: munchen to luzern, the William Tell trip- Luzern (fluelen) to Lucarno on a panoramic, and the Florence to Munich night train at the end now. Are discounts automatically calculated or do I seek them out on the DB site? When?

Hi, "Neighbor". Greetings from the west side of the river. As I said in my previous post, depending upon which national rail site you need to use to book a particular route, you may be able to book 120 days in advance - but not more than that. 90 days is more common. Muenchen-Luzern: Book ASAP (up to 92 days in advance) on the German Rail site to get discount fares. Luzern (Fluelen)-Locarno: See this page for an article by Rick Steves comparing the William Tell Express to regular trains that cover the same route. For regular trains there is no discount for advance booking, but you can book them up to one month in advance on the Swiss Rail site. For information on booking the William Tell Express, go here: http://tinyurl.com/co9o7e3. Firenze-Muenchen: Book the direct CNL night train ASAP (up to 92 days in advance) on the German Rail site to get discount fares. You won't get discount fare tickets (where offered) unless you specifically choose them.

I would suggest looking at www.seat61.com for lots of useful information on trains in all the countries you mentioned

Kim, I have a few questions and comments..... Rather than visiting Neuschwanstein from Salzburg at the end of your trip, it would be easier to add a day in Munich at the beginning and take a day trip to the Castles. Is there any way you could add a day in Lucerne? It's a beautiful city and worth more than a few hours with a one-night stop (IMO). The incredible Museum of Transport is well worth a visit. Rather than travelling by boat from Locarno to Stresa, you could also take the scenic Cento Valli Railway, via Domodossola. It's a very pleasant trip. Whether you'll be able to "explore Tuscany" by train will depend to some extent on which town you choose for a base. Some of the hill towns have somewhat "limited" rail service. I'm not clear on why you're travelling from Florence to Livorno to Vienna? Is there a specific reason you're going to Livorno? As the others have mentioned, a Railpass may not be the best idea, as pre-purchased tickets are often cheaper. If you haven't travelled by train in Europe before, it would be a good idea to do some research as there are some potentially expensive caveats to be aware of, especially in Italy. Good luck with your planning!

Thanks, upon all of your good thoughts I've streamlined things a lot, knowing I will also come back to Europe sometime but want a great trip with my teens. My recent inexperience is when I input any of the train trips the websites say I can't book yet before 6 months. Is that true? As some of you have said get booking ASAP. A month in each would be better! I see the farmhouse stays as if we just need time to sit and not move its ok. 8.6 Munich 9.6 Munich (maybe day trip to castles and get to Lindau or so) 10.6 Lucerne (I'm thinking about this part more as I see its great) 11.6 Fluelen(panoramic train needed/Wm Tell), Streza stay 12.6-17.6 Streza to Monterosso Al Mare extended stay farmhouse; day trips from here (Pisa and Lucca from here? Day trip) 17.6 Florence stay heart of town; focus on just a few art things this time 18.6-22.6 Buonconvento/Siena extended stay farmhouse and car rented from Siena 22.6 Florence all day; Florence to Munich night train 23.6 Munich 24.6 Salsburg if up to it or perhaps not; or Munich all day
25.6 Depart from Munich around 4 p.m. to United States