All about the Autotrain

[loveysbydesign]

So If I'm heading N towards Allentown PA from Lorton VA I should head 123N to N Fairfax Prkwy to 15N to 81 N to 78E?
When I look it up on Google it takes me 495 to 270 to 15N and up. I'm trying to find those other roads, can;t find where 123 meets up with Fairfax and Fairfax meets up with Dulles toll road... Is there a lot of airport traffic going this route? HELP!

Ok, I think I was able to find it on Yahoo maps...for some reason on google maps it would not cooperate!

 

[renda460]

I have a question I hope someone can answer. I believe no paper ticket is needed for the autotrain anymore. (My conf email for my reservation said this.) However I made a change to my autotrain reservation and the new conf email has a bar code on it and said I had to scan it t a ticket kiosk. does anyone know if I have to do something different in terms of tickets, checking in, etc since I have a modified reservation? I tried calling Amtrak but the person I spoke with had no clue about any of this. Thanks

 

[jad215]

I have a question I hope someone can answer. I believe no paper ticket is needed for the autotrain anymore. (My conf email for my reservation said this.) However I made a change to my autotrain reservation and the new conf email has a bar code on it and said I had to scan it t a ticket kiosk. does anyone know if I have to do something different in terms of tickets, checking in, etc since I have a modified reservation? I tried calling Amtrak but the person I spoke with had no clue about any of this. Thanks

We made two reservations since we used points one way (we did this last year as well). The one booked via points confirmation e-mail has the bar code, but the one booked just via the website does not. We have taken the auto train twice and although I'd recommend printing and taking your confirmations with you just in case there is a problem, we have never been asked to show our confirmation e-mail or have our confirmation number available. Our experience has been when you drive up to the booth at the station, they already have all your information there and hand you a booklet with it already on it which you present at the check in desk inside when they give you your dinner vouchers and they will write your room/seat assignment on there as well. Sleepers are assigned at booking which I already have, but they write it on there anyway. Hope that helps!

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I have a question I hope someone can answer. I believe no paper ticket is needed for the autotrain anymore. (My conf email for my reservation said this.) However I made a change to my autotrain reservation and the new conf email has a bar code on it and said I had to scan it t a ticket kiosk. does anyone know if I have to do something different in terms of tickets, checking in, etc since I have a modified reservation? I tried calling Amtrak but the person I spoke with had no clue about any of this. Thanks

We have also made changes to our AT reservations and no, you do not have to scan the bar code at a kiosk. I think the wording is generic and intended for regular passenger trains. When you arrive at the AT station all you need to do is give the attendant your name, but to be safe we always print out the email with the bar code on it and bring it with us. We've never needed it.

 

[la79al]

Yay! Just randomly checked prices for our already booked fare, made a call and got $350 back! Ironic because I posted on here complaining about fares going up literally the day before we booked. The price still isn't as good as it was but better than it was when we booked so I'm happy .

 

[FigmentChick]

Yay! Just randomly checked prices for our already booked fare, made a call and got $350 back! Ironic because I posted on here complaining about fares going up literally the day before we booked. The price still isn't as good as it was but better than it was when we booked so I'm happy .

Wonderful! I am so worried about booking at the 11 month mark and then Amtrak having a sale. At least this puts my worries a little bit to rest. So glad for you!

 

[KangaFan]

Does anyone have any personal experience traveling the autotrain with a baby? We are going to Disney for his 1st birthday in Nov. We will be traveling coach. Any advice or/and suggestions is most welcome!

Thanks!

If you haven't already, you may want to book lower level seats & consider checking in early so you can request the last row in your compartment. There's a large space on the floor behind those seats. The last time we took the train, we had the four seats across the back of the compartment and were able to put sleeping bags for our children down behind the seats & they slept great there. Our daughter was 8 at the time & I was able to snuggle next to her until she fell asleep so I'm sure one of you could easily sleep there with the baby. In fact, I was much more comfortable on the sleeping bag with my daughter than I was in the seats. Good luck!

 

[famouschinesec]

If you haven't already, you may want to book lower level seats & consider checking in early so you can request the last row in your compartment. There's a large space on the floor behind those seats. The last time we took the train, we had the four seats across the back of the compartment and were able to put sleeping bags for our children down behind the seats & they slept great there. Our daughter was 8 at the time & I was able to snuggle next to her until she fell asleep so I'm sure one of you could easily sleep there with the baby. In fact, I was much more comfortable on the sleeping bag with my daughter than I was in the seats. Good luck!

We did the same thing 2 years ago.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We are thinking about taking the autotrain roundtrip. Since arrival to Sanford would be in the morning, do you think it would be feasible to plan on going to a park in the early evening (MK or Epcot), or do you think we would be too tired from the long ride down to visit a park that day? Thanks!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Heading down for the drive from PA to FL now! Taking the At home for the 1st time ver on the 28th!!!

 

[NJRRK]

We are thinking about taking the autotrain roundtrip. Since arrival to Sanford would be in the morning, do you think it would be feasible to plan on going to a park in the early evening (MK or Epcot), or do you think we would be too tired from the long ride down to visit a park that day? Thanks!

Depends. We usually plan on relaxing, but in 2007, we did the HDDR the day we got there, so much fun. Depends on how you sleep. I think an evening in the park would be doable.

 

[chartle]

We are thinking about taking the autotrain roundtrip. Since arrival to Sanford would be in the morning, do you think it would be feasible to plan on going to a park in the early evening (MK or Epcot), or do you think we would be too tired from the long ride down to visit a park that day? Thanks!

While you may not get a good night's its not like you have been in a car all night. When we took the AT down we went straight to DQ, ate lunch at EoS, my sons went back to DQ and my wife and I checked into our off site room and then went back.

I see no reason not to go to a park that afternoon. You could go directly to a park after checking in but the main issue is that, unless you have a sleeper car, you don't get a shower that day.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

While you may not get a good night's its not like you have been in a car all night. When we took the AT down we went straight to DQ, ate lunch at EoS, my sons went back to DQ and my wife and I checked into our off site room and then went back.

I see no reason not to go to a park that afternoon. You could go directly to a park after checking in but the main issue is that, unless you have a sleeper car, you don't get a shower that day.

Thank you for your reply. I am thinking that if we arrive in the morning and hopefully if our room is available that we can get settled in, shower, and rest a little before heading out to MK or Epcot for dinner and at least a few hours of park time.

 

[vacationer1954]

If you're going to have a sleeper room, then I cannot see why you wouldn't be able to head to the parks right after lunch. We have done so two years in a row, now.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

If you're going to have a sleeper room, then I cannot see why you wouldn't be able to head to the parks right after lunch. We have done so two years in a row, now.

We would most likely travel coach. There are six of us so it would be too pricey for us to get multiple sleeper rooms. Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[chartle]

Thank you for your reply. I am thinking that if we arrive in the morning and hopefully if our room is available that we can get settled in, shower, and rest a little before heading out to MK or Epcot for dinner and at least a few hours of park time.

We would most likely travel coach. There are six of us so it would be too pricey for us to get multiple sleeper rooms. Thanks for the feedback though.

Of course not having a shower sucks, but do you really think you need a rest after just sitting around in a big comfy chair for 14 hours?

What if your room isn't ready until 3:00 PM do you have a backup?

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Of course not having a shower sucks, but do you really think you need a rest after just sitting around in a big comfy chair for 14 hours?

What if your room isn't ready until 3:00 PM do you have a backup?

This gives me a lot to think about. For our WDW trip last year (which was our first trip) we flew, so the train would be a new experience for us. I guess I would have to leave that as an open day to see what we would all feel up to doing at that point if we decide to go this route. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[vacationer1954]

Of course not having a shower sucks, but do you really think you need a rest after just sitting around in a big comfy chair for 14 hours?

I think it'll depend on whether you really were able to sleep. Our one trip in coach demonstrated that we weren't. YMMV

 

[FaerieFire]

I think it'll depend on whether you really were able to sleep. Our one trip in coach demonstrated that we weren't. YMMV

Neither were we. I arrived back exhausted from our return trip, when the sleepers were sold out. Comparatively, the tiny two-person sleeper on the way down was paradise... I would not do coach again. I'd much sooner drive.

°o° Lace — Planning our second WDW adventure, 11/1-12 AoA-LM (Sent from my iPad using DISBoards)

 

[stronggirl]

can't wait until we leave on 11-22-12. WDW and then a cruise... I am probably one of the few people who can't justify a bedroom or sleeper on the A T. coach seating is okay with me for the overnight trip, and I love the A T!! I'm usually lucky enough to be able to sit by myself and stretch out as much as I can in the seats. by the time it's time to get up I'm in Florida!!
happy travels!!