All about the Autotrain

[Henlady]

I checked last Saturday and my reservation had gone down $45 so they gave me a refund. I've started checking daily now.

I was curious as to which portion of your rate decreased? The passanger fare or Auto fare?

 

[dsnycrzy]

I was curious as to which portion of your rate decreased? The passanger fare or Auto fare?

I believe the auto part has always been $350. I'm not sure what changes. I had a ressie for myself, DS17 & DD 10, that was $800. This one didnt change. I made another ressie for my DD20 & her friend & her car, that was $755. That is the one that went down to $710 so I don't know what's behind it but its gone up a little since then.

 

[jwboucher]

Any tips for making a trip in a coach seat more comfortable? This will be our first time and I need all the advice I can get!!

 

[labdogs42]

Any tips for making a trip in a coach seat more comfortable? This will be our first time and I need all the advice I can get!!

I always take my own blanket and pillow. I often use the train blankets to put under me on the seat or to fill the little dip between the two seats if I get two to myself.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Looking forward to ou AT trip in November.

 

[lindap1]

So there's no point in me randomly checking to see if the price goes down?

Keep checking! They may offer a deal that will make it cheaper for you. they told me that I got it at the lowest point and a discount wouldn't bring it down any lower.

 

[jlhill4444]

Yes, keep checking! Once you see it for a lower price they will refund your money if you call in. There is a lowest price, however, so once you hit that, no need to keep checking. I have hit the lowest price both ways, so I am no longer checking. ;-)

 

[jwboucher]

How does the breakfast work on the train for coach? Do you get a time like dinner?

 

[Henlady]

I always take my own blanket and pillow. I often use the train blankets to put under me on the seat or to fill the little dip between the two seats if I get two to myself.

I always take a pillow, with a sheet folded up and slid into the pillow case and a light throw - also into the pillow case with the pillow. That way you can place your nice clean sheet over your seat so you aren't "laying" your face against a seat thousands of other people have been in. Also take whatever you feel will make you comfortable. In coach, I always take a wash cloth & hand towel and a small bar of soap to use for washing up in the morning along with basic toilitries. You can also take on some snacks & drinks in case you get the munchies. I have even taken a small fan - about 5 inches across - as I like air circulating over me when sleeping, it also helps if it gets overly warm in the coach.

 

[chartle]

How does the breakfast work on the train for coach? Do you get a time like dinner?

no you just show up and they seat you. as i recall there was milk, orange juice, small boxes of cereal, bagels and maybe stuff like donuts. you just served your self and the servers went around replenishing everything.

i think they served you beverages like coffee, tea and larger juices just like dinner.

if less than 3 people you will sit with someone else. even if there are open tables.

 

[lindap1]

How does the breakfast work on the train for coach? Do you get a time like dinner?

No...no time. Just head to the dining car when breakfast starts. If your in sleeper room they can bring your food to you if you request it.

 

[jwboucher]

No...no time. Just head to the dining car when breakfast starts. If your in sleeper room they can bring your food to you if you request it.

Do you know the time for breakfast?

 

[chartle]

Do you know the time for breakfast?

I Have read 6 am.

 

[bdcp]

I Have read 6 am.

Yes, 6 am and usually only til 8 or so. We're almost always there at 6 am because we usually wake up by 5:30.

 

[bdcp]

no you just show up and they seat you. as i recall there was milk, orange juice, small boxes of cereal, bagels and maybe stuff like donuts. you just served your self and the servers went around replenishing everything.

i think they served you beverages like coffee, tea and larger juices just like dinner.

if less than 3 people you will sit with someone else. even if there are open tables.

No donuts. Banana, milk, cereal, bagels, cream cheese, orange juice, jelly, coffee. Not enough protein for me so if we're running late I'm ready to eat by 10, but that's probably because we eat breakfast at 6 on the AT.

 

[chartle]

No donuts. Banana, milk, cereal, bagels, cream cheese, orange juice, jelly, coffee. Not enough protein for me so if we're running late I'm ready to eat by 10, but that's probably because we eat breakfast at 6 on the AT.

same here last time, really only time, we had an early lunch at Ci Ci's pizza.

 

[monorailsilver]

About meals-

We are a family of 5, will they make us sit 4/1 or can we split it up to be 3/2? I actually don't mind if I am sitting alone although that will leave my dh with the 3 kids...hmmm..

I am just curious.

And tipping. What do I do? This is all new to me. I have 11 months before the autotrain so I like to know what to do before hand.

On the way down we have a roomette & a room with a bathroom. On the way back we have the family bedroom. I wanted to try both to see which one we liked better.

And who do I tip?

And has anyone ever taken the train on Easter? We are leaving on Easter & arriving in VA on Monday after. Just curious if it is crowded or not?

And please wish for no storms this year that cause a week of no school due to no power. I am not one to take my kids out of school for vacation but I am taking them out the Friday before April vacation since that is a 1/2 day & we will drive down to Lorton that am (5-6 hour drive) but the Monday after Easter is a scheduled no school day but a snow emergency make up day. So if there is no snow/storms then they have that day off. If there is an abundance of snow days/storm days then they have to go to school that day.

I hemmed & hawed but decided that other parents take their kids out for a week & this is only a day & I'd rather board the train on Easter then wake up on the train on Easter. We can still hang out in the Ft. Myers area/sisters house in the am/breakfast & then leave to go up north.

I am crazy, right?

Also, just in case my sister decides to come home (CT) for Easter I am debating a night in Disney & having breakfast somewhere in the world, no park & not in the MK area (I will be sad to see the castle & know I can't go in to touch it... or the Poly & know I can't open the door to my a/c room & go to sleep only to wake up the next am to go to a park). Anyways, any suggestions? Cape May Café?? My son isn't a big breakfast eater other then cereal, pop tarts, cinnamon rolls or a bagel. He doesn't eat muffins, breads (other then Italian with butter or jelly), pancakes, waffles. Not to mention he has food allergies but even safe muffins, etc... he won't eat. They made him a mickey waffle dairy free & yes they were good at Ohana a few years ago & he thought it was nasty.

OK I think I am done with questions for now...

 

[Marshay]

About meals-

We are a family of 5, will they make us sit 4/1 or can we split it up to be 3/2? I actually don't mind if I am sitting alone although that will leave my dh with the 3 kids...hmmm..

I am just curious.

And tipping. What do I do? This is all new to me. I have 11 months before the autotrain so I like to know what to do before hand.

On the way down we have a roomette & a room with a bathroom. On the way back we have the family bedroom. I wanted to try both to see which one we liked better.

And who do I tip?

And has anyone ever taken the train on Easter? We are leaving on Easter & arriving in VA on Monday after. Just curious if it is crowded or not?

And please wish for no storms this year that cause a week of no school due to no power. I am not one to take my kids out of school for vacation but I am taking them out the Friday before April vacation since that is a 1/2 day & we will drive down to Lorton that am (5-6 hour drive) but the Monday after Easter is a scheduled no school day but a snow emergency make up day. So if there is no snow/storms then they have that day off. If there is an abundance of snow days/storm days then they have to go to school that day.

I hemmed & hawed but decided that other parents take their kids out for a week & this is only a day & I'd rather board the train on Easter then wake up on the train on Easter. We can still hang out in the Ft. Myers area/sisters house in the am/breakfast & then leave to go up north.

I am crazy, right?

Also, just in case my sister decides to come home (CT) for Easter I am debating a night in Disney & having breakfast somewhere in the world, no park & not in the MK area (I will be sad to see the castle & know I can't go in to touch it... or the Poly & know I can't open the door to my a/c room & go to sleep only to wake up the next am to go to a park). Anyways, any suggestions? Cape May Café?? My son isn't a big breakfast eater other then cereal, pop tarts, cinnamon rolls or a bagel. He doesn't eat muffins, breads (other then Italian with butter or jelly), pancakes, waffles. Not to mention he has food allergies but even safe muffins, etc... he won't eat. They made him a mickey waffle dairy free & yes they were good at Ohana a few years ago & he thought it was nasty.

OK I think I am done with questions for now...

Just tell the servers how many people you want in your group ... ie, if you want to be 3 and 2 just say that. Know that your party of 3 may have a single person sit with them and your party of 2 will have another 2 people sit with them. Also your two groups may or may not be right next to each other.

Here is what we tip. We give more if someone goes out of their way to be special. We give less if we feel short changed. We tip our dinner server about $8-10 and the breakfast server $3-5 for 2A, 2C. We tip the wine steward $5 to cover several glasses of wine at snack time. We tip our room steward $5-10, depending on what they do.

As for timing, don't sweat missing school, esp one day. Plan your trip so that the end result is enjoyable.

 

[jwboucher]

5 days till our first trip on the auto train!!

 

[lindap1]

Enjoy! That's one of my favorite things about a Disney trip...The AutoTrain! I get grief from coworkers about taking a 19 hour train instead of a 3 hour flight, but I wouldnt' go any other way It's relaxing....there is no delay....you get your meal and you can get up and walk around..not just sit in your seat. It's a long ride, but you're sleeping for most of it. Have fun!