All about the Autotrain

[Marshay]

Just got home a few hours ago from our first AutoTrain experience and we enjoyed it quite a bit and have plans to do it again!

To sum it up for us: although the train took longer to get to FL, it was way more pleasurable and stressfree than the airport and plane. To me the air travel and the airport itself is very stressful and taxing and I'm usually exhausted by the time we get to WDW with the train I was relaxed, recharged and ready to go!!

So glad to hear you had a great time. I agree -- taking the train is so less stressful. We took it 2x already and have plans to take it 2x more this year and next!

Glad to hear you had such a good experience. All in all a great time. We did a sleeper once and while we liked it for the two of us I'd rather save the money and just go coach. If we had kids though I think the sleeper would be perfect.

Linda

We did coach once and sleeper car once and I do have to agree that coach is "doable" but a sleeper car is "grand" (we have 2 small kids!)

Definitely stick to your preference of train vs. flight. We always flew but now the thought of flying just isn't that appealing.

My husband just told me to go ahead and look into AutoTrain for our April 2012 trip.

Questions:

Dh gets claustrophobic.
Can we be assured of being on the lower level?
How difficult is it to walk from train car to train car? Yep, it was not a great trip.)

Hmmm, my two experiences say that if your DH is truly claustrophobic, he may get a little uncomfortable on the train. Yes, you can move around which is really nice but the rooms are not THAT big. And the hallways to get from the sleeper cars to the lounge and dining room are about only 2' wide. Coach may be a better option if you don't mind giving up your privacy.

In general you get used to the sway of the train ... but there were multiple times where the train bumped us into the walls and seat backs of the other people as we were walking along.

This is NOT constant, but it happened a handful of times. I slept in the upper bunk for part of the time and remember waking up where I was being knocked around very briefly but it was enough to wake me up.

Now none of this bothers me at all -- I compare it to minor turbulence on an airplane and we have 2 more train trips planned. But for someone with more than average motion issues, it could present a problem.

Unfortunately, you won't really know until you go and our trip in July was less "bouncy" than our trip in November so even from trip to trip you may experience different results.

We were on the AutoTrain for the first time this past Dec. and have already scheduled trips for June and Nov. on AutoTrain.

We had a "family" room that was more spacious than a roomette. It was also on the lower floor. However we shared toilets with others. But there were three on the floor plus a shower/changing room so not a problem for us.

Glad to hear you had a good trip, too!

 

[MinnieGi]

Were there any sales posted for this summer for the auto train? Im mapping out my trip for next august since I'm expecting a new disney fan this august.

Hi to another Delawarean!! Not to many of us on here!! And congrats on the new Disney fan coming your way!

When we booked for our summer trip there was not a sale, however I found the earlier you book the cheaper your ticket.

For our past Christmas week trip we booked 11 months ahead and to see the price increase as the months got closer to Christmas was unreal!!

Now for summer we did not book until after Christmas b/c we wanted to make sure we liked the train first, but the fare was still reasonable at 6 months out.

 

[Marshay]

We are right around our 11 months out trip on the AT (late Jan 2012) and I just checked the prices and

They are the same amount as we paid for our May trip at only 5 months out. I foolishly thought that late January was going to be a cheaper time to go on the train...

I can't imagine what the prices will be if they just continue to go up closer to the date. The good thing is that the tickets are refundable, so we will go ahead and purchase and if we can get a better deal, then we'll do that. I think I'll purchase as two 1-way tickets b/c I don't think you save by purchasing a round-trip and that way if we decide to drive down, it'll be easier to cancel just that part of the trip.

 

[NJBILL]

We are right around our 11 months out trip on the AT (late Jan 2012) and I just checked the prices and

They are the same amount as we paid for our May trip at only 5 months out. I foolishly thought that late January was going to be a cheaper time to go on the train...

I can't imagine what the prices will be if they just continue to go up closer to the date. The good thing is that the tickets are refundable, so we will go ahead and purchase and if we can get a better deal, then we'll do that. I think I'll purchase as two 1-way tickets b/c I don't think you save by purchasing a round-trip and that way if we decide to drive down, it'll be easier to cancel just that part of the trip.

Train tickets are sold in three 'buckets or tiers". A certain number of tickets are $x amount and when sold, they go to the $Y pricing tier, and then when sold they go to the $Z tier for the remainder of the trip. Generally, the earlier you buy the better, but if a lot of folks buy early too, you still wont get the cheaper rate.

 

[J/T Gramdma]

We used the Auto Train for several Disney trips. it was great having our car. As far as pricing for the train, the earlier the better. Prices definitely change, it is probably the 'snow birds' that book many months in advance. Sept/October and April/May/June are peak times for the 'snow birds'. Glad to hear you had a good time.

 

[Marshay]

Train tickets are sold in three 'buckets or tiers". A certain number of tickets are $x amount and when sold, they go to the $Y pricing tier, and then when sold they go to the $Z tier for the remainder of the trip. Generally, the earlier you buy the better, but if a lot of folks buy early too, you still wont get the cheaper rate.

I hear ya...I can't actually buy the return trip until 3/1 but I really don't think that the first tier is already sold out...it's literally only been 10 months and 3.5 weeks!!!

Also, just a reminder to double-check your train tickets. When we went in November I didnot do so and met someone on board who only bought her tickets 3 weeks PRIOR to the trip and spent $150 less than I did purchasing 6 months in advance...

We used the Auto Train for several Disney trips. it was great having our car. As far as pricing for the train, the earlier the better. Prices definitely change, it is probably the 'snow birds' that book many months in advance. Sept/October and April/May/June are peak times for the 'snow birds'. Glad to hear you had a good time.

Yeah, that's why I thought January was going to be cheaper...since most snow birds are already down in FL and not coming back.

Like I posted above, I'll purchase and then keep checking the prices...they might go down like they did for our November 2010 trip. I could have kicked myself for not checking prior to our Nov trip. I just assumed that the tickets just continue to increase ... but they also can decrease, too!

 

[Tweevil]

I just priced a trip for April and August - April going south was very affordable - coming north was not. The prices tripled!

August was not affordable in either direction.

I would love to do this but I can't justify $1000 each direction (I wanted a bedroom).

It's funny, on the way down a family bedroom was approximately $300 but coming back it was over $700. I don't understand that. Is it supply and demand that is dictating the fluncuation?

 

[bdcp]

Sleepers are always more expensive one direction than the other. It's why we're considering trying a bedroom on the way down in Oct because it's a lot cheaper than the return, plus for the trip down we'll be starting our vacation and want to see if we can get enough sleep in a sleeper and on our return we'll just be driving 45 minutes home and we can rest then. This will be our 4th autotrain trip since 2005.

 

[Cupmom]

I just put a hold on a price for my trip. The train leaves 8/19. 1AAA adult/1AAAchild, 1roomette and an oversized vechile. $420. They will hold this price for 7days till I decide. They said I can cancel up to 7days before trip for a full refund as long as tickets are not issued.

Do you think this is a good price?

 

[shafke]

We just returned from out 1st auto train trip.

We left on Fri 2/18 and returned on Fri 2/25.

Both trips the train departed around 3:45.
We arrived in FL at 8am and pulled in to VA around 7:50am.

We would defnitely do this trip again.

A couple of minor complaints that had nothing to do with the train (ok maybe a little)

They need more outlets in the waiting areas of the train station.
As near as we could tell there are only two outlet in Lorton probably used for cleaning crews and we could not find any outlets in Sanford. The roomettes could also do with at least one additional outlet.

The Sanford station is still undergoing some renovation it would seem. The playground is not yet open.

For both legs of the trip we had roomettes on the lower level so the swaying of the train was not as noticeable as on the upper level.

 

[laughandlearn]

This will be our first time on the auto train...but aren't sure which is better...the upper level coach seats or the lower level coach seats. We can get the lower level ones going to Fl and the Upper level coming back to VA. Since the lower level has all the bathrooms, will it be too busy, smelly etc. or are the restrooms somehow separated from the seating area? Also, does the lower level have windows for all the seats? And is it true that you can't go from car to car in the lower level? Do you have to go to the upper level to get to the lounges and dining cars?

 

[chartle]

This will be our first time on the auto train...but aren't sure which is better...the upper level coach seats or the lower level coach seats. We can get the lower level ones going to Fl and the Upper level coming back to VA. Since the lower level has all the bathrooms, will it be too busy, smelly etc. or are the restrooms somehow separated from the seating area? Also, does the lower level have windows for all the seats? And is it true that you can't go from car to car in the lower level? Do you have to go to the upper level to get to the lounges and dining cars?

You have to go upstairs to connect to the other cars. And yes the bathrooms are separated from the lower seating.

 

[laughandlearn]

Thanks so much for the reply.

 

[kittylady1972]

I love reading this thread, though I haven't read the whole thing. It was nice to finally see some pictures of the train...though I don't know if anybody has pictures of the coach seats, especially in recline.

We booked the Autotrain for the first time this June as a surprise for the kids. None of us have ever been on a train. We are excited.

DH is really wanting to book a room...but I can't justify the expense. There are FIVE of us and so we'd need two rooms...so lots of extra money. It just seems silly since our kids are so small to try to book rooms.

I'm wondering...would they let our party split up and book ONE room and the rest in coach? I think I'd be okay in coach but not so sure about DH. What if we booked a Family Bedroom for four and then I just sit in a coach seat? Is that even possible?

I guess I should just call and ask but I figured there would be an expert here who can answer!

 

[shafke]

I love reading this thread, though I haven't read the whole thing. It was nice to finally see some pictures of the train...though I don't know if anybody has pictures of the coach seats, especially in recline.

We booked the Autotrain for the first time this June as a surprise for the kids. None of us have ever been on a train. We are excited.

DH is really wanting to book a room...but I can't justify the expense. There are FIVE of us and so we'd need two rooms...so lots of extra money. It just seems silly since our kids are so small to try to book rooms.

I'm wondering...would they let our party split up and book ONE room and the rest in coach? I think I'd be okay in coach but not so sure about DH. What if we booked a Family Bedroom for four and then I just sit in a coach seat? Is that even possible?

I guess I should just call and ask but I figured there would be an expert here who can answer!

If you do separate your party between sleeper and coach you will not be eating your meals together. There are separate dining cars for coach and sleepers.

 

[pwdebbie]

If I were to book on AutoTrain and then had to cancel, how are they about refunds? Also, can you get your ticket adjusted to a lower price if one comes out or do you need to rebook?

 

[chartle]

1. I love reading this thread, though I haven't read the whole thing. It was nice to finally see some pictures of the train...though I don't know if anybody has pictures of the coach seats, especially in recline.

2. I'm wondering...would they let our party split up and book ONE room and the rest in coach? I think I'd be okay in coach but not so sure about DH. What if we booked a Family Bedroom for four and then I just sit in a coach seat? Is that even possible?

1. Though I have never sat in one, the coach seats are like first class in an airplane but with even more room. Pretty much like a lazy boy recliner.

We had a "bulkhead" seat and one of the foot rests had a problem so it not really a good example.

2. Not sure what you are asking, but first the train has two sections, first class and coach, or what we called steerage.

They are separated quite a bit and if you put some of your family in coach and some in the room you wouldn't see them the entire trip. The two sections have different dining and lounge cars. Though I have never seen the "border", there maybe a "guard" between the two sections.

Second, if you are in a bedroom thats also your seating room. There are no other seats on the car.

This site has great info about the autotrain.

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/autotrain-tips.shtml

 

[kittylady1972]

1. Though I have never sat in one, the coach seats are like first class in an airplane but with even more room. Pretty much like a lazy boy recliner.

We had a "bulkhead" seat and one of the foot rests had a problem so it not really a good example.

2. Not sure what you are asking, but first the train has two sections, first class and coach, or what we called steerage.

They are separated quite a bit and if you put some of your family in coach and some in the room you wouldn't see them the entire trip. The two sections have different dining and lounge cars. Though I have never seen the "border", there maybe a "guard" between the two sections.

Second, if you are in a bedroom thats also your seating room. There are no other seats on the car.

This site has great info about the autotrain.

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/autotrain-tips.shtml

Thanks so much for the info! I hadn't realized the different dining until reading a few more pages of this thread but thanks! And thanks for the photos...that's helpful.

I guess I just really would rather save money for Disney and Universal park tix than spend it on a room if I can help it. I'm hoping that perhaps we're travelling early enough in June and on a Tuesday so maybe it won't be as crowded so we'll have more room to spread out in the coach seats. Plus we have a family of five so hoping that splitting us up perhaps we'll at least get one empty seat next to somebody.

 

[chartle]

I guess I just really would rather save money for Disney and Universal park tix than spend it on a room if I can help it. I'm hoping that perhaps we're travelling early enough in June and on a Tuesday so maybe it won't be as crowded so we'll have more room to spread out in the coach seats. Plus we have a family of five so hoping that splitting us up perhaps we'll at least get one empty seat next to somebody.

Also you may not be able to get any two rooms.

You may need to get the family Bedroom and then a 2 person bedroom.

I'm not sure your kids and an adult could fit in a regular bedroom. The largest bed is 3' 4" wide.

Here is a link to Amtrak that shows you all the info about the bed rooms with virtual tours.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...e=am/Layout&p=1237405732517&cid=1241267361982

(Autotrain uses the super liner cars)

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

My sister and I will be taking the Auto Train round trip in September. We've booked a bedroom for the trip down, but I haven't seen any photos that give me a very good idea of what the bedroom looks like with the beds pulled out. How wide are the beds? Will the lower bunk fit 2? Does the upper bunk have netting to catch a passenger if they get jostled during the trip? Does the chair in the room recline? I have searched online for weeks but cannot find any photos that show the layout of the room set up for sleeping and the computer generated slide show on Amtrak's website doesn't look very accurate. Do any fellow DISers have photos of this?