All about the Autotrain

[Marshay]

I never saw an ice machine but I'm sure they have some available.

Yes, there is an ice drawer in each car ... at least in the sleeping cars where they have the coffee, water spout. It's been too long since I did coach so I can't remember if there is one in those.

Hopefully Candikayne can answer your question.

 

[Marshay]

Imalazar -- thanks for your report. So sorry to hear that your train was 4 hours late. Our train in May was over 2 hrs late going down and early for Lorton (too bad not the other way around).

So glad your kids enjoyed it and did not complain!

 

[Cupmom]

Yes, there is an ice drawer in each car ... at least in the sleeping cars where they have the coffee, water spout. It's been too long since I did coach so I can't remember if there is one in those.

Hopefully Candikayne can answer your question.

Thanks so much!! We have a roomette so we should have access to the ice drawer!!!

 

[Marshay]

Candikayne -- awesome trip report. Your pictures will definitely help others.

You have a beautiful family!

And thanks for the photos of the train station. The Sanford one was not open yet when we used it in May.

 

[Marshay]

Thanks so much!! We have a roomette so we should have access to the ice drawer!!!

I will say to get your ice early! When we boarded the drawer was completely full ... the next morning only a little bit left. Not sure if/how often they refill it.

Also, the scoop for the ice machine is above you on a hook. Sort of hard to see the very first time!

 

[Candikayne]

Still learning how to reduce and rotate the pics I post..... I rode coach....so I guess the ice drawer may have been available to the sleeping car folks. The person working in the lounge was giving out cups of ice to passengers....not sure that would be enough to keep a large cooler going though.

 

[Cupmom]

Boarding the train in Lorton tomorrow!!! Can't wait!!!

 

[Marshay]

Candikayne -- awesome trip report. Your pictures will definitely help others.

You have a beautiful family!

And thanks for the photos of the train station. The Sanford one was not open yet when we used it in May.

meant to say the photos of the PLAYGROUND at the train station! Of course the station was open!

 

[Marshay]

Boarding the train in Lorton tomorrow!!! Can't wait!!!

have a wonderful time and don't forget to report back!!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

We traveled to WDW on Aug 1st and boarded for home on the 12th.

On the way down we checked in about 10 am and then headed a few more exits down to the Mall. There we found a Disney outlet. Wish we knew it was there bf we walked most of the mall to kill time. Next time it will be our first stop after checking in. there is a greater variety of food and stores to kill time. They told us to be back by 2 pm to give them the car.

We had 3 roomettes Lower level on the way down. It was the same car we were in , in June on our trip to the beach. slept surprisingly well. We left about 30 mins early and arrived in Sanford around 10 am. The past 3 WDW trips arrival have been at 830ish.

On the return we had a roomette and a deluxe bedroom. When we left it started to rain. We travel about an hour and we stopped. We were at the 5pm dinner. We had watched it rain while we were moving-- rained soo hard it looked like fog in the woods. While at diner we watched the lightening storm. they announced about 6 pm that we had a tree across the track. We went back to our room and the staff was explaining that we had 4 trees across the track. The crew was able to remove 1 tree but not the other 3. We had to wait for CSX to come and remove them. We were stopped for just over 3 hours. the staff stated that the trees looked twisted almost like a tornado came thru. we saw many trees limbs ripped off and of course the toppled trees.

We got up at 630 to find we had just crossed into North carolina (thank goodness for GPS) We finally got up at 7 am for breakfast. They did annouce that they would hold the dining car open till 10 am. They also showed the movie- soul surfer in the lounge car. DH also said that the attendant came by to say that chicken was available in the lounge car-== they were not making the announcement . Good thing we did bring a bag of snacks/drinks along with us. we arrived at 1230 pm in Lorton. The line for the next train out was long!! They already took some cars and had them lined up in their parking lot past the building waiting to be loaded.

It was a good trip just very thankful that those trees didn't fall while we were traveling by them!

It was our 9th trip on the autotrain and wouldn't trade it for the world!

 

[Aanna]

Great trip report!

You were coming from Connecticut, right? Which way did you drive down?

 

[Pooh2]

Nice report and photos!

 

[J3nn78]

We are taking our first autotrain trip on Monday. I have a few questions

So can we check in at the station and then leave(with our car) for a bit? Or does our car have to stay once we check in?

What is the earliest we can check in?

We originally booked an oversized car when we had a van, we now have a regular sized car, will this be an issue?

We booked upper level, will we be able to request lower level when we check in-if available?

Thanks so much!

 

[Marshay]

We are taking our first autotrain trip on Monday. I have a few questions

So can we check in at the station and then leave(with our car) for a bit? Or does our car have to stay once we check in?

What is the earliest we can check in?

We originally booked an oversized car when we had a van, we now have a regular sized car, will this be an issue?

We booked upper level, will we be able to request lower level when we check in-if available?

Thanks so much!

Sounds like the person above you was able to check in early and go to the mall and bring car back by 2pm. I'd just double-check with Amtrak when you are there.

You want to let Amtrak know that you have a regular car now, b/c it should save you money. Give them a call and they will tell you if the price will go down or not. Since you are close to your departure, it may not go down, but even if you save $20, that's $20 more for Mickey ice cream bars and Dole Whips!

You shouldn't have a problem switching from oversize to regular. Now if you were doing in reverse, they may not have enough of the oversized cars and that would be a problem!

have fun and report back!

 

[Marshay]

We traveled to WDW on Aug 1st and boarded for home on the 12th.

On the way down we checked in about 10 am and then headed a few more exits down to the Mall. There we found a Disney outlet. Wish we knew it was there bf we walked most of the mall to kill time. Next time it will be our first stop after checking in. there is a greater variety of food and stores to kill time. They told us to be back by 2 pm to give them the car.

We had 3 roomettes Lower level on the way down. It was the same car we were in , in June on our trip to the beach. slept surprisingly well. We left about 30 mins early and arrived in Sanford around 10 am. The past 3 WDW trips arrival have been at 830ish.

On the return we had a roomette and a deluxe bedroom. When we left it started to rain. We travel about an hour and we stopped. We were at the 5pm dinner. We had watched it rain while we were moving-- rained soo hard it looked like fog in the woods. While at diner we watched the lightening storm. they announced about 6 pm that we had a tree across the track. We went back to our room and the staff was explaining that we had 4 trees across the track. The crew was able to remove 1 tree but not the other 3. We had to wait for CSX to come and remove them. We were stopped for just over 3 hours. the staff stated that the trees looked twisted almost like a tornado came thru. we saw many trees limbs ripped off and of course the toppled trees.

We got up at 630 to find we had just crossed into North carolina (thank goodness for GPS) We finally got up at 7 am for breakfast. They did annouce that they would hold the dining car open till 10 am. They also showed the movie- soul surfer in the lounge car. DH also said that the attendant came by to say that chicken was available in the lounge car-== they were not making the announcement . Good thing we did bring a bag of snacks/drinks along with us. we arrived at 1230 pm in Lorton. The line for the next train out was long!! They already took some cars and had them lined up in their parking lot past the building waiting to be loaded.

It was a good trip just very thankful that those trees didn't fall while we were traveling by them!

It was our 9th trip on the autotrain and wouldn't trade it for the world!

Sorry to hear about the delays but sounds like you guys are seasoned veterans of the train, so know there can be delays ... just like flying or driving!

Glad you had a good trip all around and were safe!

 

[shmedly123]

the pic's put into perspective just how massive the train is...wow.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

J3nn78-- we checked in around 10 am for both our June and August autotrain trip (last yrs trip too). There were still some cars off loading from the train that just came in. The few people infront of us were also told to be back by 2pm bc there is nothing to do at the station other than wait. We were able to pick our dinner time too. In previous years we checked in and just went down the street w/ the van to the plaza and killed time. In June w/ my DNs (no DH) we asked where the nearest mall was. She directed us s/b on 95 a few more exits down. Massive amount of stores and food options (wish we found this years ago) Plus the disney outlet was there too. She did say to make sure we had time for travel due to frequent delays on 95. I think we made it back both times by 130pm. Boarding usually starts by 230.

On our return north we also checked in around 10 am and heading for the grocery store (cold meds/tissues) and ventured into historic Sanford. Just continue on the same main road the AT is located on- you will see signs. We came across a really nice town park with a big playground right on the water. Once we found the playground/water area we grabbed lunch and let the kids run for a bit. We have never ventured away from the station till this trip and think we may have found a fun place to go ahead of time. There are many little shops that are in historic Sanford too.

As for the change in car size call Amtrak now and see if there is any $ difference. Should be no problem with a smaller car

If you check the Amtrak website you can see if the lower level is sold out. It is worth a shot of asking.

Enjoy your trip! Remember it is part of the adventure. My kids just found out that we can fly and be at WDW in 2.5 hrs but I have no interest in doing so.

Aana- yes we came from CT- We take RT 15 down into NY and follow for GWB then the NJTP. When we cross the tunnel in MD (either one) we hop onto 295 thru maryland (we avoid the loop at all expenses!) We pick up 95 at the end of 295 then 95 the rest of the way. We can now go w/o a map too!

Marshay-- yes seasoned travelers! We have been early, on time and delayed and even cancelled! So we tend to go with the flow. We had a cancellation in 08 due to Tropical storm Fay. Amtrak had been cancelling service for a few days prior to our departure. I was able to work with Amtrak to make reservations if in the event our train was cancelled. Glad I had plan A and B bc the next available train out was 5 days later!! We thought about driving home for a mere second and decided that WDW would be more fun then driving all the way home. The train bf us was delayed 17 hrs on the track!!

another good thing to do is make sure you give Amtrak your cell phone number instead of home number. If we didnt' pay attention to the cancellations (kindof hard not to w/ the amount of rain we were getting) and gave them our home number we would not have known our train was cancelled. I was checking on the status of our orginal train w/ an Amtak rep when they made the call to cancel the train. We were heading out to Kissimmee to exchange our tickets. my cell rang and it was Amtrak notifying us of the cancellation.

 

[Aanna]

Thanks, Mykidslovesdisney! It's good to have the route suggested by Googlemaps confirmed (though I will likely go over the Tappanzee because I am lazy).

And the idea of checking in early and then bringing the car back sounds right up my alley!

 

[Marshay]

Thanks mykids for the info on the playground at Sanford. Usuallly we are not early b/c we use that morning to go to DTD before boarding the train, but if we change our mind, now I know where to go!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Aanna-- we did the tappenzee way back in the beginning and would never do it again. Felt like too many tolls to deal with (that or having DM drive!). Not sure where u are coming from but we leave central CT at 2am and arrive in Lorton at 10 am. We do stop for breakfast at a cracker barrell in MD. there are 2 of them about 28 miles apart. It depends on our time on which one we stop at. We have been very fortunate to bypass any type of rush hour traffic by leaving at this time. We do tend to make several pit stops along the way (which can take 20 mins of unloading/reloading of the DC).

A few years ago we got an EZpass and all I can say is what the heck took us so long to get one!! it makes traveling soo much easier than slowing down to a stop and finding an open toll booth and then remerging. Dh's family was in NY city and I still can't figure out why in the last 25 years we never had one! We got one from NY -- no cost. definitely worth looking into. It is accepted all the way to the train. (not sure about further south, know it is not accepted in FL).

Marshay-- I was very impressed with the playground that was in historic Sanford. There were 2 - one for older and one for younger children. It all looks relatively new. I am a Box tops for education Coordinator at my DC school and know how much $$ playground equipment cost and it is really nice and big. There is also a splash pad area ajacent to the playground. Restroom facilities are there too. A few pavalions with picnic tables and it all overlooks the water. We even found some park benches facing the water that were actually swings. Definitely keeping this place in mind. It is maybe 10 minutes from the station and I cant forsee running into any huge traffic issues to get back. The only drawback to the playground equipment is that none of it is shaded. So it was mighty hot and sunny while they were playing.