All about the Autotrain

[princesssatheart]

Yes it is nice if people share. I know we boarded last but that was on Amtrak part. We were there way ahead of time. We had no problem with the 2 teenagers. once they realized that they had taken our seat they quickly moved back. The lady was something else!! She kept saying if they can find me 2 seats I will move!! I was thinking to myself-- yeah right!!

We don't even try for the lounge car-- there is never a seat available for all of us. We dont' do the movie either bc we are usually up at 2am for the trek to Lorton and the kids are plain wiped out by evening. On our June trip DS12 didnt sleep at all after we left home till that night on the AT--- he complained that Mom and his cousins talked too much on the trip down!! It was nice to have girl talk -- the ride w/ DH is fun but not as fun as girl talk!!

We prefer the AT-- we haven't flown since 2002. DH works for Amtrak so it is a great perk and lets us visit WDW yearly. We decided that we would still do the AT bc it is soo much fun. The kids look forward to the trip every year. DS4 calls it the Florida Train!! We were faced in 2009 with the prospect of driving home to CT after TS Fay cancelled our return train. We opted to stay 5 more days and get the next available train out. I just can't imagine driving the whole way.

I know the AT is not for everyone but we certainly enjoy it! Hoping to head back in August.

We are doing this trip for the first time and live in CT as well. How long does it take you to get to Lorton? How early do you arrive before loading the train? Would love to hear any tips you have! Thanks!

 

[chartle]

We are doing this trip for the first time and live in CT as well.

1. How long does it take you to get to Lorton?

2. How early do you arrive before loading the train?

3. Would love to hear any tips you have! Thanks!

1. for me 5 hours from Western PA.

2. We shot to get there at 1:30, got there 1:35 and checked in with no wait.

3. We packed a lunch so we wouldn't have to stop which gave us a buffer. We got there checked it, ate lunch and noticed that the line to check in was out to the road. Also getting there early means that you get first pick of dinner times.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

How long does it take you to get to Lorton? How early do you arrive before loading the train? Would love to hear any tips you have!
We are in central CT -- we leave at 2 am. We travel the Merritt Parkway into NY and then GWB to NJTP then either tunnel in Maryland then onto 295 to 95. We do not take the DC Loop. We bypass all rush hour traffic. We are in Maryland by 7am for breakfast for an hour at a Cracker Barrell. We do tend to make several pit stops along the way too. We generally arrive in Lorton at 1030- 11 am. We check in and then we head a bit further south on 95 to a Shopping mall. We found a disney outlet there last summer. We shop, grab lunch and head back to the train. I think we need to be back by 2pm ( but don't hold me to that!)

We just booked our August Trip this week. We are soo excited to be heading back home!!

Tips for the train. If traveling by coach pack a light blanket and a pillow. DH purchased a Total Pillow from BJ's (as seen on TV product)-- It worked awesome for sleeping in Coach. I never slept so well before! Definitely coming with us in Aug. We pack snacks and drinks too. Our DC are always looking for a snack. Any electronics, head phones and charging cords.

Remember that with any form of travel be prepared for a delay and go with the flow. Amtrak travels on CSX freight lines and can be delayed. There have been trips we arrived early and a few where we were late by several hours or completely cancelled (thanks Tropical Storm Fay!). We consider the train part of the vacation not just a mode of transportation.

I'd be happy to help with any other ?'s you may have-- please PM if you like

enjoy your trip!

 

[DJFan88]

Mykidslovedisney: Thanks for your tips, we are also going coach in August. We usually drive, but are trying this for the first time. The kids are excited for something new. We come from the bottom part of MA/bordering on CT.

 

[scooffer]

Hi all, we are traveling coach next month. We traveled in a family sleeper last year, but was out of budget this year (also last minute decision just booked last night!). I thought I might have read somewhere that there are charging outlets in the coach seats for phones or iPads, is this true?

 

[lpizzuro123]

We always travel coach on the AT and yes, there are plugs at each set of seats. I think there are also plugs in the lounge.

And to answer another question, we always leave our portable DVD player at our seat when we go to the lounge or dinning room. I do take my pocketbook but we leave everything else.

Linda

 

[DJFan88]

Wondering on booking. I should've booked in Feb. The rate I was quoted online was less than what I see for now. (Aug. trip). (looked up AAA rates)So, when I go on an info site it says they have summer discounts which are released in April. Anyone know anything about this? I'm afraid of waiting because I don't want the thing to get booked up. We are planning on riding coach seats and I think I want to request lower level because the upstairs ones make me nervous. Thoughts?

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Typically the further out you book the cheaper it is. The April promotion most likely is the kids travel for $19 on the Autotrain. It is a chance you take that the prices don't go up too high for adults when the promotion comes out.

We have traveled sleepers (up and down) and only coach up. Coach on lower level is usually reserved for handicap. What is your concern on the upper level coach?? We dont' mind sleepers on either level and can't comment on coach lower level

The last few summers the train has been sold out.

good luck with the tickets

 

[Marshay]

Book your tickets now and do NOT have the tickets mailed to you. Then when the April rate comes out, if it's a better deal, either rebook and cancel on-line or talk to an Amtrak agent directly and have them reissue your tickets at the cheaper price.

As PP said, you'll need to do the math to compare to make sure that the "sale" really benefits you.

I usually book at 11 months out and then check the fares again about a month later and from time to time. Last trip, the fare for northbound actually decreased about a month after I bought. I called up Amtrak and they applied the discounted rate automatically. Very simple.

This is what I'm doing for my July trip, too. I've already booked a roomette and if a cheaper fare comes out, I'll rebook.

HINT: If you book two one-way trips instead of a round trip, it will be easier to rebook to take advantage of any specials that only apply in one direction. Booking two "one-way fares" is not more expensive than booking it as a round trip.

Good luck!

 

[DCTooTall]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering traveling via the autotrain on my trip in October, but I have a question I was hoping people here could answer.

I'll be traveling with an infant, so I was thinking it'd be a good idea to go with a room of some sort instead of coach. The question I have is do you think there would be enough room in a roommette for a baby carrier (figure it'd be a good location for the baby to sleep), or would i be better off upgrading into a full bedroom so there is more room?

 

[chartle]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering traveling via the autotrain on my trip in October, but I have a question I was hoping people here could answer.

I'll be traveling with an infant, so I was thinking it'd be a good idea to go with a room of some sort instead of coach. The question I have is do you think there would be enough room in a roommette for a baby carrier (figure it'd be a good location for the baby to sleep), or would i be better off upgrading into a full bedroom so there is more room?

Well there are two lounge size chairs that fold out to two beds. How big is this carrier and is it two parents plus a carrier. If thats the case I think its going to be tight.

 

[Marshay]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering traveling via the autotrain on my trip in October, but I have a question I was hoping people here could answer.

I'll be traveling with an infant, so I was thinking it'd be a good idea to go with a room of some sort instead of coach. The question I have is do you think there would be enough room in a roommette for a baby carrier (figure it'd be a good location for the baby to sleep), or would i be better off upgrading into a full bedroom so there is more room?

I agree with Chartle. If it's just you and the baby, then you could put the baby carrier (do you mean car seat?) on one of the bunk beds in a roomette but I'm not sure what kind of carrier you are talking about. There won't be room on the floor once the seats unfold to become beds.

If it is 3 of you, then you'll need to upgrade to one of the larger sleeper rooms.

 

[Janny]

We are taking regular AMTRAK from Penn Station, Newark, N.J. to Kissimmee

in May. Does anyone know how I can get a wheelchair equipped van to meet

us to take us to the Polynesian? Been calling many taxi services in that area

to no avail. Starting to get nervous. My husband and 3 children, our youngest

being wheelchair dependent. We definitely don't want to wait until arrival.

ANY suggestions will be very much appreciated!!

 

[busymama04]

I would love to know more about traveling with kids in coach on the auto train. Also is the train usually full in the beginning of August. We will be traveling on August 5 and August 14. Dh, me, Ds11,Dd9, Ds5 and Ds3. Is it true that that seat families with kids together?

 

[MamaPotts]

Does anyone know how I can get a wheelchair equipped van to meet us to take us to the Polynesian?

Contact Mears. They have at least two wheelchair-capable vans in their taxi fleet that I've travelled in with my scooter.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I would love to know more about traveling with kids in coach on the auto train. Also is the train usually full in the beginning of August. We will be traveling on August 5 and August 14. Dh, me, Ds11,Dd9, Ds5 and Ds3. Is it true that that seat families with kids together?

yes, they will have family cars and than adult only cars. We always book lower level. We are going in August also. This is our 3rd time on the Auto Train.


For those that head to Lorton the day before.. any suggestions on a hotel that wont break the bank for a family of 5?

We are driving down on Saturday.. plan on going into in DC for the day Sunday and we are on the monday train.

 

[DJFan88]

So I booked our trip on the autotrain online for the middle of August. The paper confirmation that they emailed says tickets are not needed. But elsewhere it says to pick up tickets at an amtrak station. So I just wonder what I'm supposed to do now. Am I supposed to go get tickets at a station, and if so, how close or far from the trip am I suppose to do this?

 

[chartle]

So I booked our trip on the autotrain online for the middle of August. The paper confirmation that they emailed says tickets are not needed. But elsewhere it says to pick up tickets at an amtrak station. So I just wonder what I'm supposed to do now. Am I supposed to go get tickets at a station, and if so, how close or far from the trip am I suppose to do this?

I got our tickets when we checked in.

Does it say at a Amtrak station or more like the Amtrak station like when you check in.

 

[DJFan88]

I got our tickets when we checked in.

Does it say at a Amtrak station or more like the Amtrak station like when you check in.

In general when I looked up the Amtrak guidelines (for all rides) it said to obtain at a station. However, my confirmation states it is not a ticket and you must obtain tickets before boarding. Then it says Exception: paper tickets are not required to board the auto train = check at counter. I just wanted to make sure I am doing all the right things.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

We are on the Aug 14th train. This is our 9th AT Trip to WDW.

Tickets can be etickets from my understanding. We preferred the actual tickets that DH picked up from our local station.

Busymama04--the train is a great part of our vacation - for us it isn't just a mode of transportation but part of our vacation. We seem to have kids about the same age. Everyone has their own backpacks. They carry their video games and anything to keep themselves amused. Which lately is just their video games. For DS4 we usually pack a few small toys that he can play with such as a few thomas trains. Everyone gets a change of clothing and a sweatshirt and toothbrush/paste. We pack a bag of snacks/drinks too. We also pack 2 portable DVD players and headphones. Also a light blanket and pillow if you are in coach. Any meds that are needed and we always bring extra in the event of a delay.

We tend to check in around 11am and then head a little further south to the Pomotac Mills Mall and hit the disney store outlet. Grab lunch and head back to the station by 130. Boarding starts at 230pm. The train departs around 4pm -sooner if everyone is onboard. Dinner is 5, 7 or 9. We try to get the 5 pm dinner (we have been up since 2am). We head back to our coach or room and settle till 8ish and then everyone is ready for sleep. DH and I wake up around 630am to see where we are in relations to arrival. If we are on time or ahead of schedule we grab breakfast and get ready for arrival. If we are behind time we dont wake the DC so quickly. We have arrived as early as 8 am and as late as 11 am (southbound) and 2 pm (northbound).

Be advised that delays can happen-- we once sat in Lorton for over an hour waiting for another engine bc our engine went to help another train, We sat 3 hours in FL waiting for trees to be removed from the tracks due to a storm that came thru. Another trip was a CSX derailment. The topper was in 08 when Tropical storm Fay canceled Amtrak service for 4 days. Our return train was cancelled. We decided to stay at WDW for 5 more days to get the next train out. The train crew is awesome on keeping everyone updated on what is going on. Last year they provided food since we didn't arrive till almost 2pm in Lorton. Then there are times we have arrived ahead of schedule-- 8am.

Make sure you have given Amtrak your cell phones to contact you. They contacted us when our train was cancelled. But I had been watching the storm and the train service and had already had a back up ticket waiting in the event our train was cancelled. the day I had called to check on our train status was when they had just made the call to cancel. by the time we got to our van to go exchange our tickets, Amtrak called to advise of the cancellation.

LisaNJ25-- we have stayed at the Comfort Inn in Lorton. It is just on the other side of the highway from the station. It included a breakfast. In the past they offered a discount to Autotrain passengers

Hope this helps everyone. I would be happy to answer any other ?'s you may have.