All about the Autotrain

[lpizzuro123]

Great trip. We left Friday (the train left Lorton about 15 minutes early). We arrived in Sanford by 8:15, were off the train by 8:45 and had our car by 9:05 (we were about the 15th car off). We're heading to Disney.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Thr train was pretty crowded, there were three dinner times. We took the 7:00 and it was perfect.

 

[Marshay]

Thr train was pretty crowded, there were three dinner times. We took the 7:00 and it was perfect.

HOpe your having a wonderful time!!

 

[PEANUT1]

My family of 4 are taking the autotrain in November..we used Continental miles that we transfered to amtrak and go the trip completely free!!! We got a bedroom each way for 60,000 miles total

 

[NJBILL]

My family of 4 are taking the autotrain in November..we used Continental miles that we transfered to amtrak and go the trip completely free!!! We got a bedroom each way for 60,000 miles total

Enjoy your trip.. We just completed our 7th family trip on Amtrak.

Here is a great website that shows weather by Amtrak route. You may find it handy while preparing for your trip.

www.travelweather.weebly.com

 

[Marshay]

My family of 4 are taking the autotrain in November..we used Continental miles that we transfered to amtrak and go the trip completely free!!! We got a bedroom each way for 60,000 miles total

Very cool! We are going in November too and taking the train back from WDW to Lorton (driving down though). I hope you enjoy the train!

 

[vllygrrl]

Very cool! We are going in November too and taking the train back from WDW to Lorton (driving down though). I hope you enjoy the train!

We're doing the exact same thing on our trip! It's (relatively) easy to drive down, because you're excited to get there, but the drive home is always such a nightmare. DH says "Why take all that time to get de-stressed" only to ruin it by driving home?"

 

[maybegoofy]

also driving down and taking the train back make for a more relaxing trip home in nov .it will our 6 auto train trip.but will probably be alot of snowbirds heading north to visit family for thanksgiving like last year.and i just get the feeling some done like families with young kids.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

also driving down and taking the train back make for a more relaxing trip home in nov .it will our 6 auto train trip.but will probably be alot of snowbirds heading north to visit family for thanksgiving like last year.and i just get the feeling some done like families with young kids.

Tough Noogies, Snowbirds!
They are on their way to visit the grandkids anyway!
It's best that your kids get them acclimated to the noise and activity before they get to their destination.
You are really doing them a service!

My kids will be the "warm up act" for the snowbirds' thanksgiving celebration on 11/21. If any train snobs are in attendance, I suggest you buy the Bose headphones.

bob

 

[maybegoofy]

we will be heading north on nov 22 ,dw ,ds12,dd 10 ,ds 9 who get to celebrate his birthday at disney and me celebrating my birthday for part of the day at disney and the rest of the day on the autotrain .

 

[daraddg]

considering doing the autotrain in late aug but it is me and my 2 kids (6&9) we cant afford a room .Is coach safe since the seats are 2 and there will be 3 of us so I cant sit right with them?

 

[Marshay]

considering doing the autotrain in late aug but it is me and my 2 kids (6&9) we cant afford a room .Is coach safe since the seats are 2 and there will be 3 of us so I cant sit right with them?

Yes, I think the seats are very safe. Unless the train is jammed, you'll end up with 4 seats ... probably across from each other (which is what I'd ask for). It's actually perfect as it will allow one of you to spread out and you'll be in eye contact with each other. If your kids get along well, they may even want to sit together (watch a movie, play video game or other game if you have those things).

As for sleeping, the aisles are really only about 2-3' apart so you aren't that far from them and if you can convince the kids to sleep together on their seats, once again, you can spread out on your 2 seats and it's a lot more comfy that way.

I'd say go for it!

FYI -- For the dining car, they may sit a solo person together with you, depending how crowded it is. They try to use all seats. Also, in the lounge car, someone may ask to join you to watch the movie. They only have booths for so many people and it does get crowded.

 

[daraddg]

Thanks for the info!

 

[NJBILL]

We have no issues with coach. Most people abide by the rules and we have done it 4 times with kids. You can also bring a cooler for drinks and food if you like.

To check your travel weather go to www.travelweather.weebly.com

 

[daraddg]

I thought I read all passengers on the auto train have meals included but have seen a couple blogs where people talk about the dining for sleeper cars only...am I mistaken do only sleeper cars get meals included? And is there a crowd predictor site anywhere for the auto train ? Wondering if I am going during a busy time of year? The rate down to fla are good but jump on the way back.We would go down around aug 22 and come back sept 2 or 3.

 

[chartle]

I thought I read all passengers on the auto train have meals included but have seen a couple blogs where people talk about the dining for sleeper cars only...am I mistaken do only sleeper cars get meals included? And is there a crowd predictor site anywhere for the auto train ? Wondering if I am going during a busy time of year? The rate down to fla are good but jump on the way back.We would go down around aug 22 and come back sept 2 or 3.

Everyone gets two meals. A full dinner and a continental breakfast.

The sleeper passengers get a better choice of selections than coach. You may have been reading a blog that was for a non autotrain trip.

As for the rates, I guess its the times I have gone or checked out rates but up is always more expensive than down.

I've found this site to have the best info about the AT http://www.on-track-on-line.com/autotrain-tips.shtml

 

[NJRRK]

I thought I read all passengers on the auto train have meals included but have seen a couple blogs where people talk about the dining for sleeper cars only...am I mistaken do only sleeper cars get meals included? And is there a crowd predictor site anywhere for the auto train ? Wondering if I am going during a busy time of year? The rate down to fla are good but jump on the way back.We would go down around aug 22 and come back sept 2 or 3.

The Autotrain, unlike other Amtrak trains, includes a sit-down dinner and a continental breakfast for all passengers. On most Amtrak trains only sleeping car passengers get free meals, all others pay for their meals.

The Autotrain has two different dining cars, one for first-class (sleeping car) passengers, the other for Coach passengers. The food is ok in the coach diner and good to very good in the first-class diner.

i don't know about a crowd predictor for the Autotrain but I have found that weekends cost more than weekdays.

 

[christinou]

Meals are included for all passengers, the dining rooms are different for coach and sleepers, but everyone gets a meal. I find the autotrain very safe, I think that part of the safe feeling, is that the train does not stop, so you don't have people constantly on and off.

 

[labdogs42]

If you have ridden in coach, what does everyone wear to sleep? Do you change for "bedtime"? Just wear comfy clothes the whole time and not change? How does that work? I'll be on the AT at this time next week, so I need to know!

 

[lpizzuro123]

We generally wear jeans and a t-shirt with a sweatshirt over it. I also usually wear crocs and my DH wears sneakers. It usually gets cold during the night. They do provide very thin blankets and tiny pillows. We always say we are going to bring our own but we never do. Next time though I think I will bring a throw. When sleeping I just leave on what I have on. Sometimes I take my shoes off but you need to put them back on if you are moving around the train. That is why I just like something I can stick my feet in.

The restrooms are downstairs. There is one large one that is handicap - but I usually like to use that one. There are two or three very small rooms and then there is one with a "lounge" for ladies only. In that one there is a vanity with two sinks and two stools and then a toilet in its own little stall. This is the one I usually use at night to take out my contacts and remove my makeup. Yes, I do wear my contacts and makeup on the train. I never leave home without it. If you are traveling with kids you might want to use the large one and take the kids in with you. I don't think you can get more then one person in the smaller rooms.

Depending on how crowded the train is, you should be able to get more then one seat per person. When we went down this past October the train was very crowded so we only got two seats. On the way home the train was empty so we got two seats each. This makes it alittle more comfortable for sleeping.

Also, I have not read through the whole thread but usually they try to keep people with kids in their own car (also depending on how crowded the train is).

We love the Autotrain and plan on taking it again this coming February for our next vacation.

Linda