All about the Autotrain

[lucyem]

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!

I did not see a single person change. Honestly I would not want to change. You are in a small bathroom of dubious cleanliness while being bumped around the small space. We just wore comfy clothing. My DS in sweatpants, t-shirt and sweatshirt. I had on yoga pants, t-shirt and sweatshirt. Both of us had slip on shoes we took off to sleep. We also each had a full size pillow and fleece blanket we brought from home. My advice would be to bring your own. It might seem a hassle but at 3am you will be very glad you did What they have on the train are tiny doll size pillows and rough little blankets that get handed out each trip with only the tiny pillow case being changed. As far as I saw the blankets were folded nicely and put back on the shelf to get handed to the next group of people. Why else would the conductor spend 20 minutes folding them so nicely? When we got to WDW I took all our clothing, pillows and blankets and washed them in hot water first thing.

 

[Henlady]

I also take a flat sheet and cover the seat (backrest and actual seat part) with it. It is much more comfortable and "clean" to be against your own sheet than against a seat that probably thousands of people have occupied before you. I just fold it up along with a throw and place it inside the pillowcase of the pillow that I take. All nice and compact.

 

[labdogs42]

I did not see a single person change. Honestly I would not want to change. You are in a small bathroom of dubious cleanliness while being bumped around the small space. We just wore comfy clothing. My DS in sweatpants, t-shirt and sweatshirt. I had on yoga pants, t-shirt and sweatshirt. Both of us had slip on shoes we took off to sleep. We also each had a full size pillow and fleece blanket we brought from home. My advice would be to bring your own.

OK, cool. That's what I was thinking. Dress comfy and sleep in our clothes. We are planning to bring our own blankets and pillows as well. Thanks so much! I'm getting so excited! 6 more days!

 

[Hopefully]

Do folks change to sleep in the bedrooms, or is is usually the same, sleep in comfy clothes?
I have read that the trip form the AT to WDW is about an hour. Is that correct?
Does anyone have suggestions about a grocery on the way to/near WDW? We will be staying at BCV and want some groceries for our Villa.
TIA,
This is a great thread.

 

[chartle]

Do folks change to sleep in the bedrooms, or is is usually the same, sleep in comfy clothes?

I would say yes since you have the privacy of a door and no one is going to see you in your jammies or or what ever you do or don't wear to bed.

 

[sraiford]

We just wore a dressy sweatsuit~ They were really comfy plus with a zip jacket you take it off or keep it on depending on the temp. We also took our own pillow to sleep on!

 

[MinnieGi]

Do folks change to sleep in the bedrooms, or is is usually the same, sleep in comfy clothes?
I have read that the trip form the AT to WDW is about an hour. Is that correct?
Does anyone have suggestions about a grocery on the way to/near WDW? We will be staying at BCV and want some groceries for our Villa.
TIA,
This is a great thread.

We are taking the autotrain next month and have a sleeper car. I am bringing pj's for the kids as my kids will not want to sleep in their clothes even if they are comfy. That is just my kids though. They have balked at other times I have mentioned that sleeping in their sweats would be just fine - they need to have their pj's!!!

 

[lucyem]

Do folks change to sleep in the bedrooms, or is is usually the same, sleep in comfy clothes?
I have read that the trip form the AT to WDW is about an hour. Is that correct?
Does anyone have suggestions about a grocery on the way to/near WDW? We will be staying at BCV and want some groceries for our Villa.
TIA,
This is a great thread.

I would not change even in a sleeper. But thats just me. I imagine some people do change, especially kids.

It was just under an hour from the train to AKL.

For grocery shopping I know there is a Target and other similar stores around WDW. I would probably wait, get through Orlando and shop closer to the resorts.

 

[DizneySoulMates]

Hi. We are taking our first trip aboard the Auto Train in December. Can't wait!!! I have a question regarding the beverages available in the sleeper part of the train. I have read that they have coffee and tea available 24/7. How about soda? Is that available 24/7? TIA

 

[kkleiner]

Hi, Is it the case that the only way to sleep 5 is to have a bedroom suite or to have a family bedroom and 1 roomette? Hard to get pricing that way online, as you can't pick 2 rooms for 1 booking?

Of course coach is an option but I don't think anybody would get sleep...


Thanks.

 

[NJBILL]

Hi, Is it the case that the only way to sleep 5 is to have a bedroom suite or to have a family bedroom and 1 roomette? Hard to get pricing that way online, as you can't pick 2 rooms for 1 booking?

Of course coach is an option but I don't think anybody would get sleep...


Thanks.

We have fit 5 @ adults 3 kids into two roomettes..It was tight but manageble if you kids are under 10 or small in build. It won't let you book 5 online but you can if you call.

 

[PEANUT1]

Hi. We are taking our first trip aboard the Auto Train in December. Can't wait!!! I have a question regarding the beverages available in the sleeper part of the train. I have read that they have coffee and tea available 24/7. How about soda? Is that available 24/7? TIA

there is coffe, tea, hot chocolate and bottled water available all the time and free of charge..you have to pay for soda unless it is during meal time..then they will give it to you. There is a bar in the lounge area...I am not sure if it is open 24/7 or not..we didn't go up to the lounge past like 9pm bc our kids go to sleep early.

 

[PEANUT1]

We have fit 5 @ adults 3 kids into two roomettes..It was tight but manageble if you kids are under 10 or small in build. It won't let you book 5 online but you can if you call.

wow..those roomettes are so tiny..I wouldn't want to have 5...I don't think I'd want 4 in 2 rooms either

 

[DizneySoulMates]

there is coffe, tea, hot chocolate and bottled water available all the time and free of charge..you have to pay for soda unless it is during meal time..then they will give it to you. There is a bar in the lounge area...I am not sure if it is open 24/7 or not..we didn't go up to the lounge past like 9pm bc our kids go to sleep early.

Thanks Peanut. I was following your live report. Have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[Marshay]

Just got back from Disney yesterday ... took the Autotrain for our first time in a Family Room (previously did coach).

Train was soooooooooo empty, it was great!

DH decided that we aren't doing coach anymore.

Only disappointing thing for me was that we met someone else who got a family room only 3-4 weeks ago and they paid $200 less. I didn't even think of checking back on-line closer to our date since everyone said that Amtrak doesn't lower its prices as the date approaches. Silly me!!

I learned my lesson now!

 

[labdogs42]

I just returned from our Autotrain trip today! It was fantastic! We did coach this time, but I'll have to check into the rooms for next time. While I slept great in coach, my DH did not. We had a great time and would do it again for sure! I took a bunch of pictures, so when I get them all downloaded, etc., I'll post some for you!

 

[lpizzuro123]

So glad you had a great time. Looking forward to seeing the pictures. My DH also has a hard time sleeping on the train although last time he was ok and slept.

We had a sleeper once (the smallest and it was REALLY small) my DH had a hard time sleeping there also. You sleep on like bunk beds and the upper bunk you lay down and you feet are in the direction of the way the train is going (due to the way the upper bunk is). He got alittle seasick (or train sick I guess). We switched and I went to the upper bunk and he took the lower and this was much better for him. In the lower bunk you can sleep with your head going in the direction of the train and for some reason he was much better with this.

Glad you had a good time and can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Linda

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

So excited we are taking the auto train in may! We are doing it is because of my son's love of trains! He will love it! I am excited too because i was about 15 years ago when I rode it!

 

[Marshay]

I just returned from our Autotrain trip today! It was fantastic! We did coach this time, but I'll have to check into the rooms for next time. While I slept great in coach, my DH did not. We had a great time and would do it again for sure! I took a bunch of pictures, so when I get them all downloaded, etc., I'll post some for you!

Yeah! I was wondering how the train was for you!

My DH is 6'6" and sharing a 2-seat section with one of our daughters is not comfortable for him at all. He loved the family room ... and as I mentioned above, I really liked it too!

I'll be posting pics from my trip, too! I'll try to send a link once I get to train day.

So excited we are taking the auto train in may! We are doing it is because of my son's love of trains! He will love it! I am excited too because i was about 15 years ago when I rode it!

So excited for you! We booked for May, too. I went back to see if the prices had changed at all and they had no more family room available ... so glad we booked when we did.

We're actually taking the train both ways next time, since we loved it so much! Maybe once our girls are tweens/teens, it might be easier to drive since they can entertain themselves ... but with small kids, the train IMHO beats driving or flying! I'm a convert now!

 

[labdogs42]

Oh yeah, we did luck out that the train wasn't full going either direction, so we all had two seats to ourselves both ways. That was nice.