All about the Autotrain

[christinou]

I am looking at taking the auto train in sept. It would be just byself and my DD6 and DS4. I am assuming that in coach the chairs are in sets of 2. Like 2 together, and aisle and then 2 more seats? Would it be a big issue if I went coach with the kids? I am not worried about them sleeping (we can all sleep anywhere). I have sat them together ona cross-country flight and I sat across the aisle.

I guess I am wondering if it is ok to set them together on the train with me across. Or would it really be better to get the family suite? Was really trying to save some money.

coach would be fine and chances are there will not be anyone next to you.

 

[Marshay]

I am with you on this one. We've gone almost every January with the auto train and the prices for Jan. 2012 seem crazy! The prices for Jan. 2012 are 300.00 more (for a family of 5) than we paid in Jan. 2011. In our experience, the cost usually went up about 25-50.00 each year in total, not 300. I'm not sure what's going on...
Jan. 2011 it cost us about 900, and for Jan. 2012 it seems to be over 1200 (and that's with the 10% AAA discount)

Thanks for the info! It just seemed very $$$ for this time. But I went ahead and booked for Jan 19 and Jan 28. I did 2 one-ways, we may just decide to drive down and do train on the return...we did that 2x now and found that to be a good alternative -- not as $$$ but still the great train ride.

We usually fly, but have decided to drive to Florida and take the Autotrain home for our August trip. We are a family of four (our boys are 10 and 8) and we have opted for the Family Bedroom.

Still not quite sure if this is the right choice, but it seems like driving 17 hours home after 12 days of vacation will be tedious and depressing. We're hoping this will be an interesting new experience for all of us.

Thanks to those of you who post all about your past experiences. This thread has provided a wealth of information.

You will definitely love the train as opposed to driving after spending 12 days in WDW! It's so relaxing and actually is fun -- it continues the vacation.

As PP said, you may find issues with your boys on the "children's bunks". I suggest you tell them to sleep curled up! They won't be able to stretch out.

Now DH and I slept together on the lower bunk (think spooning), so if you can do that, then the biggest kid can have the top bunk and maybe the other kid can sort of sleep partly on the child bed with legs hanging over on the top bunk?

I believe 2 roomettes are more expensive than one family bedroom...but it may be worth it if you have 2 lanky kids who sleep spread out. Then again, you'll only talking a few hours. We staying up until 10:30pm for my 5 yo and midnight for us and were up at 6am (breakfast stops being served around 7am I think), so it's not that long.

You'll also get to see the Roomettes so if the family room doesn't work out but you like the train travel, you'll know for next time!

 

[ksc37]

I did check out the size of the beds (4'7" and 4'9") and right now my 10 year old is 4'9" and my 8 year old is 4'6", so it will be a tight squeeze (they will need to curl up).

The 2 roomettes do cost more than the family bedroom, which was a factor. Also, I like the idea of having a little bit of space to move around when the room is in 'sitting' mode. Maybe I'll look at it again, though.

 

[dsousa]

Is anyone interested in pics of the Handicapped Accessible roomette? I have some from last summer.

traveling autotrain in august
Would you happen to have any pics of wheelchair cabin beds down??
Thanks

 

[pwdebbie]

Having looked repeatedly at the pictures of the coach seats and the various bedding options, I think I know just what I want now. Two coach seats in a private compartment. Shame that isn't a choice. I'm sure we would both sleep more comfortably in the coach seats but we don't want to sleep with a bunch of strangers around us, just seems weird to do that.

 

[Maryrn11168]

We are traveling in August. It will be me, DH, DS (12), DD(9), and DS(8). We are going coach and that is fine. My question is should we book lower level as opposed to just a regular coach seats??

We have driven long distances, flown and cruised so motion sickness is not a factor. I just want to know which is a more enjoyable ride. I am also looking forward to seing some of the country as we travel, so I think the lower level may be boring. Any insights from experienced riders??

Thanks, Mary

 

[bdcp]

Having looked repeatedly at the pictures of the coach seats and the various bedding options, I think I know just what I want now. Two coach seats in a private compartment. Shame that isn't a choice. I'm sure we would both sleep more comfortably in the coach seats but we don't want to sleep with a bunch of strangers around us, just seems weird to do that.

We've done it twice in coach and while it may sound weird at first, it's really not. Believe it or not, with the distance between your seat and the people in front of you and back, as well as across the aisle, combined with the height of the seats, you really won't notice them much. Other than some snoring and occasional talking, most people are very quiet and polite. We did have an old couple across the aisle from us on our last return trip in 2008 who apparently couldn't hear each other if they whispered so they carried on a conversation part of the night. That was annoying, but it wasn't a deal breaker. We sleep better in coach than in a roomette.

 

[Cupmom]

Just booked a roomette for me and my DS10. Will we have enough room? Also I am booked in CAR 5342 and friends are in CAR 5340 ..how close will we be?

 

[bdcp]

I didn't think they assigned cars until you checked in at the station. I know they don't assign rooms until then, but I thought all you were given was a reservation type.

 

[Cupmom]

Not true..My friends are got the car and room letters and I got mine Room 6.

 

[NJBILL]

Just booked a roomette for me and my DS10. Will we have enough room? Also I am booked in CAR 5342 and friends are in CAR 5340 ..how close will we be?

Yes. You will each have your own bed, which folds up to bench seats. Cozy but very doable. Enjoy!! As an FYI, there is a supermarket and large shopping center on block from the station in Lorton, so you can grab some snacks or kill some time if you want before your trip. I think I spent like $30 on soda, Ice cream, Adult beverages and snacks on our last trip..

 

[bdcp]

Not true..My friends are got the car and room letters and I got mine Room 6.

I never said it was "true" or not. What I said was "I didn't think that's what they did". But, it's been over 4 years since we had a roomette (never again, way too small and cramped when the beds are set up) so I don't remember exactly, but, hey, thanks. I thought someone else might post about their experiences with it. I figured you posted what you knew.

 

[christinou]

Just booked a roomette for me and my DS10. Will we have enough room? Also I am booked in CAR 5342 and friends are in CAR 5340 ..how close will we be?

This happened to us once, they assigned us 2 roomettes in 2 different car, I just called Amtrak and had them change it to 2 roomettes across from each other, as we travel with our kids, we really do want them close by. We have always been assigned rooms when we made the reservations. When traveling coach we got assigned when we checked in.

 

[Henlady]

When we made our AutoTrain reservations in December '10 for May '11, we booked roomettes and we were assigned a specific roomette and car at that time. They also did the same thing for our May '10 trip, but I don't remember them doing that in past years. Must be something recent in the last year or so.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

Just an FYI: United Mileage plus can now be transferred 1:1 to Continental Onepass miles; which then can be transferred 1:1 to Amtrak Miles. What does that all mean re: the Autotrain?
60,000 United/Continental miles can be used to book a Family Bedroom for 2 adults 2 kids, and a car roundtrip. Our trip in November cost over $2000 to book cash and we got it free from using Continental miles. This is easily the cheapest way in points for our family of 4 to travel to disney. Good Luck booking!

 

[christinou]

Just an FYI: United Mileage plus can now be transferred 1:1 to Continental Onepass miles; which then can be transferred 1:1 to Amtrak Miles. What does that all mean re: the Autotrain?
60,000 United/Continental miles can be used to book a Family Bedroom for 2 adults 2 kids, and a car roundtrip. Our trip in November cost over $2000 to book cash and we got it free from using Continental miles. This is easily the cheapest way in points for our family of 4 to travel to disney. Good Luck booking!

wow that is great where did you find that out, I have lots of USairways mile would love it if I could use them that way.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

wow that is great where did you find that out, I have lots of USairways mile would love it if I could use them that way.

Here is the direct transfer tool.https://secure.unitedmileageplus.com/MP1101OPTM.jsp?I=1
then call onepass service to transfer the miles to Amtrak.

bob

 

[shafke]

Just booked a roomette for me and my DS10. Will we have enough room? Also I am booked in CAR 5342 and friends are in CAR 5340 ..how close will we be?

Car 5340 and 5342 are right next to each other.

 

[Marshay]

We are traveling in August. It will be me, DH, DS (12), DD(9), and DS(8). We are going coach and that is fine. My question is should we book lower level as opposed to just a regular coach seats??

I'd recommend booking the upper level -- you can see more, the lounge car and dining cars are on the upper level and [mostly] only the elderly people are taking the lower level cars. (obviously, not everyone on the lower level is handicapped or elderly but many are.)

You'll find more kids on the upper level and who knows? maybe your kids will find a friend to play/talk/with. There are also more seats in the upper level so chances are you can spread out a bit more (2 seats to one person), if it isn't crowded.

Also, you don't get the bathroom "issues" on the upper level.

We've done it twice in coach and while it may sound weird at first, it's really not. Believe it or not, with the distance between your seat and the people in front of you and back, as well as across the aisle, combined with the height of the seats, you really won't notice them much. Other than some snoring and occasional talking, most people are very quiet and polite. We did have an old couple across the aisle from us on our last return trip in 2008 who apparently couldn't hear each other if they whispered so they carried on a conversation part of the night. That was annoying, but it wasn't a deal breaker. We sleep better in coach than in a roomette.

I too, was suprised by how spread out everyone was in coach. It is definitely NOT like the airplane. Unless you are really a "private" person, you shouldn't mind it that much. And when you take the hours away that you are in the lounge car and the dining car, it really isn't that long (maybe 5-8 hours total) that you are sitting in your seat with everyone else.

I didn't think they assigned cars until you checked in at the station. I know they don't assign rooms until then, but I thought all you were given was a reservation type.

Funny -- I was just looking at this. In Nov 2010 we were assigned our car in advance but when I made our ressie for May 2011, it did not list the car #.

Just an FYI: United Mileage plus can now be transferred 1:1 to Continental Onepass miles; which then can be transferred 1:1 to Amtrak Miles. What does that all mean re: the Autotrain?
60,000 United/Continental miles can be used to book a Family Bedroom for 2 adults 2 kids, and a car roundtrip. Our trip in November cost over $2000 to book cash and we got it free from using Continental miles. This is easily the cheapest way in points for our family of 4 to travel to disney. Good Luck booking!

Thanks for the info! I may not have a lot of miles but anything will help!

Do you know, if you just do one-way, is it 30,000 miles? We may not get to 60K but 30K is prob doable.

 

[artesian]

I'd recommend booking the upper level -- you can see more, the lounge car and dining cars are on the upper level and [mostly] only the elderly people are taking the lower level cars. (obviously, not everyone on the lower level is handicapped or elderly but many are.)

You'll find more kids on the upper level and who knows? maybe your kids will find a friend to play/talk/with. There are also more seats in the upper level so chances are you can spread out a bit more (2 seats to one person), if it isn't crowded.

Also, you don't get the bathroom "issues" on the upper level.




I too, was suprised by how spread out everyone was in coach. It is definitely NOT like the airplane. Unless you are really a "private" person, you shouldn't mind it that much. And when you take the hours away that you are in the lounge car and the dining car, it really isn't that long (maybe 5-8 hours total) that you are sitting in your seat with everyone else.



Funny -- I was just looking at this. In Nov 2010 we were assigned our car in advance but when I made our ressie for May 2011, it did not list the car #.



Thanks for the info! I may not have a lot of miles but anything will help!

Do you know, if you just do one-way, is it 30,000 miles? We may not get to 60K but 30K is prob doable.

This me curious now. How can I book using Continental miles?