All about the Autotrain

[Marshay]

Just curious, what are your dates? I booked for Nov 28th southbound and got the family bedroom for $200-something. Thought that was a great price.

Just checked my date again and see that it went up to $360 since I bought it...

 

[bdcp]

Just curious, what are your dates? I booked for Nov 28th southbound and got the family bedroom for $200-something. Thought that was a great price.

Family bedroom is cheaper than the regular bedroom. It's just DH and I so we want the regular bedroom. We're going south Oct 31 and returning two weeks later.

 

[vacationer1954]

I think that's surprising to most people, that the family bedroom which is so much larger than the regular bedroom, is almost always less expensive because it doesn't have all the facilities of the regular bedroom.

 

[lindap1]

Just checked my date again and see that it went up to $360 since I bought it...

The lady at Amtrak told me that as the demand for the rooms become more...the price goes up. So you got the first one for your time period as did I. I called back 10 minutes later after getting the family bedroom for $260 and the price had jumped up to $360

 

[Marshay]

Family bedroom is cheaper than the regular bedroom. It's just DH and I so we want the regular bedroom. We're going south Oct 31 and returning two weeks later.

Oh, that's a great time to go!

 

[Marshay]

I think that's surprising to most people, that the family bedroom which is so much larger than the regular bedroom, is almost always less expensive because it doesn't have all the facilities of the regular bedroom.

Yeah, it doesn't have the bath and shower......I'm glad it's cheaper but bigger!

 

[Marshay]

The lady at Amtrak told me that as the demand for the rooms become more...the price goes up. So you got the first one for your time period as did I. I called back 10 minutes later after getting the family bedroom for $260 and the price had jumped up to $360

Yeah, they must only have a room or two at the cheap price, bc it goes quickly!

 

[TreesyB]

I swear I replied to this yesterday, so here goes again. I would call Amtrak and ask. I would probably also book 4 tickets to protect against price increases. So long as you aren't "ticketed" you can always cancel 2 seats; but if you wait to book the additional 2 seats and the price goes up; that is the price you will pay.

Thanks for this. That's good to know, because my next question was what about if I booked now and cancelled later. However, if I cancel later, I don't get a refund, do I?

 

[Marshay]

Thanks for this. That's good to know, because my next question was what about if I booked now and cancelled later. However, if I cancel later, I don't get a refund, do I?

Amtrak started a new refund policy, so go to their site to see it.

In general, you can get a full refund as a credit to use at Amtrak within 1 year. If you want the cash instead they will keep 10% or $100 (check for exact number) and give you the rest.

 

[bdcp]

Oh, that's a great time to go!

I was just reading your trip report from I think 2011. Anyway, noticed you live in "the Farm". LOL, we lived there (near Stone Bridge HS) from '95-'03. We now live near Brambleton, still in Ashburn, barely

 

[goofyfigment]

Im debating on doing this, sell me on it

 

[Marshay]

I was just reading your trip report from I think 2011. Anyway, noticed you live in "the Farm". LOL, we lived there (near Stone Bridge HS) from '95-'03. We now live near Brambleton, still in Ashburn, barely

Wow, we are so close!

I was at a parade in Leesburg last year and met a disser who recognized me from one of my TR. small world!

 

[lindap1]

Im debating on doing this, sell me on it

Arrive at Train station-they slap a number on your vehicle-you check in-board train-have dinner on train-relaxing train ride watching scenery go by-arrive in Florida next morning-have breakfast on train-receive your vehicle. What makes this awesome is: you're not 10000+ feet in the air, your not putting wear and tear on your vehicle driving to Florida, you can move around the train (to the dinner car, snack car and watch a movie), relax in your seat or room and watch the world go by, you can over pack your vehicle with everything you'll need , you don't have to rent a car when you arrive to florida (if you'll need a vehicle), oh and did I mention your not 10,000+ feet in the aie.
Downsides to this are: there really aren't any besides the fact that it's a 17 hour ride (but then again..travel is at night when your sleeping). Can you tell I love the auto train and that i don't like to fly ?

 

[goofyfigment]

Very good points. I just did the drive over Xmas and after being stuck in traffic and the trip taking almost 5 hours longer than it should have, i vowed never again. The only thing with the train is i have to leave a day earlier than if i fly. Right now for my dates its 550 for me and my car (no room) so if i can't get a flight and rental under this amount i guess ill do this and leave a day earlier

 

[chartle]

1. Arrive at Train station-they slap a number on your vehicle-you check in-board train-have dinner on train-relaxing train ride watching scenery go by-arrive in Florida next morning-have breakfast on train-receive your vehicle. What makes this awesome is: you're not 10000+ feet in the air, your not putting wear and tear on your vehicle driving to Florida, you can move around the train (to the dinner car, snack car and watch a movie), relax in your seat or room and watch the world go by,

2. you can over pack your vehicle with everything you'll need , you don't have to rent a car when you arrive to florida (if you'll need a vehicle), oh and did I mention your not 10,000+ feet in the aie.

3. Downsides to this are: there really aren't any besides the fact that it's a 17 hour ride (but then again..travel is at night when your sleeping).

4. Can you tell I love the auto train and that i don't like to fly ?

Adding my 2 cents.

1. all good

2. really good, everything you take to WDW doesn't have to fit in a suitcase. You can just throw the bag that holds your pool shoes or bathing suits or whatever in the truck or even stuff it in some cuby hole. Also its your car. I hate to rent cars since i'm afraid they will charge me for some ding I missed picking it up.

3. I do have an issue with the timing and its because of where we live. We are in South West Pennsylvania. Its about a 5 hour drive to Lorton and out of our way. We could leave at the same time, drive south instead of south east, stay over night and continue to WDW the next morning in about the same amount of time.

4. My wife also hates flying.

 

[Marshay]

We love the train for all the reasons above -- we do like flying, too, though but not since they added all the extra fees, raised prices, overbooked flights and grope you in the airport

The best part for us is that we are not confined to a car or airline seat. In fact on the train, it is encouraged to get up and walk around, unlike on a plane where you can get the evil eye for doing so.

The train is for people who can sit down and relax, like to get up and walk around, meet new people and enjoy the scenery along the way. It is not for people who can't sit and relax and would rather just drive the whole way without stopping b/c they'd rather "just get there", whether exhausted or not.

Here is our schedule. We always get a room now, although we did do coach one time too.

Board 3-3:30pm and go to dining car shortly afterwards. Have a glass of wine or 6 (they are small glasses and FREE!). Relax and chat with others in the booths. Eat crackers and veggies and fruit. Relax. Stretch out. Play a game of Disney Yahtzee with the kids. Did I say relax?

4pm Train departs but we are still in the lounge car. Watch scenery, esp when going over rivers -- so pretty to see all the boats, piers, etc.

4:30pm Go back to room. Relax and spread out. Girls play with toys or watch a movie. DH and I read books, play games, sleep, talk.

5:30pm Go to dining car with real tablecloth, placeware. Have carafe of wine, salad, roll, entree and dessert. Delicious! We always get the beef and it is juicy and good and meal is included in your ticket price.

6:30pm Go back to room. Organize everything for bed.

7pm Go to lounge car and watch a movie. Eat cookies and hot chocolate.

9pm Go back to room and steward has converted it over to beds. Go to sleep.

Midnight Awake when train stops to change out crews and refill. (The movement of the train rocks me to sleep but when it stops here I do always wake up)

6:30am Wake up to get continental breakfast in dining car (cereal, banana, muffins)

7:30am Go back to room (steward changed over to seats) and play games until we can disembark.

9am(ish) Arrive Sanford. Unload and wait for vehicle.

10am(ish) Drive to WDW

10:45am(ish) Stop at Wal-Mart for groceries and cheap souvenirs

11:30am Go to resort and/or theme park.

(All times on the next morning are TBD...we've gotten in as early as 8am and as late as 10:30am. If your car is the first one, you can be on the road quickly. If your car is the last ones, it can take 45 min-hour to get your car. All in the luck of the draw. However, there is a nice playground in Sanford and my kids enjoy playing on that.)

Hope this helps!

 

[goofyfigment]

Ok i think im convinced
My only concern now is that im traveling solo but im sure ill find someone to chit chat with

 

[bdcp]

Wow, we are so close!

I was at a parade in Leesburg last year and met a disser who recognized me from one of my TR. small world!

That's funny. They must have really looked at your pictures to recognize you in a parade crowd.

We were on the monorail in Nov1998 and my son had on an Oriole's shirt. The other couple onboard asked him about it. We got to talking and found out not only did they live in the Farm also, they owned the storage business on Waxpool. Our boys were teenagers and their kids were probably 3 and 5. We've run into someone from DH's work one Nov and someone we used to go to church with on that same trip.

 

[bdcp]

Ok i think im convinced
My only concern now is that im traveling solo but im sure ill find someone to chit chat with

You will. We always have nice conversations with our dinner and breakfast companions. We've also spent some time talking with people in the lounge.

 

[naf917]

I just booked our return trip home. The only bad thing is I cannot turn the car around and head back to Disney until we get to DC