All about the Autotrain

[jad215]

It must have been a test. I just found this on the Amtrak website:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1251623624304

so they are going to start offering this a as a paid option for only 20 cars per train!

I hope they are still "testing" when we leave on the 24th, we can't add it since it's before the official start date.

 

[jlhill4444]

So, it is $50 to get priority boarding for your car. That seems high to me and not really worth the price unless you are trying to make a cruise or some other non refundable reservation. Since the train can be delayed at any time this still does not fix that problem. I think I will be skipping that on our next trip.

 

[scooffer]

Yes got a flyer, " upgrade to make your vehicle one of the first 20 to exit the train" starts April 29 if you have a reservation for after that date you can add it now!

 

[scooffer]

So, it is $50 to get priority boarding for your car. That seems high to me and not really worth the price unless you are trying to make a cruise or some other non refundable reservation. Since the train can be delayed at any time this still does not fix that problem. I think I will be skipping that on our next trip.

I would say it depends on how you value your time... Last year we waited over an hour for our car. With a 5 and 3 year old it felt like 3 hours! I would have done it! Granted we were in coach last year, so no shower and really cranky!

Waiting now for them to hook up all the cars, had my wine sampleS and more cheese than I needed!

 

[KSL]

Priority Vehicle Offloading - we added it and we're thrilled. For us, a family of five, paying basically $10 per person to ensure we are one of the first cars off the train is worth it. True, someone will be the lucky 21st vehicle off and not have to pay an extra dime, but we are OK with paying for it as we waited a loooooong time in both directions last time and this will get our vacation off to an even better start. In the event the train is delayed, we will know at least we can maximize our time from that point. We did not feel compelled to be among the first cars unloaded on trip home, lol!

 

[Marshay]

Thanks for the info on priority off loading. That is ridiculously expensive and we will not be doing that. I much rather spend it at Disney -- that's a good CS with drinks and desserts for our family.

My 4 and 7 yo can play on the playground and play their games while waiting. We've never been last but we have been in the bottom 20 and even then it was only 45 minutes...very doable for us.

I agree with PP, it's not like your train is getting in any quicker ... At a minimum you save just a few minutes and at a maximum, maybe an hour. When I plan our schedule, arrival day for us begins at noon, so any time that we get on the road before that is just a nice bonus.

I will say I'm glad they are only doing 20 cars...personally, I hope many people don't go for this and maybe they will adjust the price -- a LOT!!

 

[KSL]

I'm surprised to see an optional $50 fee categorized as "ridiculously expensive" - I think everyone has their own perspective on what is worth spending money on; for some it's worth it while for others it's not. To each their own, but it certainly isn't "ridiculous".

 

[vacationer1954]

I agree. We probably won't spend the money because we're typically not that pressed for time but it seems like a fair amount. I think it won't be worth it if they start increasing the number to accommodate more people who want to be first.

 

[jad215]

We tend to travel in the fall (October) when the snow birds are heading to Florida. This trip we are going in April when the snow birds are heading home. So typically, it would be totally worth it for us on the way down to add priority offloading as the train tends to be packed. Coming home (which we could have added this time) isn't a big deal to us as it really doesn't matter what time we arrive home, but getting to where we are going as fast as possible at the start of our vacation would make it appealing to us.

 

[Marshay]

I'm surprised to see an optional $50 fee categorized as "ridiculously expensive" - I think everyone has their own perspective on what is worth spending money on; for some it's worth it while for others it's not. To each their own, but it certainly isn't "ridiculous".

Like you said, to each their own.

I'd love to be paid $50 for two minutes of work (assuming I am car #21 and only two minutes or even less behind those who paid).

Hey, I'd even love to be paid $50/hour assuming I was one of the last cars.

Hence, I stand by my words. $50 for 2 - 60 minutes early is not reasonable at all. At least where I come from!

Maybe you all just had some really long wait times ... In Jan when we went on a fully loaded train, not even a coach seat available we were told, we only waited 45 minutes after the first car was unloaded and we were in the last 20-ish families.

Most times we wait 20-30 minutes and we've done the train for years. I think our best was 15 minutes, 45 minutes was the worst. I agree it certainly seems longer.

However, we also do the sleeping cars and not coach anymore, and I can see how people would call that way too expensive or ridiculous. Doesn't mean I agree with them. But they can certainly say it is ridiculous just like you can say it isn't.

To each their own.

 

[scooffer]

Today's trip, complete! Pulled into Sanford 10:28am, off train 10:41, first car marked priority off at 11:03am (still testing i presume). Our car NOT priority was off at 11:16am... Best time for us ever!

This may have been mentioned in the thread somewhere... If not ... We noticed this trip there is a chess/checker ignoring on the too être tables. Could be fun to bring your own pieces!

 

[Marshay]

Today's trip, complete! Pulled into Sanford 10:28am, off train 10:41, first car marked priority off at 11:03am (still testing i presume). Our car NOT priority was off at 11:16am... Best time for us ever!

This may have been mentioned in the thread somewhere... If not ... We noticed this trip there is a chess/checker ignoring on the too être tables. Could be fun to bring your own pieces!

Wow, that is great! So happy for you it went quickly! It's like extra pixie dust for your trip. Enjoy!

Was your train slow leaving Lorton?

 

[scooffer]

Wow, that is great! So happy for you it went quickly! It's like extra pixie dust for your trip. Enjoy!

Was your train slow leaving Lorton?

No out of Lorton on time, we got held up in Florence and then again about an hour later. So 2 hour delays he could not make up.

 

[gritzel4]

Glad you had a great experience - even getting in later then scheduled. Personally, I hate when the engineer tries to "make up" delays by going faster. Back in November NB to Lorton our train arrived early (1 1/2 hours), we were going so fast that not one member of my family slept much - the screetching of the wheels woke us up at 5 a.m. and I ended up feeling the motion of the train for 3 days.

My DH is amazed that I booked us RT on AT for our Sept. trip - going to try the lower level this time - just praying I don't feel the train while at WDW.

 

[bdcp]

Glad you had a great experience - even getting in later then scheduled. Personally, I hate when the engineer tries to "make up" delays by going faster. Back in November NB to Lorton our train arrived early (1 1/2 hours), we were going so fast that not one member of my family slept much - the screetching of the wheels woke us up at 5 a.m. and I ended up feeling the motion of the train for 3 days.

My DH is amazed that I booked us RT on AT for our Sept. trip - going to try the lower level this time - just praying I don't feel the train while at WDW.

There are speed limits that are strictly enforced so they don't go "faster" to make up time. They generally do the speed limit unless there is a reason to go slower. What you had back in Nov was a trip where there were no delays or slow downs, that's all. I take my sea sickness meds when we take the train. It keeps that feeling at bay. I take Less Drowsy Dramamine/Bonine just like i do on a cruise.

 

[Disneyholic]

DH & I are on the train southbound right now. Missed the turnoff for 95 southbound getting off 695 & ended up going north for a while till we could turn around. I was panicky because we have an oversized vehicle and we had to be there by 2. We got a late start at home to begin with. We pulled in with 2 minutes to spare. Now I can relax & enjoy the ride. Dinner at 7.

 

[Marshay]

DH & I are on the train southbound right now. Missed the turnoff for 95 southbound getting off 695 & ended up going north for a while till we could turn around. I was panicky because we have an oversized vehicle and we had to be there by 2. We got a late start at home to begin with. We pulled in with 2 minutes to spare. Now I can relax & enjoy the ride. Dinner at 7.

I hope the rest of your evening went smoothly. Relax and enjoy the train!

 

[Disneyholic]

I hope the rest of your evening went smoothly. Relax and enjoy the train!

Great evening & fairly smooth night. There was a 2 hour delay starting at a little after 6 because a freight train ahead of us was having a problem.

This is the 2nd time one of our tablemates shared my birthday. Over the years on the train & on our DCL cruises there have been way too many coincidences.

It is 5am & we are just below Savannah, GA.

 

[HoltDisney07]

I have looked at a bunch of different dates, does the oversize vehicle option just not come up or does it happen to just be sold out on all the dates I am putting in?

 

[Sadie22]

I have looked at a bunch of different dates, does the oversize vehicle option just not come up or does it happen to just be sold out on all the dates I am putting in?

They upgraded the carriers at some point. The designations now are either motorcycle or vehicle.

Vehicles are: "Automobiles, vans, SUVs and trucks. Maximum length: 182 inches. Maximum height: 88 inches. Maximum width: 84 inches. Ground clearance: at least 4 inches. No dual wheel vehicles. No gull wing doors. Empty, factory-installed roof racks are okay; temporary racks are not. Luggage/bicycles may not be attached to the roof. Bicycles in bicycle racks may be attached to the back of the vehicle only. Check-in is recommended by 2:00 pm. Vehicles will not be accepted after 3:00 pm."