All about the Autotrain

[TheGirlin14G]

This thread is so helpful for me! I'm riding the autotrain for the first time next week for my move from Pennsylvania to Florida! I know I've gotten great answers here before, so I have two more questions that I'm gonna throw out there to see if anyone can help me with

1. If you book with the AAA Discount do they ask to see your AAA card? I'm a new AAA member, and I haven't received my membership card in the mail yet.. I was wondering if they'll ask to see that when I check in that at the station. I mean, it's only $10.. but still, it's $10!

2. Does the inside of your automobile get warm/hot while it's on the train? I have a small vinyl record collection that I'm bringing with me, and I'm just worried that they will get overheated and it will damage them. I'm definitely considering keeping them with me in my carry on.. I just thought it would help to hear some actual experiences

Again, thank you everyone on this thread for sharing your experiences! I love traveling.. and I've come to feel so comfortable flying that going another way is stressful for me! But you are all so helpful in my trying to figure out what I should expect!

 

[chartle]

1. If you book with the AAA Discount do they ask to see your AAA card? I'm a new AAA member, and I haven't received my membership card in the mail yet.. I was wondering if they'll ask to see that when I check in that at the station. I mean, it's only $10.. but still, it's $10!

2. Does the inside of your automobile get warm/hot while it's on the train? I have a small vinyl record collection that I'm bringing with me, and I'm just worried that they will get overheated and it will damage them. I'm definitely considering keeping them with me in my carry on.. I just thought it would help to hear some actual experiences

Again, thank you everyone on this thread for sharing your experiences! I love traveling.. and I've come to feel so comfortable flying that going another way is stressful for me! But you are all so helpful in my trying to figure out what I should expect!

1. I don't think they asked me for it.

2. Take this for what its worth. Your car is loaded at 2:00 PM up north, not sure what it will be in Lorton next week but its after the afternoon sun. The cars are shaded and ventilated and 75% of the trip will be in the dark overnight and car should be unloaded by 9:30 ish in Florida.

How many records do you have? Since if in coach you can't lock them up so you would have to carry them around and even a room doesn't lock. I think you have to balance whether they would over heat vs getting broken moving them around. The great thing is you can pack them any way you want in a car. Even in a cooler with ice. Though I doubt you would need to go that far.

 

[bdcp]

This thread is so helpful for me! I'm riding the autotrain for the first time next week for my move from Pennsylvania to Florida! I know I've gotten great answers here before, so I have two more questions that I'm gonna throw out there to see if anyone can help me with

1. If you book with the AAA Discount do they ask to see your AAA card? I'm a new AAA member, and I haven't received my membership card in the mail yet.. I was wondering if they'll ask to see that when I check in that at the station. I mean, it's only $10.. but still, it's $10!

2. Does the inside of your automobile get warm/hot while it's on the train? I have a small vinyl record collection that I'm bringing with me, and I'm just worried that they will get overheated and it will damage them. I'm definitely considering keeping them with me in my carry on.. I just thought it would help to hear some actual experiences

Again, thank you everyone on this thread for sharing your experiences! I love traveling.. and I've come to feel so comfortable flying that going another way is stressful for me! But you are all so helpful in my trying to figure out what I should expect!

Your car will get hot when it's warm and cold when it's cold. The auto carriers are ventilated but not climate controlled. I would definitely keep a vinyl record collection with me and not in my vehicle for a couple of reasons. Even if it's not extremely hot outside, the carrier will be hotter especially with the sun on it. They're metal boxes.

 

[Wishes Count]

I've searched through the thread but I know things change from year to year. I've taken the auto train in 2010 but we had a roomette, this time it is just me traveling so I am planning on taking coach.

1. Are there electrical outlets in coach? How many? Should you get there early to try to grab a seat with one (or are seats assigned?)

2. The website says to leave your car unlocked and your keys in the ignition...I don't have an ignition? I keep the remote in my pocket or purse and just get in and turn the car on. What should I do for this case.

3. Should I make any requests for specific seating areas in coach? Anyone have any suggestions?

4. Any general tips for coach? I was planning on bringing my own pillow/blanket and earplugs

 

[chartle]

I've searched through the thread but I know things change from year to year. I've taken the auto train in 2010 but we had a roomette, this time it is just me traveling so I am planning on taking coach.

1. Are there electrical outlets in coach? How many? Should you get there early to try to grab a seat with one (or are seats assigned?)

2. The website says to leave your car unlocked and your keys in the ignition...I don't have an ignition? I keep the remote in my pocket or purse and just get in and turn the car on. What should I do for this case.

3. Should I make any requests for specific seating areas in coach? Anyone have any suggestions?

4. Any general tips for coach? I was planning on bringing my own pillow/blanket and earplugs

1. Yes there is one duplex for every set of two seats. Seats are assigned so I don't know how it will work if you have the outside seat and have someone next to you. I guess you can switch and also if the train isn't full you can move.

2. You would have to leave the remote in the car somewhere. I'm sure the drivers have seen a car like this but maybe leave a note for the person taking your car off the train.

3. Some like the bottom section.

4. Travel light, you will want to take your valuable stuff with you to meals or even I guess the bathroom.

 

[FigmentChick]

Hey, all! I have a quick question I just thought about: what do you guys do with your "carry-on" items when you go to dinner (for those of you traveling coach)?

My daughter will have her knapsack with her phone, nook, etc. DS12 will have his knapsack with his DS (and maybe, by that time, my old nook), and I'm going to have both a carry-on with our needed stuff in it as well as my laptop case. I can't exactly take my laptop to dinner with me.

What do you all suggest?

 

[chartle]

Hey, all! I have a quick question I just thought about: what do you guys do with your "carry-on" items when you go to dinner (for those of you traveling coach)?

My daughter will have her knapsack with her phone, nook, etc. DS12 will have his knapsack with his DS (and maybe, by that time, my old nook), and I'm going to have both a carry-on with our needed stuff in it as well as my laptop case. I can't exactly take my laptop to dinner with me.

What do you all suggest?

The only thing you can do to assure it doesn't walk away is take it with you.

Same for the sleeper cars as they don't have a real lock. Just a privacy one for when you are in the room.

 

[Marshay]

Hey, all! I have a quick question I just thought about: what do you guys do with your "carry-on" items when you go to dinner (for those of you traveling coach)?

My daughter will have her knapsack with her phone, nook, etc. DS12 will have his knapsack with his DS (and maybe, by that time, my old nook), and I'm going to have both a carry-on with our needed stuff in it as well as my laptop case. I can't exactly take my laptop to dinner with me.

What do you all suggest?

We bring one canvas bag to carry our essentials with us to the lounge car and dining car. Whether in coach or sleeper, you should keep valuables with you. It is a bit of a pain, but better safe than missing. We store it under the table or next to us on the lounge or dinner seats. There is not a lot of room so really only bring what you need, not the extras like cases, batteries, extra cartridges, headphones, etc.

That said, we have also just "hidden" some of our things and hoped for the best. Nothing has been stolen.

 

[Marshay]

Finally convinced my parents to try the AT again, but this time in a Roomette instead of coach. They will be right next to our family room. Thankfully, they got a cheap price since we leave for WDW on Thanksgiving day.

I'm really hoping they like it, as the travel from PA to FL is getting to be too much for my dad to do by himself.

 

[bdcp]

The only thing you can do to assure it doesn't walk away is take it with you.

Same for the sleeper cars as they don't have a real lock. Just a privacy one for when you are in the room.

One of my carryons is a tote bag that has my kindle, jewelry, id's, cc's, passports (we usually cruise when we go to FL), cash, etc. We leave our laptops in a backpack in our room or at our seats and have never had a problem. The one thing I won't do is leave something of value out in plain sight. We usually lock the backpack so nothing can just be taken out of it.

 

[FigmentChick]

One of my carryons is a tote bag that has my kindle, jewelry, id's, cc's, passports (we usually cruise when we go to FL), cash, etc. We leave our laptops in a backpack in our room or at our seats and have never had a problem. The one thing I won't do is leave something of value out in plain sight. We usually lock the backpack so nothing can just be taken out of it.

Putting a lock on the case seems to be a good idea. I should have mentioned that my laptop case is more like a tote bag than a big briefcase (the bulkiness was getting to me).

But I probably won't have to worry about anything anyway. Hubby suffers from agoraphobia and most likely won't leave his seat unless he has to go to the bathroom. So, we can just make sure all the items are in his line of sight.

Thank you all. I know I'm still 5.5 months away, but I'm so excited and just can't wait for our trip.

 

[jlhill4444]

Yay!!! The return trip on July 2 went down in price and I just called and received $134 returned to me. So keep checking those rates, they can always go down. I now have both the trip down and back at the lowest rates they offer. No more needless checking anymore.

 

[FigmentChick]

Yay!!! The return trip on July 2 went down in price and I just called and received $134 returned to me. So keep checking those rates, they can always go down. I now have both the trip down and back at the lowest rates they offer. No more needless checking anymore.

Wonderful!!!!

 

[Marshay]

Yay!!! The return trip on July 2 went down in price and I just called and received $134 returned to me. So keep checking those rates, they can always go down. I now have both the trip down and back at the lowest rates they offer. No more needless checking anymore.

Congrats! Now you can add an ADR somewhere nice!! Hehe

 

[jlhill4444]

Congrats! Now you can add an ADR somewhere nice!! Hehe

I have too many ADRs so now I can pay for them all!!! Lol!!

 

[monorailsilver]

Yay!!! The return trip on July 2 went down in price and I just called and received $134 returned to me. So keep checking those rates, they can always go down. I now have both the trip down and back at the lowest rates they offer. No more needless checking anymore.

This is good no know. So if the rate drops then I get a refund, not a credit, right?

Most likely we are taking the AT next April vs flying. We drove this past April and VA, NC and SC made us miserable. Nothing to see/long states. I'd rather be in traffic then drive those states again!

I can start looking next week, I think for prices and I should book earlier, right?

We aren't going to Disney but to ft. Myers but on the way back On my way! We can stop for lunch I hope in DtD.

 

[jlhill4444]

Yes, if you call in and ask they can return the money to your original form of payment, minus a $13 refund fee. They actually cancel your current reservation and rebook. It took all of 5 minutes.

 

[dsnycrzy]

Ok I'm asking as clarification, so prices are going down? And for what month if that matters. I have 2 ressies in August totaling $1555! I could sure use some money back LOL

 

[jlhill4444]

Price can go up and down between now and your trip dates. You just have to plug your dates in and check occasionally. If you see a lower price you can call in and have the difference rebated. Make sure it is worth the $13 fee though. Also they won't raise your fares back if they go up.

 

[jwboucher]

Can you use a small fan on the train?