All about the Autotrain

[chartle]

Can you use a small fan on the train?

How small (and how powered) and is this in coach or a room? In a room you can do pretty much anything you want. In coach you would have to make sure it didn't disturb other passengers. Don't remember if the seats had those fan ports like planes.

 

[jwboucher]

We are in coach. This is our first time. I am very concerned about being able to sleep. I am a light sleeper. I booked lower level on the way down but it was sold out for the way back by the time we decided to try the auto train. My fan is maybe 8-10 inches.

 

[monorailsilver]

Yay I just booked one way (they way back isn't out yet) for next April 2014.

This is going to be our first time on the train. I booked a roomette and a bedroom as we are a family of 5.

It was $933 one way with AAA. I am sure the the return will be more since it will be Easter weekend.

I know it will be cheaper then flying that week. Plus if we fly, we'd have to rent a car for part of the time. We aren't going to Disney but to ft. Myers and I don't want to use my sisters car the entire week.

Ok I know there was a link for the car floor plan/layout but I can't find it. I am trying to search online but I am not sure if I am finding the correct train/floor plan.

Oh and I used my Disney visa so that is more money towards my trip this summer...yay!

 

[chartle]

We are in coach. This is our first time. I am very concerned about being able to sleep. I am a light sleeper. I booked lower level on the way down but it was sold out for the way back by the time we decided to try the auto train. My fan is maybe 8-10 inches.

If you use it as a white noise generator I can't imagine how that could work.

There is no place to really put it except under your feet unless you put it in your lap.

You are in a room with maybe 50 other people thinking they are being quiet talking on their cell phone, listening to music, watching movies, walking up and down the aisles, opening and closing the door to the next car, etc and of course the noise of the train. Not sure how it could drown out that much noise. Also not sure if everyone around you wants to hear a fan running once it does quiet down.

You need to look for other options that will work. I'm thinking foam ear plugs, ear muffs, noise canceling ear muffs or a personal white noise maker and ear buds. If you have a smart phone I have even seen white noise makers on those again using ear buds. If you go the smart phone route I would make sure you also carry a AC charger to keep it charged up for the next day.

 

[jad215]

Yay I just booked one way (they way back isn't out yet) for next April 2014.

This is going to be our first time on the train. I booked a roomette and a bedroom as we are a family of 5.

It was $933 one way with AAA. I am sure the the return will be more since it will be Easter weekend.

I know it will be cheaper then flying that week. Plus if we fly, we'd have to rent a car for part of the time. We aren't going to Disney but to ft. Myers and I don't want to use my sisters car the entire week.

Ok I know there was a link for the car floor plan/layout but I can't find it. I am trying to search online but I am not sure if I am finding the correct train/floor plan.

Oh and I used my Disney visa so that is more money towards my trip this summer...yay!

http://trainweb.org/crocon/sleeperplans.html

the auto train is a Superliner. Hope this helps!

 

[monorailsilver]

http://trainweb.org/crocon/sleeperplans.html

the auto train is a Superliner. Hope this helps!

That is what I have been looking at all morning.


I am assuming its the superliner upper and we are in E & 2.

I think I am crazy because I have been more excited about this trip then my upcoming Disney trip. I haven't been to Disney since 2008 other then a quick dinner stop a month ago in the way home (to CT) but I am excited to hit the beaches of ft. Myers, sanibel, captiva and Bonita again.

And since we aren't driving the whole way we may explore a bit more. After 2 full days in the car the beach was the farthest we wanted to drive.

Now I am wondering when to come home. Currently my kids spring break will end on the Monday after Easter. That is assuming there is no snow and they take that day.

So do I have Easter breakfast at my sisters house in ft. Myers and then drive up (I have 3 kids and the Easter bunny still visits us).

Or do I leave Saturday and spend Easter driving thru NY and fighting more traffic. Aka Easter on the train (not exciting).

Or do I leave Good Friday? But I don't like that option.

Another option is if my sister is coming home for Easter we can leave her house a day or two early and either to to the space center or spend a night near Disney and do a brunch somewhere that there will be Disney napkins but not in a park.

Ok I really should be thinking of August and not April...

 

[dsnycrzy]

Hello all,
I have a question. I just called to adjust my auto train ressies to add a few day since it was exactly the same for mines and dropped $45 for my DD's. Only this time did I EVER have an agent tell me EVERYONE 16 & older in my party HAS to have a AAA card in THEIR name! I know I had to have my card to show but my son doesn't drive although he is 17 so why would he have a card. My DD doesn't have a card but she drives my spare car every now and then. Both cars are on my plan. Has anyone been asked to show a AAA card for everyone in there family?

 

[Marshay]

Hello all,
I have a question. I just called to adjust my auto train ressies to add a few day since it was exactly the same for mines and dropped $45 for my DD's. Only this time did I EVER have an agent tell me EVERYONE 16 & older in my party HAS to have a AAA card in THEIR name! I know I had to have my card to show but my son doesn't drive although he is 17 so why would he have a card. My DD doesn't have a card but she drives my spare car every now and then. Both cars are on my plan. Has anyone been asked to show a AAA card for everyone in there family?

I've never been asked to show a card but I enter my info online, and my kids are under 10.

My parents just bought tickets last week or so. My dad is AAA but my mom is not. When he entered his AAA number online, it recognized that only he was AAA so only he got the discount.

I wasn't aware of the 16 and older policy either...assumed it went to at least 17 for children.

 

[jad215]

After four Amtrak trips and noting both of us bring AAA members neither of of has ever been asked to show our card.

 

[NJRRK]

Hello all,
I have a question. I just called to adjust my auto train ressies to add a few day since it was exactly the same for mines and dropped $45 for my DD's. Only this time did I EVER have an agent tell me EVERYONE 16 & older in my party HAS to have a AAA card in THEIR name! I know I had to have my card to show but my son doesn't drive although he is 17 so why would he have a card. My DD doesn't have a card but she drives my spare car every now and then. Both cars are on my plan. Has anyone been asked to show a AAA card for everyone in there family?

That's a silly policy, you won't find an AAA member in NJ under 17, that's the EARLIEST you can get your license.

 

[jlhill4444]

At the train station you most likely wont even need to show your card, let alone one for each member. The only time you need the card is when you type in the number when making your reservation. Unless this is a new policy, the card is good for your whole party. I can't see this being enforced at all.

 

[dsnycrzy]

Thanks, I have taken the regular train & auto train many times & don't remember being asked to show my AAA although I always have it. She said a young lady called in bc her mother made her ressie but when she went to board the train they wanted extra money bc she wasn't on her plan. Well I DO know they said the AAA member has to be traveling with the party which I am. That girls mother was NOT traveling so I understand that.

 

[jwboucher]

Thanks, I have taken the regular train & auto train many times & don't remember being asked to show my AAA although I always have it. She said a young lady called in bc her mother made her ressie but when she went to board the train they wanted extra money bc she wasn't on her plan. Well I DO know they said the AAA member has to be traveling with the party which I am. That girls mother was NOT traveling so I understand that.

I had to give a AAA number for each person in our party. Since I am not on my husband's AAA account they wouldn't give me a discount for my ticket. My daughter and her boyfriend have their own cards so they got discounts. And, I couldn't get reward points for anyone but myself even though I paid for all the tickets.

 

[Marshay]

I had to give a AAA number for each person in our party. Since I am not on my husband's AAA account they wouldn't give me a discount for my ticket. My daughter and her boyfriend have their own cards so they got discounts. And, I couldn't get reward points for anyone but myself even though I paid for all the tickets.

I assume you are in coach?

We are in a sleeper and I get all the reward points on my account.

 

[jwboucher]

I assume you are in coach?

We are in a sleeper and I get all the reward points on my account.

Yes

 

[Tallent]

Arriving in Fl, we're heading off to West Palm Beach for a few days before driving up to WDW. What time do you typically leave to head for Sanford? I'm thinking 12:30ish?? What does your departure day look like? I'm thinking we prob won't have time for a park so maybe just a sleep in day and the pool?

Thanks! So excited for our upcoming trip!
Rachel

 

[jwboucher]

What are the best seats in coach? Upper and lower levels.

 

[bdcp]

What are the best seats in coach? Upper and lower levels.

I can only answer about uppers. Avoid being in the 2-3 rows right near each end of the car as the doors open and close all night long as people are walking around. Also avoid seats right across from the stairs to the lower level as it's lit and people will be going up and down to the bathrooms all night.

The bigger issue is, seats aren't assigned until you check in. So, the earlier you get there, the more options are available. When it's been less busy, we've had agents assign us seats with no one next to us so we have two seats to ourselves. That has only happened on our trips north in Oct/Nov. Trips south that time of year are usually pretty full. The reality is, once the train starts moving, whatever seats aren't assigned are free to sit in. I've moved at night when DH and I were sitting side by side so we'd have two seats each. Just make sure when you board you sit in your assigned seats and don't grab other seats until you know no one is assigned to them, which is why we don't do it til light's out.

 

[Marshay]

Arriving in Fl, we're heading off to West Palm Beach for a few days before driving up to WDW. What time do you typically leave to head for Sanford? I'm thinking 12:30ish?? What does your departure day look like? I'm thinking we prob won't have time for a park so maybe just a sleep in day and the pool?

Thanks! So excited for our upcoming trip!
Rachel

We check out of our room, then either head to a park if we have annual passes or go to DTD and shop if we not. We've also rented out those little water mice boats over at the Poly and had fun on those, still seeing MK icons before we left. One time we decided to go to the monorail resorts and check them out. We also went round trip on the monorail to Epcot (didn't get off, but just enjoyed the ride). If at AKV, we hang out at the resort and watch the animals.

We begin to leave a park/DTD around noon, do the potty break, fill up on gas and get food to go (if at DTD). By that time it's around 12:30pm or so....1pm at the latest. We aim to get at the station by 1:30-2pm.

 

[NJRRK]

We leave a bit earlier, 11 or so and stop at Sonic on the way home. But now that there are a couple of Sonics in this area we'll probably leave after a nice lunch at DTD.