All about the Autotrain

[Tallent]

If we have the energy and desire we are thinking of doing RD at DHS on that last day. Staying till 11:30 or so and then hitting the road around 1. I've recently seen people saying that they've gotten there around 2:45 and all was well. We're still going to try and get there as close to 2 as possible but I'm glad to know it's not 2 on the dot or you're out of luck. We have a sleeper this trip so even if we're tired we can all take naps.

 

[Marshay]

The only real reason to get to the station early is if you really desire the first dinner service. Since we have young ones, that just works better for us. We tried the 2nd dinner seating service but my kids were just too cranky and mad they missed the movie showing in the lounge at 7pm. Also there was nothing to see when we looked out since it was dark outside during the later seating (depends on time of year).

Oh, and now they have that Priority Unloading fee for only 20 people, so if that was important, you have to get there early to claim that. I haven't heard how popular that is, so not sure how quickly it goes.

Other than that, as long as you are there before the 3pm cutoff (they used to say 2pm for SUVs but that may have changed when they went to all one pricing for vehicles recently), you are good.

 

[star04]

Does anyone ever take little kids on coach (no bedroom)? I think it's a bad idea, but I wanted to see what other people do. The bedroom price for our day(s) is $$$....

 

[Marshay]

Does anyone ever take little kids on coach (no bedroom)? I think it's a bad idea, but I wanted to see what other people do. The bedroom price for our day(s) is $$$....

Our first time we took my then DD4 and DD9months on the AT in coach. It wasn't bad until the middle of the night when I had fallen asleep and my baby woke up and crawled under my seat to the person behind and then cried bc she didn't know anyone. I'm sure the people in the car were not happy with us , and I am just thankful that nothing bad happened when she wandered off!!

Also there was one old guy who would make comments about how awful it was to be in a car with kids! The lower level was all booked and he did not like it. He was just rude, but it added to my unease. He prob was the same guy who snored a lot, too!

Personally, I just didn't like the non-privacy in coach ... The concerns about my kids not being too loud or crying/crankiness that comes with long travel also made me feel like I couldn't relax.

I think when the kids get older (5 or 6+), we might consider coach again...but I wouldn't do young ones again and we are tall people so the seats just don't accommodate our bodies very well. Being able to entertain themselves would go a long way toward making coach more enjoyable, as far as kids go...ESP if there are other new friends to make in coach.

But it might also depend on what you are comparing it to ... 17 hours in coach with ability to stretch out, walk around and go to lounge car may be better than 4-6 hours on a plane crowded in a small seat or 14-20 hours stuck in a car.

My best advice for AT is to just try it sometime...just book one way and see for yourself. We did that for coach and then next time did one way home from WDW for a bedroom. Of course, after that we were spoiled and only wanted to do a room!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Does anyone ever take little kids on coach (no bedroom)? I think it's a bad idea, but I wanted to see what other people do. The bedroom price for our day(s) is $$$....

How little? We gave traveled with the youngest being 13 months old. He is now almost 6 and has travelled every year. One year we made 2 autotrain trips.

For sleeping in coach when they are young. IE we would bring a pillow for him to sleep on and lay him across the seat bottom. We would take the foot rest and swing it all the way up where it creates a wall. It kept him from falling off. DH and I switched 1/2 way through the night to sit next to him. When he was 25 months it seemed a bit harder to sleep in coach bc he was such a wiggler. But that was the only year it was hard. All the rest of the trips he has slept with the foot rest all the was level with the seat and crashed for the night. The rocking of the train helps to put my DC to sleep. He generally sleeps 10 hrs on the trip.

When DS was younger I would wear him while traveling btwn cars bc it can get really rocky and having 2 hands to hold on helps.

Bring snacks/drinks. Extra diapers/wipes/formula. In the event of a delay. A DVD player to keep amused plus a few small toys. I've even taken play doh along.

The trip is broken down fairly easily.
Board by 230-3
Train departs by 4 - sooner of everyone is loaded.
Dinner at 5
Movie after dinner at our seat
In pj and winding down to sleep by 8pm

We usually wake up by 630 to see where we are in relations to the station. If we are arriving early we start getting moving for breakfast. Maybe a short movie after breakfast. If we are late we tend to hang out a bit bf heading to breakfast.

We have traveled with youngest being 13 months and oldest as a teen so I can help if you have any age specific ?'s

We are returning for our 10th autotrain trip in July.

 

[star04]

Thanks so much you two! My little ones will be about 2.5 and 4.5. I guess we have to think about this. I know my oldest would probably be ok, but I'm not sure about the youngest. I know I don't want to be the person with that kid!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Technically families are kept together with other families in the cars. So it should not be bad.

One the other hand you may get like the last OP a stray passenger that wandered from his designated seat to one in your car. We had that happen on a trip home. We were a party of 7 and we boarded pretty near to last call. Due to seating with Amtrak. There was an older lady in one of our seats. She insisted it was her seat. Plus the ticket agent did not list all of our seats on my boarding ticket. Since we were just pulling out of Sanford we had to wait till the supervisor could come with the master seating chart. This lady kept saying she'd move IF they gave her 2 sears elsewhere. When it was finally verified she was in our seat. She had boarded with another passenger. They made her move. In the end we did get 8 seats.

To the OP that had a child wander that was my only concern at that age. Luckily she was not hurt.

You really won't know till you try it. I'd rather have 17 hrs of movement than be cooped up in the car for a 24+ hr ride. Plus I like my car with me that having to fly and pay extra for luggage


Good luck with your decision.

 

[Marshay]

You really won't know till you try it. I'd rather have 17 hrs of movement than be cooped up in the car for a 24+ hr ride. Plus I like my car with me that having to fly and pay extra for luggage

Good luck with your decision.

Yes!! Yes!, and Yes!!

No matter what we all tell you on here, there is nothing like just seeing what works for your family.

I would book coach and see how that goes. Then you can decide if upgrading to a sleeper is right for you the next time. Try to book 11 months in advance to get the cheaper price.

 

[Marshay]

Oh, one more thing:


The one thing with a room is that your trip is nearly the same every time, since the variables are really just with your family.

With coach, your trip can vary greatly depending on the other people in your train car (I.e., friendly, grumpy, loud talkers, other kids your kids ages to play with, old folks not tolerant of kids, teens blaring their music on their headphones, snoring, parents not watching their kids, meeting another family that is really fun and you hit it off talking the whole way...or having another family hitting it off and talking the whole way which may annoy you, how close your car is to the dining and lounge cars means more doors opening and closing and more people walking past you, etc)

 

[lindap1]

We did the AT in 2011 and loved it! We had originally booked coach seats, but decided at the station to upgrade to a deluxe bedroom. It was awesome having your very own bathroom, BUT it was cramped for two adults and a 4 year old This November we are going AT again and have reserved a family bedroom Down side to this is you have to share a bathroom, BUT the bedroom is nice and roomy. Windows on both sides because it is the width of the car. Feeling rather anxious for our trip and already making a list of what to take on AT

 

[jwboucher]

Is it cheaper to buy a room on the spot if one is available?

 

[Marshay]

We did the AT in 2011 and loved it! We had originally booked coach seats, but decided at the station to upgrade to a deluxe bedroom. It was awesome having your very own bathroom, BUT it was cramped for two adults and a 4 year old This November we are going AT again and have reserved a family bedroom Down side to this is you have to share a bathroom, BUT the bedroom is nice and roomy. Windows on both sides because it is the width of the car. Feeling rather anxious for our trip and already making a list of what to take on AT

Unless you have bathroom issues, you will not mind having to share a bathroom. There are like five of them on the lower level where the family rooms are located. We never have to wait except sometimes in the morning but even then we were next in line.

Add a small electrical outlet to bring in the family bedroom as they only have like two outlets for the whole room.

 

[Marshay]

Is it cheaper to buy a room on the spot if one is available?

Hopefully someone can help with this. I imagine it is all supply and demand as to price. They rather fill them and get coach folks hooked onto a room ... But if there are not many left, then they will be pricey!

 

[lindap1]

Is it cheaper to buy a room on the spot if one is available?

When we went in 2011 it cost us $600 extra for a deluxe room and coming back it was $700 I don't know why they charged so much because you would think they would want to fill them up. I booked our November this year last year...exactly a year in advance it only cost me $247 each way for a family bedroom So the early you can book the better! Once the lowest fare is taken the price goes up

 

[lindap1]

Unless you have bathroom issues, you will not mind having to share a bathroom. There are like five of them on the lower level where the family rooms are located. We never have to wait except sometimes in the morning but even then we were next in line.

Add a small electrical outlet to bring in the family bedroom as they only have like two outlets for the whole room.

Good to know there are so many restrooms We also did take a power strip with us last time....helps immensely keeping things charged

 

[monorailsilver]

I booked my return.

I thout for sure it was going to be crazy expensive since we departing Easter. But it wasn't, IMO. It was $963 for the 5 of us in the family bedroom.

So RT it will be just under $1900 for the 5 of us, plus our car during April vacation which ends on Easter.

We are going to Ft. myers and my sister gave us a key to her house so if she isn't home no biggie.

We will do a quick Easter breakfast, egg hunt and then leave since it is around a 3 hour drive.

If there is time we will stop in DtD but if not, no biggie.

 

[MinnieGi]

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.

We convinced my parents to try the AT two years ago and now they love it! They also do a room and were pleasantly surprised at how easy the AT makes getting to FL for them! We are all booked for a Christmas trip to take the AT.

Hope all goes well for your trip!

 

[atwmommy]

Thanks for this thread! We are going for the first time in August. Coach. Too much $$ for a room for 5, hope it's a good experience. It's making our Disney trip affordable

 

[star04]

So the early you can book the better! Once the lowest fare is taken the price goes up

So there's no point in me randomly checking to see if the price goes down?

 

[dsnycrzy]

So there's no point in me randomly checking to see if the price goes down?

I checked last Saturday and my reservation had gone down $45 so they gave me a refund. I've started checking daily now.