All about the Autotrain

[NJRRK]

OK, each sleeper car has 1 family room (two adult and two child beds), 1 accessible bedroom, 5 deluxe bedrooms, and 14 roomettes, One roomette is always occupied by the car attendant.

I have been on the Auto Train in a sleeper car that had 1 Family room, 4 roomettes, 1 accessible room and 10 deluxe bedrooms.

 

[Disneyholic]

OK, each sleeper car has 1 family room (two adult and two child beds), 1 accessible bedroom, 5 deluxe bedrooms, and 14 roomettes, One roomette is always occupied by the car attendant.

I strongly encourage you to check out poisonivy's trip report shared earlier ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3125412 ) it is wonderful and has car layouts, pictures, and descriptions. Well worth the read!

Thanks for the link to poisonivy's trip report. I was able to see where Deluxe sleeper A is. It is at the end of the car and the bathroom opens at the door side of the room instead of the window side. I also see that it will be the first time we will be sitting going backwards for the first time. All the other trips we had a room with the sofa on the back wall facing forward. Wonder if it feels any different looking out the window & seeing things moving from where we came from instead of where we are going?

Now I can't wait till we get on our trip. We will be at AKLV Kidani Savannah view from Sunday, August 25 - 31 then the Auto Train home. I just booked that last Friday on the DVC site. I had been trying to get that booked for about a month, but every time I went in there were at least 2-3 days that weren't available. Finally last Friday the whole week opened up & I booked it right away.

Everything seems to be falling into place for this trip. We are celebrating our 41st anniversary on August 26th.

Last week & this were a good week. I got AKLV, I booked a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package for our November trip after our DCL cruise so I can see Gary Sinese on December 1, and our DS made an offer on a house and it was accepted. Now this week I got the Auto Train booked to come home at a decent price. Hope everything keeps going this good.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I have been on the Auto Train in a sleeper car that had 1 Family room, 4 roomettes, 1 accessible room and 10 deluxe bedrooms.

Very interesting! I've never seen one of those. When and where were you, and have you seen this arrangement more than once? I wonder how many there are! Maybe they use it on a route where people don't use roomette's that much.

 

[NJRRK]

Very interesting! I've never seen one of those. When and where were you, and have you seen this arrangement more than once? I wonder how many there are! Maybe they use it on a route where people don't use roomette's that much.

I believe those cars are exclusive to the Auto Train. It makes it nice for those in the lower level facilities to use the shower, etc. since everyone on the upper level had their own bathroom.

 

[Marshay]

I have been on the Auto Train in a sleeper car that had 1 Family room, 4 roomettes, 1 accessible room and 10 deluxe bedrooms.

This is the layout on the AT that we have experienced as well.

 

[Disneyholic]

I have been on the Auto Train in a sleeper car that had 1 Family room, 4 roomettes, 1 accessible room and 10 deluxe bedrooms.

That is the kind we have been in every trip so far. We get a Deluxe sleeper on the Auto Train and the aisle goes all the way up one side of the car on the second level.

 

[Ngwira]

Fares are still way up for both of my dates. Glad I snagged my roomettes for $138. There are now $297.

 

[eangel12]

Has anyone booked the VA to FL trip but not return because of pricing?! The FL to VA is $$$$!!! I'm debating booking VA to FL and waiting to see what kind of deal I can get on the way back by checking frequently. Worse comes to worse, we drive straight through on the way back!! 17 hours isn't too bad...haha!!

 

[erinch]

Has anyone booked the VA to FL trip but not return because of pricing?! The FL to VA is $$$$!!! I'm debating booking VA to FL and waiting to see what kind of deal I can get on the way back by checking frequently. Worse comes to worse, we drive straight through on the way back!! 17 hours isn't too bad...haha!!

We were the exact opposite this month. The trip down was hundreds more than the trip back. We gave the young adult kids a choice between roomette a or discovery cove -- it was that expensive and they went coach. We got a roomette. That still cost more than the trip back, with a deluxe bedroom for us, and one for the 3 of them. (Our teen daughter and her best friend are still at the age where they share a bed and think nothing of it.)

Shortly after I booked, each leg of our trip went up 1000 and never came down.

 

[Vickie1016]

Has anyone booked the VA to FL trip but not return because of pricing?! The FL to VA is $$$$!!! I'm debating booking VA to FL and waiting to see what kind of deal I can get on the way back by checking frequently. Worse comes to worse, we drive straight through on the way back!! 17 hours isn't too bad...haha!!

I was thinking the same thing. For July 2014 the price from VA - FL is comparable to what we paid this summer. But the price from FL - VA is way to much $$$.

This summer was our third Auto train trip. Last year we drove & the ride home was sooo long. So we have done both - Auto train is better!

I will keep checking the Amtrak website to see if the price changes. If I book the FL - VA trip and if the price drops will Amtrak honor the reduced price??

 

[BeerMe]

It would really be out of our way to take this. So why do I think we will take it some day?

 

[labdogs42]

It would really be out of our way to take this. So why do I think we will take it some day?

Why is it out of your way? I figure the AT is on the way for anyone up in the Northeast! If you stay in Florida for a month, the Auto Train is totally the way to go!

 

[labdogs42]

That is the kind we have been in every trip so far. We get a Deluxe sleeper on the Auto Train and the aisle goes all the way up one side of the car on the second level.

Just noticed you are from the Lehigh Valley, too! Hi, neighbor!

 

[Disneyholic]

Just noticed you are from the Lehigh Valley, too! Hi, neighbor!

Hi back neighbor!

 

[chartle]

Why is it out of your way? I figure the AT is on the way for anyone up in the Northeast! If you stay in Florida for a month, the Auto Train is totally the way to go!

It kind of depends on where the north east ends. We are in PA but western PA which some may call the northeast.

The AT is out of our way since they added some new interstates. Growing up the way to FL was turnpike to Breezewood than 70 south and then catch 95 at DC. Now we go straight down and miss 95 until we hit Georgia. Sad part is we now miss South of the Border.

 

[Disneyholic]

Just booked the Auto Train to come back from WDW on August 31. We will drive down after I finish work on Saturday, August 24. I haven't told DH yet. I hope he's not too upset. I just don't feel like driving all the way back on Labor Day weekend. I feel we will be safer on the train.

I got a Deluxe sleeper car. There was a $200 some odd dollar discount before I put in AAA, but it took off $300+ when I put that in. The total price is $728 one way. Friday it was over $800 and Sunday it was over $1000. Coach for Saturday was $680, so for $48 extra bucks we get to travel in comfort. Coach must be filling up and they are trying to fill the sleeper cars.

OMG!!! just went back in because DH reminded me that we now have AARP, too. When I went back in just now to see if there was any difference in discounts, there was no difference, but the price quoted now was now $1,160.60 with the discounts. I must have gotten the last Deluxe sleeper car on that train. The price of a sleeper car jumped from $300+ to $700+.

Just went back in this morning to check & the price of a Deluxe sleeper has gone up to $889. The total price w/AAA discount is $1304 compare to my price of 728. A difference of $576. At that price I would have driven home..... Glad I got in when I did.

 

[atwmommy]

Coach on the lower level is cost effective and peaceful. I can't see spending that much $ for one night. Just a thought.

 

[labdogs42]

Coach on the lower level is cost effective and peaceful. I can't see spending that much $ for one night. Just a thought.

That's how we roll. Love the lower level coach seats!

 

[Disneyholic]

Coach on the lower level is cost effective and peaceful. I can't see spending that much $ for one night. Just a thought.

I can't get comfortable in the seats. I sleep much better laying down flat. That and the fact that I get my own private bathroom is a luxury I am willing to pay for after our only trip in coach when the bathrooms were disgusting on the way home.

 

[atwmommy]

On the way down the bathrooms were gross in the morning so I went to another car and they were fine. On the way back, no problems. Also brought Lysol wipes!