amtrak train/seat ?'S

[pookybean]

we are booked on amtrak for our christmas trip, however i just took a trip to boston on amtrak and the seats were so not comfortable. now i am worried about being on them for 19+ hours to disney!

are the trains/seats a different style on the silver star/meteor than they are on the train for the northeast corridor? do they recline more? ive read people saying the seats arent too bad and they can be slept on rather comfortably, but now im not so sure...

also is the cafe car more accessable and larger? the cafe area in the train i was just on was packed the entire time. there was one couple who put all their belongins at a seat and then sat at the cafe for their entire trip! is this common?

thanks for any info!

megan

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I want to say the seats are the same for the Northeast Corridor as the silver meteor and star. We took it once years ago and the seats were doable. If you put the foot rest up it isnt too bad. yes the snack car will also be the same. I remember it being crowded and $$. I wished I had packed more substainal food for the trip vs just snacks. You are able to bring a small cooler with you to hold food.

One thing with those trains is they seem to stop all the time. We had a running joke that we where picking up ghost riders-- train stopped in a deserted one traffic light town. Just sitting there until a freight train goes whizzing by.


Have you looked into the Autotrain? we have been traveling on the AT for the last 9 years. Food is included in the cost of the ticket. We do love having our vehicle with us. There are no stops on the AT except to change engines.

 

[Butterbunkins]

I have never taken Amtrak in that area. I have actually only taken it once round trip about 3 hours each way near my home. The seats were awful.

We had different cars each direction so the seats were different. On the way out we had seats with a pull up foot rest (it made it like a recliner). It was good for me because I'm short and the fact that my feet didn't touch the ground made me really uncomfortable. The foot rest made it a little more bearable for me, but DH's didn't work. The way back there was no foot rest but the seats were slightly better. Still not great and I couldn't imagine being on the train for longer than the three hours.

I would bring something to give the seat more padding, even if it's just a pillow. I think if I had had that it would have been better.

 

[NJRRK]

The seats on the "silver service" cars are not like the regular Northeast Corridor trains. Once upon a time Amtrak might have substituted a regular short distance coach car but that is rare anymore. The seats on the long distance trains are spaced further apart and recline more. There is also a dining car on the silver service trains, in addition to the cafe car. If you can afford it look into getting a bedroom, you will get an actual bed at night, and your three meals, a day, are included.

 

[pookybean]

Thank you!

There were no foot rests on the NE corridor train, that might help some.

We were planning to bring blankets and pillows, also hoping that will help!

I did look into rooms, travelling alone with the 3 kids it seems as though i could only get a big room, none of which are available, but they were expensive! I may as well fly at that point! LOL after we board i may inquire about 2 roomettes, my oldest is 17 so im not sure if they would let him be in a room with my 12 yo while im with the baby.

i hate highway driving, and dont want to use the car while im in disney, so i have no interest in the auto train at all! thanks for the info though.

i guess im still trying to talk myself in to the train even though the seats were paid for. the only way i will switch at this point is to get an AMAZING airfare, which doesnt seem likely....