Autotrain Coach Questions

[MouseEarsJenny]

We're taking the Autotrain to Disney in two weeks. I just have a few questions, as we'll be travelling coach, and most of the information I've seen focuses on sleeper cars.

1) Do we tip our car attendant? How much?

2) Are there outlets by each row of seats, or is it luck of the draw?

3) Do we have a seperate lounge/dining car from the sleeper passengers? How will we know which is which?

4) Are the bathrooms really as nasty as described online? (Smelly, dirty, etc.) Can't you let your car attendant know if the bathroom is dirty? Also, do the bathrooms have sinks for toothbrushing/handwashing and so forth or is it port-a-potty like with hand sanitizer? (I might seriously rethink this if I have to go 17 hours without brushing my teeth! )

5) Is it frightening to step from car to car? I've never been on a train. DH has and says it's not a big deal, but he'd say that anyway!

6) Are there enough lounge seats for all the passengers, or is having a place to play cards/watch the movie/etc. also luck of the draw?

7) Am I worrying too much?

TIA

 

[Windjammer]

Dear Jenny:

7) Yes, you are worrying too much.

1) The car attendants don't do much in coach and you rarely see them. They will give you a short speech as you are leaving and that is about it. You can tip them but I think most don't since they don't really do anything for you. if you were to tip, i think $5 would be about right.

2) It used to be that outlets were luck of the draw but now I think all seats have outlets. Perhaps someone will correct me if I am wrong.

3) There is a separate lounge and you will be told where it is. Basically, the coach part of the train is separate from the sleeper part so you won't have any trouble distinguishing.

4) The bathrooms aren't too bad. They are suction flushed like an airplane. There are sinks and you can brush your teeth. If you find one bathroom is not in good condition chances are you can find one that is not objectionable, either in your car, another car, or the lounge car.

5) It is not frightening at all to move between cars. There is a bit of a sway and some noise involved, but it is quite easy.

6) The lounge seats are limited but we have never had a problem getting a table to play cards or watch the movie. The lounge will be a bit more crowded as people wait there before proceeding to a meal, so if you are there right before meal time you may have some trouble getting a seat. However, the seats will open up once the meal is called.

The best tip I can offer is to bring some fitted sheets to hang over/between the seat back of your seat and the seat back of the seat in front of you when sleeping. It creates a tent and provides some privacy. Also bring your own pillows and blankets.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[nuttypretzel]

1.You will find many people that don’t tip the attendant or the waiter at dinner. I tip $2 per person for the attendant. The meal is supposed to be tipped at an equivalent restaurant price. I tip $10 for three people at dinner and nothing at breakfast.

2. Every row has an outlet under the window.

3. One end of the train is first class and the other end is coach. They lock the door at the transition. Southbound, the coach lounge will be to the front of the train. It is the first car after the coach cars. The dining cars are in front of the lounge car. The attendants will give you an orientation before the train leaves the station.

4. There are four different sized bathrooms in each car. One is airplane sized. That one tends to get the most use and is the nastiest. The handicapped one is very large, more comfortable, and while it is cleaner, it also gets a lot of use. The diaper changing bathroom gets less use and tends to be cleaner. There is also a woman’s only lounge. I cannot comment on the condition of that one. No one will clean the bathroom during the trip. You are at the mercy of your car companions as to how bad it gets. You can use the bathrooms in any car, so if yours are unusable, you can try the adjacent cars. The bathrooms have small sinks with hot and cold water.

5. Crossing cars is loud but not scary. You don’t have to jump. There are plates on the floor and a norrow joint.

6. Lounge seats are first come first served. Our last trip had a new configuration in the lounge car where the bar was down on the first level. That left more room on the upper level. If you get the old configuration, nobody seems to know that there is a booth on the lower level with a tv screen. That one has always been available on our trips.

7. Yes

Other: Get to the station early to be able to select you dinner seating if you want 7:00. That one goes first. They also have 5:00 and if the train is full 9:00. Also ask for seats in the middle of the car. On our first trip we were given the last row next to the door. Every time someone opened the door to cross cars we were awakened by the outside noise. If you have an odd number of people in your group, they may seat someone else in your row. If you don’t like sleeping next to a stranger, ask if they can leave the seat empty. There is no guarantee if the train is full, but the staff is sympathetic to this issue. Bring ear plugs, an eye shade and your own travel pillow to help you sleep.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Thank you! Both of your replies are very informative and reassuring. I can go back to being now!

My children, who have an odd fixation on the movie "White Christmas", have a very romaticized idea of a train trip that is making them excited. My dh has travelled extensively by train with his uncle who adored trains. Me? I'm the odd man (er...woman) out, and was feeling a bit nervy. I appreciate your help!