We just returned from a two week stay and used the Autotrain for the first time. We booked the autotrain at the kiddos request as they wanted to try something new. We originally booked one way fare from Lorton to Sanford only but ended up returning on the autotrain too since we liked it so much.
We were a party of eleven, me, dh, dd16, dd16 friend, dd14, dd14 friend, dd12, dd10, dd5, dd3 and ds3.
Originally we booked eleven seats in lower level coach and our oversized van (chevy express 12 passenger). One way was 770 dollars. We upgraded at Lorton Station (went down on a weekday and there were only 100 people total travelling on the train) to one family sleeper and four roomettes (the entire lower car) for an additional 300 dollars. What a bargain.
The Lorton station is very nice. We found the employees to be extremely nice, helpful and accomodating.
We really liked being on the lower level, as the cars dont connect on the lower level and it was very quiet with no through traffic. After boarding there were snacks available in the lounge (fruit, cheese, veggies, crackers and chips), complimentary wine, and bottled water available. Dinner was fine, the kids loved eating and looking out the windows. I am not sure if the food and snacks are the same for coach and sleepers. They do have separate dining rooms and lounges. They show a current movie in the lounge, however smoking is allowed on the lower level of the lounge and the smoke definately drifts up to the lounge car. My kids couldnt stand it and skipped the movie. We brought the laptop with us and dvds, so they watched movies in the roomettes. Breakfast is continental with juice, fruit, cereal, bagels, muffins, etc.
The roomettes are made for two and accomodate that comfortably. The family room supposedly can sleep up to five but I cant imagine putting five in there and being comfortable. We took our own pillows and blankets and were glad we did as theirs dont look very comfy. We all slept fine, slept right through the three hour stop we made during the night when the freight train ahead of us hit someone (what the amtrak people called a "trespasser") who was killed. We got into Sanford about 2 hours late. Our van was FIRST off and we were very happy.
When we got to Florida we immediately booked the return train and were glad we did as it later sold out and was overbooked (It cost 1400 dollars to come back). We had five roomettes on the return and we liked that better than the four roomettes and one family room. The kids actually said they would prefer two roomettes across from each other rather than one family room as that gives them two outlets for charging nintendos, cell phones, etc (only one in the family room) and four actual beds, and some privacy when they want it. Two of the bunk type beds in the family room are VERY small. Also, the doors to the roomettes are glass with curtains so you can get privacy or quiet but also not feel trapped. I DID NOT like the feeling of being shut in the family room as the door is solid and no glass.
The Sanford Station is not nearly as nice as Lorton and it was packed coming back. Apparently the train before us arrived very late (after 5 p.m.) and was kept over and all of the people who were supposed to depart on that train DID NOT and had to stay over for the next train (ours). It was so full. Glad we were in sleepers and not coach. Some weird things people were carrying into coach that made me very happy not to be there. One family of four all had bird cages with parakeets in them that they took on with them (the cages werent small either). I asked the conductor how this could be allowed and he said they cant stop them. There was also a group of obviously partied too much and never showered guys. Also, quite a few people were lugging coolers with food in them. I have to admit, while waiting to board, I was almost regretting the decision to go back on the train. Once onboard however, it was WONDERFUL again. I am not sure how coach was, but thankfully I wasnt there
We were about two hours late back to Lorton and off loading all the vehicles took hours. Took 2 hours to get ours (and they werent even halfway through at that point) and while waiting we overheard two families whose keys had been lost out of the ignitions during transit and neither one had an extra set. I am not sure how it was resolved, but good idea to make sure you take a spare key.
The train apparently has been running even later than usual
Also, you can rent something called a "digi player" at the station and it is loaded with movies to watch (sort of like a personal dvd player). This seemed to be a popular item but I didnt look into the details.
We absolutely loved the train. We didnt take it for the price, we didnt take it for the speed. We took it for the experience. Like the conductor said, it you have the "beam me up Scotty" outlook you shouldnt ride the train. You kind of have to be prepared to go with the flow and expect to be delayed. For us, the train was not a way to get to the vacation, it was part of it.
Thanks to everyone who answered all my posts before I booked the Autotrain. The info was really helpful.
We were a party of eleven, me, dh, dd16, dd16 friend, dd14, dd14 friend, dd12, dd10, dd5, dd3 and ds3.
Originally we booked eleven seats in lower level coach and our oversized van (chevy express 12 passenger). One way was 770 dollars. We upgraded at Lorton Station (went down on a weekday and there were only 100 people total travelling on the train) to one family sleeper and four roomettes (the entire lower car) for an additional 300 dollars. What a bargain.
The Lorton station is very nice. We found the employees to be extremely nice, helpful and accomodating.
We really liked being on the lower level, as the cars dont connect on the lower level and it was very quiet with no through traffic. After boarding there were snacks available in the lounge (fruit, cheese, veggies, crackers and chips), complimentary wine, and bottled water available. Dinner was fine, the kids loved eating and looking out the windows. I am not sure if the food and snacks are the same for coach and sleepers. They do have separate dining rooms and lounges. They show a current movie in the lounge, however smoking is allowed on the lower level of the lounge and the smoke definately drifts up to the lounge car. My kids couldnt stand it and skipped the movie. We brought the laptop with us and dvds, so they watched movies in the roomettes. Breakfast is continental with juice, fruit, cereal, bagels, muffins, etc.
The roomettes are made for two and accomodate that comfortably. The family room supposedly can sleep up to five but I cant imagine putting five in there and being comfortable. We took our own pillows and blankets and were glad we did as theirs dont look very comfy. We all slept fine, slept right through the three hour stop we made during the night when the freight train ahead of us hit someone (what the amtrak people called a "trespasser") who was killed. We got into Sanford about 2 hours late. Our van was FIRST off and we were very happy.
When we got to Florida we immediately booked the return train and were glad we did as it later sold out and was overbooked (It cost 1400 dollars to come back). We had five roomettes on the return and we liked that better than the four roomettes and one family room. The kids actually said they would prefer two roomettes across from each other rather than one family room as that gives them two outlets for charging nintendos, cell phones, etc (only one in the family room) and four actual beds, and some privacy when they want it. Two of the bunk type beds in the family room are VERY small. Also, the doors to the roomettes are glass with curtains so you can get privacy or quiet but also not feel trapped. I DID NOT like the feeling of being shut in the family room as the door is solid and no glass.
The Sanford Station is not nearly as nice as Lorton and it was packed coming back. Apparently the train before us arrived very late (after 5 p.m.) and was kept over and all of the people who were supposed to depart on that train DID NOT and had to stay over for the next train (ours). It was so full. Glad we were in sleepers and not coach. Some weird things people were carrying into coach that made me very happy not to be there. One family of four all had bird cages with parakeets in them that they took on with them (the cages werent small either). I asked the conductor how this could be allowed and he said they cant stop them. There was also a group of obviously partied too much and never showered guys. Also, quite a few people were lugging coolers with food in them. I have to admit, while waiting to board, I was almost regretting the decision to go back on the train. Once onboard however, it was WONDERFUL again. I am not sure how coach was, but thankfully I wasnt there
We were about two hours late back to Lorton and off loading all the vehicles took hours. Took 2 hours to get ours (and they werent even halfway through at that point) and while waiting we overheard two families whose keys had been lost out of the ignitions during transit and neither one had an extra set. I am not sure how it was resolved, but good idea to make sure you take a spare key.
The train apparently has been running even later than usual
Also, you can rent something called a "digi player" at the station and it is loaded with movies to watch (sort of like a personal dvd player). This seemed to be a popular item but I didnt look into the details.
We absolutely loved the train. We didnt take it for the price, we didnt take it for the speed. We took it for the experience. Like the conductor said, it you have the "beam me up Scotty" outlook you shouldnt ride the train. You kind of have to be prepared to go with the flow and expect to be delayed. For us, the train was not a way to get to the vacation, it was part of it.
Thanks to everyone who answered all my posts before I booked the Autotrain. The info was really helpful.
. I will tell DH this.
