AutoTrain

[BigDaddy1]

I have researched the auto train from VA to Sanford(about 30 minute drive to WDW) and for a party of four plus an Explorer the cost is $700. That is cheaper then the airline tix and car rental. I am seriously considering this option because who knows what state our airports will be in after this thing begins.

Has anyone taken this route? If so, how is the trip? Is there a bar? 18 hours on a train with full meals sounds great at this time.

 

[mom42860]

Would love to know more about the auto train too, anybody know??

 

[Pixieduster]

If you do a search on this board, you should be able to find some good information on the Auto Train. I will be taking this for the first time on October 10, 2001. I will be happy to post my experience when I return.

 

[lady & the tramp]

my family and I have taken the auto train to WDW 7 times . It runs from Lorton, Va. to Sanford, Fla. & Sanford to Lorton daily.

The train leaves both stations at around 4:30 P.M. and they request anyone traveling on it to be at the terminal no later than 3:00 P.M. so your vehicle can be loaded onto the car carriers in time.

When you arrive at the terminal ,you stop at the welcome station where they check your reservations and assign a number for your vehicle. They write the number on your ticket and stick the number on the door of your vehicle. From there you proceed to the main terminal(waiting room)where you are asked to vacate you vehicle and to take what you may need for the trip with you (like an overnight case with toiletries and any medicines/baby supplies you may need on board the train) everything else is left in the car (all your other suitcases, strollers,car seats,whatever you dont need that night aboard the train).
You go inside the terminal where you check in and request a seating time for dinner(they usually have three seatings to choose from)Remember all your meals(dinner and continental breakfast in the morning) are included except some items that are for purchase in the lounge car. While you are the terminal a valet will take your car and drive it to where it will be parked until loaded on the car carrier.(NOTE:Once you vacate your car you will no longer have access to it until you arrive at your destination the next day)
If you are getting sleeping accomadations then you are checked in separetly from those traveling coach(like we almost always do). You are usually allowed to board the train at around 2:30 PM., although it doesn't leave until 4:30 PM.

The train has coach cars, two dining cars(one is for those in coach seating and the other ones for the passengers in the sleeping cars), there are two lounge cars(one for coach passengers and the other for sleeping car passengers)as well as the sleeping cars and the Car Carriers.
Oh, one other thing, even though you're allowed to board the train at 2:30 you will not be allowed to use the restrooms on the train, you will still have to use the restrooms in the terminal untill the train pulls out of the station.

Once on board you will be allowed to visit the lounge car where you can purchase sandwiches,hot dogs,snack foods and beverages(beer, wine, cordials, sodas and milk). Coffee and Tea is free as well as some finger snacks such as cheese doodles, potato chips, bagel chips,pretzels and fritos. The lounge is double decker type car which offers fantastic views of the countryside while you're traveling(actually all the cars are double decker type cars)

When you reach your destination Lorton or Sanford,( there are no other stops for passengers but those two . The train does stop in Florence, S.C. but only to change crews) and disembark the train, you will go to a place where you will await the vehicles being unloaded from the car carriers. A representative will call out the number of each vehicle as they are being unloaded and with the number on your ticket you can claim your vehicle and drive off after repacking the items you took on board the train back in the vehicle.

I forgot to mention that they show a movie on board the train after dinner is completed.

One other thing, although my family and I love the auto train, some do not. I've recommended it to friends before who didn't like it at all . Y ou have to be prepared for a little inconvience, especially in coach seating, because there are lots of young families traveling and children are excited about going to WDW and are not the least interested in sleeping so they sometimes run up and down the aisles and with the movement of the train they could easily wind up in your lap or fall against you just as you're dozing off, you just have to be tolerant and you will have a wonderful time. The phone number for AMTRAK is 1-800-USA-RAIL.

I hope I was able to give you some ideal of what to expect when taking the auto train. If you have any other questoions I will try to answer them .

 

[Luv2Dream]

We took the Autotrain this past May with our 4 yo DD. We booked a family bedroom. That was our only mistake. I enjoyed the train. It was a different experience. You do have to get used to the rocking of the train, even when walking. However, I would never book a family bedroom again. Although you had a nice long couch to sit on before the beds are pulled down, the bedroom itself is on the bottom level of the car and at the end. So, you get all the wheel noise and the connection noise. It was so loud I never slept. My daughter did and my husband did some, but not me. So, would I recommend the Autotrain...yes. But I would book sleeping accomodations on the second level only. So for us, that would mean booking two rooms as the upstairs rooms only sleep 2 comfortably. The upstairs rooms sell out first so you may want to get your reservation extra early to insure upstairs accommodations if noise bothers you.

 

[Luvdisney]

My family of 4 took the Autotrain in Aug of 2000. It was great!!!! On the way down we rode in coach, but on the way back we had a family room. I really liked the family room. We didn't think it was noisy at all. It did sit lower to the ground so the views weren't as good. But we spent alot of time in the lounge car anyway. Then after it was dark and couldn't see anything outside you really didn't notice the bad view as much. On our trip it seemed like they put the family's in one car and people who didn't have any kids were in another. My son who was 6 at the time made a couple of friends on the way down, which was great. They played for hours. I never heard are we there yet? The meal they served wasn't bad either. I would diffently do the Autotrain again. But I would try to get a family room for sure.

 

[CookieGVB]

Thanks, Lady & the Tramp - that was an EXCELLENT, detailed description!

My DSs had been asking me all along to do the auto train in November - looks like we may do just that!

But...that may have us taking the train on Thanksgiving...

Still giving it some thought...

 

[JudithM]

Lady & the Tramp gave a great description of the Autotrain. However, one thing has changed recently. The train now leaves at 4 p.m. in both directions, so you have to be there by 2 p.m. Also, leaving Lorton we actually left a few minutes early, os I suggest you be there early. On our last Autotrain trip (round trip) last month, it was VERY rocky! We swayed back & forth - left & right - for almost the whole trip. Somehow I don't recall that much rockiness in the past. Also, because of the knee condition I needed to be downstairs. It was VERY obvious that Amtrak prefers to use the downstairs seats for their employees &/or employee's families. As someone with a disablilty, I was in a car as far away from the dining & lounge cars as possible. I did not feel Amtrak/Autotrain took care of people with disabilites. I will think twice about taking the Autotrain again for awhile.

 

[Dumbo]

>>party of four plus an Explorer<<

Not sure if Amtrak classifys an Explorer as an "oversized" vehicle, but if you are takeing an "oversized" vehicle such as a Dodge Caravan, you have to arrive at the train station 1 hour before everybody else does.

Dumbo

 

[Luvdisney]

The Explorer is an oversized vehicle.