Baby on AutoTrain

[mwehttam]

I have read through the Autotrain thread as well as posted at the end of that thread but decided I might have better luck with a new thread.

My DW is due to give birth a week from Monday and we are already planning out trip to WDW for July 07. The baby will be about 8 months old and I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has taken an infant around the same age on the train and their advice for sleeping arrangement. I am leaning toward getting lower coach where there is less foot traffic with the thinking that is will be less noisy.

Thanks for the help!!

-Matt

 

[mwehttam]

Bumping!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It seems as if a long train ride with an 8 month old would be a real challenge. Is there a reason you would take the train rather than fly?

 

[scouthawkk]

We drove to Disney when DS was just shy of 9 months. I wish we would have thought of the autotrain! Next year (in July also) we are taking the train. DS will be 4, and we are also taking his two aunts (will be 10 and 13). Really can't beat the price for travel, and have your own vehicle at the other end!

Have you looked in to getting one of the sleeper rooms? The baby would be free, so you would only need the smallest one available. It may be worth it for the extra privacy. Would also give you less foot traffic and noise. Plus the added bonus of beds for you and DW, and the little one can sleep in the car seat, or even a stroller.

By the way, from your count down, looks like we may be traveling at the same time! When are you looking at heading down?

Congratulations on the baby!

 

[mwehttam]

cyberspace - personally, I don't like to fly. Have done it, don't like it, but will do it in the future again. I think the thing I hate the most is the airport hassles. Plus not sure how the baby will like it, though I guess you can say that about the train as well, lol. The cost of the train and flying look to be about even unless JetBlue (will only fly them) has a sale this summer. But I think the main reason is the ability to pack the car with everything we need and not have to worry about what we are bringing home. Plus from reading the DIS, it seems that shipping items home has gone up drastically!

scout - We are planning on driving down to Lorton Sat July 14th. We have reservations at SSR from the 15th through the 25th. Then the train back that day. When do you plan on going?

Agree 100% about having the car. I thought about the sleeper. It won't add too much to make it a deal breaker. I think round trip with my Jeep Liberty is still under $1000 (have to double check). If we flew I would get 3 seats so I think the cost is a wash (not counting personal time "cost"). My concern with the small sleeper is the space for my DW and the baby in the bottom bunk. Would it be safe for the baby to be on the bunk with her? Is there room and is it safe for the baby so stay in the car seat and sleep while on the bunk? Looking on the Amtrak site you can't get a good feel of the space available.

We were leaning towards the lower level due to that area not being a walk through to the other cars so the foot traffic should be drastically less.

-Matt

 

[scouthawkk]

haven't personally done a sleeper, so can't answer that. all i now is that 5 of us won't fit in one, so coach it is. do you have aaa? 10% off! for all 5 of us (2 adults, 3 children) plus the blazer is under $1000 with aaa rates (not by much, but still pretty good deal).

the 14th is exactly the day we plan to leave! but will probably take the return trip starting the 21st. not sure the budget could handle much longer. fortunately none of the kids eat much! don't have reservations yet. looking at either poly, or a family suite at the all stars. not big on the value resort, stayed once, didn't like much. but the thought of a separate room for me and dh is looking very nice.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Hi Matt!

I have traveled the AutoTrain both in a sleeper and in coach. We are a family of 6, therefore we have had two connecting deluxe bedrooms.

Traveling with a baby, the sleeper will definitely provide the privacy you will need. The lower bunk would hold your wife and child (in a car seat) as it is a little wider than the top bunk. My only concern is that the train does rock and roll a lot (especially during the night time hours). You would be better having the baby either sleep between your wife and the wall, or in the car seat on the floor. The bathroom takes up a lot of room and therefore cuts down on the "living" space. Since we usually get two connecting, we have a little more elbow room.

As far as a regular sleeper, they don't look large enough, but I'm not sure since we have not stayed in one.

The lower level consists of 6 double seats (same as those in upstairs coach). However, you will not get the walk thru traffic. The bathrooms are located right outside of a closed door leading to your space. This room provides a lot of privacy if the room is not full. If all 12 seats are occupied, then you take a chance on the noise level. They usually do try to have families ride together and those traveling without children in another part of the train.

I guess if I were in your situation and had to choose one over the other, I would go with the sleeper car, based solely on privacy.

Good luck!

 

[mwehttam]

Thanks DisneyPoly. My DW and I discussed this last night again and are begining to lean to a small sleeper and having the baby between my DW and the wall. The baby will be 8 months old enough that we won't worry about him/her sharing the bed with DW.

However, now that JetBlue flys out of Newburgh NY that might also be a possibility. I only fly JetBlue if I can help it and Stewart airport is a lot easier to deal with then Newark. Unfortunatly JetBlue only have up to April faires released and I hate to wait another 3 months to get out transportation finalized. The trials and tribulations of a Disney Planner!

-Matt

 

[hollyb]

We are (hopefully) taking the autotrain from Lorton on May 11th, 2007. Our kids will be 9 and 7. From what I am reading I should ask for lower level seating? We would love a private room, not in our budget though.

 

[CherylA]

Hey Matt. I hope I can help. My DH and I took the autotrain with our 6 month old a couple years back. Not much has changed since then. We had one of the really tiny 2 person sleepers and it was fine. The bottom bunk is big and I slept in it with the baby and DH slept on the top bunk. I think stuff storage was the worst part because there is NO ROOM!!! we brought on her car seat carrier because it seemed like there would be no other place to put her but once we were in there we didn't need it. Luckily there were some empty rooms near us and the attendant tucked the seat in there. I would play that part by ear until you know how your little one is. You can decide what to bring right before you go but I think you'll be a okay with a tiny sleeper. I wouldn't want to do coach seats though. Any other questions just ask...

Cheryl