Bathrooms on the Autotrain?

[TheLittleRoo]

I am starting to read up on the Autotrain as an option for my family to get to WDW, and it was sounding good until I flipped over to another airline travel board where people are saying the bathrooms are FILTHY in coach. Really FILTHY. Maybe someone was referring to a regular Amtrak train, and not an Autotrain?

I need someone to be blunt with me because this really matters to me with small kids: is this anything like traveling on Greyhound? Or are we talking about your normal everyday airline passenger crowd? I rode on a charter bus service (ToNY bus, I think it was...) from DC to NY with my daughter and it was filthy and broke down on the side of the road in Baltimore, so I've had my share of "adventures" and I would like to know in advance the toilets are clean, and the passengers are civilized!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Fortunately I had nothing but good experiences with the restrooms on the Autotrain! And I have traveled over 25 times on the train, too! I traveled in coach and sleeper, and didn't see much difference in the upkeep of the bathrooms, as both were very good. The Autotrain groups their bathrooms together on the lower level - so if by chance one is not looking too good, hopefully there a better one right next to it!

The Autotrain tends to have more upscale passengers, since it's pricier and everyone has to have a car. Also everyone gets on at one station and off at another, which makes things simplier and less hectic, with less foot traffic and less comings and goings. I always enjoyed my fellow passengers. Once I ate with a children's book author, and once with college professors. Also met many people traveling on business. Quite a few passengers are senior citizens traveling from home in the north to south or vice-versa. Lots of families and many solos, too. I find the whole train very nice, well-maintained, with very good conductors who keep on top of things.

Well, that's been my experience - the Autotrain is quite different than many other long-distance trains. It is one of Amtrak's best.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

This is just what I was looking for in reassurances! I've never traveled via Amtrak before and have no idea what to expect with the Autotrain.

Thanks for your post!

 

[bdcp]

The bathrooms are not filthy, even by the morning. They do however occasionally have one overflow. Always wear shoes (you're supposed to anyway). Anyway, with kids and some people who just don't pay attention, sometimes too much gets flushed and just like it can do at home, it overflows. We've done coach once and sleeper once. The sleeper bathrooms were actually cleaner/neater by virtue of the fact there are less people using them. But, they are cleaner than most department store bathrooms I've been in.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I traveled last year w/ dd4 in coach while DH and DS 8 and 6 had a sleeper. We have always been upgraded to a sleeper but they only had 1 left that trip so I had the boys take the sleeper. Anyways dd and I checked out the bathrooms on the train. There is actually 3 different types of bathroom.
1)Reg bathroom- very small- w/ sink. It worked w/ dd coming along but was a tight fit and I had to hold on to her since the train was rocky.
2)Vanity area w/ adjacent bathroom. This one had stools infront of mirrors than a private bathroom off it. Still not a good option w. dd bc she would have to hold on to the stools while I was in the private bathroom.
3)Dressing room w/ bathroom- that was the best. You entered into the dressing room that had a bench w/ handle on the wall. It had a bathroom right next to it. So dd could sit and hold on while I took care of business.

She thought it was a great adventure to explore for bathrooms. We decided that #3 was the best one for us. We have never had a problem w/ the cleanliness with the bathrooms. Reg amtrak trains are another story. There is also showers avail too. My neices used the showers and didn't say anything negative about it.

We are returning in 21 days for our 4th trip on the autotrain. We travel w/ ds9,ds7, dd5 and ds1. I would be happy to help w/ any other ?"s you may have. DH works for amtrak so we know alot about the autotrains

HTH

 

[AnnaS]

We took regular Amtrak down to West Palm Beach (coach) about 5 years ago and I will say that by the end of the trip - I could barely go in there. I had to literally hold my breath or stick my nose in my pulled up to my face shirt so I could use the facility (I am sorry but the employees should clean it up every few hours and not at the end of the trip only). I had also brought room air freshner for bathroom and yes where I was sitting. Don't forget - many people take their shoes off and eat a variety of different foods which - mix it all in and it might not always be pleasant for everyone.

My son thought I was nuts with the air freshner - I am just a bit too sensitive to smells and always have been - even with my children's business. We actually still laugh about it and will say we actually enjoyed the ride.

We took the Autotrain another time w/sleepers and a totally different experience.

Having said that - we are taking Amtrak again next month. Last minute trip and my dd hates flying and it's the only way she will go. I am prepared with wipes, mask and air freshner.

I hope Amtrak is doing a better job right now of keeping up with the restrooms - funny or not - we are doing this and again, it will be an adventure. (Come to think of it - I think I should write them a letter).

If you are really, really picky or sensitive - I would go with a sleeper. I would have but I am taking three of my daughter's friends down (for her 16th) and my sister which would mean 3 sleepers and the price was crazy.

You have to try everything once and you might have a totaly different experience.

 

[Denise123]

I have only traveled on the auto train so I can only speak about those rest rooms. I never experienced a dirty one or one that was "clogged up". There are several different types which is interesting. Have used restrooms for both sleeper car and coach, all very clean and well kept.

 

[MrsNick]

We are returning in 21 days for our 4th trip on the autotrain. We travel w/ ds9,ds7, dd5 and ds1. I would be happy to help w/ any other ?"s you may have. DH works for amtrak so we know alot about the autotrains

Hi, there...Quick question for you about the sleepers...If you do not reserve one in advance, do you upgrade at the train station, or do you have to wait until you're actually on the train? Is there a good chance of getting one last minute? What do you have to do? Is there a good strategy? How much does it cost? Just wondering. DH and I have been talking about the autotrain lately, with all bad news with the airlines. Thanks!

 

[skoi]

Hi, there...Quick question for you about the sleepers...If you do not reserve one in advance, do you upgrade at the train station, or do you have to wait until you're actually on the train? Is there a good chance of getting one last minute? What do you have to do? Is there a good strategy? How much does it cost? Just wondering. DH and I have been talking about the autotrain lately, with all bad news with the airlines. Thanks!

We managed to upgrade at the station going from Lorton to Sanford and back on the same trip. Keep in mind, this was in September (low season both ways) about a year after 9-11, so tourism was still hurting. There were only four of us then, and we got a family room. I don't recall there being any discount from what it would've been if we had booked online ahead of time. We arrived very early (first or second car on) and asked if there were sleepers available. We tried another time, two years ago when we took youngest dd the first time. She had just been home with us for less than a year and we were worried about how she'd travel. No luck. All sleepers were taken.

As to the bathrooms, we've been on long distance plane trips where the bathrooms were far worse than the anything I've seen on a train- especially bad was our first trip back from China, and a trip from Germany to Kazakhstan. The autotrain bathrooms do get a little "soggy" from the water coming from the sink, but I've never seen dirty bathrooms in coach or sleeper.

Julie

 

[Denise123]

Like the auto train ticket costs the earlier you book a "room" the cheaper it is. You can plug in your dates on the web site to check the cost of the different types. We have always traveled in October and made the reservations about 1 year ahead so the costs were very reasonable.