for those that take amtrak, do you bring or buy food on train?

[disney_girl125]

I will be taking the regular amtrak train for the first time in 2 weeks. We have always taken the auto train. The station that i'm getting on has no checked baggage. I have to carry everything on. So, is it worth it to try to haul food, drinks, and snacks on? Or should I buy everything on the train? Are the prices and food worth it? It'll be me and my 3 kids. Going we'll be on for lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Coming back we'll be on for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I will be taking the regular amtrak train for the first time in 2 weeks. We have always taken the auto train. The station that i'm getting on has no checked baggage. I have to carry everything on. So, is it worth it to try to haul food, drinks, and snacks on? Or should I buy everything on the train? Are the prices and food worth it? It'll be me and my 3 kids. Going we'll be on for lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Coming back we'll be on for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We're from northeast Ohio and board at an unmanned station too....we pack a lunch for the 2 of us plus snacks and such...we're not big dining car users...rather pricey food but it is good....club car serves decent sandwiches, pastries, coffee and drinks and is reasonable (but we wouldn't totally rely on it for our food).

Since we board quite early (3am) a danish and coffee from the club are is enough for us, then lunch and dinner might be the sandwiches and stuff we brought with us ( I like sandwiches, wife brings fried chicken etc, drinks) and we might get a hamburger from the club car later in the evening...during the layover in DC, we pick up either a sub, McDonalds from the station and the next morning it's its the same coffee routine and then we're in Disney around 2pm so we opt for our lunch/dinner meal at the resort.

We sometimes ask in route (DC to Florida) if a sleeper (roomette) is available, sometimes goes for half price (only sleeps 2) and it includes all meals for the both of us and we'll move in, have dinner, breakfast and squeeze in lunch before arriving in Florida....getting the sleeper cheaper than pre-paying make it cheap when you throw in the meals for us....

Coming home...we do a grocery stop in route to Disney after we detrain and buy lunchmeat, rolls, chips and drinks (pool picnic at noon for us each day at the resort) and we make sure we bought enough for sandwiches coming home to repack a lunch for the train...again there's the layover in DC, alot of food options there and then we board for the home leg getting in around 2 am.....

My wife calls me cheap...I call myself prudent but I'm not going to spend alot of money buying train food (choices are not alot) but rather eat my brought on lunch and goodies, same for drinks. We can travel quite light for a 9 night stay at WDW, we each have a rolling duffle and one carryon plus a small soft sided cooler...very manageable for the 2 of us and we each have a small travel blanket for the cold train car....nothing else needed...we schelp our stuff to the train...and take our time putting it away....then go up to the coach level with our carry-ons and cooler and take our seats and drift off to sleep till morning......trick is taking less...so you can manage it...

Tip for DC...when boarding the train south...use a Red Cap (Amtrak porter)..they will take you and your bags to the train before the regular guests line up (all for the price of a tip) we're seated and everything put away and the rest of the passengers haven't even got to the train yet....very convenient (we tip him 5 bucks)......hope this all helps...I rambled alot!

Wanted to add...the dining car may be a few cars forward and I myse;f don't like swaying thru the car to eat....hard to find your car coming back, they all look alike so we just stay in our coach car....club car is usually close but can be a walk....

Jim

 

[Candikayne]

Taking my first family Amtrak trip in August. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[disney_girl125]

Thanks for all the information! I am transferring in Philly, but i'm just going to keep our luggage with us (not checking it in). Is it safe to leave things in our seats if we do try the dining car?
Also is red cap service available for everyone? Where do I go for that? When do they assign your seats? Is there restrooms in every car?

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks for all the information! I am transferring in Philly, but i'm just going to keep our luggage with us (not checking it in). Is it safe to leave things in our seats if we do try the dining car?
Also is red cap service available for everyone? Where do I go for that? When do they assign your seats? Is there restrooms in every car?

We used to board closer to our home and went to Philly...they closed that station and we have to drive to the next closest one and that train goes to DC.....we liked Philly better/////either station...you get off on the lower level than the main floor...have to take the escalator up......

Hummm...leaving things in the seats while you head to the dining car....one of the reasons we don't do the dining car I guess....same for club car....I stay in our seats and wife does the going for food to bring back....not saying it's unsafe but I wouldn't do it....wouldn't leave anything of value in the seats but would clean up most stray items and zip them in a case in the overhead.....your main luggage will be downstairs...carryons in the overhead....your call on that, but we don't leave our stuff unattended.

Red Cap's are Amtrak porters, there for your use....you'll see then when getting off the train, they wear red hats....they'll help you with your luggage, or if they are already with a guest, have radios to call another Red Cap if you want assistance....they have a stand on the main level in the Philly station, and we go over to them and secure one 60 minutes before we're to board and they come and escort us to the right train and car for our journey, take us and our luggage and lead the way.....

As for seats...we;ve been assigned as we board the train and we've been taken to the train and found our own in Philly abd DC...usually when you board, the porter will give your your seat numbers...

Restrooms are 2 per car....one large, handicapped and one really small restroom....both unisex, first come first served.....