Somewhat paranoid mom ? re amtrak

[amy611lou]

I'm considering taking Amtrak for our Nov 2011 trip as airline prices seem to just be going up and up. In looking at pictures it looks like the coach seats are 2 across. So my somewhat paranoid mom concern is that obviously I would put DD9 and DS8 together and I would sit across the aisle from them but how "safe" would they be if I fell asleep during the night? Getting a sleeper car wouldn't really be an option as I'm pretty sure we could get airline tickets for the same price. I love the idea of taking the train and the kids seems excited for it to, if that's what we decide to do, as I think it would prolong the whole adventure. I guess I just need someone to tell me that it would all be ok

 

[rock_doctor]

I haven't been on the auto train but i assume the coach cars are the same as the ones that run between Philly and DC. I don't see a problem but i would get the seat behind them. Then they are in your field of vision at all times. The trains do have power at the seat so consider a computer or dvd player with tons of movies. If you have an ipad/epad/apad/superpad etc this would mean you could plug it in and they could watch movies the whole trip. Plus riding the train is so much more fun then flying but usually more expensive then flying... Keep looking i bet you can find a cheaper flight. Have a great trip.

 

[pooch]

you'd be 4 feet from them, not sure what could happen to them that would not make enough noise to wake you up. I think they'd be fine across the aisle from you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Plus riding the train is so much more fun then flying

Neither is fun, but a flight is over much faster than a thousand mile train ride. Usually cheaper too.

OP - I don't see any problem sitting across the aisle from your kids. Make sure you take the aisle seat.

 

[RumpleMom]

I completely understand your question. We took the autotrain when the kids were little. By chance, they put all of the families in one car and we were allowed to spread out and take two seats each. I guess we were lucky to be on an almost empty train.

I did not sleep the whole night because I was watching the kids. DH slept very well, but I could not relax enough to sleep. I was exhausted the next day.

The next time we squeezed the 4 of us into a sleeper room, not a family bedroom. We all slept. It was worth the money. I would not travel coach again.

 

[chartle]

I'm considering taking Amtrak for our Nov 2011

Are you taking the Autotrain or just a regular Amtrak train. Even though others have replied assuming Autotrain I don't see that in your post.

If its the Auto Train I don't see an issue. There are no real stops with people getting on and off and most passengers are families going on vacation. Aslo you should be in car with other families.

Now regular Amtrak is a whole other issue. You may be stopping multiple times during the night with people getting off and on. I wouldn't say its a security nightmare just something to keep in mind.

For either there is not as much "fun" as you would think. On the Autotrain, out of Va you first see railroad right of way just cut through the woods for a few hours. Then there are some neat areas you go through including a town where you ride right down the middle of main street. After that not much more and soon all you see is rail side town that have seen better days. But in the end you are at WDW.

 

[chartle]

By chance, they put all of the families in one car and we were allowed to spread out and take two seats each.

Actually I think they put all the families with small kids together on purpose. On my completely full train there wasn't anyone under say 15.

 

[amy611lou]

Thanks for the replies everyone! We're not looking into the autotrain, just the regular Amtrak. I didn't even think about stops during the night, that would definitly stress me out. I would much rather fly, it's only a 2 hr flight from either Philly or Baltimore as opposed to a 15 -16 hr train trip. Hopefully I'll be able to get cheap flights, Airtran and Southwest don't have their flights for Nov 13 yet. But thanks for the thoughts/answers everyone!!

 

[DC7800]

I'm considering taking Amtrak for our Nov 2011 trip as airline prices seem to just be going up and up. In looking at pictures it looks like the coach seats are 2 across. So my somewhat paranoid mom concern is that obviously I would put DD9 and DS8 together and I would sit across the aisle from them but how "safe" would they be if I fell asleep during the night? Getting a sleeper car wouldn't really be an option as I'm pretty sure we could get airline tickets for the same price. I love the idea of taking the train and the kids seems excited for it to, if that's what we decide to do, as I think it would prolong the whole adventure. I guess I just need someone to tell me that it would all be ok

If you ask really, really, really nicely when explaining your concerns - and the train is not crowded - you might get the car attendant to turn a pair of seats around for you so you could have four facing seats on one side of the aisle. This isn't ordinarily done and (unfortunately) I wouldn't be too surprised if the coach attendant balked at doing do, but there is no particular reason it can't be done.

If the train is crowded it just wouldn't be possible, though you really have nothing to worry about in any case. You are basically an arms length from your kids, and passengers tend to be grouped by origin/destination, meaning many of the people around you are probably going the same place you are, and most will certainly also be onboard all night, too. Other people travel with small children in coach every day, of course, without problems, and you will be fine too.