Tell me about the Amtrak Auto Train

[bangzoom6877]

We are planning a WDW trip for July 2010. My parents and sister are going to be joining us for 4 nights of our 10-night trip. While we will be driving down from NYC (we like to take our time, see places along the way, and I don't like to fly), they are choosing to drive to Lorton, VA and take the auto train down. They will have my 2 nieces with them, who will be 6 and 9 when we all go. I have some questions about the auto train:

1. Is it necessary to get a room? Or are the chairs comfortable enough to sleep in?
2. How is the food they serve? What do they offer for dinner and for breakfast?
3. Do you have to wait a very long time to get your car when you arrive in Sanford, FL? For those of you who have been on the Auto Train, how long did you have to wait for your car?
4. How long a drive is it from the train station to WDW property?
5. Was there any damage done to your car from being on the auto train?
6. How did you feel when you got off the train? How much time did you need to recuperate from the ride? Or did you feel well-rested?
7. Could you walk around the train while traveling? Are there places on the train to go to or do you just stay in your chair and then go to sleep after the dinner is over?
8. Would you ever take the auto train again?

Thanks in advance for any answers to the above questions! If there is anything I missed that I need to know in order to inform my family, please feel free to let me know!

 

[Iceman10]

1) Yes. But I am one of those people who can't sleep on a plane, train, cars, etc
2) It sucks. Sorry but it's a train so much is microwaved burgers and such.
3) No. It only takes 5 - 20 minutes. Others mileage may vary though.
4) From Sanford it's about 30 or so minutes depending on Orlando traffic which is almost as bad as here in DC.
5) No damage. Again others mileage may vary though.
6) Yes you can walk around. There is a dining/ bar like area. Another area for smokers with a tv.
7) NO. For a few reasons; It is SOOO much more expensive than flying, even witha rental car. It takes as long as if I drove (14 hrs) It is really hard to sleep when trains are passing you at 70 mph and JOLT you right out of your sleep. IF I did it again I would drink heavily and use ear plugs.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Thanks so much for your reply. This is why I would personally rather drive than take the train. I am not sure how our kids would sleep on an overnight train ride, and also not sure how we would feel afterwards.

Another thing I thought of...after getting off the auto train, then arriving at Disney, if you did not want to go to a theme park that day but you had to wait for your room to be ready, what would you do with 2 children for a couple of hours or a few hours? Also, how do you feel going to a theme park early the next morning and each day for 3 days straight, after a ride on the auto train? We are also going down to Boca Raton to visit some relatives and we are thinking it might be best to do that first and then drive back up and do Disney before my parents, sister and nieces get back on the auto train to go home, since Boca will be the more slow-paced, relaxing part of the vacation and after that they would be more ready for the theme parks since everyone would be more rested. Thoughts?

 

[Iceman10]

Oddly enough, my kids slept fine on the train??? I got little to no sleep and same with my wife. Also note and this really no big deal. The Station in Lorton is really nice and big and the station in Sanford is....not so nice, not bad just very different and a lot smaller.

If your room is not ready you have use of all the amenities so you can go swimming or do what ever you want.

Going to 3 parks in 3 days is no big deal as long as you don't have that "Have to see and do it all" mentality. Depending on when you go, our plan of attack was get to the parks when they open. Hit the rides or whatever until about 11 or so (When th ecrowd starts to kick in) have lunch and leave. Go to the pool, relax and then go back later in the day.

You may need to do the Boca part last to relax from your Disney trip

 

[AnnaS]

I wanted to add that they video taped our car/truck when we took it. I am sure they must still do this - does anyone know?

You can bring a small cooler or just bring some frozen drinks, water bottles, etc. Snacks, sandwiches if you wish. Unless you eat in the dining car, the food is the microwave kind (high sodium).

We have had the sleeper and just coach. The seats are big enough especially for the kids. It's not as comfortable for adults, but doable. We were fine and I will definitely be doing it again.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Oddly enough, my kids slept fine on the train??? I got little to no sleep and same with my wife. Also note and this really no big deal. The Station in Lorton is really nice and big and the station in Sanford is....not so nice, not bad just very different and a lot smaller.

If your room is not ready you have use of all the amenities so you can go swimming or do what ever you want.

Going to 3 parks in 3 days is no big deal as long as you don't have that "Have to see and do it all" mentality. Depending on when you go, our plan of attack was get to the parks when they open. Hit the rides or whatever until about 11 or so (When th ecrowd starts to kick in) have lunch and leave. Go to the pool, relax and then go back later in the day.

You may need to do the Boca part last to relax from your Disney trip

My husband, our children and I do the parks exactly as you described. We are one of the first families in line very early in the morning, waiting to get into the park before rope drop. We would rather wait in line getting into the park than constantly wait in line for every ride. We hit the rides and attractions, have an early lunch, hit maybe a couple of more that don't have long lines and then leave for an afternoon break. We go back if we have a dinner ADR in the park, later on. We did this last summer on a 5-night trip, hitting a park each day, and not one single meltdown from either child! We just kept to their regular eating and sleeping routines and we were fine. The one exception is that my older one does not nap anymore but he did at Disney because he was so tired! But we gave him time to do that with our breaks!

Not sure how my sister is planning to do the park days. She will want to hit it all because she doesn't get to Disney all that much, and she likes to see everything when she is there. We became DVC members because we plan to go to WDW every other year for a 10-night trip, and we feel less of a need to "go commando" in the parks since we know we will have many future trips there. My kids are only 2 and 4 so many years to enjoy!

 

[Capt_BJ]

You may want to wade thru the pages of info at

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=402667&highlight=autotrain

all about the autotrain {search works }

I've done it twice and I don't think you're getting 100% good info here, especially with regard to the food. Maybe the food when you go coach is different. I thought that and mentioned it here and was told no it is all the same. But when I went, I had the "roomette" aka smallest sleeper and dinner was surprizingly good. It was a sit down meal, wine included. Choices included a steak, a chicken and a vegetarian dish .... maybe a fish too. I had the beef both times and it was pretty good. FAR from a microwaved TV dinner. Salad and a choice of desserts too. AND a kids menu - my son had chicken tenders as I recall (he went with me once @ 19 yoa). Breakfast is a simple continental fare. A roll, some juice and fruit, cereal. WAY WAY WAY better than any airline food I ever had in coach. Served on real plates with real glasses in booths seating 4. Both times I met some nice folks and enjoyed good dinner conversation to pass 2 hours. Dinner and brkfst is included in the fare it is for the roomette/sleepers and I believe that applies to ALL. They may have some other stuff to buy in the lounge. First trip I bought a beer and took it back to my room and second trip I BYOB.

You can move about the train - certainly up to the lounge/bar .... but moving from coach to sleeper areas and vice is a no no I believe. My roomette provided access to several bathrooms - and a SHOWER! Certainly much more room to stretch your legs than the average airplane short of a 747/DC-10/AirBus

How long it takes to get your car is somewhat random and has nothing to do with when you arrive/load because of the way the vehicles are loaded on the train. You could be waiting 45 minutes to an hour if you have the misfortune to be at the "end" of one of the train car strings which are created as the train is broken up for unloading. Once my car was a middle unload and I waited around 40 minutes from the time the first vehicle came off. Other time my car was the third vehicle to come down....pure luck of the draw. Once the train arrives the pass' cars are parked (spotted in train talk) and the car carriers are sep'rated. They then get broken into strings about 4 cars long and moved to 5 or 6 sidings with the unloading ramps. This process is going to take AT LEAST as long as you'd wait for luggage at the airport. Now they will start to unload cars, sometimes from all strings at once....sometimes less....depending on the crew and number of unloaders I suppose. And they will unload the top rack (the car carriers have two levels) completely b4 they begin the low rack in my experience. If you are lucky enuf to be on the top and the first vehicle in a string you leave a good hour b4 the last person will!

Here's my lil guy patiently waiting to be loaded in Sanford for his first choo choo train ride

So far as damage potential: I used AutoTrain to move my restored collector car from FL to VA and back. I'm a little particular about that car. As another said they take a quick video walk around to document the 'as loaded' condition of your vehicle when you check in.

As a second time veteran I brought some libations, my I-POD and a book...son brought a laptop and DVDs. I am a very light sleeper and I'll admit I really didn't sleep much on the train. But being able to stretch out and kill the lights and try was welcome. Again, can't comment on coach as I had the "closet with mattresses" aka roomette. There was some bottled water and the newspaper in the room when I arrived, coffee and water was available just by walking to the end of the car. Ice too I recall.

The Sanford station is currently being replaced .... the provided wait area is a large air-conditioned tent which reportedly is more comfortable then the old building was!

I have friends that have used AutoTrain for their annual trek from VA to FL to visit family and do the park dance for nearly 15 years.....

For me - AutoTrain was 1/4 the price of trucking my vehicle and I got "two hots and a cot" thrown in!

 

[AnnaS]

Like Capt BJ said if you get to dine in the dining room (included in your price w/sleeper), food is pretty good. Counter service is where the microwaveable food is. (Little frozen pizzas, etc.)

We also ate in the dining room one other time when traveling coach but two other times we were not lucky to get a decent time slot. Sleepers get first choice of time (not many seats) slot.

I only have a problem with the restrooms if traveling coach. Depending on time of travel, these fill up fast too.

 

[lbdpw1285]

We are planning a WDW trip for July 2010. My parents and sister are going to be joining us for 4 nights of our 10-night trip. While we will be driving down from NYC (we like to take our time, see places along the way, and I don't like to fly), they are choosing to drive to Lorton, VA and take the auto train down. They will have my 2 nieces with them, who will be 6 and 9 when we all go. I have some questions about the auto train:

1. Is it necessary to get a room? Or are the chairs comfortable enough to sleep in?
2. How is the food they serve? What do they offer for dinner and for breakfast?
3. Do you have to wait a very long time to get your car when you arrive in Sanford, FL? For those of you who have been on the Auto Train, how long did you have to wait for your car?
4. How long a drive is it from the train station to WDW property?
5. Was there any damage done to your car from being on the auto train?
6. How did you feel when you got off the train? How much time did you need to recuperate from the ride? Or did you feel well-rested?
7. Could you walk around the train while traveling? Are there places on the train to go to or do you just stay in your chair and then go to sleep after the dinner is over?
8. Would you ever take the auto train again?

Thanks in advance for any answers to the above questions! If there is anything I missed that I need to know in order to inform my family, please feel free to let me know!

our family, me, wife and daughter have been taking auto train for last 15 years.
we stay coach. the seat recline somewhat, not flat, but there are leg and foot rests. you can bring your own pillow if you like, i recommend you do.
many people do. you can bring a small cooler with drinks/snacks.
the bar prices are average $5/beer or wine, not sure on the soda/snacks.
it's only one night. it's not the 4 seasons, but it wont kill you.
things could be worse, you could be at work.
if you like you can upgrade to a roomette or larger. ($$)
we have found the fare to be cost effective when factoring in fuel, motel, food, and car rental needed in fla.
you only need to show id to get on the train, no scanners, no taking off your shoes etc. also no luggage limits or surcharges.

coach food (included in the fare) is good, sit down 4 to a booth, meat, chicken, fish, vegetarian plus dessert, coffee, wine.
fish has been baked cod, meat has been short ribs, pot roast, flatiron steak.
usually veggy lasagna is on menu.
they show a video in the lounge 2 times, usually during the 7pm and 9pm dinner seatings. there are electrical outlets next to each seat, if you want to bring a dvd player you will be able to plug in.

breakfast is muffins, bagels, oj, coffee.
we have typically pulled into destination station, (north or southbound) approx between 8 to 9 am. it takes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to get your car.
at worst traffic you are 45 to 60 min from disney via I4.
Usually 30-45 min.
should be no problem to get to the mouse by noon. check-in isn't until 4pm anyway.
you have your car to go offsite for lunch if you wish, or go to your resort, grab a bathing suit out of luggage and hit the pool and wait for 4pm.
with a car you have many more options.
it may not be for everybody, but try for yourself. it's fun, it's vacation.
enjoy!!
we are going again in january 2010

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

1. Is it necessary to get a room? Or are the chairs comfortable enough to sleep in? It is not necessary to get a sleeper. The chairs are comfy- bring a pillow and a fleece blanket and your good to go. Lights are out at 9 pm ish. If you bring a DVD player make sure you have earphones - they are required.

2. How is the food they serve? What do they offer for dinner and for breakfast? We have eaten in both coach and sleeper-- the food is good in both. Difference is in sleeper you have actual china and wine served. Selections are good. -- not as previously reported as microwaved food. Seating is 5, 7 or 9 pm. Your time is selected at checkin at the station.

3. Do you have to wait a very long time to get your car when you arrive in Sanford, FL? For those of you who have been on the Auto Train, how long did you have to wait for your car? As op stated your car can come off in any order. The last 2 years we were lucky to be cars 5 and 3. We have also been almost last which can be close to an hour if it is a full train
4. How long a drive is it from the train station to WDW property? From Sanford to Disney is approximately 30 mins. Straight across on I4
5. Was there any damage done to your car from being on the auto train? We have traveled for 5 yrs on the autotrain w/ no damage to our vehicle. They do video tape your vehicle before loading
6. How did you feel when you got off the train? How much time did you need to recuperate from the ride? Or did you feel well-rested? We feel fairly good- the kids sleep like rocks bc they have been up since 2 am. They sometimes state that they still feel like they are on the train rocking a bit. DH and I sleep fairly well too-- we usually are up during the night to switch seats to sleep next to DS2. I don't think it would matter how we felt-- we are heading to disney and can't wait to get there!
7. Could you walk around the train while traveling? Are there places on the train to go to or do you just stay in your chair and then go to sleep after the dinner is over? Yes you can walk around the train- just not able to walk from coach to sleepers. There is a lounge car each for coach and sleepers. In the lounge car there is tables-- can play cards or just hang out and people watch. We find the trains schedule works for us. Leave Lorton by 4 pm - earlier if all loaded. dinner is 5, 7 or 9 pm. We usually get the kids ready for bed by 8 pm( they have been up since 2 am!) Then we hang out for a while usually reading or watching a dvd. We go to sleep- get up around 630 am and see where we are -- early or late arrival- if early we head for breakfast- late we go back to bed for a bit. After breaksfast we pack our stuff up and anxiously wait to hit disney. I find time is broken up fairly well-- the kids bring their video games/dvd player to keep amused.
8. Would you ever take the auto train again? Yes we would. We are returning for our 5th trip to WDW via the autotrain. We are a family of 7 and it is a much better way to travel than flying-- cheaper too. Our children love to travel by the autotrain- it has become part of our trip to disney- not just a mode of transportation. We know that there can be delays in the train or early arrivals too. Last yr our return train was cancelled due to TS fay. DH and I looked at each other for a few seconds debating about driving home-- nahh-- we are staying. We got the next available train out 5 days later. Yah we could have drove home but we opted for the train. You have to experience it to see if you like it. Every one is going to have a different opinion. With all the stuff you have to go thru to fly we prefer to use the train.

DH works for amtrak so that is why we use it but we have also decided that we would still travel the autotrain if we had to pay for it. The farther you book your trip the cheaper it is. There is a promo running for kids to travel for $19 this summer. If you have any ?'s I would be happy to answer them

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Forgot to add- last year was the first year that our rooms were not ready at 10 am. We decided to go to AK to visit the animals for a while. You can always have your swim gear handy too to hang out at the resort.

hope this helps

 

[bangzoom6877]

Wow, thank you everyone for all the great info! I will definitely pass all this information along to my parents and sister. We will still be driving. DH and I are both teachers and love to have long vacations, so we take our time getting down there and see things along the way. That's how we did it last summer and we all really enjoyed it. But the rest of the family will definitely be taking the auto train. My mom has a bad back and cannot take too many hours in the car, days in a row, and so if she could walk around the train that is perfect. She also hates to fly, so the auto train is a great option for her. My sister just doesn't have the time to drive down over the course of a few days like us, so they are all going together on the train. Any other tips, keep them coming!

 

[AnnaS]

Someone please correct me, lol. I have done both the Autotrain and Amtrak down. I have also done the sleepers and coach but I think I am getting this dining and counter service maybe mixed up. Autotrain was a few years ago and we just did take Amtrak last August.

Does the Autotrain only offer dining service w/tablecloths, actual glasses, utensils and not a counter service and counter service is only offered on the regular Amtrak (w/dining available too of course).

I do not want/like giving out wrong info. Now I am curious myself.

 

[DC7800]

Both Auto-Train and Amtrak's other trains on the route, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor, carry both dining and lounge cars. On Auto-Train the dining car in included for all passengers; On all other trains diner meals are only complimentary for sleeper (first-class) passengers.

The diner has "table-service" with generally very good to excellent service and quality. The lounge car offers "sandwiches, snacks, and beverages" - essentially a counter-service (though tables are available, unlike the "cafe" cars on many corridor trains), and that's were you might find the microwave fare mentioned earlier.

 

[Henlady]

AnnaS:
With regard to dining on the AutoTrain:
Coach and First Class(room/roomette) have separate dining cars.
For both services, you select a dining time usually at about 5:00pm, 7:00pm and if the train is crowded they may offer an additional time around 9:00pm.

Coach: Service is at booths and meals include wine and dessert. I have had
various beef and chicken dishes, vegetable lasagna, all very tasty and definately not microwaved.
First Class: Service is also at booths, but with table cloths, cloth napkins, also salad, wine & dessert included. Those meals usually include steak, chicken marsala, grilled salmon or some other type of fish. Food is a little "higher end" in first class.

There is a bar in the lounge that serves drinks (alcoholic and sodas, etc) and I believe you can also get a microwaved sandwich there if you need something extra.

 

[Iceman10]

yea I am in the same boat. I must have forgotten what the food was like for sure. I simply didn't recall having a sit down meal, but now that I think about we did. Sorry for any confusion. I have never seen, though the prices for say 2 adults & 2 kids with a regular car be under 1k. What might be the better price time lines?

 

[bangzoom6877]

yea I am in the same boat. I must have forgotten what the food was like for sure. I simply didn't recall having a sit down meal, but now that I think about we did. Sorry for any confusion. I have never seen, though the prices for say 2 adults & 2 kids with a regular car be under 1k. What might be the better price time lines?

We had looked online to see what prices are for this summer. For 4 adults and 2 children plus one oversized vehicle (minivan), it was about $1800 round-trip total, in coach. It is of course extra money for a roomette or a full room, but neither of these options would fit 6 people. So what you are saying for 2 adults and 2 kids with a regular size sedan may be true, under $1,000. Very possible.

 

[cosmicrays]

We were thinking of taking the train in July buts its double the cost of airline tickets. I was shocked and that was for coach seats.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We were thinking of taking the train in July buts its double the cost of airline tickets. I was shocked and that was for coach seats.

Wow! My mother would pay more for the train...she really does hate flying that much!

 

[Windjammer]

We have travelled the Autotrain the last five summers. The price for our family of 6 (2 adults and 4 kids) and an overized van has ranged from $746 to $1050, depending on the year. For us, this is much cheaper than flying and a van rental for two weeks.

In the summer the kids usually travel freee (this year kids ar e$19 each way). AAA also provides a discount.

One trip our van did get scraped a little on the side. We were told to get an estimate and Amtrak promptly paid for the damage.

Steve