Wheelchairs on the Autotrain?

[pumpkinboy]

Our DS (12) is a wheelchair user and we are considering coming down on the Autotran in February for our trip to the DVC resort in Vero Beach. Pricing it out, it seems it will be a far better deal for us to drive from Mass to DC then load oud H/C van on to the Autotrain and come down that way; compared to what we have done in the past, flying down ($$$ during school vacation week) and renting a H/C van (or minivan, tho this no longer works as well) to get to Vero. We love Vero but are finiding it harder to do it as our Pumpkinboy gets bigger.

So we're considering getting one of those mini rooms for me and DS for the overnight from VA to FL. We have a manual wheelchair (a Quickie) that weighs all of 45 lbs, and a boy who weighs in at just 60 lbs. Does anyone know if there would be room enough for the pumpkinboy and his equipment in the mini bedroom?

Thanks for your help on this. Like all boys, our DS loves trains, so it might be fun and economical for us to try this route this year.

 

[Piper]

Ask about the HC br. It goes all the way across the width of the train. I would give you enough room.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have taken the AutoTrain several times, all but the first time in the Sleepers. I guess a key question would be what mobility does he have? Most of the bedrooms are on the upper level.

What is important is that access to the Lounge and Dining Cars is on the upper level. If you can get him (and the chair) there you will have no problems at all.

If you cannot get him to the upper level, all of the accessible rooms are on the lower level. They will bring the meals to the room. But you will effectively be confined to the room for the trip.

And in any event, there are bunk beds; probably you would have to use the upper berth as there is a ladder and not stairs to the bed.

As long as the chair can be folded it will easily fit in the room.

 

[darthspud]

I remember reading a while back a blog here on disboards about a gentleman who went on his first solo trip... he was in a wheelchair and took amtrak down.. I looked it up and found that blog report

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/12/03/amtrak-and-mears-transportation-to-disney/

this might give you some answers or you might even be able to contact that gentleman and get some info from him

good luck in planning!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Great info so far. I appreciate the experienced advice here. My boy uses niether arms nor legs, so yes, he would be effectively stranded in the room, which might still be OK with us, with appropriate entertainment (portable DVD, music player, etc.) Heck, half of the trip is overnight anyway. I would be able to go forward and get stuff if I was so inclined. He has a g-tube, so the dining car is of no use to him; I might pack a picnic supper for me tho.

I guess I will call Amtrak and see what the story is on accessible sleepers on the autotrain. My son's chair does not fold up, so we might need a larger unit of some sort. I don't want him sleeping in his chair, so a sleeper unit of some sort is a must.

It'll be so sweet having our own accessible van in Florida. That 1:40 drive was starting to make Vero less relevant to our family, which would be sad as it is one of our fav' Disney resorts (even with no parks).

Please keep the posts flowing if anyone else has experience to share.
Thx!!!