Can u tell me about Auto Train? About This Page:

[Stephie1551]

We are returning in the world in August...usually we fly...we could drive but im not sure how much fun that would be for hubby and me...so I am thinking of the auto train...what are your experiences? Is it child friendly? I am wondering how well my kids are going to sleep knowing in the morning they will be at disney world. Also, how far is it to the world once we get off the train? I would probally get regular seats...will we be comfy? is the train usually full? or is there room to spread out?

[cburke]

great question I would like to know as well

[JKnott17]

I was wondering the same thing! I was thinking of taking the auto train later in the year, but was wondering about the regular seats. It was too expensive to book on of the suites with beds. Hope someone else has an answer for us!

[CinderAbby]

I have loads of info in 3 of my trip reports - 08, 09 and 10. We've taken the Auto Train since 2006 and we love it.

We are returning in the world in August...usually we fly...we could drive but im not sure how much fun that would be for hubby and me...so I am thinking of the auto train...what are your experiences? We really enjoy taking it and don't hesitate to take it again

Is it child friendly? That's a lot of what you'll see in the waiting area - families. So yes, it is child friendly.

I am wondering how well my kids are going to sleep knowing in the morning they will be at disney world. Chances are, they'll sleep well. Espceially after "lights out". They do request that after this, that people do try to remain as quiet as they can (use headphones for tv's, try to use phones in the lounge car, etc) and as a kid, if they have nothing to do but sleep, they will. I know mine sleeps no matter how excited she is

Also, how far is it to the world once we get off the train? About 50 miles or 1 hour depending upon your route and traffic. We take 417 versus 1-4 and we've always been on Disney property about 1 hour after leaving the station

I would probally get regular seats...will we be comfy? That depends upon one's comfort level. Abby and I were fine with them the first trip but Lenny was very uncomfortable and barely slept.

is the train usually full? or is there room to spread out? Again, it depends. When you book passage on the Auto Train, you have to pay for coach seating whether you stay in coach or if you upgrade to a sleeper. If lots of people upgrade, the coach section may not be as full and you might have room to spread out. If less people opt for a sleeper, then the coach sections will be fuller. Our first trip we stayed coach and there was plenty of room to spread out. The last 3 trips, we've upgraded so I don't know how full the coach section was. I do remember that last year however, there was only 1 dining car for the sleeper cars and because I try to take pictures at the station, I seem to remember that there were 2 or 3 dining cars for coach so that means it would have been fairly crowded but I don't know for sure. Coach class and sleeper class both have their own set of lounges and dining cars so there is no reason to wander through the other section unless you want to just to see. At meal time though, you will have to go to your own dining car (and you get tickets when you get to the station letting the employees know which one you should be in).

The two things I can tell you though is that the closer to your vacation you wait to book, the higher the fare is going to be. Sometimes you can luck out and get a cheaper fare by calling but that doesn't always happen. And the other is if you opt for the sleepers, roomettes are the best way to go versus the bedrooms IMO. They'll be cheaper for starters and with the way the roomettes are set up, you actually get the biggest beds in them. But have a look at my TR's. I have info, pictures, and scanned copies of their brochure stating dimensions of rooms and beds.

[bobyetman]

Another big advantage of the auto train is that you can haul as much stuff as you want, as long as it fits in the car. None of that 2 bag 50 lb limit of the airlines. You pack once at home, all the big stuff in the car, and an overnight bag for the train, and you don't have to touch your suitcases again until you get to your hotel. A lot easier then the airports. It's also a lot more relaxing way to start the vacation. We just did it down to WDW this last weekend, and will be doing it again in the future.

As Darlene said, the further out you book, the cheaper it is. If you wait until less then a month in, it's double the cost of booking 2 months out. My wife and I always get a room, the privacy is worth the extra cost. You didn't say how many or how old your kids are, each sleeper car has 1 'family' room that can sleep 2 adults and 2 younger kids, it's also the only sleeper room on the train (besides the handicap room) that has windows on both sides.

[Stephie1551]

My kids are will be 4 and six...tiny little girls.....I think the price of a sleeper car is out of our budget.....but i am really liking the auto train idea...it will add a little adventure to our trip

[Minniemouse27]

I just did a price comparison and it would only cost us $250 more to take the train rather than drive (taking gas/hotel/food into consideration).

Dh and I are discussing it. Taking the train may be worth $250 to not be exhausted from driving when we get there, and when we get home again!

The Amtrak site said that Auto train tix included food. Is that just dinner or is breakfast included as well?

Do you feel super grimy when you get off the train if you don't get a roomette or bedroom? We won't be able to check into our hotel until later in the day and I'm trying to take everything into consideration!

[Stephie1551]

I think i read that a continental type breakfast is included and snacks but maybe some one knows for sure.

[marylandmom]

We have taken the autotrain 3 times, with the latest being last August. Dinner is included...you select your dining time when you check in at the station. There are 5 pm, 7pm and sometimes 9 pm dinner times. There are snacks in the lounge car in the evening. I am not sure what is available as we just take some snacks of our own on the train. And, in the morning, you can go to the dining car for a continental type breakfast. They have cereals on the table, milk, I think orange juice, bananas, and a basket with some bagels and muffins.

We always sit coach. There are 3 of us (my daughters are now 16 and 14). On our first trip on the autotrain, we sat on the upper level and someone else was in the seat next to me on the way there, but the train wasn't as full on the way back and I got to spread out over 2 seats. The next 2 trips we were on the lower level. People can't walk through the cars on the lower level which I find to be nice. Last summer, no one was beside me on the way there, and on the way home, there were enough empty seats for everyone to spread out. All of these trips were in August.

I like taking my own pillows and blankets. The ones on the train are small. I use one of the small ones behind my back though, for added comfort.

[Stephie1551]

Thanks for all the info. Glad to hear the train wasnt crowded in August as that is when we will be going

[B.M.]

There is a great Trip Report going on right now that includes an update full of details and pictures about the Auto Train- Our National Lampoon Christmas Vacation!

[CinderAbby]

Dh and I are discussing it. Taking the train may be worth $250 to not be exhausted from driving when we get there, and when we get home again! Not to mention saving almost 900 miles of wear and tear on your vehicle

The Amtrak site said that Auto train tix included food. Is that just dinner or is breakfast included as well? Full dinner and continental breakfast that's first come first served. Snacks are serverd too - chips/pretzels, etc. Sleeper coaches get a wine and cheese tasting too before leaving the station

Do you feel super grimy when you get off the train if you don't get a roomette or bedroom? We won't be able to check into our hotel until later in the day and I'm trying to take everything into consideration Not at all. There's a shower downstairs and soaps and towels are provided. It's nice to arrive in Florida all ready for the day

!

[Minniemouse27]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Dh and I are discussing it. Taking the train may be worth $250 to not be exhausted from driving when we get there, and when we get home again! Not to mention saving almost 900 miles of wear and tear on your vehicle

The Amtrak site said that Auto train tix included food. Is that just dinner or is breakfast included as well? Full dinner and continental breakfast that's first come first served. Snacks are serverd too - chips/pretzels, etc. Sleeper coaches get a wine and cheese tasting too before leaving the station

Do you feel super grimy when you get off the train if you don't get a roomette or bedroom? We won't be able to check into our hotel until later in the day and I'm trying to take everything into consideration Not at all. There's a shower downstairs and soaps and towels are provided. It's nice to arrive in Florida all ready for the day

!

Awesome!

...and the budgeted difference just dropped to the train being only $60 more than driving if we take advantage of the extra time on arrival day (wasn't originally expecting to get there until late afternoon/early evening) to go visit w/ the ILs and stay overnight w/ them and head over to Kennedy SC early the next morning.

I'm pretty sure we are taking the train now!