How are the Amtrak Auto Train coach seats?

Question

My family is planning to take the Amtrak Auto Train from Virginia to Florida. We are considering reserving coach seats for the four of us - 2 adults, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old. Has anyone had the auto train experience, and if so do you think we will be miserable in the coach seats?

Also, what is there to do on the train, I know they have dinner and movies, but how are they shown? Is it similar to an airplane with overhead screens?

Does the train have food other than just dinner?

Thanks for answering!

Answer 1

I have not ridden the AutoTrain but I have been on Amtrak and I can tell you the following:

Seats are more comfortable and provide more room (esp legroom) than airline seats.  Bring your own pillows and blankets.  Probably also a good idea to throw some of the kids favorite snacks and drinks into a bag as well.  

Movies on Amtrak are shown in the observation car.  There is a TV at one end (maybe one at each end.  Can't recall) and the seats turn to face the TV.  Not bad.  

Another option is a family bedroom.  Should accomodate 4 nicely.  

Bottom line:  I would prepare the kids in much the same way you would prepare them for a car trip.  

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Wonderful way to travel......relaxing, but the kids will probably get figety. Yes, on most trains they have food other than sit down dinners.

The kids can watch movies, but not on drop downs.

They may explore, and spend time in a lounge car......helps pass the time

Don't know about your fare, but you might check on a small bedroom compartment, if not for the kids, but for you. Have fun, if you're not in a great hurry it's a fun way to travel

Coach seats are very comfortable.

Answer 3

If you think you have to sit in the coach seats the whole trip, you miss the point of the train!  You're SUPPOSED to move around, hang out in the lounge, eat meals in the diner etc.

That train will have a full service diner.  Those serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.  It's excellent food prepared to order, roughly comparable to Applebee's or the other upscale chains.  

The lounge car will also have a "cafe", serving the usual standard snacks, sandwiches and microwave burgers you find on any Amtrak train.

Coach seats are generally meant as "quiet space" for people to read a book, look out the window, or nap.  Please respect that for the sake of your fellow passengers.

As far as your kids, are they well behaved?  It's hard for them to sit still for that long.  Will a few hours in the lounge car get it out of their system?  Because if they're going to be disruptive all the time, either spring for a family bedroom, or fly.

Answer 4

The seats are comfortable, and yes, they do show movies in the club car.  In the dining car, they serve all 3 meals, and the meals are free if you book a sleeping compartment.  It would be a great idea maybe, to invest in a portable dvd player, or computer, and bring some dvd's along to keep people occupied.