Meals in Roomette - Logistics and Choices

[sueb]

We'll be going out west and back on the CL and the SWC in a couple of weeks. My handicapped son and I will probably want/need some meals brought to us in our roomette. Especially breakfast, as that will enable me to get up and get Matthew dressed, cleaned up and breakfasted before I need to get dressed myself. Who do we tell that we want breakfast brought to us in the roomette and when do we tell them? How do we get a menu? Who brings the food - the SCA or someone from the dining car? Same issues for lunch. With any meal where they take reservations I assume we can specify where we want to eat when we make a reservation. What if we are in the SSL and want to eat there - I understand this is an option for special needs pax? Might work better for us than the standard dining car - who do we tell and when. Another thread mentioned an announcement giving 15 minutes to get back to sleeping cars to be there when LSA comes thru to take meal reservations. That would not be enough time for my son and I to get back from the SSL, and I can't leave him unsupervised to go alone.

(My son is nonverbal and functions at about a 2-year-old level.)

Suggestions and advice appreciated.

 

[jmbgeg]

We'll be going out west and back on the CL and the SWC in a couple of weeks. My handicapped son and I will probably want/need some meals brought to us in our roomette. Especially breakfast, as that will enable me to get up and get Matthew dressed, cleaned up and breakfasted before I need to get dressed myself. Who do we tell that we want breakfast brought to us in the roomette and when do we tell them? How do we get a menu? Who brings the food - the SCA or someone from the dining car? Same issues for lunch. With any meal where they take reservations I assume we can specify where we want to eat when we make a reservation. What if we are in the SSL and want to eat there - I understand this is an option for special needs pax? Might work better for us than the standard dining car - who do we tell and when. Another thread mentioned an announcement giving 15 minutes to get back to sleeping cars to be there when LSA comes thru to take meal reservations. That would not be enough time for my son and I to get back from the SSL, and I can't leave him unsupervised to go alone. (My son is nonverbal and functions at about a 2-year-old level.)

Suggestions and advice appreciated.

When I travel in the sleepers, which is on all my overnight trips, I often eat about 50% of my meals in the room. It may be uneccessary, but when I know before boarding which meals I will want in the room, I write a note requesting certain meals in the room to hand my sleeping car attendent when boarding. I note the room number, name and which meals I want room service for. It gives the SCA an advance alert, which is useful for morning meals because the SCA is busy making up beds much of the early morning. Ask the SCA attendent if he or she can bring you a menu after the train is underway. The only thing the menu won't tell you is what the specials are. For those, you will need to ask. It is the SCA who picks up your meal in the dining room and delivers it to you. I give early guidance on my requested meal service times.

As for meal service in the SSL, I assume that your statement on a reasonable accomodation for your son is correct.

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.

I hope you have a fun and smooth trip.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

We'll be going out west and back on the CL and the SWC in a couple of weeks. My handicapped son and I will probably want/need some meals brought to us in our roomette. Especially breakfast, as that will enable me to get up and get Matthew dressed, cleaned up and breakfasted before I need to get dressed myself. Who do we tell that we want breakfast brought to us in the roomette and when do we tell them? How do we get a menu? Who brings the food - the SCA or someone from the dining car? Same issues for lunch. With any meal where they take reservations I assume we can specify where we want to eat when we make a reservation. What if we are in the SSL and want to eat there - I understand this is an option for special needs pax? Might work better for us than the standard dining car - who do we tell and when. Another thread mentioned an announcement giving 15 minutes to get back to sleeping cars to be there when LSA comes thru to take meal reservations. That would not be enough time for my son and I to get back from the SSL, and I can't leave him unsupervised to go alone. (My son is nonverbal and functions at about a 2-year-old level.)

Suggestions and advice appreciated.

The SCA is required to do all of the above-- bringing you a menu and your food and removing it when you're finished. Don't be shy with the call button--

Ask the SCA and ye shall receive. If you aren't getting the proper attention, I would complain on the train-- the other SCA might help you if yours doesn't step up to the plate. However, I think very very few would give you any trouble whatsoever.

 

[sueb]

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.

Thanks for the info.

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet. I will have Matthew's adaptive stroller set up in the wheelchair space and I will sit him there after he is dressed and washed. Then I have the SCA put the bottom bunk put back to seats and have a table to use for feeding my son and myself. I can later pull the curtain across the toilet part of the roomette and get dressed/washed without leaving Matthew unattended. Since I'm only 5 ft tall (and Matthew isn't any taller) I can probably leave the top bunk open if I need the space for stuff. At least I've heard other posters mention doing that.

Thanks for the idea about giving the SCA a game plan when we board. I am a great list maker so that is right up my alley. Matthew loves anything that moves, so I am sure he will adore the train.

 

[gswager]

Your room is called accessible bedroom, not roomette. Roomette is the smallest size while the accessible bedroom has room for wheelchair, along with two bunks on one side of train. Other side is sink and a toilet.

The sleeper car attendant (SCA) will assist you guys with meals. Usually, the SCA will introduce you once you aboard on the train.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.
Thanks for the info.

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet. I will have Matthew's adaptive stroller set up in the wheelchair space and I will sit him there after he is dressed and washed. Then I have the SCA put the bottom bunk put back to seats and have a table to use for feeding my son and myself. I can later pull the curtain across the toilet part of the roomette and get dressed/washed without leaving Matthew unattended. Since I'm only 5 ft tall (and Matthew isn't any taller) I can probably leave the top bunk open if I need the space for stuff. At least I've heard other posters mention doing that.

Thanks for the idea about giving the SCA a game plan when we board. I am a great list maker so that is right up my alley. Matthew loves anything that moves, so I am sure he will adore the train.

Indeed I have travelled by sleeper, never in the H-room for obvious reason, but I know that all of what you already asked about is given to ANY sleeper traveller (handicapped or not...), that you are in the H-room will make sure your attendant is more... attentive. Though a good SCA will go the full monte for all his/her pax.

 

[jmbgeg]

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.
Thanks for the info.

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet. I will have Matthew's adaptive stroller set up in the wheelchair space and I will sit him there after he is dressed and washed. Then I have the SCA put the bottom bunk put back to seats and have a table to use for feeding my son and myself. I can later pull the curtain across the toilet part of the roomette and get dressed/washed without leaving Matthew unattended. Since I'm only 5 ft tall (and Matthew isn't any taller) I can probably leave the top bunk open if I need the space for stuff. At least I've heard other posters mention doing that.

Thanks for the idea about giving the SCA a game plan when we board. I am a great list maker so that is right up my alley. Matthew loves anything that moves, so I am sure he will adore the train.

I am glad to hear you will be in the room type that suits your needs and not a roomette.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServe...d=1080080554096

not

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServe...d=1080080553972

 

[the_traveler]

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet.

Thanks for clearing up our confusion. That is the accessible BEDROOM, or H room. A roomette is another type of room, and as mentioned does not have much extra room when the beds are down.

 

[sky12065]

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.
Thanks for the info.

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet. I will have Matthew's adaptive stroller set up in the wheelchair space and I will sit him there after he is dressed and washed. Then I have the SCA put the bottom bunk put back to seats and have a table to use for feeding my son and myself. I can later pull the curtain across the toilet part of the roomette and get dressed/washed without leaving Matthew unattended. Since I'm only 5 ft tall (and Matthew isn't any taller) I can probably leave the top bunk open if I need the space for stuff. At least I've heard other posters mention doing that.

Thanks for the idea about giving the SCA a game plan when we board. I am a great list maker so that is right up my alley. Matthew loves anything that moves, so I am sure he will adore the train.

Sue,

I've used the accessable H room for years now and I can assure you that your needs will be taken care of by the SCA, includeing working with you to see that you're comfortable with the upper bunk being down and make any adjustments that might be necessary. According to one of my SCA's on my last trip, SCA's are required to give H room passengers priority, but don't hesitate to be tactfully assertive if in the unlikely chance that it's not happening!

Also, the Amtrak website recommends that you notify them upon making reservations of any special needs you may have. If you didn't do that while making your reservations, you can still call and ask them to include in your reservation that you would like meals serve in your room. If you don't want to call and do that, that's not a problem. In either case though, I would make sure to mention to your SCA upon boarding of your need for this service.

You and Matthew have a safe, enjoyable ride on the rail!

 

[had8ley]

I am not clear from your post whether you have traveled in a roomette before. The reason I make that comment is in regards to your comments on the phased timing of you and your son getting up and dressed. With the beds down, there is little room between the beds on door to manuever. If you already know that, never mind.
Thanks for the info.

Never traveled in a roomette before. However, we are in the accessible roomette. It has floor space for a wheelchair as well as en suite accessible sink and toilet. I will have Matthew's adaptive stroller set up in the wheelchair space and I will sit him there after he is dressed and washed. Then I have the SCA put the bottom bunk put back to seats and have a table to use for feeding my son and myself. I can later pull the curtain across the toilet part of the roomette and get dressed/washed without leaving Matthew unattended. Since I'm only 5 ft tall (and Matthew isn't any taller) I can probably leave the top bunk open if I need the space for stuff. At least I've heard other posters mention doing that.

Thanks for the idea about giving the SCA a game plan when we board. I am a great list maker so that is right up my alley. Matthew loves anything that moves, so I am sure he will adore the train.

Sue,

I've used the accessable H room for years now and I can assure you that your needs will be taken care of by the SCA, includeing working with you to see that you're comfortable with the upper bunk being down and make any adjustments that might be necessary. According to one of my SCA's on my last trip, SCA's are required to give H room passengers priority, but don't hesitate to be tactfully assertive if in the unlikely chance that it's not happening!

Also, the Amtrak website recommends that you notify them upon making reservations of any special needs you may have. If you didn't do that while making your reservations, you can still call and ask them to include in your reservation that you would like meals serve in your room. If you don't want to call and do that, that's not a problem. In either case though, I would make sure to mention to your SCA upon boarding of your need for this service.

You and Matthew have a safe, enjoyable ride on the rail!

I'll second everything said and add that you need to advise reservations about the requirements for your son. There are a few attendants who will try and say, "I didn't know" but the manifest will clearly state your needs and they are given a manifest at the beginning of every trip. Take a look at a real roomette while on board and you will see why other posters were so concerned for your needs.

 

[sueb]

I'll second everything said and add that you need to advise reservations about the requirements for your son. There are a few attendants who will try and say, "I didn't know" but the manifest will clearly state your needs and they are given a manifest at the beginning of every trip. Take a look at a real roomette while on board and you will see why other posters were so concerned for your needs.

A big thanks to all of you for the advice and concern. I think some of the literature refers to the H room as an accessible roomette. That's probably how I got confused. As I've seen on some other threads, the room types have had multiple names over the years, so maybe something I saw was out of date. Anyway, we all agree we are in the right kind of accomodation.

I did let the agent know about our special needs when we made the reservations and our tickets say stuff on them like "mobility impaired adult pasgr" so it should be on the train manifest, too.

Harrisburg PA, where we start/end our trip, is listed as accessible on the Amtrak web site, but the only elevator to the tracks is in an employees-only area where you have to be escorted to use it. I know because I was there and checked on the 4th. We will need a station employee to escort us, but we can deal with that.

BTW for my railfan credentials, I offer that my grandfather was a Far East sales rep for Baldwin Locomotives and the Budd Car Co in northern China in the 20s. I have a lot of photos of him standing in front of locomotives with local dignitaries. He is supposed to have shiped disassembled locomotives to China by sea and supervised the Chinese workers in reassembling them in Harbin. He als sold trolly cars tot he Harbin city government. Since the Chinese still use steam loco extensively it is even possible that some of those engines are still in use.