Bags by DME, you by towncar?

mggeary

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Don't mind paying for a towncar to save 60 min. Will bags make it safely? Do I need to still check in at welcome center or call someone? Is this wise?
 
See the sticky at the top of the page titled - DME and bags only - or something like that.
 
Here is the sticky.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

It is not possible to book Magical Express for baggage only. Should you use the yellow DME baggage tags and then have a last minute change in plans and need to cancel your DME reservation after arrival in Orlando, see the CMs in the DME welcoming area to assure proper handling of your baggage. What happens from there can vary depending on time of day and how busy things are. One possibility is that your bags will be returned to you right there shortly. Another possibility is that they may take down some information and then tell you to just go and enjoy your vacation.

The way DME baggage handling works just happens to get your bags to your resort even if you don't go to the welcoming area -- most of the time. The downfall is that if the airline lost your baggage, you might not be compensated since you (or DME in your behalf) did not make a claim with the airline within the time limit (typically 4 hours after landing) the airline prescribes.

(added later) Using the DME yellow tags is not wise when you are taking a town car. The town car driver might not be willing to wait while someone goes to the DME welcoming area. However DME baggage handling will work fine if you do not cancel DME completely, the town car leaves without that person and that person takes the DME bus.
 
Don't mind paying for a towncar to save 60 min. Will bags make it safely? Do I need to still check in at welcome center or call someone? Is this wise?

The luggage service on ME is meant for people who use the ME service. As the PP stated there is a sticky at the top of the page regarding trying to use ME as a luggage service, if you are not actually using ME. If you use a car service, you are responsible for your own luggage.
 


I never had it take longer for ME, then it did to rent a car and get on the road,....never used a town car. If you are fronting the cost for a town car, a last minute watch on hotwire will get you a nice midsize for about $10 to $13 a day at times.

Let everyone else get on the ME, and get your rental. Or everyone hop on FREE ME while we have it and let the driving to Disney.
The miles to the airport, are what they are, no one gets there all that faster? I never waited more then a few minutes to board, and it was swiftly. Really if you shave off 15 minutes is it worth the worry?
 
I am NOT going to discuss what it already discussed in the stickied thread. That's where you should be going for info regarding this.
But, I will say that I have never saved an hour using a car service vs DME. Here are my trip time breakdowns..
1. DME....from 50-85 mins, usually in the 65-70 range
2. car service...carryon only, 45 mins
3. car service....checked bags.....60 mins
4. Mears shuttle...carryon only.....90 mins

For the return to the airport, using a car service saves about 30 mins. I realize that it means leaving the resort 3 hrs before a flight vs 2.5 hrs prior to departure, but that 30 mins is just not an issue for me.

So, there you have it...basic times.
 
So you would rather spend some serious $$$ to take a town car only to arrive at your resort an extra 30-40 minutes early. I would rather save the $100 and take the free ME
 


We never rent a car at Disney. On vacation...let someone else do the driving. Have always used DME and tho we had no complaints, at times the wait was long for our bus, with several resort stops before ours, it took up to 90 mins or more to reach our resort.

Last Oct. we splurged on the towncar for our 30th Anniv. trip and loved it. With the grocery stop for alcoholic beverages, bottled water and snacks....we figure we saved the $100 the towncar cost. We all are well aware of the inflated costs for some items at Disney (like $3 for a bottle of water). Our driver was fabulous (felt like royalty) and arrived at our resort within the hour (even with the grocery stop).
Not saying we will not use DME again, but will be booking the towncar again this Sept.:thumbsup2
 
We never rent a car at Disney. On vacation...let someone else do the driving. Have always used DME and tho we had no complaints, at times the wait was long for our bus, with several resort stops before ours, it took up to 90 mins or more to reach our resort.

Last Oct. we splurged on the towncar for our 30th Anniv. trip and loved it. With the grocery stop for alcoholic beverages, bottled water and snacks....we figure we saved the $100 the towncar cost. We all are well aware of the inflated costs for some items at Disney (like $3 for a bottle of water). Our driver was fabulous (felt like royalty) and arrived at our resort within the hour (even with the grocery stop).
Not saying we will not use DME again, but will be booking the towncar again this Sept.:thumbsup2
The vast majority of towncar services run closer to $125, plus tip. So you got a really good fare price.
Having said all this...if you don't want to spend the money for a towncar service, you can still use DME, and then book a grocery delivery service. They will buy whatever you want, including alcohol, and deliver it to your resort. There is usually a delivery charge of about $15 or so, and a tip. So, you don't have to wander around a grocery store, then lug all your bags up to the room. Saves time, and usually money as well.
Arriving at the resort, within an hour, is incredible time. It takes 15 mins to get from the gate to baggage claim, then another 15 mins at baggage claim (possibly less but never for me!!), then 25 mins to WDW, not including a stop at the grocery store. It has always taken me almost 90 mins when using a car service and a grocery stop.
 
We like to choose our own wine and fresh snacks....cheese for example. It only took about 5min. to get to baggage and our driver was waiting for us. Another 5 min. and our bags were coming off the conveyor. We had a detailed but small shopping list. My hubby went one way...me another in the store, and met in the middle. Our driver loaded our groceries at the store and unloaded at the resort...taking them to bell hop for storage until our room was assigned. Once in our room we called down and the bags and groceries were delivered to us. Very easy and efficient.
I realize everyone vacations differently. I was just expressing my opinion on the reasons why a towncar can be very positive for those looking for alternative transportation.
 
We like to choose our own wine and fresh snacks....cheese for example. It only took about 5min. to get to baggage and our driver was waiting for us. Another 5 min. and our bags were coming off the conveyor. We had a detailed but small shopping list. My hubby went one way...me another in the store, and met in the middle. Our driver loaded our groceries at the store and unloaded at the resort...taking them to bell hop for storage until our room was assigned. Once in our room we called down and the bags and groceries were delivered to us. Very easy and efficient.
I realize everyone vacations differently. I was just expressing my opinion on the reasons why a towncar can be very positive for those looking for alternative transportation.

I completely agree that everyone vacations differently, and there are going to be differences with each vacation!! I have used DME, towcars and Mears...depends on what I want for that particular vacation.
But, in the interest of full disclosure, and average times...I have to say that 5 mins from gate to baggage claim and then 5 mins to the bags coming out is, well...extraordinary. I am a very fast walker (just ask my dd and dh!! I'm a nutcase once I get off that plane.) and it takes me 10 mins to get from gate to level 2...baggage claim. Having to use the tram takes up time..if you just miss one, there is a wait until the next one comes along...can be up to 5 mins right there if only one is running!!!
And baggage claim??? I have yet to spend less than 10 mins there..usually closer to 15-20 mins, but that's probably just my luck.

So, with all that in mind, it's going to be safer to assume that it is going to take close to an hour, with checked bags. Here's how my breakdown works...
gate to baggage claim....12 mins
baggage claim......15 mins
down to car.....5 mins
drive to WDW...25 mins
That's 57 mins. Add in the addlt drive time to a grocery store....5 mins (could be more depending on the store stopped at), then minimum of 15 in the store...that's another 20 mins..minimum.

I'm not saying that you can't use a car service, do grocery shopping, and still get to your resort in an hour.....I am saying that it isn't common. If every single thing works out, perfectly? Sure, maybe then it works. But generally speaking, it takes more than an hour to include a grocery stop.

As well...of course there are those who want to shop for themselves. BUT, in the interest of giving out info, it's a good idea to tell others about grocery delivery services. It's just what I do...hand out info. It's up to everyone to make their own choices.
 

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