Airport to Disney with two small kids.....

[MarriedAtDisney]

I'm flying into Orlando (vs. driving) for the first time with our two young kids (DD 3 and DS 1). What's the best way to get to Disney without using the free bus or renting a car? Do the Town Cars provide two car seats? Do you need a Van from them?

(if it's not breaking forum rules) can someone mention a firm that they've used to transport two children that both need car seats and their two parents (and luggage of course).

(a price range would be helpful as well)

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[gigi1313]

may i ask why not the "free bus" (aka Disney's Magical Express/DME)? the whole not having to transport your own luggage thing makes it a shoo-in for me!

FLorida Tours is a sponsor on this board... their banner is above... i've never used them but i've seen plenty of threads on them, most positive, and they offer DISboard members a discount...

that being said, one year we simply used a taxi from the airport... just picked up our luggage and hailed a cab... very easy

 

[safetymom]

Wondering why the free transportation is not an option?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

may i ask why not the "free bus" (aka Disney's Magical Express/DME)?

Perhaps the OP is not staying at an eligible resort.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Sorry, should have been more specific.

I Don't think a cab will do considering I need appropriate car seats for my two kids (age 1 and age 3) and I don't want to bring the car seats with me - so I'm looking for a transportation solution that will provide kid car seats for us to use during the ride.

As for the "free" bus. We're staying at Wilderness Villas (DVC) and since you never know how many different stops you'll make before getting there would just rather pay for direct transportation and a stop at a grocery store.

We have another family member driving into town the next day with two car seats for us to use during the vacation.... I just want a lift from the airport to the hotel and back at the end.

ps. the link above to fltours.com doesn't seem to be working.... (EDIT sorry, you can't open a new link, but it works if you click it....my fault).

 

[Jennick]

We use Tiffany Town car . Not sure about the car seats though as my kids are older. But service is fast and friendly. We have used them several trips and wouldn't travel any other way. Return travel is awesome as well. They drop us off at curb side check in with plenty of time to spare!!!

 

[puffkin]

Having done the 3 different transportation modes (rental, ME, and town car) I would think that ME would work out the best for you with 2 young kids. You wouldn't have to worry about carseats or luggage. It doesn't take long at all and they play a movie on the bus. And the grocery delivery services work great (we have used Gardengrocer). In your instance, I actually think ME would work the best.

BTW, if you didn't have the carseat/young children issues, I probably would vote a towncar if getting to your resort quickly was your only concern, but even then, ME isn't that much slower.

 

[Kerri]

I've used both FL Tours and Tiffany Town Cars and requested car seats both times (my kids were 3 and 1 the last time, too!). It was very easy and convenient and, at the time, both companies had a coupon on their websites. The grocery stop was convenient, too.

Just a note: we used Disney's Magical Express ("free bus") last year (when they were 4 and 2) and it was so easy, we're using it again this year. Like gigi1313 said, it was really nice not having to worry about gathering our luggage in Orlando.

No matter which way you choose, have a great trip!!

 

[deedeetoo]

Three years ago (before ME) when I had two in car seats we booked a limo to get us to the resort and we had a horrible experience.

We told them when we reserved that we needed two car seats. They told us we couldn't take a standard limo because it wouldn't hold two car seats and that we'd have to upgrade to a van for more $ so we did. Well the van showed up to get us and it only had one car seat! And it wasn't installed! It was a different brand than I had at home and I couldn't figure out how to adjust it to make it tighter. The driver knew nothing about how it worked and he had no manual. I ended up buckling both kids (ages 2 and 4) in with regular seat belts.

I called the limo company when we got to the resort and let them know what I thought about this. They credited back the difference between the van and the limo and the charge for the car seats, and assured me it wouldn't happen on the way back. Well wouldn't you know, the van that picked us up to take us back to the airport had NO car seats in it. Again, both kids were buckled in with regular seat belts.

This is no longer an issue for me since my kids are now 5.5 and 8, but I would never wish this on anyone else.

I say save your money, take ME, and when your other family member arrives the next day have them take you to a grocery store.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

ok, you've got me rethinking the towncar/van thing... ME takes care of getting your luggage to the resort? Do we have to sit around and wait for it or do they send it up to your room or hold it for you if you went out to the parks?

What's the longest wait time and multiple stops you've seen? We're paying so much to get down there I just didn't want to waste time waiting on a bus....but maybe it's easier and not really that much longer to wait?

 

[clkelley]

I think Magical Express is much easier than even a town car.

With a town car, you have to go to baggage claim and wait on your bags, once they are rounded up, then you have to go downstairs with you, your children, and your bags, then wait downstairs outside while the driver fetches his/her car from the parking lot. (They can't park at the curb). Then you load the luggage, strap the kids in, then off to the grocery stop, then finally at the resort.

With Magical Express, you bypass the baggage claim and go straight down the the Magical Express desk on Level 1. Get in a short line and give them your transportation vouchers. Then you are directed to another usually short line and board your bus. Then you are taken to your resort. Yes, you may have other stops, but I have been the last stop when going to Ft. Wilderness once, and each stop was only about 2 minutes each.

To speed things up even further, one of you could hustle on down to the Magical Express line, and get checked in with your transportation vouchers, then the other adult could stop by the restroom with the kids. That could save you a few minutes and decrease the idle time your children might have.

Me and hubby usually do that. He has to wait on his ECV to be unloaded, so I hustle down to the ME desk, get us checked in, and by the time he arrives, it is time to board the bus.

As far as luggage delivery. When you reserve Magic Express, you will be mailed two bright yellow luggage tags per passenger. Attach those luggage tags to your "checked" luggage before you leave home. Your checked luggage will be pulled behind the scenes and delivered directly to your resort. They will then be delivered directly to your room later that day. You DO NOT have to be in the room to wait on the luggage. I would recommend packing one carryon with things you and your little ones will need for the first 24 hours.

 

[gigi1313]

DME was awesome both times we used it... they collect your luggage at the airport and deliver it to your room (they suggest it will be about 3 hours, but ours never took that long)... as far as wait at the airport... it was speedier than if we waited for our luggage at the carousel! one time our flight arrived in the morning and we got right on the bus w/in about 3 minutes... the second time we flew in later at night and had to wait about 15 minutes...

also, i know someone said that the bus had a movie for the passenger, but our first time it did not but our bus driver was VERY entertaining, telling little stories, hosting a few trivia contests (w/prizes for the kids... very small prizes, but prizes nonetheless), having us sing happy bday to all those celebrating that month, pointing out places of interest, etc... he was great fun... really had that disney spirit!

 

[puffkin]

ok, you've got me rethinking the towncar/van thing... ME takes care of getting your luggage to the resort? Do we have to sit around and wait for it or do they send it up to your room or hold it for you if you went out to the parks?

What's the longest wait time and multiple stops you've seen? We're paying so much to get down there I just didn't want to waste time waiting on a bus....but maybe it's easier and not really that much longer to wait?

Here was our experience in June with an infant (3 months old):

Deplaned and at ME counter with 15 minutes of landing.
Checked in (5 minutes).
Waited in line for bus (inside in AC) for 5 minutes
Loaded onto bus (about 5 minutes for everyone to get on)
About 25 minute drive to resort (We got to resort slightly an hour after landing)

We checked into resort around 11 am. Our room was not ready so we ate lunch at food court then used pool about an hour. Called for room # around 2 p.m. and room was ready. When we got to our room, our luggage was there. It was great....the whole experience was so easy and it was so nice not having to lug our big bags around with the stroller and everything.

We had groceries delivered to our resort. We were at MK when they arrived, so bell services put them in our room and they were waiting when we returned from the park. If we would have ordered items that needed refrigeration, bell services would have held at the front. IT was SO EASY and stress free. I would definitely recommend! And the best part was that it was FREE.

 

[teamagic]

Magical Express is one of the best ideas that Disney came up with in a long time. In April, I took the kids on the earlier flight and DH came down on the later flight(he did not have any more vacation days to use). It was so nice not to have to wait for the luggage and try to get it to the rental car or to the limo car. We got off the plane and walked over to the ME counter and within 10 minutes we were on the bus and off to Disney. We stayed at POR and the bus stopped at SSR, OKW, and POFQ before we reached POR. However, even with the 3 stops it was only 1 hour and 10 minutes from the time the plane landed until we reached POR. I know others will say that it is a pain to stop at all those other resorts, but you did not have to stand at the airport and wait for your luggage, then go to the limo or rent a car. ME says that it can take up to 3 hour for your luggage to show up in your room. Our luggage was in the room within 2 hours of us checking in. My husbands luggage came within 1 hour of his getting to the resort. Hope that helps. ME is so easy and great to use. With my kids being young ( 5 and 2 ) it was the only way I take the kids to Disney by myself.

 

[zurgswife]

The 2 times I have used ME I have been at checkin at my resort in less then 1 hr. Now I know it has taken longer for people but very rarely does it take much longer...I would definately take ME with 2 little ones. Also, order groceries from gardengrocer.com very easy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I called the limo company when we got to the resort and let them know what I thought about this. They credited back the difference between the van and the limo and the charge for the car seats, and assured me it wouldn't happen on the way back. Well wouldn't you know, the van that picked us up to take us back to the airport had NO car seats in it. Again, both kids were buckled in with regular seat belts.

Well, technically (and hoping it happened long enough ago that you're at the point now where you can laugh about the problem)... "IT" didn't happen again. Instead of one carseat that you couldn't install (airport to hotel), you got no carseats for the return trip, so no installation issues

What's the longest wait time and multiple stops you've seen? We're paying so much to get down there I just didn't want to waste time waiting on a bus....but maybe it's easier and not really that much longer to wait?

Each bus will drop off at no more than four resorts, total - and you could easily be the first stop, the second stop, the ONLY stop...

 

[CleveRocks]

ok, you've got me rethinking the towncar/van thing... ME takes care of getting your luggage to the resort? Do we have to sit around and wait for it or do they send it up to your room or hold it for you if you went out to the parks?

What's the longest wait time and multiple stops you've seen? We're paying so much to get down there I just didn't want to waste time waiting on a bus....but maybe it's easier and not really that much longer to wait?

The reported average time between landing and DME resort drop-off is 70 minutes.

Here's what happens with luggage. After you make DME reservations, you'll receive special luggage tags a few weeks before your trip. You put one DME tag on each piece of luggage you will check. You go to your home airport and do everything as normal. As for your checked luggage, you won't see it again until it's inside your resort room. You don't have to wait for it, you don't have to be there when the luggage arrives, and Disney already pre-tips the CMs who deliver it. To me, that's the "magical" part of Disney's Magical Express.

So when you land at MCO, you just skip baggage claim. Instead, you go to a special DME area and check-in, then wait for the bus that's going to your resort (and up to 3 others). The motorcoaches are plush, and there's supposed to be a sort-of "Welcome to Disney" DVD playing during your drive. If there are stops before your resort, they'll be pretty briief because there will be little luggage for the driver to unload (some people elect to bring their luggage to the bus[either by choice or because they didn't know DME delivers luggage if you put the special tags on it], and some people will have their carry-ons stowed underneath the bus).

Your luggage will arrive maybe 2-3 hours after you do (it's delivered by truck, it won't be on your bus). As long as you pack accordingly in your carry-ons, this is no big deal. I don't know EXACTLY when my luggage was delivered because my wife and I had our 5 and 2.5 year olds in the pool at the time, and we found it when we returned.

On the way BACK to the airport, only people on certain "participating" airlines get that same luggage delivery system on the way back. Most of us have to bring our luggage to the bus, get it loaded on the bus, and then lug it around after the driver unloads it for you at the airport.

HOWEVER, car seats can't be installed into buses. If this bothers you, then a rental car is your ONLY option. A car service wouldn't help because then you'd still have to take Disney Transport to the parks (unless of course you are staying at a monorail resort and will go ONLY to MK and Epcot).

For the record, my wife and I are VERY safety conscious, because we've seen everything that can go wrong. She's a pediatrician, and I;m a therapist working with people with acquired injuries (usually motor vehicle accidents). We used DME and DIsney Transport without concern for our kids' safety, and we'll be doing the same in November.

Have a great trip, and good luck deciding what will be best for your family!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Wow thanks for such great information. I'll just go with ME. One last question (and I'm being lazy by asking and not searching). I'm a DVC person and our stay is at Wilderness for 5 days and then OKW for Two. Since my reservations are already made, how do I get signed up for ME?

Thanks everybody!!!!

 

[Sporty]

All you have to do is call Member Services and they'll take care of it for you!

 

[CleveRocks]

Wow thanks for such great information. I'll just go with ME. One last question (and I'm being lazy by asking and not searching). I'm a DVC person and our stay is at Wilderness for 5 days and then OKW for Two. Since my reservations are already made, how do I get signed up for ME?

Thanks everybody!!!!

I'm assuming that you're staying at BOTH resorts with your DVC points. DVC owners must make DME reservations through DVC Member Services, and NOT through DME itself or even CRO.