car or ME?

[Pineymom2]

We are visiting for the first time in Nov. We have two small children. SHould we use a car for getting to our resort or ME? Which is faster and better? If using a car which company is better? FL tours or ***********? THanks for you help!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have used all those options in the past. I now prefer DME. It is quick, efficient and free! It will take you about 70 mins. from deplaning to get to your resort. Your bags will arrive in your room several hours later. Now....
the diferences in the two options....
Towncar service..cost about $120 plus tip
driver will meet you in baggage claim area and help you with your bags. This could take up to 25 mins, depending on how long it takes your bags to come through. You will either walk with driver to the car, or wait outside, with your bags, for the driver to bring car around. Then it's about 30 minutes to the resorts. So, you have a total of 10 mins from plane to baggage pickup, 20 mins in baggage, 5 mins wait for car, 30 mins drive.....65 mins give or take.

DME...10 mins from plane to checkin, then about 5 mins to checkin. Bus line..about 10 mins tops, then onto bus, maybe another 5 mins wait. Then 35 mis to resort....depends on which stop of three your resort is. I have made it in 60 mins and a longer time of 90..but that was when I was the last stop of three and each one of the two stops had people who had to get a ton of luggage out from under the bus rather than have it delivered to the resort.
The bus is clean, and you watch a video on the way.

For the return to the airport....a towncar will pick you up about 2 hr. 30 mins before your flight time. DME is 3 hrs before. If you are flying on one of the participating airlines, you can get your boarding pass right at your resort, and have your luggage taken from you then..no lugging it to the airport. You just head directly to security. YOu can do this whether you use DME or not.

Hope this has helped, rather than confused you. There are always going to be those who really want the towncar experience. DME is not going to 'get it done' for them. That's terrific. I still use a towncar if I'm staying at the S/D since DME doesn't service them. But I love DME...it really starts my vacation off nicely and I can use that money I save by not using a towncar to pay for a nice meal or two in WDW.

 

[CleveRocks]

We are visiting for the first time in Nov. We have two small children. SHould we use a car for getting to our resort or ME? Which is faster and better? If using a car which company is better? FL tours or ***********? THanks for you help!

I'm not a Piney, but I drive through your neck of the woods every day.

I wouldn't choose DME or car service based on time, since there shouldn't be much time difference either way. I'd choose based on the level of service I want and how much money I want to spend.

A car service is personalized, private service. DME is a shared ride on a bus.

A car service can cost you in the neighborhood of $120 including tips. DME will cost you in the neighborhood of FREE.

It all depends on what type of service you want and how much you want to pay for it.

 

[Edd]

Eric,

I agree with you. Don't pick any service for time because they are both about the same in time getting to the parks. Pick the service that fits your family. They both, DME and car service, are different and offer different advantages. Both get you to your resorts in a timely and efficient manner.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, this is OT, but I've finally found something that I disagree with Eric about.......AI voting!!!!!
But other than that, Eric, Edd and I are all on the same page on this one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

ITA, Diane! Eric is educated, intelligent, well-informed, well-spoken, generous with his time and advice, has a great sense of humor, loves Disney, always (prior to this) displays good judgment...

 

[CleveRocks]

ITA, Diane! Eric is educated, intelligent, well-informed, well-spoken, generous with his time and advice, has a great sense of humor, loves Disney, always (prior to this) displays good judgment...

... and now his dark side is finally exposed ....