car service or Magical Express?

[littleladykaty]

Is DME worth the hassle of waiting for the bus and then sitting through other stops before you make it to your resort or would it be worth the cost of a car service to be taken directly to your resort with no waiting? It sounds like I am answering my own question here! In reading it just seems that the DME is decidedly UNmagical and more of a pain in the rear!

anyone done both? any opinions?

thanks so much!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

Is DME worth the hassle of waiting for the bus and then sitting through other stops before you make it to your resort or would it be worth the cost of a car service to be taken directly to your resort with no waiting? It sounds like I am answering my own question here! In reading it just seems that the DME is decidedly UNmagical and more of a pain in the rear!

As with everything else, it all depends on one's perspective, on one's personality, and on what you want out of transportation. If you like the idea of your name on a card held by a driver, personalized attention, no crowds near you, then sure, a town car is for you. If you don't mind sharing a ride with others, like the idea of not having to wait for luggage, and like the idea of FREE, then DME is for you.

I used DME and loved it. And I used it on May 8, 2005, when it was all of 4 days old and had supposed kinks that supposedly needed to be worked out. All I know is that from the instant I got into the DME Welcome Center line until I was dropped off at CBR, it was 53 minutes. How fast would I have made it if I had taken a towncar instead? Well, as always, let's do the math. Driving time would be the same either way, about 30 minutes, so in my example there's only 23 minutes "in play." Waiting at baggage claim can easily take 10 minutes. Could be longer, probably won't be shorter, but let's call it 10 minutes. Then call it 5 or 10 minutes for the driver to go outside (after initially meeting you), get the car, load your bags into the car, get you situated in the car, etc. So that's 20 minutes. So MAYBE I would have gotten to my resort 3 minutes sooner than I did. MAYBE. Could have taken longer if there was more of a wait at baggage claim, etc. Looking back, I'm sure glad I didn't pay $120 for a towncar to get me to my resort 3 minutes sooner.

There's also a little-publicized but very real perk of DME. When you check in at the DME Welcome Center at MCO, their computer sends a message to your resort's computer, informing it that you have arrived at the airport. If your resort has an available (clean, unoccupied) room consistent with your reservation, that room is held for you until you arrive at the property to check in. So let's, for example, say there is currently ONLY ONE ROOM of that type that's available, and now it's being held for you. If someone arrives at the resort one minute later (remember, you're still at the airport) by any means OTHER than DME and that party has the exact same reservation type as you, they will be told sorry, your room isn't ready yet. So let's say you get dropped off by DME 45 minutes later, you check in and get the key to your room and you're good to go, while the other party weho actually arrived at the resort BEFORE YOU is still waiting for a room to be ready. Nice perk.

So as you can see, deciding DME versus towncar is a personal decision, no obvious right or wrong for the public as a whole, but there might be a very obvious right or wrong answer FOR YOU.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh is a true non-bus person. The only time you will ever find him on a bus is at WDW. But, he does like to get to WDW via a towncar. But....he has used DME and has really liked it. I have used it several times and had only good experiences. My experiences with towncars has been good also...here's a breakdown of my transportation experiences.
1. Mears to POR (then DxL)...thank heaven that's not an option anymore...it was awful!!! Too crowded, too frenetic...miserable, terrible!

2. TT from Sanford to POR... 6 of us, in a stretch limo...about 90 minutes from deplaning to POR, with a very quick stop (about 10 mins) for snacks/wine.

3. TT from MCO to Polynesian...again good service. Had checked luggage, had to wait for luggage at baggage claim, then driver went to get car. About 65-70 mins from deplaning to resort checkin.

4. Fl Tours from MCO to CR....had to go and find the driver, then had to wait for baggage, then for driver to go and drive car around for us. About 90 mins total. For the return to MCO, had to go out and look for the driver again.

5. TT MCO to AllStars...no checked luggage..only carryon. Took about 50 minutes from deplaning to resort.

6. DME from MCO to POP, BCV, BWV.....same results each time...about 70 minutes from deplaning to resort check in.

The only time I have spent less time using a towncar service was when I had no checked luggage with me and could go straight to the car.
I will always use DME from now on. It's a great service, free, gets the job done. I love the buses, I have not had to wait to check in at DME desk or to get on a bus for more than 10 minutes. My luggage has made it to my room in a timely fashion. You just have to have a room for it to get to. If you do early checkin that may not be possible.

Should you get your own luggage and bring it with you on the bus? Sure, if you want to be sure to have your luggage with you when you get into the room. Completely up to the individual. Do whatever makes you comfy.
But, I do think that for the most part, the reports have been good as far as DME goes. I would say that it comes out to about 95% are very happy with the service.

 

[Noah122898]

Is Disney's Magical Express still free with the free dining package?????????

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Is Disney's Magical Express still free with the free dining package?????????

Disney's Magical Express is complimentary for anyone flying into Orlando International Airport and staying at a Disney-operated resort at Walt Disney World. Magical Express doesn't require any package. Magical Express can be used will full-rate rooms, discounted rooms, DVC point stays, Interval International exchanges into DVC resorts, and with travel packages. If you get a free dining plan, it doesn't prevent you from also getting Magical Express for free.

Originally, Magical Express was only complimentary through the end of the Happiest Celebration on Earth, but it will remain complimentary for years to come.