convenience-comfort of magic express, wife and toddler alone

[Patpat15]

I am a band director and will be travelling to Orlando with my band via motor coaches. My wife and 4 year old are flying down and staying at the disney all star music in my room.

My wife will only have a carry on and my son with her since I will have all luggage with me on the coaches. She wants to not utilize the magic express even though we have the luggage tags and a reservation.

My question is- Is it comfortable for my wife and my son to take magic express. Is it alot of waiting, many stops, and worth the wait or should she take a town car.

Any advice would be welcome!

 

[CarolynNC]

I've done both and would chose ME. I can think of lots of ways to spend the $90+ it would cost for a town car. The towncar might be a little less trouble but not much. She still has to deplane, tote her carry on to the main terminal, then meet her driver at luggage claim. With ME she would tote her carry on to the main terminal then go to the 1st floor of A side and sign in. There are usually multiple stops depending on the makeup of the other travelers but it isn't like you have to get off the bus. You just sit there a few minutes while the passengers unload and grab their luggage if they brought it along. How long you have to wait for the bus to load at the airport depends on if the flight arrives at a busy time or off hour. For me it was a no brainer but then I'm generally a patient person and I don't let the small stuff effect my trip.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have used DME when by myself, and again when traveling with my dd. I had very good experiences. You have to go down to that level anyway...might just as well walk a bit further, check in with DME and hop on a bus and save $90. It is very comfy and safe...and as my dd says..."easy peasy". I would have her utilize DME.

 

[maine_jennifer]

A lot of people will use DME and that's fine for them. Personally I prefer using a town car service. For me, it's not about the cost, it's about knowing someone is waiting for me when I get there, will help me with my luggage (even if it's just a carryon), and take me straight to my resort. To me, luggage tags, and busses to other resorts aren't how I want to start & end my vacation. I've used the same company several times and have been more than pleased with their service - I just don't want to chance it using DME. The whole, 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' thing. There are some people who are not happy with DME and I have a feeling, that would be me. Just wanted to offer another opinion.

Cheers!

 

[goofy4tink]

A lot of people will use DME and that's fine for them. Personally I prefer using a town car service. For me, it's not about the cost, it's about knowing someone is waiting for me when I get there, will help me with my luggage (even if it's just a carryon), and take me straight to my resort. To me, luggage tags, and busses to other resorts aren't how I want to start & end my vacation. I've used the same company several times and have been more than pleased with their service - I just don't want to chance it using DME. The whole, 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' thing. There are some people who are not happy with DME and I have a feeling, that would be me. Just wanted to offer another opinion.

Cheers!

Absolutely. I have used two different towncar services and been reasonable happy each trip. However, there was one trip, both coming and going, that we had to go in search of our driver. He was not waiting for us at the bottom of the escalator as he should have been. It took my dh about 8-10 minutes to find him. He was outside having a smoke. I can only imagine what I would have done if I had been traveling by myself or with just my dd. The return wasn't much better. Dh had to, once again, go in search. He did find the car and driver...parked way down towards the bus stop at BW, rather than up by the portico where he should have been.
So, sometimes it doesn't work out as well as it should. No one way is fool proof.
It's nice that we have so many different options now. For those who don't mind sharing a ride, such as a bus, then we can use DME. There are others who prefer the towncars. I have to say, the first time I used a towncar service I felt very special...and had a 'what are the poor folk doing' kind of feeling!!! So decadent!!!

 

[maine_jennifer]

I have to say, the first time I used a towncar service I felt very special...and had a 'what are the poor folk doing' kind of feeling!!! So decadent!!!

LOL - that was NOT my experience. My first experience was just so-so. Wasn't too impressed with the driver or the company. Second experience was better - great drivers, ok company. Thankfully, third time was a charm and I found one that I have complete trust and confidence in and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. And since I found them before DME started, there was NO way I'd ever change.

But like you said - it is nice that there are so many options out there so basically you just have to find what fits your needs and desires.

Cheers!

 

[Patpat15]

Now I am even more confused! How can the busses only go to two other resorts, and how long do they wait? Do they wait for the bus to fill up, this is the President's week and the Jet is landing at 10:30pm

 

[FredS]

Not that it makes much difference. If your child is a toddler, tends to not handle change in schedule well and flight is arriving late then I MIGHT consider a towncar.

If your child is 4 then I would most definitely take advantage of DME. It is relatively painless, safe and FREE.

 

[TDC Nala]

The buses can go to up to 4 resorts. They will go to resorts that are near each other - if you're going to Saratoga Springs you won't be on a bus with people from the All Stars but you will probably be with those going to Port Orleans and Old Key West.

They won't wait for the bus to fill up if it isn't busy, but the bus might be at the terminal for 15 minutes or so while loading.