DCL Bus or Luxury Sedan???

[electriccarrot]

First, let me appologize if this is one of those topics that have been posted over and over. I did a brief scan of some of the past postings and could not find an answer to my question...

We (2 adults, a 3 year old and a 7 year old) are flying into MCO on a Friday night (2/20/04), arriving around midnight. We are leaning towards staying at the MCO Hyatt that night, and going out to Port Canaveral Saturday morning.

What would be the best way to get there? Should we take the DCL bus and start the "DCL" expirence at the airport? If we do, how long do we have to wait at the airport before the bus leaves? What is the earliest bus to leave MCO? Are they on a schedule (ie: leaving every hour), or might we end up sitting on the bus for two hours until it fills up?

If we use a sedan service (which we usually do when we go to WDW), what happens if they don't show up when we get of the ship at the end of our trip? Are there other tranportation options back to MCO in case our sedan never shows up???

Does anyone have any recommendations for dependable sedan services?

Thanks,
Don Waldron

 

[bassoongirl]

Don,

My family is doing the exact same thing that you are doing (even on the same night!). We are flying in from Detroit on Friday, February 20 and staying at the MCO Hyatt. We will look for you.

I have the same questions about getting to the port. I've pretty much concluded that we are going to use a limousine service instead of the DCL buses to get to the port. I don't want to waste time waiting to either get on a bus or wait for it to fill up. And it may be cheaper. I am not sure which limo service to use, though. I have been comparing the prices for the limo services mentioned on this board. I am thinking about surprising my family and renting a real limousine. My kids would love that!

I will be interested to read the responses you receive.

By the way, you can find an E-group for other DISers going on our cruise on Yahoo. Please join our group.

bassoongirl

 

[hydster]

We used a car service for our trip last November and our flight didnt arrive until midnight either. We were doing a land/sea thing so we went to the Poly for the 3 days but we used a transportation company called your ride . net (*havent had good luck not spacing this out..it tends to delete the name*) but we had very complicated plans and they were always there, on time and very dependable. They took us to the Poly, then on Sunday picked us up at the AKL and took us back to the Poly to get our luggage, took us to the port, described where they would be when they picked us up after the cruise, were there when we got there, took inlaws to an airport hotel so they could fly out early the next morning (even recommended the place for me) took us to POR, Picked the inlaws up at POR at 10pm that night, took them to their hotel near airport, picked the rest of my family up at POR at the end and took us to the airport. They were very professional and courteous. They offered a grocery stop on the way to the port for no additional charge if we wanted to get some drinks to take on. It was wonderful! We chose when we wanted to leave, be picked up and they were always there for us..sometimes even a little early.
They have a website with testimonials on it along with a coupon I believe! Rabbit (the owner) called me the night before we were leaving to confirm our plans and they even let me change the pickup time for the inlaws at POR to take them back to their hotel late that evening! Very professional and easy to work with! I dont think you miss really anything going on a Disney bus! Maybe a video to the port but if you take a limo or something they usually have movies to watch anyway! Our kids slept most of the way there and it went by rather quickly!
Some others have used happy limo and tiffany towncars.com with good results as well.
Just our experience!

Heidi

 

[disny4ever]

with 4 people it will definitely be cheaper to use a car service. Everyone on these boards have their favorite. Check them all out (look for coupons on-line ) and see who will give you the best deal.

 

[inkkognito]

We used to use the DCL buses, but now we use Happy Limo. The buses are fun because you get to watch a video on the way that makes the time go by quickly. But it is still somewhat of a cattle call, and you can't choose the time you will get to the port. You may have to wait a bus or two if there are a lot of people waiting at the airport, and the pick-up times at the WDW resorts are pretty late.
We like the fact that a towncar comes when we specify, and it's only our party. We can leave as early as we like, and we often use the grocery stop on the way. We usually use a towncar, but last trip we did a limo because we were travelling with a group, and it was awesome! Happy Limo has been very reliable for us, and they have a coupon rate.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[CRSNDSNY]

For our first two cruises we used the DCL buses -- the first time we got it at the airport (stayed at Sheraton Suites at the airport) and the second time we picked it up at WDW (stayed at WDW Dolphin). I think that for the first time cruising it really added to the experience. You are able to get on one of the first buses at the airport to arrive early at the Port and get to watch a neat cruise video and the bus drivers are usually a lot of fun and friendly -- it adds to the magic.

The second time we stayed at WDW and got a bus there. I would never do that again mostly because the buses left SO late and we ended up not getting to Port and boarding until almost 2pm!

This upcoming trip we rented a luxury sedan from Happy Limo and they'll pick us up at WDW's Boardwalk Inn and take us to Port. Then take us from Port to the airport. Although there are only two of us and a luxury sedan is more expensive, we believe it will be worth it since we want to be on our own schedule and not the bus's. We've heard nothing but wonderful things about Happy Limo and look forward to the experience.

BUT, if we were to leave for the cruise from the airport I think we'd take the DCL bus. It's all a time factor for us.

 

[dwaldron]

Basoongirl,

What is the address for the Yahoo group???

Don

 

[dwaldron]

Hydster,

Thanks for the advice. I have used your ride twice now. The first time (May 2002) was great. Dealing with Rabbit was a pleasure, and our drive (Ronnie) was fantastic.

We used them again (without any hesitation) on our last trip in August 2003. I am sorry to have to reprt that it will be the last time we use them. Rabbit sold the company a short time ago (he is now driving a truck cross country), and Ronnie is a private driver for a lawyer.

They were there to pick us up at the airport without a problem, but we asked to be picked up on the return trip earlier than they were originally planning. Somehow the information did not get relayed properly and they were not at the hotel when they were supposed to. However, it was half expected and was not a big deal.

The problems started when there was no answer at the 1-877 phone number. I then saw a local number in small print on the bottom of the confirmation I has and called that. The person who answered was Rabbit. The number was his cell phone number, and he was driving his tractor trailer in Michigan when I was talking to him.

Once again, Rabbit was great. He Nextel'd the new owner of the company and told him that we were waiting. The owner then sent the driver over (he arrived within 10 mins.)

I was even willing to forgive the driver being late and no answer at the phone number, BUT then after we got headed to the airport the owner Nextel'd the driver (who obviously had no reported that we were on board). The owner went on to tell the driver that he did not know what the Waldron party's problem was, but that I was very irate and yelling at him on the phone!

The driver grabbed his Nextel and tried to cover the speaker, but it was not quite in time. I told the driver that I had no idea what the guy was talking about, as I never even talked to him.

At the airport the driver appoligized, and gave me his personal business card, "in case I wanted to use someone else next time..."

Oh well, I think we will try Tiffany on our next WDW trip.

Don

 

[bassoongirl]

Don,

The address for the Yahoo Group is: groups.yahoo.com/group/febdiscruise

You will meet some nice people there. A few of us have children in the seven to nine-year-old range.

Thanks for sharing your experience with Your Ride. That was one of the limo services I was checking out.

Gayl Parr

 

[aprilgail2]

I would go for the car service simply because I know in a car I can secure my 4 year old daughters car seat in, I don't feel she would be safe in a bus.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Should we take the DCL bus and start the "DCL" expirence at the airport?

I would hope no one, especially DCL itself, expires at the airport...