Disney bus or own private limo?

[alaskantwinks]

What do you think we should do...we are booked with Disney transfers right now, but I'm considering changing it to a private service. We only have a 3 day cruise booked, and want to make the most of it. But our travel agent says the bus is really neat for the kids, because they show the video, etc., etc. What time would we leave the Polynesian to get to the port? What time would we get to the port? Would there be enough time to get reservations for Palo, because we are traveling from Alaska, long long flights and don't want to miss out on anything!! There will be 5 of us total, 3 adults and 2 kids. I'd prefer a limo (stretch) to a van, just to make it more special. Any suggestions??? Thanks! Kelly

 

[alaskantwinks]

Forgot to mention, we will need to get to our hotel by the airport, does the Disney bus bring us there, or only to the airport? This is another thing we have to consider! We don't want to have to change to another shuttle to get to our hotel!!

 

[Hygiene99]

Go for it www.tiffanytowncar.com or www.happylimo.com
dont forget to print out $5.00 off coupon on tif site if u use them think it will be less expensive than dis transfers
leave hotel at 9 am ish hour ride 2 hours to wait inline near front

 

[inkkognito]

For the Disney bus, you would need to get back to the airport. We get the MCO Marriott via Priceline for $25 to $28 and use Happy Limo to get to the port. They have a coupon, too, and it's great to get to the port early and be one of the first in line so you can eat a leisurely lunch and have plenty of time for ressies. The video is cute, but it won't be a major tragedy to miss it. Personally I prefer a towncar hands-down for the convenience.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[lulu201]

We've booked a towncar with yourride.com. They'll be taking us from MCO to AllStarMu and then to the port. We didn't want to have to be on anyone's time schedule but our own and definitely didn't want to have to stop at other hotels along the way. While I can't comment on the service yet, the people we've dealt with so far at yourride have been very nice.

 

[rae519]

Prior to this past cruise I would have said "DCL" but......we had late dining and stayed until 9AM on ship - there was no line at the baggage pick-up BUT the line outside for Delta was incredible.
We waited 1 hr. 45 minutes in the heat to get checked in.

This time I'm driving but will consider another type of transportation in the future ------

Rae

 

[pershing]

As someone else pointed out to me on another thread, the Travel Agent has a stake in you taking Disney's transfers, so keep that in mind.

I opted for the towncar. The kids could use some downtime from all the Disney stimulation. (That also was pointed out to me.)

 

[alaskantwinks]

Okay...little background, and some more questions. We will be staying at the Polynesian, so that is where they would pick us up from. How many hotels will they be picking up before and after us (if anyone knows)? On the return, we will be spending the night at the Sheraton Suites by the airport (anyone familiar with them?) so that is where we will need to be dropped off at.

Part of me wants to stick with the disney bus, just because this is our first time, and the video/bathroom on the bus sounds good for the kids (will the limos stop for a bathroom break?) Also, I've heard some give you a 1/2 hr to stop for a quick shopping trip before you hit the cruise, is this true?? By the way, is beer/wine included in the cruise? Its mainly a question for my husband, he is a beer drinker. I may join the wine tasting if they have it on this cruise. My travel agent is very uninformative, I have to say.

I got a quote from FL Tours for $200 with a "luxury" van, what is this exactly? I really prefer a limo that would hold all of us, we will have 5 duffle bags w/wheels/handles, 3 will be 30 inches long and 2 are smaller, but still have wheels/handles (so they can't be "scrunched" as much) probably a small cooler and backpacks, etc. that we can keep with us in the car. Oh and my MIL will have one luggage and her carry-ons.
Thanks for all your "ears" and replies!! ; ) Kelly

 

[NADTWINS]

I dont have any answers but instead have a question.Is the Disney bus from the airport non stop? I am ariving at the airport about 10:30AM using JetBlue. Will we have to wait at the Airport? and when it is time to go back to the airport is there a mad dash to get to the bus. Is there a wait for buses? think it would be less stressfull to get into a car that is specificl there for us. ( Unless that car isnt there! Has any one had problems with any of the limo serveces that are mentioned on this board?) thanks for the input!!!!!

 

[rae519]

We have used Disney Transfers and DCL bus for 6 of our DCL cruises - just get off the plane, look for the Disney personnel with the DCL sign and you get taken to a waiting area where you board the bus. Generally we have boarded within 30 minutes of arrival of our plane.

It is non-stop to Port Canaveral - then you get off and wait to get through the security then go upstairs and wait in line for your check in, then wait in line to get on the ship.

After seeing the video 6 times - well, it did change when the Western was added - I can say it's a good overview of the ship and activities, but nothing more than you would get in a free video from Disney or in reading the information packet.

We have NEVER used the limo service or Mears, but have heard many good things about it - such as being able to stop at a store for items you forgot/need/want, and immediate transportation to and from the port.

Speaking of "from the port", you must leave the ship by 9AM - this past cruise, we had a very long wait outside in the Delta check in line - from the time we left the ship til the bus left the Port it was 1hr 45 minutes of standing outside in the heat. As DH said, "NEVERMORE".
That is something to consider. We usually ate early and left with the first group so this was never a problem for us.

Rae

 

[DVC4US]

I vote for the Limo. We used Happy Limo for our cruise in March and everything was great. As someone else already posted, we enjoyed being on our own time and not having to wait in line for the bus when we got off the ship. We wanted to be at the port around 10:30 and the bus would not even pick us up until 10, so this did not work for us. Most of the limo companies will make a grocery stop if you let them know when you make your reservation.

We had purchased champange and orange juice so we drank mimosas on the way to the ship. We purchased kids wine for the girls and they felt special also. My girls age 13 & 7 loved the experience of riding in a limo. We also had a movie playing.

If the limo company is saying a luxury van I would double check, because this is a van not a limo. I think you could fit 3 adults and 2 kids in a stretch limo. We put 2 adults and 2 kids with luggage for a 7 day cruise. (And we seem to have a lot of luggage)
LeiLani Naylor

 

[alaskantwinks]

Hi ladies, thanks for your input. I emailed my travel agent (she's out of town right now) and let her know that we want to cancel our transportation portion of our cruise package, because I think the limo is the way to go. I got a quote from a company called "Yourride.net", they quoted me the lowest price so far, and there were many good posts about them on the website dating back to 2001, so they sound very good. I also called them directly and talked to someone there who sounded very nice. They have a coupon on their website for $5 off too. For the same price as the Disney bus, we can get picked up right at the Polynesian anytime we want, will have a 1/2 hour grocery stop (good because I want to pick up Halloween candy) and on the return, we won't have to wait for the bus, not to mention, we will want to go straight to our hotel, since we spend one night before we leave the next a.m., whereas the bus would drop us off at the airport. I'm excited! We've never driven in a limo, let alone a stretch! ; ) Kelly

 

[DVC4US]

That's great Kelly. I am sure you will all love the limo ride. I know my kids did and all the older one keeps asking is when are we going to get to ride in one again! Have a great time on your trip.
LeiLani

 

[alaskantwinks]

It is exciting to make all these plans...since we have 3 components of our trip (Universal, WDW and then the cruise) it makes it that much more fun, because I feel like I'm planning 3 different trips in one!!
RPR, Poly, and Wonder here we come! Kelly

 

[alaskantwinks]

Okay, now that I've decided that we are doing a limo instead of the bus, what time should we leave the Poly in order to have our grocery stop and get to the port in time to be able to make our Palo reservations, spa, etc.? I will have all our paperwork done before we get there, so I'm expecting check in to be a breeze! (am I being too optimistic?) I don't want to be hanging out at the port for too long, not sure what we do before we get on board, what time do they allow that?? Thanks again!! Its nice to have such an informed group of travelers!

 

[DVC4US]

Kelly,

The port usually opens around 10:30am. Once you check in you can put one person in line(to hold a spot for boarding) and the rest of you can check things out around the terminal. There is a coffee shop, a model of the cruise ship, sofas to sit on and watch TV's showing the cruise video, and you can go outside and get a close up view of the ship. Believe me, the time will go by fast. They usually let you start boarding around 12pm (even though it says embarkation is 1pm). Some things may be different for the 3&4 day compared to the 7 day, but when we went on the 7 day in March you could make Palo reservations as soon as you boarded.

I would say you might want to leave the hotel around 9am. With the grocery stop you should reach the port around 10:30 and then you can check in. If you have never been on the cruise before getting on board ship as early as possible is a great way to do some exploring.
LeiLani

 

[alaskantwinks]

Leilani, you are helpful. I didn't realize that we should leave that early! The disney bus wasn't leaving the Poly until noon! Yes I want to get as much of the ship time in as possible. What a great idea to have one person stand in line (or maybe we can take turns) and than everyone else can check out the terminal. Wow this is so exciting...I'm psyched! BON VOYAGE to us! Kelly

 

[rae519]

When we were there, they offered us the option of going to Animal Kingdom - the buses there left a bit after 10AM - so we did get to the Port earlier than if we had stayed at the Poly and waited.

Rae