DME or towncar to WL

[Mercy]

We will be arriving on 9/15 for a weekend trip. It's been years since we flew into Orlando. Should we rely on DME for transportation to the WL, or should I just go and book a towncar?

Also, how is the return trip handled with a towncar, do they just pick you up at your resort, how far ahead to they pick you up?

 

[kldmom2000]

We are trying out DME for the first time on our upcoming trip. I'm nervous as anything I guess because we've always used Tiffany Town Car-LOVE THEM! The town car driver generally meets you at or around baggage claim w/ your name on a card. He/She helps you get your luggage and bring it to the car waiting outside. If you have Tiffany Town Car, they will do a complimentary 20 min. grocery stop if you request in advance so you can stock up on incidentals. They drive you right to the front door of your hotel and get your luggage out for you.

Upon returning to the airport, they pick you up at a specified time and drop you and your luggage off curbside at MCO. It used to be about 2.5 hours prior to your flight as the airports want you there at least 2 hours or more ahead of time. Not sure what it is now? Could be 3-3.5 hours before?

 

[Edd]

If you are thinking about a car service than probably you should find a good company to get you to Disney. With a car service you can stop and pick up extra items like brew and groceries or you can go directly to Disney. Normally a car service will collect the complete fare upon arrival at Disney. You schedule or the car service will schedule to pick you up 2 hours in advance of your departure time.

 

[CleveRocks]

We will be arriving on 9/15 for a weekend trip. It's been years since we flew into Orlando. Should we rely on DME for transportation to the WL, or should I just go and book a towncar?

To find your answer to your question, ask yourself some other questions.

Does price matter? DME is free. A car service can be $120 round trip.

Do personalized service and privacy matter? DME is a shared ride on a large motorcoach. A car service is a private vehicle with only members of your party, with the driver paying attention only to you and members of your party.

I loved my one DME experience and I'm doing it again in November. But I really have no strong desire for personalized service and a private ride. At least not at that cost. If that personalized level of service is important to you and you are willing to pay for it, then that's the way you should go.

I had originally planned on using a car service for my May 2005 trip, since the difference in cost between that and Mears for a party of 6 was minimal. But once DME was announced, the difference between free and $120, to me, was not minimal.

So, choose what level of service you want, and how much you are willing to pay for it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You schedule or the car service will schedule to pick you up 2 hours in advance of your departure time.

Except if they do that, you'll arrive at the airport about an hour and a half before your flight - at least thirty minutes short of the time advised by MCO. Then you still need to check in, check your luggage, get through security, get to your terminal and be at the gate by however many minutes in advance your airline requires.
OTOH, Edd's right - if you're considering a town car for the return trip, you might as well book it round trip since there's generally a price break AND since the better part of the service is on your arrival (not better service, just more feature-heavy).

A car service is a private vehicle with only members of your party, with the driver paying attention only to you and members of your party.

Or to his cell phone... but that's NOT normal behavior, I just lucked out once.