DME or Towncar?

[Jonell]

Hi all. I'm so excited our trip is only 9 days away! Here's my questions. We suppose to use DME but was thinking about instead getting a Towncar. Has anyone used both services? Is getting the Towncar worth the extra $? Was the time it took to arrive at the resort using the towncar much less than using DME? And finally is there a bathroom on DME? Thanks alot

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Towncar!

 

[Silver Queen]

There is no bathroom on the DME. We have always used it and been very satisfied. People who have used town cars have liked the option of being able to make a stop at a grocery store to stock up. Since we do little to no cooking when we're at WDW we've felt no need to spend the money on a town car.

 

[Goofy DVC]

Towncar! The food/booze/beer stop makes it well worth the cost for us.

 

[TwinsFan]

I've never used DME. We always get a town car so we can stop at the grocery store and liquor store, we like to have breakfast, snacks and drinks in the room

 

[Jonell]

Thanks everyone. We're getting our food and liquor from Garden Grocer. We have never used DME before. We are going from the airport to ASMo for 1 night before checking into BWV, so I'm just worried about it taking all afternoon to get from the airport to our resort on DME. Does anyone know if it takes longer on DME to get to the All Stars?

 

[nolanboys]

They have different lines for different resorts. We've used it several times, and never had a problem. I wouldn't spend the extra money.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Towncar! The food/booze/beer stop makes it well worth the cost for us.

DH and I always hire a Towncar. We loved being dropped off and picked up at the front door. No hassle, no waiting, no stopping, etc. The booze/food stop is definitely a plus.

 

[TisBit]

Honestly, if you don't need to make a stop for groceries you are probably just better off taking DME and saving the money. By the time you wait for your luggage and get it to the towncar the time difference between DME and the towncar will be minimal.....maybe 20 minutes depending on the order of stops that the bus makes (it will usually go to 2 or 3 resorts).

 

[lvloopingbag]

Ugh! I hate DME. It felt like it took forever between waiting in the DME line, and then waiting in line for your resort, and then stopping at several other places before getting to the resort. Reserve the towncar........

 

[Brian Noble]

The actual time you save is probably about 30 minutes on the way to the resort, and about an hour on the way back to the airport. That 30 minutes can *feel* a lot longer though, and the hour might mean getting up at a normal hour rather than super-early.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are not in a hurry, DME is wonderful and will save you the transportation costs. (That usually reminds me how much sushi and margaritas I can buy with the money I could have spent on a towncar.) If time means a lot to you, and you will get frustrated waiting while the bus drops off at resorts other than yours (I'm always the last to get dropped off no matter where I stay), then spend the money for the private car. You won't save a whole lot of time, but if the extra time will drive you crazy then get the car.

 

[Nanajo1]

There was a small lavatory at the back of all the DME busses I've been on.
I like the short video they show on DME. It gets me right in the Disney frame of mind. Depending on the resort you could be the first off. I used to have to get my luggage and wait for the towncar to be retrieved before getting on the road. So to me timewise it's six of one,half a dozen of the other but I save $$$ with DME!

 

[mouseaider]

If you have the $$ to spend then do what you want with it.

But we have used DME many times and we've never had any problems at all. The last time we arrived in Orlando at 11:00 and was at our resort by 12:15..... checked in and changed and at Epcot by 1:00.

We also had a nice dinner that trip at LeCellier instead of paying for a TC.

Your money.... your choice. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Pakey]

I am not a DME person; my husband and I didn't care for it. The little lines and the noisy buses are just not how we want to start (or end) a vacation.

We do carry on luggage only and we love being able to roll off the plane and straight into a towncar.

 

[TLSnell1981]

OP, thanks for starting this thread. We were going to rent a car for our Christmas vacation. DD and her hubby are coming and thought a car would be nice. But, I checked the rates and they are 2-3 times the norm. So, I just reserved a towncar.

 

[princessbride6205]

I've been considering a town car as well, but we're trying to save money on the October trip, so I'm not sure. My last experience on ME (March 2010) was not good. I waited an hour in line before even getting on a bus. Luckily it was a solo trip; I could not imagine keeping DD (2 at the time) occupied standing still for an hour after a 3.5 hour plane ride!

 

[kmermaid]

Just to let you know there is a lavatory in the back. Facinated my friend's 10 yr old.

 

[TyGuy]

I've done all three, DME, TC and car rental. I've never had a bad experience on DME and the wait at the airport or at other resorts have never been a problem. I love having our luggage delivered straight to our room. We get off the bus, check in and head to the park. When the day is done we go to our room and our bags are there waiting for us. The TC is a little bit of luxury and extra cost that I can do without.

 

[pditullio]

You don't have to ride DME to have them deal with your bags for you.
We use DME for our luggage, but we rent a car for our bodies. Best of both worlds. Off the plane, pick up car and go. Sometimes straight to a park or dinner. Bags are brought to our room whenever but we don't have to wait for them, or a bus.