Does anyone pay to get to hotel instead of using Magical Express?

[Minnie824]

We're considering flying this year, and I'm wondering if we should still pay for someone, towncar, whatever, to take us to the resort instead of using Magical Express. Has anyone does this? I would just rather get my luggage and go. How many stops does ME make? Does it stop at multiple hotels? How long does it take? We're staying at GF, not sure if that makes a difference. This would also be the first flight w/our DDs ages 5 and 2.5, so I really don't want to have to deal w/too much waiting around for transportation just to get to the hotel. Thanks for any info!

 

[CarolA]

ME may stop at up to three hotels.

I have to be honest. The actions of the towncar industry have pretty much warned me off them. They firmly believe the way to attract passengers away from ME is NOT to provide good service, but to trash ME... and NONE of them have a perfect record so ALL of them have room for improvment. (So your risk is that they will even bother to show up as scheduled!)

I am now either taking ME or renting a car.

 

[Bob P]

Sure, lots of people still take taxis, towncars, whatever. Not everyone takes ME.

As far as how many stops, it depends on a lot of factors. The GF may be the first stop on your bus, or the second, third or fourth. It changes based on the demand of the particular day and time you are landing.

In general, you can figure it will take you anywhere from an hour to two hours from the time you land until the time you arrive at the GF.

 

[momsgoofy]

I can't say anything about the ME service since I've never used it. We have gone with a towncar since ME began...for the reasons you stated. (We had used the Mears service previously or driven ourselves. We didn't enjoy the long drive down and Mears was okay, better than nothing at all.) We didn't look forward to stopping at multiple resorts nor a lengthy wait. For my July trip it looks like we'll be doing the same...using a towncar. I just like the service...come down the escalator, the driver is waiting, helps with the bags, stops at the grocery store if we requested it, and drops us directly at our resort. At Christmas, we had an 8:00pm return flight and the towncar service picked us up at 6pm. We arrived in plenty of time and had the quickest security check, but that was because it was Christmas evening. The company we used both trips, and Dsis uses is Tiffany...now, that said, you may find reports about them that aren't positive. I just know that Dsis and I have been please with them each time we used the service.

 

[CarolA]

If you use a town car PLEASE request that they pick you up 2.5 hours in advance of your flight.

MCO has some horrid security lines. They are "suppose" to be working on the mess, but until consistent reports return with resolution I would not arrive less then 2 hours in advance.... (And I arrive at Atlanta about 1 hour before my flight... busier airport, etc...)

 

[Kae]

My family got their own lugagge, we did not get tags-it was last June when ME first started. They try to group the stops by area & they don't stay long at the resort. I think my sisters said the bus was going to WL-first stop & then GF & Poly. They were less than an hour from off the plane to WL.

Kae

 

[CleveRocks]

Lots of people still use transportation other than DME. If you want personal attention, if you want privacy, if you feel a secret thrill at seeing your name on a driver's placard, if you really want to make a grcoery stop, then hiring a towncar is your best bet.

I loved using DME. I used it last May when it was only 4 days old, and I'm using it again this November. Believe it or not, taking a towncar is no guarantee of getting to your resort quicker. It MIGHT be quicker, but it's possible it could even take longer than DME.

Here was my experience, and remember this was back when DME was brand new. From the time I got in line at the DME Welcome Center until the time we were dropped off at CBR was 53 minutes. I timed it because people on another message board were waiting for me to report back, since no one had yet used DME before me (I had the phone number of a fellow poster, who bravely agreed to trust me with her actual home phone number so that I could call her and she could post real-time info to the rest of the folks). I couldn't time it from landing to resort, since we made multiple stops in the airport.

Anyway, 53 minutes. Let's compare that with towncar service. The ride from MCO to most resorts is about 30 minutes no matter how you go. That leaves 23 minutes in play. I spent 23 minutes waiting in line, checking in at the counter, waiting for the bus, and then waiting on the bus until it left. If I took a towncar, I'd have had to wait at baggage claim for my luggage to arrive, gotten my luggage, waited for the driver to load the luggage and also waited for the driver to bring the car around to us, dispense with any quick paperwork, etc. Well, let's say you spend 10 minutes waiting at baggage claim. You COULD wait a lot longer, but best-case scenario is 10 minutes. Let's say it takes 5 minutes for the driver to get the car, get back to you, load the car, get you situated in the car, and leave. In all reality, that all probably takes a little more than 5 minutes, but again, let's call it a best-case scenario. In a best-case scenario, then, it's my 23 minutes versus your 15 minutes. It took me 8 minutes longer. EIGHT MINUTES.

Personally, I like spending 8 minutes more and $120 less, but that's just me. And remember, if baggage claim takes you 5 more minutes than my estimate, and waiting on the driver takes 5 more minutes than my estimate, then I got to the resort quicker than you.

I forgot to add that you can also get a grocery delivery to your resort. If you choose to make a grocery stop with a towncar, I can't imagine THAT would be quicker than using DME. Grcoery stops are usually 30 minutes.

 

[Lewisc]

Waiting for your luggage, particularly if you land during an afternoon thunderstorm will offset any time savings a towncar will give you.

I agree with the previous posters. Book a towncar if you want personalized service and want a grocery stop. Several drivers said the GF is supposed to be the first or second stop (POLY can be first) but some drivers don't follow that rule.

 

[boomhauer]

I do. At least on our upcoming trip.

Our plane lands at 8:50PM. If we go with ME, we won't get back to the resort until at least 10:00PM, and who knows what time our luggage will arrive.

Don't get me wrong - I understand that, and it's no problem. We aren't willing to wait, so we're paying for a town car.

 

[Lewisc]

I do. At least on our upcoming trip.

Our plane lands at 8:50PM. If we go with ME, we won't get back to the resort until at least 10:00PM, and who knows what time our luggage will arrive.

Don't get me wrong - I understand that, and it's no problem. We aren't willing to wait, so we're paying for a town car.

There is a good chance you won't get to your resort until 10:00p even with a towncar BUT you're correct about your luggage.

It makes sense to either take a towncar or to carryon enough stuff for overnight and let bell services delivery your bag the next morning.

I wouldn't want bell services delivering my luggage after midnight.

 

[maine_jennifer]

We're considering flying this year, and I'm wondering if we should still pay for someone, towncar, whatever, to take us to the resort instead of using Magical Express. Has anyone does this?

Yes... I pay for a towncar service. I've been using the same company since before ME was ever an option. They've been absolutely wonderful and I just don't want to try ME. The whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" thing. I have five trips to Orlando between now and the end of the year. Even though it would save me a bunch to go on ME, it's not something I even think of.

 

[CleveRocks]

Our plane lands at 8:50PM. If we go with ME, we won't get back to the resort until at least 10:00PM, and who knows what time our luggage will arrive.

I'm not arguing, I'm just giving how my plans are different.

Our flight (in November) lands at 9:36 p.m. Since no matter where we fly we ALWAYS pack supplies in our carry-ons for the first 24 hours (just in case the AIRLINE delays our luggage), we really don't have any care whatsoever when our luggage arrives, as long as it arrives. When we check in at POFQ around 10:45 or 11:00 p.m. or so, we'll ask at the front desk that our luggage be held until morning, so that we'll not be disturbed at midnight or so for a luggage delivery.

Like I said, since we'd pack in carry-ons the same way whether we were flying to Orlando or Omaha, we're very happy to save the time by skipping baggage claim.

And just as an off-topic thing, let me just put in this pitch for everyone to consider packing carry-ons like I do no matter whether you're taking DME or not. It's a very easy insurance policy against the effects of the airline delaying your luggage. Any time, for example, I read about people screaming at airlines that their child's medication was in the suitcase the airline delayed, or that needed diapers were in the suitcase the airline delayed, I really think to myself, "What were they thinking letting that important stuff out of their control???" The bad effects of an airline-induced luggage delay are completely preventable by smart packing in a carry-on. And in my case, since DME is a very predictable luggage delay, I'm covered!

 

[allysmom1218]

We really liked their service. It was $95 roundtrip which also included a 30 minute grocery run to Publix. They picked us up at the baggage claim area with a sign with our last name on it. Our driver was Karina and she was GREAT. She also had a car seat for our DD. We are planning on returning to WDW on 9/10/06 and I have already booked my ressie with MH again. I cannot say one negative thing about MH and their service. Their drivers are very friendly and try to help you in every way. If you would like to look at their website, it is www.transportation2disney.com.

 

[Snow Shoe]

When we started going to Disney back in the mid 80's, there was no ME, only Mears. What a disaster!!! For many, many years since that disaster, we have always used at towncar service. Our choice is http://www.tiffanytowncars.com/ Good service and people.

 

[TDC Nala]

ME can stop at up to four resorts.

My last experience was what the towncar advocates want to avoid.

My flight landed at 11:30 AM and I reached my room at POR at 2:15 PM. There were so many passengers waiting that a couple of other buses were filled before they got to me. POR was the fourth stop, after SSR, OKW and POFQ.

I'll continue to use ME, though, because I don't have to pay for it. Unlike Jennifer, I will save the cash. I can buy drinks with it.

I have not had another ME experience that took that long...if they're all going to be like that I will need the drinks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In general, you can figure it will take you anywhere from an hour to two hours from the time you land until the time you arrive at the GF.

I'd like to emphasize again that the timing stated in this quote is from when you LAND, not starting when you check in at the counter, or get in line, or get in the bus line, etc... While it may not be the median, several of us here have gotten from the jetway to our respective resorts in under an hour.

Here was my experience, and remember this was back when DME was brand new. From the time I got in line at the DME Welcome Center until the time we were dropped off at CBR was 53 minutes. I timed it because people on another message board were waiting for me to report back, since no one had yet used DME before me (I had the phone number of a fellow poster, who bravely agreed to trust me with her actual home phone number so that I could call her and she could post real-time info to the rest of the folks).

Yes, that would be ME (as in myself, not as in Magical Express) However, ever the gentleman, CleveRocks chooses not to identify me. On the other hand, he ALSO chooses not to take advantage of having my telephone number (which I'm sure has long since been discarded anyway )

I do. At least on our upcoming trip.

Our plane lands at 8:50PM. If we go with ME, we won't get back to the resort until at least 10:00PM, and who knows what time our luggage will arrive.

Boomhauer - because I feel you're an honest person, if you think of it would you mind noting and reporting your transit time?

 

[pennyplanner]

Have always used Tiffany Towncar since 1999! Even with the recent change of ownership, we've always had a good experience.

We like the convenience of being met at the escalators and the grocery store stop. I cannot abide by the water at WDW.

It's all in your personal preference!

--penny

 

[Laura]

Just my own experience: we were in our room at POFQ one hour after landing. We were the first stop, and the only other stop was POR. It was on a Saturday afternoon that we landed.

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

We too had an awesome experience with ME. Landed at MCO around 8 am. Got on the ME bus and waited about 5-10 minutes. There were about 15 people on our bus. First stop was WL...we were there in about 20 minutes. Checked in and went to MK for breakfast/lunch. Came back to WL around 1:30 and got in our room, luggage was already there waiting. It was super!