Ever used a limo service or private shuttle to parks

[mabatioh]

Question for the experts. Has anybody ever used a limo service to go back and forth to the parks during their stay? I know this sounds somewhat extravagant but it's not for me. Cousins are going and staying at Key West. They have one little girl and this is their first trip to Disney in a while. I cannot stand the buses. They are never there when you need one and then they show up and try to crowd too many people on them. IMHO, it ruins an otherwise great day at the parks. I want these cousins to have a good trip without this hassle. I was talking to my uncle about their options to get back and forth from the parks easily. They are flying and were not planning on renting a car. I thought there might be a service that would basically be at your beckon call to shuttle you around the property. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[AngiTN]

What about a plain old taxi? They are plentiful and at your beckon call

 

[Lewisc]

I'd go with a taxi.

You want a service at your beck and call. That means you'll be paying the hourly rate for the limo drive to hang out while they're spending hours at a park.

 

[msjprincess]

I think it would be pretty expensive to pay a limo driver to be at your beck and call all day, every day.

I would just take a taxi. Or switch to a resort with better transportation options. Then you only need a taxi some of the time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would do a taxi. Beside the limo is going to have to drop them off at the drop off area for the TTC then ride the tram to the monorail to get to MK. Seems like a waste of money.

Taking the bus to MK is easier it drops you off at the front gate to MK

 

[kaytieeldr]

If they go with the car/limo service, probably any decent company would be happy to provide them with a chauffeured vehicle at an hourly rate - because that's what it would take for the vehicle to be at their beck and call.

 

[figment_jii]

I would also use a taxi if your looking for something other than Disney transportation (albeit, if this is their first trip, I would ride the monorail at least once!). $30 or so should get you almost anywhere on property. All taxis that pick-up people are operated by Mears (or one of their subsidiaries), so no worry about dishonest drivers because they charge based on Mears' rates.

Getting taxis at the theme parks (except MK) and resorts are really easy. In my experience, there are always taxis waiting. It's probably faster in some respects because you'd have to wait for the taxi to get to the pick-up/drop-off area after you call them, whereas the taxis are waiting. At MK, the taxis are located at the TTC, which is the same place as the pick-up/drop-off area.

 

[Jestocost]

FWIW, you can have a town car at your beck and call for about $60 per hour or a limo for about $85 per hour (gratuity for driver not included). Generally there will be a 3-4 hour minimum. If $600+ per day is in the budget, that might be an option.

Taxis will run anywhere from $10-$25 +/- (not including driver tip) each way.

 

[maxiesmom]

Remember too that if they use a car/taxi to get to the Magic Kingdom they will have to transfer at the TTC. No direct drop-offs at MK by car or taxi. They will still have to use the monorail or a boat to get to the front gates.

I have to ask: Are you sure your cousins will have the same view of the buses as you have? For many of us using the buses are part of the whole fun Disney experience. They may not hate them as much as you do.

 

[mabatioh]

Thanks for all the thoughts. I did speak to one service and they even admitted taxis were the way to go. It is way too expensive otherwise. As regards boats and monorails at Disney, I love those and don't mind riding them. I don't have monorails and boat transportation at home so it's really a treat to take those forms of transportation. Buses are altogether different. I have buses at home and I don't want to ride them there. I really don't want to go on vacation and have to ride them. Plus, I have had numerous really bad experiences where we were literally crammed into a bus at the end of a long day in the parks. It's absolutely ridiculous and the ultimate weak link in the Walt Disney World experience. They need to do something but I'm not optimistic as buses are much easier to scale and operate than any other system. Plus, I believe they are expanding parking at the Magic Kingdom for bigger buses. Obviously they didn't get my letter! Hah! Thanks again.

 

[DebbieB]

For MK, I would have the taxi drop you off at The Contemporary, you can walk from there. Or Grand Floridian and take the monorail.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Buses are altogether different. I have buses at home and I don't want to ride them there.

Understood - but this isn't for you, right? Like the person above you mentioned, your cousins might not have the same attitude toward the buses that you do.

Honestly, though, I've never seen a WDW bus as crowded as the MBTA Route 111 bus. I swear, one day that bus is going to tip over making a sharp turn.