Fastest way to BC - ME or Car?

[Dancind]

We had to make some changes to our October trip, and we are now arriving at 3:45 on the same day we have reservations for the Party of the Senses wine room at 6:15. We really do NOT want to be late!

We will be checking in at BCV, changing clothes, and heading to Epcot. Do you think it would be faster to take ME, or to rent a car and drive to BC? Renting a car also means claiming our luggage etc. But ME can be painfully slow.

What do you think? Toss a coin?

 

[skelooch]

Rent a car, that should pretty much assure you of getting to the BC by about 5.
If you can do online check-in for your car, I know Alamo offers it. It will allow you to get your bags and go right to the garage and select your car and off you go, thus avoiding the counter or kiosks.
You could still use ME to get your bags if you choose, nothing says you have to get on the bus, that would save you another 15-20 minutes.
Just make sure you have a change of clothes in you carry-on because your bags won't arrive at your room for several hours.

 

[Thumper4me]

I have always found renting a car faster than ME. I do use National's Emerald Isle. So, I just pick up my luggage and grab any car in the car catagory I booked.

However, you can't beat the price of ME.

 

[Edd]

You might try car service. It is definitely faster than rental car and maybe cheaper. If you use a taxi one way out you could travel ME back.

 

[Dancind]

Thanks everyone. Any idea what a taxi would cost?

And I thought ME won't get our luggage unless we check in and get on the bus?

 

[Edd]

Taxi will cost about $55.00 depending on which resort you go to. If you tag your luggage with the yellow tags Disney will get it to you at the resort.

 

[Jestocost]

Thanks everyone. Any idea what a taxi would cost?

And I thought ME won't get our luggage unless we check in and get on the bus?

You are not supposed to use the DME luggage transfer service unless you also are using the bus transfers. As a result, if you have checked bags and are taking a taxi or town car you should stop to collect your bags and that can use up some or all of the time you save by taking a car/cab vs. DME. I'm not going to get into the details of that issue here as there is a comprehensive sticky on the subject that you can review at your leisure. If you have only carry-on bags taking a cab or car service definitely will be faster.

I think what Edd was referring to, however, is that you can take a cab from MCO to WDW and still use DME for your return trip.

 

[jasko5990]

Assuming your flight doesn't arrive late, and also assuming there are no traffic issues between MCO & WDW, you should be fine taking Magical Express. The two times I took ME I was on the bus & moving well within 30 - 45 minutes of landing, and at the Beach Club about 1 hour after departiing MCO. Both times I was staying at the Beach Blub, and both times the bus made the same order of resort stops (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, then Beach Club). I figure you should be at the Beach Club no later than 5:30 using ME. If you think that will give you enough time to check in, get to your room to change, and be at the event in the World Showcase in time then I wouldn't rent a car, I'd just take ME. If you want the peace of mind of getting there earlier then I'd rent a car since you can drive faster than the buses.

 

[keishashadow]

We had to make some changes to our October trip, and we are now arriving at 3:45 on the same day we have reservations for the Party of the Senses wine room at 6:15. We really do NOT want to be late!

What do you think? Toss a coin?

either way, it's cutting it close imo (we've experienced flight delays several times over the years-mostly weather with later flights in the day). even when the skies are sunny...if the 1st flight of 'your' plane runs into trouble elsewhere it can snowball)

since i see u r flying SWA, any chance of switching to earlier flight, now or just monitoring the fares to try & grab a good one between now & then.

btw, im told it doesn't happen anymore, but a few years when when arriving around 1 pm & using ME to BCV we stopped @ both CSR & BWV prior, didn't arrive until shortly before 3 pm.Will say when we used ME this July, it was an excellent experience, so maybe they've gotten it together

 

[NancyIL]

Had it been me, I would not have booked an expensive, non-refundable dinner like Party for the Senses on my arrival day. I hope there are no delays to your flight and you get to Epcot in time.

 

[Dancind]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We booked PfTS then learned we had to be in town the night before. We were going on to travel on Thursday with lots of lead time!