FL Tours is Great if you Want to Miss your Flight!

[vhoffman]

I posted this as part of another thread but wanted to give it more exposure so I'm posting it as a new thread.

I used FL due to all the rave reviews I've read about it here on this board. Well, I would just like to add my input, based on my recent experience.

On our recent trip, pick up at the airport went well. We told the driver when we arrived at our hotel that we wanted to be picked up at 12 pm for our return flight, which left at 2:55 pm. The last night of our stay, I got a message from FL that they would pick us up at 1:30. Hello! You need to be at the airport 1.5 hours in advance, not leave your hotel then! I even called SWA, and they recomend at least 1.5 hours for the Orlando airport. I attempted to call FL back, but they were closed. I left a message that we needed an earlier pickup. According to their message, they opened at 8 am the next day. Well, by about 8:20 we hadn't received a call back, so called them. The guy I spoke with (probably Andy), kept asking what time our plane left. I just told him we needed pick up at 12 pm, as we originally requested. He said all cars had been scheduled for the day, but he would try to arrange something. He did call back in a few mjunutes and said the only times he had available were 1:30 pm or 11 am. Of course, we opted for the earlier flight so we wouldn't miss our plane. However, that comprimised our last morning, as we wanted to have a nice breakfast, etc. Instead, we scurried around to get ready for his convenience. The whole idea of these limo services is for the customer's convenience, not the company's convenience. As it was, it took about 45 minutes to reach the airport, without traffic problems. If we went with his original time, we would have barely made the plane, especially if there were long lines, etc.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Orlando International Airport strongly recommends getting to the airport 2 hours prior to departure time for domestic, and 3hrs for international flights. With light traffic, it can take up to 45 minutes to get to OIA from WL, especially with the convoluted way the drop off terminals are. Your 12:00 time would have been spot on.

With TSA security check points at OIA, it can easily take 45+ minutes to get through that line. And with Southwest, you want to get there at a decent time so that you all can sit together. Cutting it too close, and arriving 5 mins before departure is a good way to get bumped off a full flight, as we've all seen on "Airline."

 

[vhoffman]

Hi, Chip!

Nice to meet you? What, exactly, is a transportation host? I had some difficulty navigating the bus system there. It seemed everyone I asked I got conflicting information. Needless to say, it was frustrating! Is there some sort of guide, schedule, etc. that a guest could get in advance of a trip to plan their transportation more effectively? Thanks. BTW, I just hope enough people read this thread about my experience with FL Tours. They could have caused us to miss our flight. As it was, our last day was soured due to the stress of trying to accomodate them. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around? At any rate, their timing for our pick up was ridiculous and inexcusable. They could give two cents if we made our plane or not, they were just interested in making as many runs as possible. Well, that's business.....

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Transportation Host is Disney's fancy term for bus driver. (aka, one who wears purple pants...) When getting bus information, trust only those wearing the purple pants. Front desk, and theme park cast members often have outdated or mistaken information.

Using the Disney bus system is easy. Buses run approx every 15 minutes, more often during peak times. The trick to navigating the system is reading the signs. Bus stops will have signs saying what buses stop there. Each bus is equipped with a bright orange LED destination sign by the entrance door, and on the front of the bus. If the sign on the bus doesn't say, more likely than not, it doesn't go there.

Buses run Resorts to/from parks, park to park, and resorts to/from Downtown Disney.

 

[vhoffman]

Thanks,

Sometimes the solution is so simple its overlooked. We weren't aware of the signs at the bus stops. However, the cm's we asked could have directed our attention to them. Nice to know for the next time. Hope I'll ride one of your busses--are you really cute?

 

[Flexan]

Transportation Host is Disney's fancy term for bus driver. (aka, one who wears purple pants...) When getting bus information, trust only those wearing the purple pants.

We'll be riding the busses from Port Orleans to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Other than the purple pants, how will we recognize you? I hope we get your bus!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

We'll be riding the busses from Port Orleans to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Other than the purple pants, how will we recognize you? I hope we get your bus!

The "TYLER" name tag is usually the giveaway. I'm the only one, as far as I know.

 

[CarolA]

PErsonally I leave for the Orlando airport 90 minutes before ALL my flights and have never missed on (and I have to return the rental car!)

 

[Flexan]

The "TYLER" name tag is usually the giveaway. I'm the only one, as far as I know.

Hah! Thanks for waking me up. What was I thinking? I can read, but not process apparently. That should be a giveaway! If we see a Transportation Host named Tyler, we'll assume it is you!