FL Tours vs. DME

[Terk-1]

Am going on a solo trip and arrive the day after Thanksgiving. I know that DME is included in the trip, but am wondering if it's worth it or if I should book a car with FL Tours. I did a quote on FL Tours and it was $119 round trip, plus a grocery stop. Although I'm on the dining plan, the grocery stop would be nice to pick up some bottles of water, milk and cereal. Which would you do and why?

 

[Lewisc]

I'd go with DME. For $119 you can pay Disney prices in or out of the parks for whatever you were going to buy at your grocery stop and still have money left over. You always have the option of using a grocery delivery service.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done both. Since you'll be traveling alone, it's not a big deal to use DME. In fact, you could use gardengrocer to order some water and snicky snacks (as dh calls them). There is a delivery charge but it's around $15 or...much better than $120 for a towncar, plus the cost of whatever food you buy.
Also, a towncar will pick you up around 2 1/2 hrs before flight departure, while DME is closer to 3...2 3/4. Not a huge difference when you figure $120 vs free.
But that's a personal decision..up to you. I personally like DME...haven't had any bad experiences in three trips with them.

 

[Terk-1]

2 1/2 hrs before flight departure, while DME is closer to 3...2 3/4.

I thought I had read somewhere that DME had changed it's pick up time from 3 hours prior to 4 hours prior to flight time. Was that only temporary when the ban on water, etc. on carry-on's was in place or is it a permanent change?

 

[CleveRocks]

Am going on a solo trip and arrive the day after Thanksgiving. I know that DME is included in the trip, but am wondering if it's worth it or if I should book a car with FL Tours. I did a quote on FL Tours and it was $119 round trip, plus a grocery stop. Although I'm on the dining plan, the grocery stop would be nice to pick up some bottles of water, milk and cereal. Which would you do and why?

It all depends what level of service you want for this trip.

If you want personalized service, privacy, one-on-one contact with your driver, and like to shop for your own groceries, then a car service is definitely the way to go.

If none of the above matters to you, if you don't mind being on a bus with up to about 50 other people, and you don't mind the possibility of stopping at one or two resorts before yours, then take DME and save the $143 ($119 plus a $12 or 10% tip to each of the drivers, coming and going).

Especially if you have checked luggage AND are making a grocery stop, it seems pretty unlikely that a car service will get you to your resort sooner than DME would.

I wouldn't choose between the 2 modes on issue of TIME. To me, it's an issue of SERVICE, and secondarily an issue of money. Which type of service do you want this time, and how much do you want to pay for it? If you value the personalized, private, and direct service provided by a car service and are willing to spend $143, then it seems a no-brainer to go that route. But if that level of service isn't that important to you, or isn't worth $143, then try DME.

Whichever way you go, just remember ... DISNEY AWAITS!

 

[goofy4tink]

I thought I had read somewhere that DME had changed it's pick up time from 3 hours prior to 4 hours prior to flight time. Was that only temporary when the ban on water, etc. on carry-on's was in place or is it a permanent change?

The 4 hr before your departure flight pick-up time was temporary. It lasted just a couple of days. It's back to the 2.75-3 hr time again.