Florida Tours - not so happy

[tjmw2727]

Late April 2014 we booked one round trip and a one way.

My dd and I arrived at MCO, landed about 5 minutes late and had 5 VM from our driver asking where we where and when we were landing - all while we were in flight. I called him back ASAP on the way to baggage claim and he said why didn't you call me back?? I responded that it was because I was on our originally scheduled flight (left on time!). He said ok well I am waiting and waiting so hurry to baggage claim. We didn't stop - went directly to baggage claim, no driver at the bottom of escalator, got our bags and walked back to the escalator to look for our name - still no driver.

Called the driver back and he said oh good I am almost there? About 10 minutes later he arrived, very flustered and nervous. He had to call/text twice to ask how to get to Bay Lake Tower and told us we would have to pay extra so he could enter the MK area get to the "Contemporary". I told him I had never had to pay such a fee and when we got to the entrance I would show the kiosk my reservation and we were staying at BLT not CR. He ended up going the back way and never did go through the parking entrance.

Finally - we arrived at the Contemporary and he refused to drop us over at BLT but instead the CR. We had to drag our bags from the CR to BLT, not a huge deal but not the service I felt I had paid for.

Leg 2 - AKV to the airport for my in laws and it was Great, (different) driver was prompt and courteous and they had a great trip.

Leg 3 - my dd and I had the same driver again. We were outside AKV about 10 minutes early and then received no less than 5 calls telling us he was on his way and were we ready - yet he was 15 minutes late picking us up at AKV. On top of that he was texting and calling on his iPhone the entire way to the airport. I took two pictures of him driving while texting and using his iPhone and ipad at the same time. I asked him to please stop 2x and he said he had to arrange his next trips.

To be fair - I have already sent two emails to FL Tours and have not received a response. I did get the transportation I paid for and I did tip and he was a nice enough guy trying to make a living. I just want a bit more from a town car service - ie on time pick up, courteous service and a safe trip!

I have a trip planned to Universal for November and need a new Town Car company. For many years Tiffany was our go to company but they have gone downhill (IMHO) so I tried the board sponsor hoping for good service.

 

[Deanie1]

I ddon't have anyone to suggest as we use ME but I think your service was just awful - and dangerous! I don't know the laws in Florida (I am in Canada) but I would imagine that it is against the law to use your phone while driving?

 

[vicki_c]

I think I'm the only one on this board that has ever used this company, but we used Southern Elegance when going to the Swan a few years ago and the service was excellent. Perfect car, perfect driver (he was the owner I believe), on time, etc.

I think their price was a bit higher than some of the other companies but not a ton.

 

[taylor3297]

We use Happy Limo

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We use Happy Limo

That's the company where my friends kids learned lots of fun new words. Driver cursed like a sailor.


Seriously, rent a car or just take taxis in Orlando. Car services there just are too unprofessional to bother with.

 

[goofy4tink]

No company is going to get wonderful reviews all the time. A company is, basically, only as good as the driver you get. The last time I used FlTours I had a driver who texted me to tell me he was a bit early.....which he was. As long as you have notified the company, that's about all you can do. Your experience with FLTours was unacceptable, IMHO. The owners read this board. Let us know if they get back to you. My feeling is that many companies provide good service. But not every company makes things right when something goes wrong...making things right is very telling.

 

[OKW Lover]

Got to agree with what G4T just posted. That kind of service is unacceptable and FL Tours needs to do some driver training here.

If its any consolation, the times we've used FL Tours the service has also been excellent, so this is definitely not standard practice for all the FL Tours drivers.

 

[tjmw2727]

That's the company where my friends kids learned lots of fun new words. Driver cursed like a sailor.


Seriously, rent a car or just take taxis in Orlando. Car services there just are too unprofessional to bother with.

I am going to use DME for our next WDW Trip so no worries for August. In November I don't want to rent a car for a Universal trip as we won't need it during the trip and they have a fee to park at the HRH.

I imagine I could just grab a taxi upon arrival at MCO and then have bell services arrange one at HRH for the return tri. To be honest though I like the idea of the prepaid ride and personal service with a town car, it has just been so hit and miss lately.

 

[boltfan]

We always use a small company that I've never heard mention of on the boards, and that is Belagio. (and yes, that's how it's spelled, not Bellagio as in the hotel in Vegas). Anyway, I've used them for about 6 years now and have always had great drivers. Even gotten some free upgrades, from Town Car to Limo!

 

[Disneytam]

We've used Florida town cars three times and had great service all three times. Prompt, friendly, they promise no texting while driving and a nice price as well. We will be using them again in Sept.

 

[sonofanarchy]

We use Happy Limo

We do too. Always have great service, prompt, courteous drivers, and beautiful cars.

 

[tjmw2727]

Follow up -
Owner did contact me by phone today - mixed feelings still! While I appreciate the phone call it was the result of my post here rather than the two emails.

He did agree that the driver should not be texting/using the ipad but didn't seem surprised and then he tried to defend the driver dropping us off at the CR which I found odd. Even if the reservation said CR that driver could easily have honored my request to be dropped of at BLT instead?

Anyway - I appreciate the phone call and will possibly consider using this company again based on the majority of good reports here if I can request a different driver !

 

[darrengs]

How about the Uber app.

 

[bumbershoot]

No company is going to get wonderful reviews all the time. A company is, basically, only as good as the driver you get. The last time I used FlTours I had a driver who texted me to tell me he was a bit early.....which he was. As long as you have notified the company, that's about all you can do. Your experience with FLTours was unacceptable, IMHO. The owners read this board. Let us know if they get back to you. My feeling is that many companies provide good service. But not every company makes things right when something goes wrong...making things right is very telling.

Agreed.


But I've never had a driver NOT texting and using his phone ipad; not just talking FL tours (actually he might not have been doing it while we were in the vehicle, but he was texting us while on his way to us, when we got off the ship very early and wanted to let him know, so I know he did it), but every single professional driver of a vehicle like that. Super Shuttle in Anaheim has been the absolute worst, with one driver using three devices to communicate with others while driving us....

I am going to use DME for our next WDW Trip so no worries for August. In November I don't want to rent a car for a Universal trip as we won't need it during the trip and they have a fee to park at the HRH.

We would just rent a car from National or Alamo, drop it at the Four Corners Sheraton location, and pay a cab driver $10 more bucks to take us to the hotel. But we would also be stopping at the store and doing other little errands before dropping it. If we weren't doing those things we would just get a cab there.

...and then he tried to defend the driver dropping us off at the CR which I found odd. Even if the reservation said CR that driver could easily have honored my request to be dropped of at BLT instead?

So the defense was that the driver was following what was on the sheet?

I wonder how that goes along with him calling repeatedly to get info on when your flight was landing, since I believe that THAT info should have been on the sheet as well?