Future of town car service

[kirbsam]

With the advent of magical express, has there been any discussion or speculation by anybody about how the town car services will survive? Will only the biggest survive? Do people still plan on using them? anybody work for one that has some thougts? I still plan on using a service in october in order to get personal service, and a grocery stop. Maybe they will have to come down in price or offer other services.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Hi, I asked our HAPPY LIMO driver about this. He told me that they didn't think it was going to make a huge differance. He said that because the town cars mostly cater to those who would rather not be on a crowded bus the second they get off a crowded airport. He also said that most companies might possible lower rates a little to compensate

 

[inkkognito]

I think the same thing...there will always be people who don't want to deal with the crowds and the cattle call. My husband and I always hated having to stop at multiple hotels before we knew there was an option. We have always been towncar people, and depending on my arrival time, I would be pretty likely to stick to towncars, especially if arriving during a peak period. The cost of the towncar is offset by not wasting precious vacation hours.
Barb

 

[justhat]

We will still be using towncars and not Magical Express. We don't like being herded on a bus (done that with cruise ships and never again), plus we don't like stopping at otehr resorts (why we stopped using Mears when we found out about other options), and the grocery stop is a huge help to get snacks and drinks, plus with a baby we get her food. Another reason we won't use Magical Express is that we would want our daughter in a carseat for a drive that long (for any drive really, though I do use the Disney buses sometimes). When we took the Disney cruise we got a towncar so we could keep er in her carseat-she hated that plan, but we felt it was safer. Also, I feel we'd end up waiting in longer lines to check in if a lot of people from our bus were at our resort. True, our towncar could show up at the same time or just after a Magical Express bus, but at least we'd have a better chance that it wouldnt' happen.

 

[Kimberle]

Yup! We will continue to use a towncar service. It generally costs us abt $120 including the tips. Not bad for personal service.

 

[aubriee]

Some of the towncar companies are already making cuts though. When we were there in January, we asked our driver about it and he said he was losing his job. He told us though that he had already found another one working for a construction company and would be starting in about a month. I told him I thought they were jumping the gun and that most people that used towncars would continue to do so.

I know I am. I like the idea of a driver waiting for me at the base of those escalaters with my name on a sign, the free 30 minute grocery stop, going straight outside to my personal town car, and making a quick trip to the resort, with all of my belongings. There is no way I'm going to take a chance of them losing my luggage, waiting in the hot Florida sun for a large bus to load, be crowded in like sardines, then take forever to get to my hotel as the bus makes a dozen stops to let other people out, then wait in a check in line as we all check in. Plus on departure day, get up a couple of hours early and take a chance of missing my plane so the bus can pick up a bunch of people on the way to the airport from different resorts. No way!! Prestige Towncars is just $80.00 round trip to any WDW resort. I'll gladly pay the extra $$ to make sure I get to my resort quickly with all my belongings.

 

[ducklite]

I think it might have a slight impact on the towncar companies--remember--some who use a towncar do so because the makeup of their party actually makes it more economical.. However, I don't think the stretch limo/hummerzine people will be affected at all. Those who are willing to spring for that type of service wouldn't use a cattle bus even if it were free.

Anne

 

[shatzjsl]

We'll still use a towncar. I'm sure the ME will be fun and I know it is free but I would rather get in a nice relaxing car and go straight to the resort. I also like having a grocery stop.