Has anyone used Water Butlers for airport transfers? Also referred to as Ride Butlers.

[Wife of Fozzy Bear]

I have seen a few reviews of this company for grocery delivery that seem decent.

I have seen one mention of them now doing airport transfers and decided to look into this. The person who posted had booked them for July and so there’s no feedback for that trip yet. The website is a bit ‘thin’ on detail and there’s not much on social media. Has anyone used them for an airport transfer? They are quoting less for our party than most of the services and will provide 2 car seats so I’d like to get some feedback? Thanks.

 

[Fitzwoman27]

We are still looking missing magical express

 

[Wife of Fozzy Bear]

Steer clear from them. They’ve been doing water and grocery delivery for quite some time and now they e decided to transport people as well. The problem is that transporting people requires permits and specific commercial insurance which they don’t have. Add them to the long list of individuals and companies that operate illegally and put families in danger.

They have a few fake profiles on Facebook posting in all the groups so beware of that.

The easiest way to tell if a company or individual is legally allowed to transport passengers is where they pick you up at the airport. If they want to pick you up at the same level as baggage claim or on the departure level then they’re illegal. If they don’t have a big sticker on their windshield that says “city of Orlando vehicle for hire” then they’re illegal. Only Uber/Lyft can pick up at baggage claim level…but it must be a ride requested on the app.

This also includes Uber drivers that want to give rides directly to customers instead of on the rideshare app. I see a lot of people requesting “Uber Steve” as well…and they assume because he’s nice, funny, and retired that he’s perfectly fine but he’s running an illegal business and if he’s ever involved in an accident his personal insurance policy won’t pay out a penny. You’re basically riding in an uninsured vehicle…

Wow, thank you! I was a bit suspicious based on some of the replies I got when I emailed them. I couldn’t find a cancellation policy online, very few T&Cs and when I enquired I got an answer that indicated they were not directly employing people or using their own vehicles but contracting the transport out and ‘will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the independent contractors engaged are licensed and are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations…..’. They are apparently currently constructing their booking portal.

When something looks too good (cheap) to be true, I am wary, hence I posted on disboards. I’m very grateful for your reply and hopefully anyone else researching will pick this up and be forewarned.

 

[Minnie1222]

If they want to pick you up at the same level as baggage claim or on the departure level then they’re illegal.

We use Tiffany Town Car and the driver picks us up from the baggage claim and his car is parked at the departure curb. Should we be worried?

 

[Rocky77]

We use Tiffany Town Car and the driver picks us up from the baggage claim and his car is parked at the departure curb. Should we be worried?

Tiffany’s is fully licensed. They pick up on level 1, which is 1 level below baggage claim. That’s where all the legal limo companies pick you up from.

 

[Rocky77]

Wow, thank you! I was a bit suspicious based on some of the replies I got when I emailed them. I couldn’t find a cancellation policy online, very few T&Cs and when I enquired I got an answer that indicated they were not directly employing people or using their own vehicles but contracting the transport out and ‘will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the independent contractors engaged are licensed and are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations…..’. They are apparently currently constructing their booking portal.

When something looks too good (cheap) to be true, I am wary, hence I posted on disboards. I’m very grateful for your reply and hopefully anyone else researching will pick this up and be forewarned.

Anyone that’s offering rides from the airport to Disney for $50-60 or less is illegal. Just to pick up at the airport you are charged at a minimum $7 by the airport and that increases depends on how long you’re waiting for customers there. Commercial insurance on an SUV starts at around $600 per month if you have the minimum required $300k in coverage. Add in tolls, gas, maintenance, and time…and you can see how there’s no possible way these individuals that charge this much are operating legally.

 

[Minnie1222]

Tiffany’s is fully licensed. They pick up on level 1, which is 1 level below baggage claim. That’s where all the legal limo companies pick you up from.

Wonderful! Thank you. We usually take a taxi, but Tiffany has been great.

 

[Wife of Fozzy Bear]

I’ve just checked Skippys Transportation website and they say they are fully licensed and insured and the TripAdvisor ratings are decent. Looks like they’ve been operating a long time too.

We usually fly earlier in the day but our flight has been pushed back so we don’t land until almost 6pm and after a nine hour flight with two four year old grandchildren along we just want to get to the hotel as quickly as we can, with no fuss and car seats provided. We will be on 11-12pm UK time by the time we clear immigration and baggage claim and I never sleep on the UK to US flight so will be happy to be met and driven to the hotel.

Glad to know for reference that Level 1 is where we should be being picked up from if it’s a legit service.

Thanks again.

 

[Rocky77]

I’ve just checked Skippys Transportation website and they say they are fully licensed and insured and the TripAdvisor ratings are decent. Looks like they’ve been operating a long time too.

We usually fly earlier in the day but our flight has been pushed back so we don’t land until almost 6pm and after a nine hour flight with two four year old grandchildren along we just want to get to the hotel as quickly as we can, with no fuss and car seats provided. We will be on 11-12pm UK time by the time we clear immigration and baggage claim and I never sleep on the UK to US flight so will be happy to be met and driven to the hotel.

Glad to know for reference that Level 1 is where we should be being picked up from if it’s a legit service.

Thanks again.

The airport also has a full list of the companies that are legally allowed to operate there. It’s on their website. Click ground transportation and then select “vehicle for hire” and the entire list pops up. Just in case you ever wonder.

 

[Wife of Fozzy Bear]

The airport also has a full list of the companies that are legally allowed to operate there. It’s on their website. Click ground transportation and then select “vehicle for hire” and the entire list pops up. Just in case you ever wonder.

Thank you! That’s very handy to know!

 

[CarolynFH]

Tiffany’s is fully licensed. They pick up on level 1, which is 1 level below baggage claim. That’s where all the legal limo companies pick you up from.

They're allowed to meet you at baggage claim, right? Just not have their vehicle parked on the baggage claim level.

 

[Ross Kratter]

They're allowed to meet you at baggage claim, right? Just not have their vehicle parked on the baggage claim level.

They are actually required to meet you at Baggage Claim, and escort you down to the car on level 1 in the Express Pickup lane.

 

[Rocky77]

They are actually required to meet you at Baggage Claim, and escort you down to the car on level 1 in the Express Pickup lane.

No, they aren’t. There’s no requirement for them to come up to baggage claim and “meet & greet” a customer there. A customer can walk down to the pickup area all on their own. Some operators go up and meet customers at baggage claim and some wait for them to come down on their own.

 

[Ross Kratter]

No, they aren’t. There’s no requirement for them to come up to baggage claim and “meet & greet” a customer there. A customer can walk down to the pickup area all on their own. Some operators go up and meet customers at baggage claim and some wait for them to come down on their own.

Straight from the GOAA VFH driver handbook.

 

[Rocky77]

Straight from the GOAA VFH driver handbook.

Those are the “meet & greet guidelines” but that’s only if you choose to do a meet & greet.

The GOAA Ground Transportation Rules and Regulations last amended 9/22 state…

“may perform meet and greet activity in the baggage claim area”

Not “must” and not “shall”.

Meet & Greet is not mandatory.

Btw: The VFH handbook is also an outdated document last updated in 2020. The GOAA transportation rules and regulations is the most recently updated document.

 

[jimmychoo]

I have seen a few reviews of this company for grocery delivery that seem decent.

I have seen one mention of them now doing airport transfers and decided to look into this. The person who posted had booked them for July and so there’s no feedback for that trip yet. The website is a bit ‘thin’ on detail and there’s not much on social media. Has anyone used them for an airport transfer? They are quoting less for our party than most of the services and will provide 2 car seats so I’d like to get some feedback? Thanks.

They're amazing! We used Ride Butlers in July and they were excellent. I suggest you exercise caution with certain replies here, as they might stem from their competitors.

 

[jimmychoo]

Anyone that’s offering rides from the airport to Disney for $50-60 or less is illegal. Just to pick up at the airport you are charged at a minimum $7 by the airport and that increases depends on how long you’re waiting for customers there. Commercial insurance on an SUV starts at around $600 per month if you have the minimum required $300k in coverage. Add in tolls, gas, maintenance, and time…and you can see how there’s no possible way these individuals that charge this much are operating legally.

I booked once an UberXL from MCO to Caribbean for $45, last time I checked, Uber is not illegal!

 

[karlashields]

Wow, thank you! I was a bit suspicious based on some of the replies I got when I emailed them. I couldn’t find a cancellation policy online, very few T&Cs and when I enquired I got an answer that indicated they were not directly employing people or using their own vehicles but contracting the transport out and ‘will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the independent contractors engaged are licensed and are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations…..’. They are apparently currently constructing their booking portal.

When something looks too good (cheap) to be true, I am wary, hence I posted on disboards. I’m very grateful for your reply and hopefully anyone else researching will pick this up and be forewarned.

Wow, thank you! I was a bit suspicious based on some of the replies I got when I emailed them. I couldn’t find a cancellation policy online, very few T&Cs and when I enquired I got an answer that indicated they were not directly employing people or using their own vehicles but contracting the transport out and ‘will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the independent contractors engaged are licensed and are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations…..’. They are apparently currently constructing their booking portal.

When something looks too good (cheap) to be true, I am wary, hence I posted on disboards. I’m very grateful for your reply and hopefully anyone else researching will pick this up and be forewarned.

 

[karlashields]

Since 2021, we've been using their grocery service, and it's been always GREAT. Last year, we became aware of their newly introduced transportation service, Ride Butlers. Intrigued, we decided to give it a try, we were impressed! Their rates are competitive, and the service itself is nothing short of a VIP experience.

 

[happily single]

Anyone find it interesting that the two posters who are praising Ride Butlers are brand new to The Dis? Hmmm