Having a hard time deciding...

[your friend]

We are going down in November arriving on the Sat the 12th at 11:00am. We are traveling with another family they have a 7 and >1 year old. We are a group of 3: DW, DD2, and me. Last time I was at Disney was 2002. During that trip we given a "restaurant buzzer" and told the wait would be around one hour and "We'll buzz you when the bus is ready." At that time I told DW (who was my girlfriend at the time) we will never do this again and hailed a taxi to take us to Disney. Well here we are again going to disney again...but I am excited this time. My big question is should we hire a towncar company for the one way trip to Disney? Is the ME the same operation that was being used in 2002? The towncar company looks good because my buddy and I would split the bill and it would only be 50 each person plus a store stop. Any input would be great.

 

[seashoreCM]

Magical Express runs much the same way as Mears' shuttle but the main advantage is fewer stops along the way. Buses run often enough that they don't use restaurant buzzers. Typically every half hour most of the day, more often if there are more people.

For DME you do not have to get your bags from the airport carousels when you arrive before 10 PM; they'll deliver to your room. But bring swimsuit, toothbrush, and other stuff you will need for the first 24 hours yourself in a carry on.

Note that going back to the airport you must make and keep a reservation. YOu need to be at the proper bus platform outside your resort 15 minutes before the time on your reservation paper.

The store stop that a towncar company may offer often makes the difference deciding, although there exist grocery ordering and delivery services and your resort will keep things cold for you if you are not there at the moment the delivery service comes. Meanwhile I have never used a car sevice but I would be very anxious running in to a store and trying to check out and get back while the 30 minute timer is running.

 

[MinnieLee]

From stepping off your plane and arriving at your resort - and being all checked in - it usually takes no more than 90 minutes. ME busses are routed to resorts that are nearby each other and the stops are pretty fast being that most people do not have their luggage underneath -another BIG plus with using ME, especially with two little ones. Not having to claim luggage is great.

There are no buzzers for ME. Go downstairs, show your ME booklet and we have been on the bus and on our way pretty quickly.

 

[goofy4tink]

You must have taken the Mears buses. They use those 'buzzers'. You should be fine if you book DME. Yes, they are run by Mears, with Mears drivers, but they operate differently than the Mears shuttle buses do.
The average time from airport gate to resort checkin line is about 70-75 mins. I have had times of as little as 55 mins but once it was close to 90 mins. DME works very well....much different than the Mears of old.

I have used towncars as well. If I had just carryon baggage, it took me about 45 mins to get to my resort. But, if I had checked bags, it was about an hour or so.

If you want to get to your resort as quickly as humanly possible, then take a towncar. BUT....you are only going to add about 15-20 mins to that time if you use DME...tops. I love not having to collect my bags at MCO....it's terrific to just go down to level one, go to the appropriate bus line and off to WDW.

Looks like you have 8 in your group....I'm curious as to how you came up with the $100 charge. I'm assuming it's that cheap because it's one way? What type car are you planning on hiring?? A regular car service uses towncars which fit 4. Tiffany does offer a van that is under $100 one way..perhaps that's what you are looking at?

Just want to be sure about what type service you are thinking of.

 

[BzBeiber]

I've always found the best result to be using the hotel's shuttle service, if it's available, because I like that the hotel management has to answer for any issues if we have problems getting back to the resort on time. In practice that means you may get a free breakfast voucher, some ticky tack items from the gift shop to take home to the ingrates who didn't get to go on vacation (maybe they should have taken an after-school job!), and so on.

I've taken taxis before and it was a good experience, but certainly expensive. STill, I felt that if I didn't have a good shuttle to use then a taxi would be the best bet, because I like to start a relaxing family trip RIGHT, with no crying and whining from the kids on the bus!

 

[your friend]

You must have taken the Mears buses. They use those 'buzzers'. You should be fine if you book DME. Yes, they are run by Mears, with Mears drivers, but they operate differently than the Mears shuttle buses do.
The average time from airport gate to resort checkin line is about 70-75 mins. I have had times of as little as 55 mins but once it was close to 90 mins. DME works very well....much different than the Mears of old.

I have used towncars as well. If I had just carryon baggage, it took me about 45 mins to get to my resort. But, if I had checked bags, it was about an hour or so.

If you want to get to your resort as quickly as humanly possible, then take a towncar. BUT....you are only going to add about 15-20 mins to that time if you use DME...tops. I love not having to collect my bags at MCO....it's terrific to just go down to level one, go to the appropriate bus line and off to WDW.

Looks like you have 8 in your group....I'm curious as to how you came up with the $100 charge. I'm assuming it's that cheap because it's one way? What type car are you planning on hiring?? A regular car service uses towncars which fit 4. Tiffany does offer a van that is under $100 one way..perhaps that's what you are looking at?

Just want to be sure about what type service you are thinking of.

I was only considering one way and taking the van from Tiffany but if the DME is different from 2002 I will definitely consider taking it. Trust me I would rather spend the $50 bucks on something else. I just can't take having to wait around for an hour for a bus to simply be available. I also don't mind sitting on a bus for a while. I am ok as long as I know we are on the road and going to be there soon. I just don't want sit around at the airport.

 

[dudspizza]

I was only considering one way and taking the van from Tiffany but if the DME is different from 2002 I will definitely consider taking it. Trust me I would rather spend the $50 bucks on something else. I just can't take having to wait around for an hour for a bus to simply be available. I also don't mind sitting on a bus for a while. I am ok as long as I know we are on the road and going to be there soon. I just don't want sit around at the airport.

To my knowledge, DME has never used "buzzers" to have you wait for a bus. I am confused?

DME will line you right up and get you on a bus not too long after getting in line... I wouldn't pay for a towncar service.

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

I was only considering one way and taking the van from Tiffany but if the DME is different from 2002 I will definitely consider taking it. Trust me I would rather spend the $50 bucks on something else. I just can't take having to wait around for an hour for a bus to simply be available. I also don't mind sitting on a bus for a while. I am ok as long as I know we are on the road and going to be there soon. I just don't want sit around at the airport.

Yep...whole new system nowadays. Tag your bags with those yellow luggage tags and say goodby to them at your home airport. When you land at MCO, head right down to level 1, Side B. Walk down to the DME area...should take about 15 mins total.
Show your voucher to the CM at the beginning of the checkin line..more often than not, you will be told to go directly to the bus line. There, your vouchers will be scanned, and you will be directed to the appropriate resort bus line. If the bus just departed for your resort, you may face a 20 min wait..but more often my waits have been about 10 mins. When the bus comes along, you will be directed to it. Your voucher will be scanned by the driver as you board the bus. Hop on and take a seat. The bus 'may' sit there for 15 or so mins..or it may leave. Depends. Then off to the various resorts. You may be the first, second or third stop. Start to finish, the average time is about 70 mins. I've had times as short as 55 mins but one time as long as 90 mins.

To my knowledge, DME has never used "buzzers" to have you wait for a bus. I am confused?

DME will line you right up and get you on a bus not too long after getting in line... I wouldn't pay for a towncar service.

Duds

DME didn't use the buzzer thingies, but Mears does. And since Mears ran the Disney shuttle buses way back then, I'm assuming this is what the OP ran into.
I know that when I booked Mears for my one way trip to the Dolphin a few years ago (all in the name of research for the board), I had booked my ride in advance, and when I got to the outside podium, was given a buzzer thingie and told it would be about 25 mins. But, as I sat down and prepared to rearrange my carryon bag, my buzzer went off and I was put in a van with about 7 other people. Yes, it took about 80 mins to get to the Dolphin, but it was very pleasant and we all had a pretty good time on the ride.
So, Mears still uses those buzzers.

 

[Lewisc]

Magical Express runs much the same way as Mears' shuttle but the main advantage is fewer stops along the way. Buses run often enough that they don't use restaurant buzzers. Typically every half hour most of the day, more often if there are more people.

DME doesn't run anything like the shuttle program run by Mears.

Mears never offered the direct luggage service offered by DME. Mears would wait to fill the buses. That meant some passengers waited a long time for a bus to fill. Some even getting beepers. Some passengers were give a "tour of Orlando" as the bus made multiple stops at non-Disney resorts before the bus even made it to WDW property. Mears didn't want the buses leaving with a lot of empty seats.

DME buses are only suppose to make 3 or 4 stops, top. They'll never stop outside of WDW. Resorts are grouped "on the fly" so buses can be dispatched quickly. Most posters report waiting less then 20 minutes. Disney CMs decide when buses get dispatched. Many of us have been on buses less then half full. DME doesn't, normally, wait for buses to fill.

The shuttle part of Mears, non-Disney resorts, seems to work better then in the past. Vans are used frequently so guests aren't always waiting for large buses to fill.

 

[RobDIS]

We had a good experience with DME in April. It was a quiet morning and they sent our bus with just a few groups. Couldn't have been even 25% full.

We waited about 20 minutes longer than we would have, because the dad from another group decided he needed an emergency bathroom break and we were given the go ahead to pull out soon after. After 10 minutes of twiddling our thumbs, the driver went to find him so we could leave, but he wasn't in the bathroom... A bit later he comes strolling back with drinks he just bought for his family. Hard to believe the guy wouldn't have rushed to the bathroom and back as fast as possible, but I guess it takes all kinds.

Anyway, can't fault the DME service for that delay. When we got to our bus line, there were only 8 people total waiting and we were a little nervous they would have us wait a while for the bus to fill, but it wasn't like that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know that when I booked Mears for my one way trip to the Dolphin a few years ago (all in the name of research for the board),

Just want to stress the sacrifices your Moderators make for you all goofy4tink was offered personalized airport service - because I was picking up a rental about the same time she was arriving - but she politely declined, instead opting for that crowded, multi-stop shuttle van.

 

[MHSweb79]

The last several times we used DME we walked right onto a bus. Now, we then had to wait for the bus to get full, but that was never more than 10-15 minutes, tops.

You will NOT be given a buzzer and asked to wait for an hour.