Limo back to MCO, how early to be picked up?

[DJmommy]

Considering NOT using ME to go back to airport for our return flight, since we have to handle our own bags and since they pick you up at least 3 hours before your scheduled flight time.

For those of you who use limo service, how early do they pick you up?

And can anyone recommend a good one?

Do you have to notify Disney that you will only be using them for the initial flight? if so, when?

 

[safetymom]

They would pick you up so that you would still have 2 hours at the airport. So you would only be saving about 1/2 hr. over ME since it takes about 1/2 hr. to MCO.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We used Prestige Town cars in June. They wanted to pick us up around 1 1/2 hours prior to our flight. I asked for two hours and they had no problem with that. I wanted the additional time to upgrade our tickets at the airport. I know you are supposed to be at the airport two hours before your flight, but most of the time that is absolutely not necessary.
Prestige in June had lower prices than most and a $5.00 coupon if you booked online. I believe it was prestigetowncars.com. Great service and super driver. They have since merged with Tiffany Town cars so I don't know if they still use both names.

 

[Bob P]

Keep in mind that when ordering a car service, you can tell them what time you want to be picked up.

Having said that, I do agree with safetymom. We are always picked up about 2 1/2 hours before the flight.

Bob

 

[Harambe]

Tiffany Towncars is awesome. We've used them five times and NEVER had a problem. They come two hours before your flight, unless you ask for a different time.

We have them pick us up at MCO, too. If you have a Passporter, there is an $8.00 coupon off a roundtrip fare. I think we paid $87.00 for a round trip to AKL (I tip $20 on top of that, each way. That's a lot, you could tip how you like!).

Something about them standing there, with the little sign that has our name on it, and the big smile - it tells us we're at Disney!

www.tiffanytowncars.com

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just for the record, DME does not pick you up "at least" three hours before your flight - they pick you up between 2.75 and 3 hours in advance. While I was waiting to handle another issue at Pop's Luggage Services/Airline Check-in counter, a Guest and his son were NOT allowed on the DME bus by the driver because they were too early for their flight! I'm not saying this is the norm, because I only saw this happen that one time.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I would schedule the towncar or limo 2 1/2 hours before my scheduled flight departure.

If I were flying on an airline participating in Disney's Resort Airline Check-in, I would schedule the towncar or limo 2 to 2 1/4 hours before my scheduled flight departure. That's because by using Resort Airline Check-in at the resort, I will bypass luggage checking and flight check-in at the airport.

DME is scheduled 2 3/4 to 3 hours before your scheduled flight departure.

Regardless of your mode of transportation, you should not count on everything going perfectly. Towncars and DME coaches can arrive late. There can be traffic delays. Airline ticket counter lines and security lines at Orlando Airport can be horrendous. So allow enough time. Then, if there are no delays after all, you'll have time for a nice meal at the airport. (The airlines don't feed you in domestic economy any more.)

 

[Bob P]

. Then, if there are no delays after all, you'll have time for a nice meal at the airport.

Isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Actually, you can get a good meal at Orlando International.

In addition to an extensive food court and many fast food options, you'll find Outback Steakhouse, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and Chili's Too right in the airport. Okay, so it's not gourmet food, but it's huge improvement over the awful airport cafeterias that used to be found in airports throughout the US.

 

[DJmommy]

Thanks to all for the info. Since it probably wouldn't be that much of a time saver, I'm now considering just using ME and saving the $50 - $60. It's just that our flight is 10:30 am, which means we would probably picked up at 7:30.

What happens if you miss your scheduled departure? How often do they run? Or would you be left to fend for yourself and have to take a cab?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

What happens if you miss your scheduled departure? How often do they run? Or would you be left to fend for yourself and have to take a cab?

I asked that question at OKW.

The answer is that you can take the next coach, as long as that coach is not scheduled to be 100% full. If it's the last stop before the airport, and there are empty seats, you can get on. If it's not the the last stop, you can get on if there are more seats than will be needed by guests who are scheduled to get on at other resorts.

Our motor coach back to the airport was almost empty.

The coaches are scheduled based on actual demand. They come as frequently as every 20 minutes. But, I suppose if nobody has DME reservations at a given resort for a one hour period, it's possible that no DME motor coach would appear for an hour at that resort.

 

[DJmommy]

Thanks Horace. I guess it will be a good idea to make sure we don't miss our scheduled departure.