Limo companies servicing MCO: good, bad, ugly please

[Bishope2]

Greetings,

I previously posted that the limo company that I planned on using can't meet us in baggage claim due to construction. I would have to call upon arrival.

I sent emails to two companies and found info on a third that stated that they do indeed "meet and greet" (i.e. names on a sign) within baggage claim. With all of that said, I feel I might change my present reservations to one of the following three companies. I am looking at stretch limo service from MCO to Universal Studios.

Here are the following the companies: LimoCarOrlando, Sunshinecars and Mears. Does anyone have any thoughts regarding these three companies? I am looking for clean vehicles, on time preformance, etc. If someone can recommend different companies that would be appreciated. This is suppose to be a surprise thus my concerns about a "meet and greet" in baggage claim or bottom of the escalator.

 

[vicki_c]

I never heard of the first two, Mears is the main transportation company in Orlando - used by Disney.

But I would check the MCO Transportation page for the others and make sure they are listed as authorized to pick up from the airport - there's a list of all the companies that are.

FL Tours is a board sponsor (see the ad @ the top of the page) but I have never used them. The company we have used is a bad name on the DIS for some reason so I can't post or PM you about them (PS to the mods - not questioning why they are DIS banned, your boards - your rules).

 

[Tara]

Mears is well known and is also the company that operates Magical Express for Disney. As VickiC said, FL Tours is a board sponsor and highly regarded. I've used neither - only Tiffany Towncar, which always provided me great service, though I confess I haven't used them in a number of years.

 

[PSUGuy]

We've used Tiffany more than a half dozen times with great results.

Bill From PA

 

[sam_gordon]

We used Tiffany before DME came on. We were very happy.

Something to check out though... if there's construction, why would any towncar company be allowed to park? I wonder if the ones who say they can still meet you at baggage claim actually park in the garage, meet you, then go get the car.

 

[goofy4tink]

We used Tiffany before DME came on. We were very happy.

Something to check out though... if there's construction, why would any towncar company be allowed to park? I wonder if the ones who say they can still meet you at baggage claim actually park in the garage, meet you, then go get the car.

Since we're talking about March, I have to wonder if this is really happening?? Towncars meet you in one of two places..outside, close to where the buses are, and inside, on level 1, in a tunnel like spot. There are some companies that tell you that they do not meet in baggage claim..and they give various reasons for that. But, the vast majority of companies do meet you in baggage claim, so not sure what the deal is.

I have used both FL Tours and Tiffany Towncar with good results. They both have lots of customers who love them. They also have some who have not been 100% happy. But, I haven't found any company yet that has a 100% satisfaction record so far.

 

[Bishope2]

Thanks for the replies. I printed up the MCO transportation page and there are alot of limo companies. I would gather they are all autorized to do business at MCO.

As for a meet and greet, I have no problem if the driver has to get the car after he as greeted us. My thing, as previously mentioned, this is a surprise and it would suck to have to call the driver, then go outside and wait for the car to show up. Having the driver with a sign is a nice surprise, wouldn't you think? After that, we have to get our bags anyhow. By the time that is done, the driver should have the car out front.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We've used Tiffany with success.

We have had a less than "magical" experience with FL Tours.

 

[Bobo912]

We used Happy Limo this past week and had a good experience. The driver met us at the escalator by the baggage claim area and the car was parked in the tunnel-like place that goofy4tink described.

 

[pistonfan32]

Used Tiffany four days ago and using thrum today on way back to airport. They are great. They stopped at a Publix a few miles from Disney where the prices seemed cheaper than the one closer to DD.

 

[Bishope2]

BOB912, you used Happy Limo? Interesting because they are the company that I booked with that said in their confirmation email "that I would need to call the driver or the company once I retrieved my bags. He could not meet us do to terminal construction" or something similar to that.

BOB912, if I can ask, what did your confirmation email say and what type of car did you use? Maybe because I have a stretch versus a sedan that they can't park there.

 

[Bobo912]

My confirmation says "Driver will meet you at the foot of the escalators in the baggage claim for Terminal A". We flew in on SWA so we were in the A terminal. It was just a few steps to the tunnel where the car was parked. We had a town car (it was actually an Escalade). Maybe they know the airport has construction planned that will limit their access to the area where they park. There wasn't any construction going on this week.

 

[Bishope2]

Bobo912, thanks for the info. This is interesting. So, do I book with another company that sends in their confirmation email that they will "meet and greet" or do I stick with Happy Limo even though their confirmation email states I have to call driver. Maybe Happy Limo knows that there will be construction or maybe there is a different reason. That said, the last time I used them I did have to call the driver also now that I think about it.

 

[dudspizza]

Bobo912, thanks for the info. This is interesting. So, do I book with another company that sends in their confirmation email that they will "meet and greet" or do I stick with Happy Limo even though their confirmation email states I have to call driver. Maybe Happy Limo knows that there will be construction or maybe there is a different reason. That said, the last time I used them I did have to call the driver also now that I think about it.

Why not call and talk to a live person at Happy Limo? Maybe they can be more specific as to why your email said what it said.

 

[Bishope2]

Novel idea calling them. I have done that several times. In the end, the operator say just go by your email. Hence my issues. Every other company is telling me they will do a meet and greet. The other companies satte that there is constant construction going on at MCO and it doesn't affect meet and greet (driver might need to go and get his car once he meets you because of the construction) Happy Limo is saying no. So, who do I believe? Dilema...haha

 

[goofy4tink]

I was just at MCO...a few weeks ago...didn't notice any 'big' construction going on. Especially that would impact drivers picking up guests. Sure, there could be something coming up down the road. And if that's the case, then all the drivers, regardless of the company, will be impacted..not just one company.
I would wait until you get closer to your trip...maybe end of January..and make reservations for your towncar ride. That way you can check out a few different companies and then compare them. Since you are trying to surprise people, it makes sense that you would want to be met at baggage claim.

 

[DrmWvr1299]

I have used Fl. Tours the last 4 times. They do meet you at the bottom of the esclators with your name on a card. He asks us how many pieces of luggage we have and then we get our luggage with his help. He then goes to get the car or
he parks in the "tunnel" portion just off the main building. They have always been clean, polite and safe.

Only once we have not used Fl. Tours, we had to use Mears bus because another town car service left us waiting at the airport for over an hour and they could not be reached by phone.

 

[Bishope2]

Well, I did it. I cancelled my reservations. My primary reason for canceling was in part to the three gentlemen from MCO who replied to my email request (asked them about consturction). One even offered to help me out reserving limo transportation if I ran into problems. As someone else here suggested, one gentleman said I should go to the MCO website and look at the list of authorized companies that could do business at MCO.

Each said that there is always construction at MCO. In addition each said that there is only one reason that would stop a limo company from doing a "meet and greet". That would be if a vehicle was over 30 feet in length. Even then they could park the limo somewhere else and still do a "meet and greet".

Now I will look for another company that does indeed do a meet and greet. So many companies out there it truly is amazing. One thing I found out, Happy Limo also does business as Advantage Limo. Found that out doing a yellow page search of phone numbers.

 

[pistonfan32]

Well, I did it. I cancelled my reservations. My primary reason for canceling was in part to the three gentlemen from MCO who replied to my email request (asked them about consturction). One even offered to help me out reserving limo transportation if I ran into problems. As someone else here suggested, one gentleman said I should go to the MCO website and look at the list of authorized companies that could do business at MCO.

Each said that there is always construction at MCO. In addition each said that there is only one reason that would stop a limo company from doing a "meet and greet". That would be if a vehicle was over 30 feet in length. Even then they could park the limo somewhere else and still do a "meet and greet".

Now I will look for another company that does indeed do a meet and greet. So many companies out there it truly is amazing. One thing I found out, Happy Limo also does business as Advantage Limo. Found that out doing a yellow page search of phone numbers.

Like I said, you won't go wrong with Tiffany Tours. Used them two weeks ago and using them again in two weeks and skipping DME.

 

[Raptorfan]

We used Happy limo many times before the Magical Express came along and were always very happy with them. They even picked us up in a stretch Hummer one visit.