Magical Express or town Car?

[AKV707]

We are planning our summer trip to AKV, our first time at our home resort! DW and I always use a town car service. But I see that many DVCers here at the Dis use ME. Is it just a Mears experience in disguise? We went to town cars after some Mears nightmares.

I would appreciate any pros and cons.

Thanks!

 

[browniemtb]

We too had major issues with Mears but have yet to use ME. I've read the ME isn't a bad way to get to your resort and it is free I still believe. The only con I've heard of is wait times can vary to leave the airport and to get your luggage at the resort can take a few hours. For us, I'm sure this isn't for everyone, we always use a car service. MH Transportation has been fantastic to us. With kids they are very aware of their safety on the road and have car seat ready for them. They wait for you at baggage claim and get you right to the resort and even will stop for a groceries if you would like. We also use them for out of park destinations like Seaworld or Universal.......all flawless. Mears....wells that would take a lot of typing to explain them....
I would vote for Town Car.....because you are in control of your transportation.

Brownie

 

[Brian Noble]

It is free, and often timely, but not always. A friend of mine puts it best: the $80 you spend on the towncar is an insurance policy against a delay right at the start of your vacation.

 

[ransom]

It is free, and often timely, but not always. A friend of mine puts it best: the $80 you spend on the towncar is an insurance policy against a delay right at the start of your vacation.

...or missing your flight.

I've never heard of that happening with DME, but we use a towncar service mainly because of the control it gives us over when we arrive at the airport. We like to get there a few hours before our flight, so there's plenty of time if anything goes wrong...and if nothing does, then there's plenty of time to grab a bite to eat, sit down, and reminisce.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

Out of curiosity, what is the going rate for limo service to WDW.

 

[browniemtb]

Out of curiosity, what is the going rate for limo service to WDW.

Around $100 round trip.........give or take 20 bucks. "Not including tips"

 

[KristineN]

I don't use magical express anymore. The waiting around with 4 kids in tow...plus not getting the luggage for hours and hours makes me crazy!

I have used Sunray transportation a few times now and LOVE their service...can't say enough good things about them.

 

[MILLZ]

Is it an actual limo or a van or town car that picks you up im interested in this service.

 

[happymommy]

I would never use ME. Yes, it's free, but my Disney vacation starts the moment I get ON the plane to get there! I like the town cars, as they're waiting for you in the baggage claim, will do a grocery stop for you, and it's so much more nice and personal. It's worth it to me, and second choice is to rent a car from National/Alamo, then just turn it in at the Dolphin after unloading all the luggage (this is cheaper only if I'm staying near there).

For those on a really tight budget, I'm sure ME is great. It's not for me though. Time is money at WDW; the sooner you get into your resort and drop off your luggage, the sooner you can go have fun!

 

[KristineN]

for us (6 people) we had an SUV.

One time (6 people)`we had a mini van

Last time (just 2 of us) we had a towncar

 

[KristineN]

I totally agree...one time I needed to make 2 stops, they didn't charge any extra...it is definitely as you said, much more nice and personal.

I would never use ME. Yes, it's free, but my Disney vacation starts the moment I get ON the plane to get there! I like the town cars, as they're waiting for you in the baggage claim, will do a grocery stop for you, and it's so much more nice and personal. It's worth it to me, and second choice is to rent a car from National/Alamo, then just turn it in at the Dolphin after unloading all the luggage (this is cheaper only if I'm staying near there).

For those on a really tight budget, I'm sure ME is great. It's not for me though. Time is money at WDW; the sooner you get into your resort and drop off your luggage, the sooner you can go have fun!

 

[disneyfan2kids]

For us, ME works well.

1.) You can't beat "FREE."
2.) I (personally) LOVE not having to get any bags at all and they appear in your room (albeit several hours) later. But arriving at 10am and not getting a room until 4pm (as DVC has been doing) means you wouldn't have complete access until then anyway. Unless you choose to not store at Bell Services.
3.) IMO, it's pretty quick. All 4 times I've used it I've been AT my resort within 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time my plane disembarked. At the latest.
4.) I think it's actually more "disney" now with the CM waving the Mickey hand and the WDW video they show.

Different Strokes!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I dont think you have to be on a tight budget to enjoy ME.

I like that our luggage is handled and dont mind that it is delivered later. Everything I need to start our vacation is in my carryon or in my owners locker.

I dont like grocery stops or any other stops on my Disney Vacation. I avoid that as much as possible. If we fly, we live at Disney eat at Disney, and shop at Disney.

ME has always delivered me to MCO in plenty of time to catch our flight. It took a little getting used to at first, arriving so early, but now I enjoy the leisurely pace of our departures. We always have to time to shop and eat and make it thru security.

If you check the transportation boards, you will see that the Town Car service can be just as spotty as ME. It is not always such an upscale experience.

 

[GusMan]

For us, ME works well.

1.) You can't beat "FREE."
2.) I (personally) LOVE not having to get any bags at all and they appear in your room (albeit several hours) later. But arriving at 10am and not getting a room until 4pm (as DVC has been doing) means you wouldn't have complete access until then anyway. Unless you choose to not store at Bell Services.
3.) IMO, it's pretty quick. All 4 times I've used it I've been AT my resort within 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time my plane disembarked. At the latest.

This pretty much sums it up for me. We never had a problem with DME and the way I see it, the money I save allows me to splurge on something else more Disney than a rental car or car service.

This is one of those "your mileage may vary" sort of things. (Pun intended. )

 

[FLYNZ4]

I've never heard of that happening with DME, but we use a towncar service mainly because of the control it gives us over when we arrive at the airport. We like to get there a few hours before our flight, so there's plenty of time if anything goes wrong...and if nothing does, then there's plenty of time to grab a bite to eat, sit down, and reminisce.

If you do not like the suggested time they will bring you to the airport... you can request a different time. Like you... I like to get to the airport early.

To the other posters who do not like the delay in getting their luggage to their room: There is nothing stopping you from not using the luggage tags and retrieving your own luggage. Personally... I think the luggage delivery is great.

Regarding Magical Express overall; I think it is neither. Hence, we generally do not use it for ourselves. We have used it a few times... but we generally prefer a car. OTOH... our kids will often arrive on other days than us... and they take ME to get to the condos rather than having us drive out to the airport to pick them up.

/Jim

 

[tomandrobin]

We always use ME and have not had a problem. We always pack a carry-on piece of luggage to hold us over until the rest of our luggage arrives. If our room is not ready, we have bell services hold our carry-ons.

The limo service was alot more then $100 last time we used it.

We don't go off WDW property, so its not a big loss to us, not to have a car.

 

[browniemtb]

The limo service was alot more then $100 last time we used it.

Sorry to hear this.........Who did you use? My last two trips were $100 round trip not including a tip each way. Cost me $50 for a round trip to Universal from the BWV. This is based on my family of 4 now 5. If you have more people traveling the price will be higher since most charge per person not per trip.

We may try ME the next time down, I was unaware that we could handle our bags and use ME. Are there seatbelts for the kids on the bus?

Brownie

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

So ME will collect your bags at the baggage claim and ship them to your room. What happens of your bags don't make it on your plane? Doesn't it make filing a claim for lost baggage a bit difficult? I only ask because in the last coupe of years we have had an inordinate amount of "lost" bags.

 

[tomandrobin]

Sorry to hear this.........Who did you use? My last two trips were $100 round trip not including a tip each way. Cost me $50 for a round trip to Universal from the BWV. This is based on my family of 4 now 5. If you have more people traveling the price will be higher since most charge per person not per trip.

We may try ME the next time down, I was unaware that we could handle our bags and use ME. Are there seatbelts for the kids on the bus?

Brownie

You know, just realized you wrote "town car", we took a limo.

 

[browniemtb]

You know, just realized you wrote "town car", we took a limo.

Oh, you took the real thing. Town Car service is not as expensive as an actualy limo. A limo would be fun. We actual use a town car service but request an SUV. So they sent out a Suburban.....new one. Fit us all then some and had the seats for the kids ready to go. If you don't mind me asking how much is a real limo??

Brownie