Need advice on airport transfers

[StrikersMom]

I'm torn between using DME and renting a van for airport transfers for our upcoming trip. We're staying at OKW on rented points, so to book DME we have to do it through the member.

DME -
Pros - is free and they'll take care of getting the luggage to the hotel. Cons - We'll be traveling with my 16 mo. old son and I don't know if he'll deal well with waiting through stops until we get to the resort; I also don't know how comfortable I am about giving flight info. to the member; and I have a fear our luggage will be lost or we might get it late and I'll forget something I need in one of those bags.

Van -
Pros - we'll get to the resort faster and my son will have his own car seat to travel in. We'll also be able to use the grocery stop, otherwise we'll have to order from Garden Grocer if we use DME.
Cons - the cost and we'll have to transport our own luggage.

Has anyone traveled with a child this age and what are your thoughts on the sitation?
Please lend your advice.

 

[bahsdad]

sounds as if the van will work better for you, my fav. is tiffany towncar

 

[marsha02909]

I get a private driver, but I save the $ from the grocery stop so the cost isn't really that much and I had a 3 year old and I didn't want the hassel of the bus.

Also with a driver you get help with your bags.

I used Ed Korgan he was so nice, no time limit at the store, price was $100 and he will take you any time day or night.

His email is

EKorgan2@aol.com

I am go again in Sept and I am using him for the trip.

 

[Ariel8676]

Well i have taken a van and DME..i have 3 children and the last time we went in Feb they were 4,3 and 2 months. If you are staying at OKW ( thats where we stay) you will be the first stop. The DME to OKW goes there and the PO resorts. It doesn't stop at every resort. It takes us about 30 minutes from MCO to OKW.
Although it is nice to get a grocery stop with a car co., the money you save taking the DME you can go through gardengrocer.com or wegoshop.
IMO the DME is great and we have used it 4 times already and have never had a problem with the luggage..i would suggest a change of clothes in a carry on, just in case they get backed up for a while, or you want to swim before the bags come.

 

[all4fun]

Shannon I am so relieved to hear you have had so many good experiences with DME. We are using it on our next trip and if all goes well, the trip after that. I am looking forward to the convenience of not hassling with picking up luggage and getting a rental car. It's nice to hear others have had good experiences with it.

Btw, we will still be renting a car for a few days during our stay. We will be getting it from the nearest resort location (National rents from the Swan & Dolphin - we'll be at BWV). This way we can do a few things off property plus we don't have to pay the rental car airport taxes, so we'll save a little bit that way too.

 

[tmt martins]

Well we did a split 3 took DME and 2 of us went and got the van (no bags all went with the 3 on mE)

We both arrived at the same time at SSR so thats not really an issue .

You don't have to give your flight info to the person renting the points .Just have them book ME for the amount of people you have and tell them to add airline later.
Then get the DME # and call yourself once they put you in the system you will be able to call and make changes( this is for ME and ADR's Only through those numbers).

We are starting to use ME for everytrip as I'm finding some better car rentals at the DTD locations and CCC.We have used it twice and have not had one problem with our bags or anything.

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm torn between using DME and renting a van for airport transfers for our upcoming trip. We're staying at OKW on rented points, so to book DME we have to do it through the member.

DME -
Pros - is free and they'll take care of getting the luggage to the hotel. Cons - We'll be traveling with my 16 mo. old son and I don't know if he'll deal well with waiting through stops until we get to the resort; I also don't know how comfortable I am about giving flight info. to the member; and I have a fear our luggage will be lost or we might get it late and I'll forget something I need in one of those bags.

Van -
Pros - we'll get to the resort faster and my son will have his own car seat to travel in. We'll also be able to use the grocery stop, otherwise we'll have to order from Garden Grocer if we use DME.
Cons - the cost and we'll have to transport our own luggage.

Has anyone traveled with a child this age and what are your thoughts on the sitation?
Please lend your advice.

It's no guarantee that a car service will get you to your resort faster than DME. The average time from landing to resort via DME is reported to be 70 minutes. Remember that if you take DME you won't have to wait at baggage claim. PLUS, if you make a grocery stop with a car service, you can almost guarantee that DME would get you to your resort faster. It would have to be a pretty bad day in DME-land for it to take longer than a car service WITH a grocery stop.

So don't decide DME or car service based on TIME, because it's pretty much a wash (except if you do the grocery stop). Decide based on what type of service you want and how much (or even if) you're willing to pay for it.

In terms of cost of groceries at a grocery stop or through a delivery service such as Garden Grocer, WeGoShop or Gooding's, there's NO WAY that the savings of a grocery stop versus delivery will equal the cost of a car service. If a car service costs $100 plus $20 total tips, that's $120. Is there ANYWHERE you could shop that will cost $120 MORE than anyplace else???

And by the way, the DME luggage service is superb. Don't worry about the luggage being lost. There is a barcode on DME tags, and each piece of luggage is scanned at least 5 separate times before it gets inside your room, plus while it's on the truck between MCO and your resort the truck is tracked by GPS. Glitches in any system are possible, but DME has been squeaky-clean in the luggage department.

 

[powellrj]

have you looked into renting a car at the airport? We have always rented a car and have always been very happy. We signed up for DME, but after weighing the pros and cons, decided that we still wanted to rent a car for our trip. If you use the codes that are on Mousesavers, car rental can be very resonable. Just play around with your codes. We have a rate of $98 for a midsize at National for 6 days in August.