tinkerbellmagic
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2003
- Messages
- 3,223
Transportation Trip Report: 11/27 - 12/05 2004
ATA Airlines/Southern Elegance Limo/DCL bus/WDW transportation
8th trip to Disney
Land/Sea
Pop/Poly/Wonder Cruise
Who: Me and 6 year old DGS
ATA Airlines
Getting to FL:
Sat 11/27 - We flew ATA out of Midway/Chicago to Orlando MCO early morning. Check-in took quite a while as we waited out in the cold and rain (yes, like lunatics, we were in the outdoor line), but we did get our boarding passes and seat assignments at that time, so didn't need to check in at the gate. Everything was cool.
The pilots were friendly and made you feel comfortable. Flight was smooth and on time. Yeah!
Coming home to Chicago (booooo!)
Sun 12/05 - We flew ATA out of Orlando MCO in the early afternoon to return home to cold, damp, Chicago. We heard they had slushy snow while we were gone.
Check-in at 10 am took a very long time, but again, we got our boarding passes and seat assignments right away, so no check in at gate. I had to endure a pat-down 
but it was over quickly. The flight was smooth and actually a little early. The pilots were, once again, friendly and made you feel relaxed. Our airfare was a good deal at approximately $350 for two rt tix. I will sure miss ATA out of Midway. I was very happy with them.
Southern Elegance: thumbs up!
Sun 11/27 - We used Southern Elegance for our transportation from airport (MCO) to Pop Century and then from Poly to port. This portion of the trip was $55 plus tip. Leonard was there to meet us at the airport by baggage claim. He was very friendly and handled everything with a smile. He was a safe, careful driver, which is very important to me. I don't need to break any speed records while on vacation. Our towncar was clean and new looking, a lot nicer than another company we used in 2002. What a great way to start our trip. Kudos to Leonard!
Thurs 12/02 - Southern Elegance transportation from Polynesian to Port Canaveral. This portion of the trip cost $100 plus tip. We were very pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a limo! My DGS was happy to find the jumbo stuffed Mickey doll that would accompany us on our trip to the port. DGS was also able to watch a Disney movie en route to Port Canaveral. I do not know our drivers name. He didn't say much, not exactly warm and fuzzy, but no complaints here, as he did his job and we were thrilled with the upgade. We are very pleased with Southern Elegance and will use them again on our upcoming trip for transportation from MCO to Cocoa Beach hotel.
Disney Cruise Line bus (Mears bus): thumbs up!
Sun 12/05 - Not your typical Mears experience, I assure you. We used DCL ground transportation from Port Canaveral to Orlando airport (MCO). I believe this was $50 for two one-way tix. but not positive. I was so surprised at what a wonderful bus trip this was. Our driver was Bruce. I can't say enough good things about him. He was very friendly and courteous and exactly what we needed to end our trip. As he drove, he provided a bit of history sprinkled with humor. He talked about the Space Center, the orange groves, and all sorts of things. After a bit, he told us to relax and enjoy the ride. Kudos to Bruce! We will use DCL ground transportation for our upcoming cruise from port to MCO.
WDW transportation - thumbs up!
11/27-12/02
MONORAIL: After all the monorail break-downs last year, I was expecting much of the same this year. I was pleasantly surprised we were never stuck on the monorail. One night, we waited about a half hour at MK for the monorail, but other than that, it was great. We got to ride in the front car of the monorail all the way to Epcot one night, so DGS was thrilled.
WDW BUS SERVICE was, for the most part, very good. Drivers were very polite. We waited about 20 mins for a bus from DTD to POP and stood on a very crowded bus from POP to MK, but it was Thanksgiving weekend - no complaints. We did get to ride one of the brand new buses. It was a real treat!
Bus from Poly to AK was only a 10 minute wait and it was a nice ride.
Launches from MK to Poly: Excellent! Drivers are most friendly and courteous. These launches go a lot quicker than ......
the Boats from Epcot to MGM: The Drivers are wonderful - very professional and courteous. I find this trip very long and tiresome though. It's fun the first couple times, but after that, it is a dread, especially while riding with screaming toddlers whose parents keep them out way past their bedtimes.
All in all, I think we did pretty good transportation wise.
Tink
ATA Airlines/Southern Elegance Limo/DCL bus/WDW transportation
8th trip to Disney
Land/Sea
Pop/Poly/Wonder Cruise
Who: Me and 6 year old DGS
ATA Airlines
Getting to FL:
Sat 11/27 - We flew ATA out of Midway/Chicago to Orlando MCO early morning. Check-in took quite a while as we waited out in the cold and rain (yes, like lunatics, we were in the outdoor line), but we did get our boarding passes and seat assignments at that time, so didn't need to check in at the gate. Everything was cool.
The pilots were friendly and made you feel comfortable. Flight was smooth and on time. Yeah! Coming home to Chicago (booooo!)
Sun 12/05 - We flew ATA out of Orlando MCO in the early afternoon to return home to cold, damp, Chicago. We heard they had slushy snow while we were gone.
Check-in at 10 am took a very long time, but again, we got our boarding passes and seat assignments right away, so no check in at gate. I had to endure a pat-down but it was over quickly. The flight was smooth and actually a little early. The pilots were, once again, friendly and made you feel relaxed. Our airfare was a good deal at approximately $350 for two rt tix. I will sure miss ATA out of Midway. I was very happy with them.Southern Elegance: thumbs up!
Sun 11/27 - We used Southern Elegance for our transportation from airport (MCO) to Pop Century and then from Poly to port. This portion of the trip was $55 plus tip. Leonard was there to meet us at the airport by baggage claim. He was very friendly and handled everything with a smile. He was a safe, careful driver, which is very important to me. I don't need to break any speed records while on vacation. Our towncar was clean and new looking, a lot nicer than another company we used in 2002. What a great way to start our trip. Kudos to Leonard!
Thurs 12/02 - Southern Elegance transportation from Polynesian to Port Canaveral. This portion of the trip cost $100 plus tip. We were very pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a limo! My DGS was happy to find the jumbo stuffed Mickey doll that would accompany us on our trip to the port. DGS was also able to watch a Disney movie en route to Port Canaveral. I do not know our drivers name. He didn't say much, not exactly warm and fuzzy, but no complaints here, as he did his job and we were thrilled with the upgade. We are very pleased with Southern Elegance and will use them again on our upcoming trip for transportation from MCO to Cocoa Beach hotel.
Disney Cruise Line bus (Mears bus): thumbs up!
Sun 12/05 - Not your typical Mears experience, I assure you. We used DCL ground transportation from Port Canaveral to Orlando airport (MCO). I believe this was $50 for two one-way tix. but not positive. I was so surprised at what a wonderful bus trip this was. Our driver was Bruce. I can't say enough good things about him. He was very friendly and courteous and exactly what we needed to end our trip. As he drove, he provided a bit of history sprinkled with humor. He talked about the Space Center, the orange groves, and all sorts of things. After a bit, he told us to relax and enjoy the ride. Kudos to Bruce! We will use DCL ground transportation for our upcoming cruise from port to MCO.
WDW transportation - thumbs up!
11/27-12/02
MONORAIL: After all the monorail break-downs last year, I was expecting much of the same this year. I was pleasantly surprised we were never stuck on the monorail. One night, we waited about a half hour at MK for the monorail, but other than that, it was great. We got to ride in the front car of the monorail all the way to Epcot one night, so DGS was thrilled.
WDW BUS SERVICE was, for the most part, very good. Drivers were very polite. We waited about 20 mins for a bus from DTD to POP and stood on a very crowded bus from POP to MK, but it was Thanksgiving weekend - no complaints. We did get to ride one of the brand new buses. It was a real treat!
Bus from Poly to AK was only a 10 minute wait and it was a nice ride. Launches from MK to Poly: Excellent! Drivers are most friendly and courteous. These launches go a lot quicker than ......
the Boats from Epcot to MGM: The Drivers are wonderful - very professional and courteous. I find this trip very long and tiresome though. It's fun the first couple times, but after that, it is a dread, especially while riding with screaming toddlers whose parents keep them out way past their bedtimes.
All in all, I think we did pretty good transportation wise.
Tink
