Please Help Me Decide On ME or Towncar

[TAKitty]

I have used ME twice in the past 8 months. My mom and I are taking a mother daughter vacation this April. She has not been to WDW in almost 10 years. We are arriving in Orlando at 10:30 a.m. and plan to have a full day at AK and Fantasmic that night. We are staying at POR.

My question: Should we take ME so she can have the experience or use a towncar instead. The money is not the issue in this decision. I do know that POR is the last stop with ME, but with the towncar we will also not be utilizing the 30 minute food stop. I just have no idea what to do . I don't want to ask what she would perfer because she doesn't have anything to base her decision on. THANKS!!!

 

[byoung]

Me will save you at least the amount to buy 2 dinners for two.

 

[maine_jennifer]

I prefer using a towncar service and have used Sunray for my last 4 trips. They're excellent. In October, my flight landed around 10:30am. I was in my room at Pop and already unpacking by 11:30am. Once you check in, you can just leave your luggage with bell services and head straight to the park. If time is more important than money and don't mind spending a bit extra, you might even be able to have your car service wait for you and transport you to AK. Or even take a taxi if a bus isn't right there. Just a suggestion.

Cheers!

 

[kirbsam]

if money is not an issue, a towncar makes the most sense. in fact, why not just go all out and reant a limo, talk about a great way to start a mother daughter vacation.

 

[Lewisc]

Most people get to their resort in 60-90 minutes after landing with DME. Including the time you'll spend waiting for your luggage a towncar is going to take almost an hour. I'd take DME to save a few dollars and to avoid having to bother with baggage claim. The grocery stop is one of the major advantages of a towncar.

I just re-read your post. You're not going to have a full day at AK no matter what you do. Even without an airline delay you won't get to your resort before 11:30a. You probably won't be ready to leave for AK until at least noon, allow at least 30 minutes for checkin and a possible stop in your room to drop off your carryon bags. I wouldn't expect you'll get to the AK until close to 1:00p, later if you stop for lunch at your resort.

I don't know how many days your standing but I'd probably go straight to Disney-MGM studios.

 

[TAKitty]

Thanks! I have decided to get a towncar. We will only have a carryon each, and I would like to try to check in before the rest of the spring break crowd on the ME bus. Thanks for your advice/opinions!

 

[bubba's mom]

i agree.....use the towncar. get there as fast as you possibly can and avoid the ME crowd! you'll go direct w/ a towncar....not a bunch of other stops like with ME. we have used Happy Limo and Tiffany's....both pretty good....no complaints.

 

[ksteglitz]

This is my first post ever on these boards...

We are trying to decide between a towncar and ME. I am leaning towards a towncar but there ae 6 of us with two kids -- ages 4.5 & 3 -- what is the seating capacity and what about car seats...?

Any feedback would be great -- Thanks!!!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I don't care what kind of paint they pretty it up with, a shuttle service is a shuttle service! Especially if you are the last stop. If it is within your means, Get the car service. Nothing like that door to door service to make you feel special. I like the idea of having the car wait for you to take you to the park after check in.

ksteglitz--the Town Car folks usually have vans for larger families. They are often able to provide car seats at no extra charge. If you plan carefully, you may be able to save the money you spend on the car service by stocking up at a grocery stop. Even if you just get food for breakfast and soft drinks, you are likely to save with 6 people. I'll stop now...I am starting to sound like our last town car driver! I'll spare you the price quotes!

 

[ksteglitz]

IMGONNABE40 --

Thanks for the feedback (quick!). I am leaning towards the towncar service. Have you ever used it and if so do you have any recommendations on who to use?

 

[lovesdumbo]

I've used FL Tours and been happy with them for our party of 6 two times. The first time I used a limo and frankly didn't think it was worth the money. With small children it was a bit difficult to get into the limo. We used a van the next time and that worked out fine. I'm leaning toward renting a minivan next time. FL Tours did provide car seats for both trips.

FL Tours is a board sponsor but some folks don't like that they don't take credit cards so you have to pay cash or travelers check.

 

[maine_jennifer]

I am leaning towards the towncar service. Have you ever used it and if so do you have any recommendations on who to use?

I highly recommend Sunray Transportation. Have used them four times and have four more trips planned in which I'll be using them this year. I recommend them because, not only because of my experience, but other people say the same things. They're very dependable, friendly, and safe. They offer a free grocery stop and child seats. They have one price for vans, SUVs, or towncars, whichever you prefer. There are a lot of companies out there, Sunray is just the one I use and wouldn't think of using anyone else. Good Luck.

Cheers!

 

[CleveRocks]

If you plan carefully, you may be able to save the money you spend on the car service by stocking up at a grocery stop. Even if you just get food for breakfast and soft drinks, you are likely to save with 6 people.

I understand what you're saying, but you're ignoring the existence of several grocery delivery services. I saved food money by getting a grocery delivery AND saved the $120 or so for a car service by using DME.

I understand and appreciate that using a car service is akin to VIP treatment, is personalized, and can make you feel special. For someone who wants that over a shared bus ride, I think it's definitely worth the money. But you can't argue that using a towncar SAVES money simply because it offers a grocery stop, due to the fact that there are grocery delivery services. I'll argue that using DME and a delivery service saves TIME because you won't have to spend 30 minutes walking around an unfamiliar supermarket and waiting in the checkout line.

 

[ksteglitz]

Thanks everytone for the great feedback.

I will have to weigh the pros and cons and decide which way to go.

Like I said before, I am new to these boards but I am now addicted and you are all my new best friends!!!

Thanks so much!!!

Kim

 

[Lewisc]

The luggage delivery direct to your room seperates DME from other shuttle services. I agree,if you're the last stop, a towncar service will probably save you 15-20 minutes. DME takes 60-90 minutes from landing to arrival at your resort and a towncar service will probably be around 60 minutes, 30 minutes to get from the plane to baggage claim and get your luggage and around 30 minutes to get to your resort.

Without a rental car you'll be taking buses to most of the parks.

I agree a towncar gives personalized service but many guests won't be saving any time. Many of us aren't willing to pay the extra $$$ to have the towncar wait for us to check in and then take us to a park. Certainly something to consider if money is no object. My guess is a cab to the theme park would be cheaper than paying the towncar driver to wait.

I don't care what kind of paint they pretty it up with, a shuttle service is a shuttle service! Especially if you are the last stop. If it is within your means, Get the car service. Nothing like that door to door service to make you feel special. I like the idea of having the car wait for you to take you to the park after check in.

ksteglitz--the Town Car folks usually have vans for larger families. They are often able to provide car seats at no extra charge. If you plan carefully, you may be able to save the money you spend on the car service by stocking up at a grocery stop. Even if you just get food for breakfast and soft drinks, you are likely to save with 6 people. I'll stop now...I am starting to sound like our last town car driver! I'll spare you the price quotes!

 

[bubba's mom]

FL Tours is a board sponsor but some folks don't like that they don't take credit cards so you have to pay cash or travelers check.

same with Tiffany's.....Happy Limo accepts credit cards...they're our preference.

 

[bubba's mom]

....a towncar service will probably be around 60 minutes, 30 minutes to get from the plane to baggage claim and get your luggage and around 30 minutes to get to your resort...........

when we come in, it takes us about an hour from landing to resort. but, we like the fact the driver is there waiting for us. we grab our luggage and we're off. it's usually only about 20-25 minutes from MCO to our resort (depending where we are staying). mind you also, this is like 9:30 am on a weekday also...we never arrive on a weekend.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm a huge DME fan, as well as a fan of several of the towncar services. I have used towncars when I have had only carry-on luggage. That is the only time I have gotten to my resort in close to an hour...maybe about 50 minutes. But, when I have had to wait for my luggage to get to the claim area, then have the driver help me out with the bags, then go get his car and drive around to pick us up, then the 30 min ride to WDW...well, it was about the same as when we took DME.
And there was the time we had to go looking for our driver!!! We were right on time, arrival-wise, but our driver was outside having a smoke!! It took an addtl 10 minutes to find him! Same thing when we were picked up for the return to MCO...dh had to go searching for our driver.
I have gotten to my resort about 70 minutes after deplaning....to BCV, BW, and POP.
I am sure I will use the towncars again in the future. But for now, I'm loving DME. A fancy name for a shuttle? Sure, but it's clean, safe, speedy....and free!!! I'm sharing buses when I get to WDW, so sharing a bit early doesn't bother me at all. It's almost a party atmosphere.
So...bottom line...if you want to do something really special, for that special person...get a towncar. Nothing beats coming down that escalator and seeing that guy holding up your name!!! You feel soooo important!!! Then, riding in style down the road and hopping out of your 'ride' at the resort...where's the red carpet!!!