Problem with FL Tours - my situation

[disneydebi]

Wendy,

we also used FL Tours recently and were picked up in the wrong vehicle.
I had ordered a Van. When we got to MCO, we had trouble locating our driver, and i had to call FL Tours... At which point the driver did show up.

however when we got to the vehicle, it was a town car.... we had 5 people so that wasn't going to work. Fortunately for us, they called someone, and there was an SUV on site at the airport, so they made the switch..(still not a van, but it was nice... although i don't know if there was any difference in cost, so i'm not sure if i made out or got ripped off).

It did concern me that the same thing might happen on the return trip so i did call FL tours mid way through our vacation to remind them that they had picked us up with the wrong vehicle and to be sure they had the van for our return (i was concerned that if they showed up at the hotel with the wrong one, it would take longer to correct, and then we'd miss our flight).

All was well, as they did fine on the return... but it did make me nervous.

I also never got a confirmation call at the resort the evening prior to our return. Not sure if that's because I had called mid week or not. But it did leave me feeling a bit nervous that it would work out. But it did. And in spite of it, everyone I talked to at FL Tours was always pleasant and helpful.

 

[bratray]

good for you to stand up for yourself!! i too would have been fuming- i think it is an easy way out for FL tours to say your next trip will be free, whose to say you would want to use them again or would even be going to orlando???? the correct thing to do would be for FL tours to at least refund one leg of your trip (IMHO)
sorry you had so many problems, but we all need to vent once in a while

 

[vhoffman]

Well, we had a problem with Florida Tours as well. It all ended well, but shouldn't have happened in the first place. We had a rt from airport to hotel and back in a towncar. The pick up was fine, the driver met us right on time, a nice, clean car, drove safely, etc. In short, no problems. However, the problem was with the timing for the return pickup. I told them my flight left at 2:55 pm. I asked when we were dropped off at our hotel to be picked up for the return at 12 pm. The last night I got a message from FL that they would pick us up at 1:30 pm. That doesn't leave any time to met your flight. Airlines recommend that you arrive at the airport 1.5 to 2 hours in advance. I even checked with SWA, and they recommended 1.5 hours for Orlando Airport. When I attempted to call back and redo the pickup time, I just got a recording to the effect that they were closed and leave a message. I've dealt with other towncar services that answer their phone 24/7. Well, I left a message that we needed earlier pickup. According to their message, they open at 8 am. About 8:20 am I hadn't heard from them so called, only to be told that their schedule had been done for the day and they would have to do some rescheduling and would call back. They did call back in a few minutes, but said the only time they could pick us up was 1:30 pm or 11 am. Well, we took the 11 am so to not miss our flight, but it comprimised our last morning. We had planned a nice breakfast but didn't have time for it then. As it was, it took about 35-40 minutes to get to the airport, then we had to go through all the business of check in, secruity, etc. We had time to kill because we had to get there so early, however, if we left at 1:30 we probably would have missed our flight. We paid FL the entire rt amount when we arrived, and he doesn't take credit cards. If we opted for another form of transportation back to the airport we would have lost our payment. We took the towncar for our convenience, not their's. As it was, I found myself adjusting our schedule to their convenience, not for ours. On the plus side, the car did arrive on time, was clean (no smoke odor), pleasant, safe driver. However, next time I will either use a taxi or a service where I don't prepay the rt, just pay per trip so I can use other options if the return trip doesn't work out, such as this trip.

 

[vhoffman]

Well, despite my above post, I do have to stick up for Andy insofar as the OP's situation. It sounds like it was handled poorly, but they did handle it and got them to the airport on time without charging them extra or putting them in a position where they had to pay extra. Alls well that ends well. However, I can sympathsize with the stress they felt. Traveling, especially when it involves meeting other schedules, such as airlines, is stressful. However, my problem was handled too, in that we got an earlier ride which got us to the airport in time. I just felt like such a situation shouldn't have happened in the first place. In the future I will just grab a cab and tell him when and where we want to go, not argue with someone about how much time one needs to meet a flight.

 

[d4est]

hmmm...could have sworn I posted here last night! I am either losing it or it was deleted??

 

[FatCow]

I really think you need to take this up with Andy at FL. Tours. He is an upstanding person and very fair.

Yeah right, although that may be the case, he doesn't seem to know about customer service. Calling his company is like pulling teeth. I can only get answering machine at ALL times. The company also need to invest on a clock and/or an accurate watch.

My first trip with them, they were late by 40 minutes; my second trip they were early by 30 minutes (and rushed us) - both for the trips from ASMu back to MCO.

 

[Shelby5514]

This is why we rent a car, even if it sits in the parking lot the whole week.

 

[FatCow]

This is why we rent a car, even if it sits in the parking lot the whole week.

Won't it cost more that way?

 

[mkymouse4ever]

You have to work it out, both ways. The rental car for the week or whatever. Using discount codes, coupons, etc... that you find on mousesavers, or can use from work, clubs etc.... . Or you can do 2 1 way rentals. If you wanted example: rental car at airport and drive to resort, take car back that day to dolphin resort (they have a national desk) and leave car, take disney transportation back to your resort etc... . and do reverse to pick up car to take back to airport. Usually you can get a 1 day rental for about 30 to 45.00 dollars unless you have really big expensive taste or needed a large van.

I am personally going in march for 18 nites and have a rental car right now for the entire time. It started out at a price close to 600.00 through the last few months of playing with codes and discounts I have it down to 425.00 for the entire time. This is an intermediate car at national on the Emerald Aisle (your choice). You just keeping pulling it up from time to time and plugging in different codes and see what comes up, sometimes your happily surprised!

We went to disney once only without a car, did the treaded mears shuttle. and swore never again. If I had a computer with me, I would of rented one while down there. Seems each trip we drive around more and more. It really is easier. No long bus lines, unless you feel like them. Epcot and mgm, and ak have good parking, mk is the worst of the parks and we usually stay in a mk resort to counter that problem. When you stay on property you get free parking at all wdw properties.

It is always worth working it out with several companies too. Dollar runs pretty good buys, as does alamo (the official car rental co of wdw). Its a good idea to join any of there "clubs" so you don't have to wait in line, or get to go in the short line. .

Keep your options open. mky