Transfers or Twncar: Single Mom's Question

[pershing]

After everything I've read on these forums about arriving at the Port early, I asked my Travel Agent to see if I could cancel the Disney Transfer so I could book a towncar.

She wanted me to reconsider 'cause as a single Mom of three young boys (DS 8, DS 7, DS 5 and DS 7 has Autism) she said I would be missing out on Disney taking care of the luggage and it 'would be all so much easier in the end.'



We are going to WDW first for 10 days and already have a towncar from Airport to All Star Sports for that. (I wanted the grocery stop). My points were that:

1. It would be cheaper to have a towncar for all the transfering.

2. I wouldn't have to find a way to get to Swan and Dolphin by 12:00 to meet the Disney Cruise Bus.

3. I wouldn't have to worry about DCL forgetting to pick up our lugguge at All-Star Sports.

4. We'd be earlier than the bus if we left by towncar in the morning.


But is the Travel Agent right? Do you have to lug your lugguge around alot more if you do towncar? And is it oh, so more convenient and stuff?

I would appreciate any advice and I have 'til September 15 to make up my mind.

 

[Hygiene99]

u r looking at about $170.00 round trip
with www.tiffanytowncar.com from resort to port
and from port to airport....
i dont know how much disney transfers r ...
but i would use the town car and get to the port at your desired time verses being a mercy of disney .....
driver will load and un laod luggage ... bell hop will take it from your room out front....

peter

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I have never taken a towncar, but I would think that you won't have to do a whole lot of lugging your luggage. My guess would be that the bell staff at the hotel could help you with your luggage when you check out. The limo driver would help you load it into the town car. At the port, you'll pull right up, the driver would again help you unload, and the porters will take it from there. The next time you'd see it, it will be in your room on the ship.

I'm sure others could clarify, but I think the towncar is the way to go.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

I must concur with the others especially as you have an autistic child. Our son, another autistic fellow, doesn't do as well with a lot of stimulus and all the crowds surrounding the buses seem rather chaotic. Keep in mind though I am biased and have always done a town car. Bell services should help with your luggage and the driver will load into the vehicle. At the port, the porter will help with the luggage. And if for no other reason than having to find your way with three little boys from the all stars to the Swan, I would use a town car. The travel agent may genuinely think she is giving you the best advice, I hope so. She may also not want to lose the commission on 4 transfers.

The cheaper and earlier in your case are just gravy in my opinion.

 

[pershing]

Wow! Thank you guys! I really appreciate all the advice!

Do you really think the Travel Agent gets commission from the Disney Transfers? I didn't know that! (..puts a little different prospective on things, fer sure!)



Thank you Tiiger for reminding me about the crowds. I'm sure DS 7 could use a break from them after 10 days in WDW!

Tiffanytowncar.com gave me a quote of $215 for Airport/All-Star Sports/DCL/Airport with grocery stop. (Originally I had them one-way Airport/Resort for $45.

DCL tranfers from WDW/DCL/Airport is $200.

I just wonder how nice the buses are. I hear they play cartoons and stuff. But my best friend told me today that her boys were looking for some down time away from all the Disney stimulation and welcomed the drive doing and looking at nothing.

Now that I know there will be porters at the dock to take the lugguge from the driver. I think I'm all set.

You guys helped so much! Thank you so much!

 

[pershing]

Actually, I spoke too soon.


What about getting off the ship. Are you carrying your lugguge to the towncar or do the porters help out once again? (This is when you are going by towncar, of course they help with the Disney bus. I understand that.)

I'm just trying to prepare myself and my kids about what to expect.

 

[mrsltg]

I think that you should go towncar. I've never used transfers to get to and from ships because they are generally chaotic. I'm not a fan of thick crowds (meaning a lot of people suddenly doing the exact same thing), and buses really generate that. As far as getting your luggage at the port, your boys could help somewhat I'm sure. Does your luggage have wheels? If so, it's a matter of pulling the luggage a short distance (I'm assuming DCL is like other cruises where the luggage is right near the exit to transportation). As soon as you are outside either a porter can help you or your chauffer will be waiting. I really think that you'd be better off with the car service. Good luck with your decision, and have a wonderful time with your boys!

Erin

 

[wdwdclfan]

We took the Disney transfer with our DD2 and DD4 and it was the best for us. We checked our bags at the airport at home, and just like magic they were in our state room!!
We only did the cruise with no trip to the parks.
For us it was fast and easy, the best decision we made and would do it again in a heart beat.

 

[myfourkitties]

My husband and I have been partial to the Disney transfer. We love the energy, and the video always makes us cry (okay, just me). But Tiiiigergirl is right. I don't have any children and am unfamiliar with autism, but I would take her advice. And I probably shouldn't even be talking. I'm taking Happy Limo for our next cruise. I want to be at the port as early as possible, and to get High Tea ressies before they are booked up!

 

[fyreworks]

I've stayed at the All Star Sports once, and I don't remember them having Bell Services. It's basically a glorified motel. Then again, I was able to do everything on my own, so I wasn't really looking for them. You might want to check on that. You may still be able to manage getting the bags to a place where the driver of the towncar can help you. (And if he's really nice, he might get the bags from the room.) Anyway, just thought I'd bring that up.

I think the $15 extra is a wash when you consider the towncar picks you up right at the All Star (vs trying to get to the Dolphin/Swan).

 

[pershing]

Thank you, I will check on All-Star Sports having a Bell Service.

I'm sure the Disney Transfer is fun with the videos, but my kids are more apt to act up on a bus than the back of a towncar.

And I've really decided that I want to get there early, 'cause I just read on one of the trip reports that they were letting the passenger who arrived between 11 and 12 sign up their kids in the clubs and I really want a change to talk to the counselor's regarding DS 7.

Thank you, everybody again for all your input.

 

[jrabbit]

If you are staying at the All-Star Movies, you should try and stay in the Might Ducks section, the building next to the parking lot, with a room close to the 101 Dalmations building. Or in the 101 Dalmations building that is closest to the parking lot/Duck Pond (the swimming pool).

It's close to the parking lot (for when you want to haul your stuff out to the town car, it's not really to far from the Main Building (food court, buses to the parks) and it has a swimming pool and laundry facilitys there.

I would not want to try and get to the Swan (Animal Kingdom would be easier) to catch the bus. And that puts you to the port way after 1pm. You really want to be there earlier than that so the towncar is the way to go.

As far as your WDW tickets go, depending upon when you arrive you probably DO NOT want to get the "Length Of Stay (LOS)" ticket - it may be called the ultimate park hopper. The LOS tickets are good from the day you arrive through the day you leave so in reality you could be paying for 2 days park admission that you really will not be using. Something for you to research.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Regarding post-cruise, there are porters in the port terminal and they'll help you collect your bags and cart them through Customs and to the waiting towncar/bus/car in the parking lot/whatever other ground transportation you have arranged. Remember to tip!

 

[pershing]

Originally posted by jrabbit
As far as your WDW tickets go, depending upon when you arrive you probably DO NOT want to get the "Length Of Stay (LOS)" ticket - it may be called the ultimate park hopper. The LOS tickets are good from the day you arrive through the day you leave so in reality you could be paying for 2 days park admission that you really will not be using. Something for you to research.

Yes, unfortunately that's brand new knowledge for me. I'm already booked with the 'FTP' thru DeltaVacations (never again) and they charge you every time you make a change. Otherwise, I definately would change the last night to Room Only . (We get there pretty early the first day so that one's not wasted.)

And we are staying in All-Star Sports not Movies. We wanted Movies but the FTP didn't have Movies as an option. I requested to be in the Touchdown Section closest to the bus stop, but we'll see how that goes.

Thanks to the last poster letting me know the porters will be there to rescue me.

I do have just one more question: What time do you HAVE to leave the boat? I mean the latest you can get off? ( I promise this is my last question for.......this week!

(Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

What time do you HAVE to leave the boat? I mean the latest you can get off?

Assuming the ship gets back in to Port Canaveral on time, I believe they want everyone off the ship by 9:00am.

 

[bobcat]

Just a note on the All Stars they do have Bell services and they will take care of your luggage for you. If you plan on leaving at a specific time on check out day call Bell services the night before and they will get to your luggage early and have it ready when your town car picks you up. Otherwise you may have to wait to get it picked up.

I have never cruised, yet, but when we fly I use a towncar and as a single mom it is the best way to travel, IMHO. Especially with a child that is autistic the town car might be down time while the bus will be crowded and noisy.

As far as the LOS ticket if you ask nicely when you check inot the All Stars they may let you drop one day of your LOS so that you don't pay for your park admission that day. Depending on when you arrive the day you go to the cruise would probably be the bast day to ask to be dropped.

Have a great trip and let us know how it goes. I am thinking of booking a cruise and would be interested in what another single parent had to say about cruising.

 

[pershing]

Thanks very much for letting me know about the Bell Services.

I will try to drop the last day at check-in, great idea! And it never hurts to try!

I def. will be posting my experiences when I get home. Everyone has been so helpful, if I can help. say, other single mom's go with multiple young kids, I will be so happy.

Thanks again.