Transfers vs. Towncar

[owenbyd]

We are now deciding to fork over the extra $ and fly down to Orlando rather than try to do a 9-hour drive with an 18-month old. This should alleviate the driving-all-night syndrome that equals a well-rested baby but exhausted parents

Since we originally declined transfers, how much are they? I understand that the price break is for over 3 people on the towncars...but are there other advantages that make it worth the extra $? For instance, I think that if we could stop at a grocery store for diapers, etc. it would save us from putting them on a plane.

WWYD?

Amy

 

[din]

Most towncars will stop at a store for you before getting to the port.

The one advantage that we like and always use limos in Oralando even to WDW, is that the drivers meets us at the gate and walk us down to the baggage claim, and meet us right by baggage claim. We leave right after that. No waiting!! And the best is that when we need to get back to the airport there are there when you need it.

With that said we will be driving ourselves this year, as our flights gets in early the day before and we will be visiting downtown disney...

 

[hydster]

I would most definitely get a towncar over the Disney transfers for 2 reasons...

#1 it "should" work out cheaper for the 3 of you to book a towncar

#2 With a child that small you can decide when you want to arrive at the ship or what time you want to leave your hotel to go to the ship, you can do the grocery stop (all of the ones we contacted would do a complimentary grocery stop for 15 min if requested at booking) which like you said can alleviate hassles of packing diapers, wipes and all the other bulky baby stuff.

I know for us as a family of 5 it was MUCH cheaper to use the car services instead of Disney and so much more convenient. I've heard on the Disney busses they do show a Disney movie but I think that may be the only advantage. Also depending on where you stay depends on what time you get to the ship. Some hotels dont even leave until around 12:30 or so which puts you at the port at 1:30 roughly where if you get the towncar you could get there sooner and then eat the buffet and maybe take your little one into the mickey ear.

HTH
Heidi

 

[scottygirl]

hydster,

I know for us as a family of 5 it was MUCH cheaper to use the car services instead of Disney and so much more convenient.

Did you actually have a towncar or van for 5 people? Who did you use? Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

Towncar advantages....the break even point is usually 3, so with 3 of you, the cost will be about the same whether you use DCL transfers or towncar. However, the towncar will pick you up where/when you say. Most services allow one 15 minute stop for groceries or whatever. They'll drop you directly at the baggage check in at the port.

There really are no disadvantages unless there are fewer than 3 in your party, in which case it costs more to use private service.

 

[hydster]

Did you actually have a towncar or van for 5 people? Who did you use? Thanks!

Last time we went we used your ride (earlier they were *** the name out) and they came and got us in a 9 passenger van as the cut off for towncars is 4 if my memory serves me correctly. My inlaws went with us that trip however. If I remember correctly it cost us about $300 dollars total but we had ALOT of stops and pickups and drop offs and late stuff and that also covered my inlaws.

For this trip in may we splurged and got a limo from POR to the port and back to the hotel and it is a total of $250.00 plus tip. We are using a company called Southern Elegance Limousines. I called the Orlando BBB about them and they dont have a bad mark against them so hopefully they will be ok. They were the cheapest and easiest to work with.

HTH and if not let me know
Heidi