What is better ? Towncar from MCO or DME from MCO ?

[pooh2001]

What do you like better and why ?

Flying in JetBlue, arrive at MCO around 10:30 AM on a Saturday.

Would you recommend paying $100 for a round trip Town car with a food store stop ?

OR

Would you recommend using DME (for free) and do Garden Grocer or another service to get our water bottles, some fruit and snacks ?

 

[gojoe]

$ 100.00 will buy a lot of groceries.

 

[drumms2112]

We would rather do Towncar with grocery stop. We would rather be met at baggage claim and go directly to your Towncar then stop at Publix for grocery then directly to resort. No waiting at MCO for DME bus and no waiting on the bus for other people at other resorts plus you won't have to leave earlier and wait at MCO departing WDW like you would with DME. You will probably spend more with Garden Grocer compared with buying yourself with the grocery stop depending on how much you buy. Spoil yourself and go with Towncar. It's only money, you will make more...

 

[ToddyLu]

We have only used a towncar and DH still refuses to ride on DME for our trips. He wants instant gratification when we arrive at MCO and the towncar gives it to him. So neither of us, nor anyone we have ever traveled with has been on DME to date. We do not mind the extra fee and love the grocery stop--then directly to the resort, unpack and out we go.

 

[OKW Lover]

How about some of each? Instead of doing the towncar round trip, do it on the way in only. That way its not quite as an expensive decision. Saving on groceries probably still won't cover the cost of the towncar, but it may be close.

For your trip back to the airport you can still use ME - it doesn't have to be round trip.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We rented a car once from the airport (granted it wasn't a towncar) instead of using DME...NEVER again!

The wait for our luggage was ONE hour! Other trips w/ DME we were already at our resort by that time.

That alone will have me using DME every time we fly (taking the Auto Train next trip so doesn't apply).

 

[Brian Noble]

Depends on what you are trying to optimize for.

If it is total cost, then ME plus the delivery service is likely your best bet.
If it is control over your vacation destiny, then get the towncar with a grocery stop (or, even better, a rental car).
If it is *time*, then get the towncar *and* the delivery service.

For our trips, we normally either do a rental car or ME. ME is only for budget trips without the whole family. If we're all going, we get the car.

 

[AllieV]

I get so carsick taking DME and stopping everywhere. Plus, after being packed into an airplane for hours, I don't want to be packed into a van for another hour or more. We like the personal space in our own car and we get straight to the hotel. We're skipping the grocery stop this time, though, and having them delivered. We might do a liquor store stop, though.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've taken almost every possible type of transportation from MCO to WDW....rental car, car service, DME, Mears shuttle (both the old and the new). I have stopped for groceries with the car service, I have had groceries delivered, I have gone in a rental car with a friend to get groceries.

So....I voted DME with grocery delivery. Why??? I love not having to wait for my bags at baggage claim. I want to get started. I usually make it to my resort, via DME, in about 70 mins...from gate to resort. I have had times of as short as 60 mins!!!
With a car service, if you have carryon bags only, it will take you about 45 mins...gate to resort. But, if you have checked bags, add at least 15 mins to that time. Oh, and $100 r/t for a car service??? Most run a bit more than that, and don't forget the tip of about $20-25. And you have to add on the time it takes you at the grocery store....so if you land at 5:30, and use a car service, you won't get to your resort until about 7-7:30, depending on how long it takes you to deplane. Don't forget....landing time is NOT the time you get to the gate...add another 10 mins for that.

IF you take DME, you will most likely be at your resort by 6:45-7, and your groceries will be waiting for you. Yes, there is a delivery charge but it's only about $15. Bell Services will bring the groceries to your room for you, or you can take them yourself.

It all depends on what kind of experience you want. Yes, a car service is a bit faster (not including the grocery stop of course) but I don't mind spending an addtl 20 mins and saving that $100+ and spending it elsewhere at WDW. But I like the DME bus. But there are times when I want a nice towncar...just depends on the trip.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Sadly having been reading boards like this a while and having had expereince with Orlando town car services my view is RUN!!!! I don't know why but MCO has the overall most 'unprofessional' colleciton of services in the country. I had a driver who was late. My friend had a driver who drove 95 MPH while talking on the phone and cursing like a sailor. A co-worker had a driver who would only stop at the 7-11 because "I only give you 15 minutes "
I won't waste my money on them anymore. Anyone who has a "mandatory" tip means "we don't really deserve it, so we have to make it 'mandatory' or you wouldn't pay us"

I use car services in other cities. They tend to cost more then Orlando but they are professionals! Orlando seems to have no "barriers" to entry which means every one with a 'car' can be a car service so they have to keep rates too low to get true professionals.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I get so carsick taking DME and stopping everywhere. Plus, after being packed into an airplane for hours, I don't want to be packed into a van for another hour or more

Never having used Magical Express, you wouldn't know - it's not a cramped van at all. DME uses deluxe tour buses. Very comfortable, wide seats, two per side...

 

[Dimmsdale]

Chiming in- we've only used a town car service since I don't want to wait around or get stuck with stops. I'm in Princess mode as soon as we land. . We've been lucky in that I can use the service we use at work for traveling execs and get our corporate discount. They have partners in all 50 states. They have never been anything the but utmost professional, on time, no cell phone conversations, friendly without being intrusive and we are there in what seems like minutes. We dictate whether we do a grocery stop (or at least the budget dictates it). Truth be told I like it even better since there is no 3 hr check in and head for MCO. We get to spend some "last moments" at WDW. Email me here and I'll give you the name and number if you'd like.

 

[Dimmsdale]

Correcting for clarity: I like it on departure day since "there is no 3 hour check in and off to wait around in MCO'

 

[goofy4tink]

Sadly having been reading boards like this a while and having had expereince with Orlando town car services my view is RUN!!!! I don't know why but MCO has the overall most 'unprofessional' colleciton of services in the country. I had a driver who was late. My friend had a driver who drove 95 MPH while talking on the phone and cursing like a sailor. A co-worker had a driver who would only stop at the 7-11 because "I only give you 15 minutes "
I won't waste my money on them anymore. Anyone who has a "mandatory" tip means "we don't really deserve it, so we have to make it 'mandatory' or you wouldn't pay us"

I use car services in other cities. They tend to cost more then Orlando but they are professionals! Orlando seems to have no "barriers" to entry which means every one with a 'car' can be a car service so they have to keep rates too low to get true professionals.

I have used four different car services in Orlando....all of them have been pleasant, clean, and acceptable. Only once did we have to go in search of our driver...seems he is a huge smoker and has to have a smoke every 30 mins...he was outside the terminal smoking when he should have been waiting for us, inside. And the same thing happened when he came to get us at the resort..stopped way down the drive to have a smoke. DH had to go in search of him again. Both times it added about 15 mins to our time. And it was the same company that promised us a grocery stop, but the driver refused. It was Thanksgiving morning and he said no stores were open, even though I had checked (4 times) with the booking person who said a stop would be fine. That was the one trip that was a bit less than acceptable. Used the company another time and they were fine.

I have had service when our flight arrived 2 hrs late and the driver asked if we minded stopping at just a 7/11 type store since he was running so late. Not an issue for us.

I have been in a car when it got rear ended at a toll booth. That was handled very well.

All in all...if you stick to the tried and true companies, you'll be fine. Word of mouth recommendations are the best way to go. I have never been in a car that was speeding, in fact, some moved too slowly for me. I have never had a driver who cursed, even had some that were almost too quiet.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I've never understood why car services didn't improve once DME started? I would think since there would be less people using their services that competition would push for better customer service.

 

[Alesia]

I get so carsick taking DME and stopping everywhere. Plus, after being packed into an airplane for hours, I don't want to be packed into a van for another hour or more. We like the personal space in our own car and we get straight to the hotel. We're skipping the grocery stop this time, though, and having them delivered. We might do a liquor store stop, though.

FYI, Garden Grocer and We Go Shop will deliver alcohol, too.

Also, DME isn't a van. It's an enormous bus - very roomy and comfortable (more so than a car, IMO.)

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I've never understood why car services didn't improve once DME started? I would think since there would be less people using their services that competition would push for better customer service.

They spent a TON of energy trying to get DME thrown out of MCO. WOnder why? If they had been providing consistently good service would their customers have fled?

Actually it seems things have gone downhill. Just last week there was a poster saying Happy Limo won't come into the airport?

If you get car sick DME is probably a BETTER risk then a town car driver trying to prove he should be a Nascar driver!

 

[Dizzyworld]

They spent a TON of energy trying to get DME thrown out of MCO. Wonder why? If they had been providing consistently good service would their customers have fled?

Actually it seems things have gone downhill. Just last week there was a poster saying Happy Limo won't come into the airport?

I agree that it seems that service has gone down. I don't understand why they don't get it? Better customer service would mean more moeny for them.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would do DME. Your groceries will be at the resort before you will. So ask at the desk when you check in and have them deliver the groceries to your room. Remember though if you are staying at a convention resort such as CSR you could be charged a package handling fee.