WWYD: Coordinating arrival and departure transportation MCO to AKL and scooters?

[studiojmm]

We are about to book flights and then ground transportation for our January 12-19 stay (DVC 2-bedroom lockoff). This is a trip for the benefit of my mother and sister-in-law. They've never been to WDL and neither of them has flown much in years, if at all. I may end up coordinating everything for them if they want me to (we are organizing everything at the Disney end generally) but if they prefer to handle it, I'll just pass on what I've learned. Considerations:

We will be coming from different home airports. There's a chance that MIL/SIL will take a flight that connects near our home airports and we'll arrive together, but that's only if they don't like the direct flight options (their direct flights either depart very early or don't arrive until pretty late). We could coordinate to arrive reasonably close to them in time, but they may have to wait for us in the airport if we are coordinating afternoon arrivals. Normally, my 15 yr old and I would take an early flight and drop our bags and find something to do for the day. There's a complimentary flight for MIL/SIL but we don't know that they will be willing to leave for the airport at 4:30 am.

Alternatively, we could take the early flight and head to WDL and meet them later.

Based on traveling with them, I expect them to have at least two large suitcases and possibly more than that. We absolutely would consider concierge services for them at both their home airport (BDL) and MCO if we aren't able to help with luggage and ground transportation.

We need to organize resort delivery of one, maybe two, scooters. MIL definitely needs one for the duration of stay, including the resort. SIL might be ok with just park scooter, but it may make more sense to just have two for the duration. My understanding is that AKL requires the guest to be there to accept a scooter. I'm concerned that a late arrival might severely limit our activities the following day since we will need to accept scooter delivery on that first full day instead of the arrival day.

We will also be doing grocery delivery (unless we decide to rent a car).

I was not planning to rent a car, but I could. We've done this a lot, both with and without a car, because we've stayed off-site. I absolutely prefer Disney buses to the parking lots, so "rent a car" recommendations from people who don't like the buses won't carry any weight with me (I've experienced lots of different city transportation systems and Disney does a phenomenal job people-moving, IMO).

If we were renting a car/van, we'd need to be prepared to move 5 adults and up to 2 scooters. If 2 scooters powerful enough to manage the parks can easily be moved into a car/van, car rental would be more compelling since I realize multiple scooters on the bus adds another layer of complication. MIL has a handicapped placard so we should be able to easily use the drop-off lanes at the parks. What I do not want to end up doing is renting a car and moving MILs scooter and then getting in line at every park to rent SIL a scooter.

So what would you do? Mears is on the table. So is car service.

On the return trip, we are more likely to all head to the airport together but that's also not arranged.

 

[starry_solo]

I would ask them what their plans are for flights and whether they want to coordinate with you, do it themselves, or have you coordinate the entire trip for them.

if you are coordinating:
rent scooters from an off site location for both of them.
look at using a Minnie Van if you don’t want to rent a car.
do the concierge services (if available) at their home and arrival airports.

 

[Stratman50th]

You said 5 people and 2 scooters, yes? Unless you want to make multiple trips to each park before anyone even gets in the turnstile, I'd forget the rental car. Disney's bus transport does exactly what you want. They move multiple scooters and their associated people in one load. That's assuming everyone is always going to the same parks/places at the same time.
I agree with the above. Just rent two scooters for the duration from an offsite vendor. Better to have it just done than find out you need two, not one and deal with that hassle mid-trip.
As far as air transport, sounds awfully difficult to pull all those strings. Let all parties traveling together make their own arrangements. You just can't account for airline schedules, delays or cancelations. As far as transportation to and from the airport to resorts, if you're having your scooters delivered from offsite you can chose whatever transportation that suits you.
There you go. My advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
Good luck and enjoy the trip.

 

[brockash]

We are about to book flights and then ground transportation for our January 12-19 stay (DVC 2-bedroom lockoff). This is a trip for the benefit of my mother and sister-in-law. They've never been to WDL and neither of them has flown much in years, if at all. I may end up coordinating everything for them if they want me to (we are organizing everything at the Disney end generally) but if they prefer to handle it, I'll just pass on what I've learned. Considerations:

We will be coming from different home airports. There's a chance that MIL/SIL will take a flight that connects near our home airports and we'll arrive together, but that's only if they don't like the direct flight options (their direct flights either depart very early or don't arrive until pretty late). We could coordinate to arrive reasonably close to them in time, but they may have to wait for us in the airport if we are coordinating afternoon arrivals. Normally, my 15 yr old and I would take an early flight and drop our bags and find something to do for the day. There's a complimentary flight for MIL/SIL but we don't know that they will be willing to leave for the airport at 4:30 am.

Alternatively, we could take the early flight and head to WDL and meet them later.

Based on traveling with them, I expect them to have at least two large suitcases and possibly more than that. We absolutely would consider concierge services for them at both their home airport (BDL) and MCO if we aren't able to help with luggage and ground transportation.

We need to organize resort delivery of one, maybe two, scooters. MIL definitely needs one for the duration of stay, including the resort. SIL might be ok with just park scooter, but it may make more sense to just have two for the duration. My understanding is that AKL requires the guest to be there to accept a scooter. I'm concerned that a late arrival might severely limit our activities the following day since we will need to accept scooter delivery on that first full day instead of the arrival day.

We will also be doing grocery delivery (unless we decide to rent a car).

I was not planning to rent a car, but I could. We've done this a lot, both with and without a car, because we've stayed off-site. I absolutely prefer Disney buses to the parking lots, so "rent a car" recommendations from people who don't like the buses won't carry any weight with me (I've experienced lots of different city transportation systems and Disney does a phenomenal job people-moving, IMO).

If we were renting a car/van, we'd need to be prepared to move 5 adults and up to 2 scooters. If 2 scooters powerful enough to manage the parks can easily be moved into a car/van, car rental would be more compelling since I realize multiple scooters on the bus adds another layer of complication. MIL has a handicapped placard so we should be able to easily use the drop-off lanes at the parks. What I do not want to end up doing is renting a car and moving MILs scooter and then getting in line at every park to rent SIL a scooter.

So what would you do? Mears is on the table. So is car service.

On the return trip, we are more likely to all head to the airport together but that's also not arranged.

I would not rent a car and plan on ppl. arriving to MCO at whatever time their flights land. We've coordinated group flights before but find it's not worth it plus you really can't count on any flight being on time. I'd bus to the resort on your own. You should be able to reserve a bus with a lift if either will have a scooter at the airport. - Otherwise I'd arrange to have 2 scooters delivered to the resort - honestly your group could meet them at the pickup point at the resort if you're their first. - I've done this for my mom a few times.

I'd also just do a grocery delivery. You could do walmart which would be cheaper but then you have to meet them in the lobby or you could do garden grocer and they'll deliver them to bell services and then you can just call for them to be delivered to your room when your ready. You could also use Amazon but we find they often run out of stock on lots of items which is a PITA.