Magical Express vs. paying for a car???

[krueg66]

OK...i've read some horror stories about DME and I'm wondering what my fellow disney freaks think? We are going down in Jan. and there are four of us. We were thinking about s__________g it up and just paying for a car so we could get there on our own schedule. How often do the buses leave the airport? I would imagine it't the luck of the draw on what resorts they stop at when?

I think we just want to arrive in Orlando, get in a car/van and get to Boardwalk ASAP to start the fun! Plus, we want to stop at the store and get some beer/liquor/etc...

Thoughts?

 

[maryszhi]

OK...i've read some horror stories about DME and I'm wondering what my fellow disney freaks think? We are going down in Jan. and there are four of us. We were thinking about s__________g it up and just paying for a car so we could get there on our own schedule. How often do the buses leave the airport? I would imagine it't the luck of the draw on what resorts they stop at when?

I think we just want to arrive in Orlando, get in a car/van and get to Boardwalk ASAP to start the fun! Plus, we want to stop at the store and get some beer/liquor/etc...

Thoughts?

i would get the rental car not only in place of magical express, but for getting around the resort. you may want to venture out of property, and this is the easiest way.
me leaves depending on how many people are going to the resorts, and how many flights arrive. once the bus is full, they leave

 

[Dabeast]

car rental

Being able to go when you want and do what you want can make your vacation much more enjoyable. Hearing some of the stories about the transportation woes right now with the buses, only convinced me more that renting a car is the way to go, When we go in July, we have a car for $285.00...well worth it knowing we don't have to waste time waiting for a bus. Our vacation is planned way ahead of time with dinner reservations and park hopping, that if we go an hour or 2(waiting for a bus) off that routine, it might knock something off that we really want to do...spending some money on a rental is a small portion of the overall expense of the trip...look into a previous thread about "bus slowdowns" and it might convince you more to rent a car...good luck

 

[Scooter]

Hmmmmm...
...some interesting comments here.

We've NEVER had a problem with Disney busses and have never waited more than 10 minutes to catch one.

We rented a car once and it sat in the parking lot unused for 7 days.
Never again will we rent a car.
Between the Friendships, Ferry, Monorails, and busses, we seem to get around WDW just fine.

No worries about driving, traffic congestion, or getting lost in unfamilair areas.
To us it's a no-brainer...we let Disney do the driving and we just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views and the magic.:sohappy:

 

[krueg66]

I should have been more clear...I'm just talking getting to and from the airport to WDW...

We're not going to rent a car as we won't leave the property. We lived in Tampa for the last 7 years and would always just drive over. Now we live in Memphis so flying into Orlando and getting to the resort is new to my wife (native floridian) and the other couple we are travelling with. (lived and worked at Disney, never really did the touristy thing) I grew up in NY so I've flown down there at least 15 times in my life, just not recently and not since ME started. I'm trying to convince them that we should spend the money on the car...you guys would seem to agree???

 

[jaybouch]

I've never waited more than 10-15 min for a disney transportation unless It was a stop at a weirdtime of day or a boat/bus broke down. For example, catching an afternoon boat from POR to DD or taking the bus from TTC to DD. But its like public transportation in any city, you have to know how to use it.

 

[RiversideBunny]

...you guys would seem to agree???

No.
Magical Express has always done a good job for us.
Waiting for the ME bus at the airport was no longer than going to a rental car counter and then getting to the car,etc.

Looks like, though, that you may be talking about something like Tiffany Town Car service.
In that case it's up to you whether stopping at the grocery store is worth the money for the service.

Good luck.
:king:

 

[Sam02]

I should have been more clear...I'm just talking getting to and from the airport to WDW...

I want to make sure I'm getting this straight. You want to go to the rental counter at the airport to get your car; drive to WDW; drop you car off at the rental counter (do they have them at resorts?); then catch Disney transportation to your hotel? If you goal is to save time and get the fun started, this sounds like it would take more time (not to mention money) than just taking the DME. If your really worried about time, grab a taxi, no idea about cost but I couldn't imagine paying for a rental for less than an hours time. No matter what you do....Have Fun!

 

[Kelsybelle]

I should have been more clear...I'm just talking getting to and from the airport to WDW...

We're not going to rent a car as we won't leave the property. We lived in Tampa for the last 7 years and would always just drive over. Now we live in Memphis so flying into Orlando and getting to the resort is new to my wife (native floridian) and the other couple we are travelling with. (lived and worked at Disney, never really did the touristy thing) I grew up in NY so I've flown down there at least 15 times in my life, just not recently and not since ME started. I'm trying to convince them that we should spend the money on the car...you guys would seem to agree???

We rented a car this past April. We had no regrets on renting it, we got a huge fat discount from www.mousesavers.com with Alamo. We used it quite a bit on property so we never felt it was just sitting there not being used. It worked great for us, we were in and out of the rental desk in no time and on the road to the WL at our own pace. We also liked the fact that we could go back to the airport for the flight home at our own will and not as early as the ME takes you back. For some renting a car is a hassle and I completely understand! (We've done it both ways.) But for us we just like to have our own car and it works out better for us! Hopes this helps!

 

[maryszhi]

I should have been more clear...I'm just talking getting to and from the airport to WDW...

We're not going to rent a car as we won't leave the property. We lived in Tampa for the last 7 years and would always just drive over. Now we live in Memphis so flying into Orlando and getting to the resort is new to my wife (native floridian) and the other couple we are travelling with. (lived and worked at Disney, never really did the touristy thing) I grew up in NY so I've flown down there at least 15 times in my life, just not recently and not since ME started. I'm trying to convince them that we should spend the money on the car...you guys would seem to agree???

sorry, i misinterpeted.
it depends on crowds and lines
the longest we have ever waited was an hour

 

[jjgoo]

The four of you will fit easily into a Town Car or Escalade. If you are really worried about taking the DME Bus then why not go with a car service?

We've used Quicksilver in the past and they have been tops. Our last trip we added a day to the trip and it was no problem with changing.

To be honest I have never used DME. Though I did use Mears once and hated it so much that I will never use it again. Even though Disney now dictates what DME does it is contracted out to Mears so we stay away.

For about $120 including tip we are happy to use a car service. Prices may be higher now with the price of gas. But think about it that's just around $60 a couple and you can travel in style and you get a 30 min grocery stop.

Good luck.

 

[krueg66]

I have butchered this post. When I say "car" i mean a towncar, or taxi per se from the airport to WDW. Not renting a car. My bad.

 

[krueg66]

The four of you will fit easily into a Town Car or Escalade. If you are really worried about taking the DME Bus then why not go with a car service?

We've used Quicksilver in the past and they have been tops. Our last trip we added a day to the trip and it was no problem with changing.

To be honest I have never used DME. Though I did use Mears once and hated it so much that I will never use it again. Even though Disney now dictates what DME does it is contracted out to Mears so we stay away.

For about $120 including tip we are happy to use a car service. Prices may be higher now with the price of gas. But think about it that's just around $60 a couple and you can travel in style and you get a 30 min grocery stop.

Good luck.

Those were my points in trying to convince our friends. They see "free" and they want to take ME...i think a car service would be more convenient for us.

 

[elizs77]

I personally have enjoyed ME and would never use anything else. They have been on time and efficient. We've used them for our stays at the Poly and the WL, and we also haven't felt the need to use anything but internal transportation.

When you get to the ME desk, one person from your party checks in and lets them know you are there. Then you are guided to a line for the bus based on your resort. Both times our bus was the MK deluxe resorts only. Since you are at Boardwalk, you would probably be coupled with Yacht and Beach. We waited about 20 minutes on the bus last month for it to leave. It takes about 35 - 40 minutes for the bus to drive to the park.

On the return, we've always had very prompt service. The only downside is that we were on Southwest Airlines, and the bus dropped us off at the exact opposite side of the terminal, so we had to haul our luggage and two little ones all the way down to the other end (remember, SW doesn't have resort check in, so we were one of the few with bags on the bus!).

 

[Kelsybelle]

I have butchered this post. When I say "car" i mean a towncar, or taxi per se from the airport to WDW. Not renting a car. My bad.

You post butcherer! I wasted my "rent a car speil" for nothin' LOL!
That being said, I say get the towncar, I can't tolerate the taxi's!

 

[jjgoo]

Those were my points in trying to convince our friends. They see "free" and they want to take ME...i think a car service would be more convenient for us.

Exactly! Go with the towncar, it is so nice and you will thank yourself in the end. Offer to book under the other couple's name and then they can have the pleasure of having the driver standing there holding their name up. Makes you feel important.

Your other option is you could suck up the full amount for the town car and ditch the other couple to ride the bus. Then when they meet you at the pool and you are in your bathing suit sipping a nice bevvy and they are still waiting to have their luggage delivered you can offer to buy them a drink and gloat? :lol:

 

[NEmickeyfan]

It all comes down to money, I guess. I have always used Mears to get me to my hotel in Downtown Disney area, but will be at Pop in Dec. and will be using the ME to get to the resort. What is not to like? The service is free, they pick up your luggage in the airport and deliver it to the resort, and with the exception of American Airlines you can check in for return flight at your resort, catch ME to the airport and be on your way. When in the parks, Disney transportation does a great job gettin you around. Since you spend all day at the parks, why on earth pay for a rental car unless you plan a day out to the ocean or other tourist destinations???!!

 

[Tinkerbella16]

We have been using DME ever since disney started it, and we haven't had one problem yet (knocks on wood). The busses were always there and waiting everytime we get to the airport and check-in at the DME counter. Last year we stayed at POR, but we had to share a DME bus with SSR, OKW, and POFQ. We were actually the last stop, and we thought it would take forever, but really it didnt at all. They are so close to one another, it was really quick.

For your situation, wanting to stop at a store and all, your best bet would getting a towncar right from the airport.

 

[gabroccoli]

Personally I will use the ME everytime. They drive you and, Takecare of your luggage. All you have to do is tell them that you are there. At the most we have waitad a 1/2 hour for a bus. With maybe 1 or 2 other stops.

 

[sweetale]

I would recommend ME, I've used it three times and never, ever waited more than 10 minutes to get onto the bus and once on never more than 10-15 minutes to leave. We have used it to get to BW and it (total time) only took about an hour (not too bad for free, and just chilling in the AC watching a Disney promo video). The order the bus went in: Carribean Beach, YBC, and then BW. At each stop we only waited about 5 minutes to unload, etc. and then we were on our way again. Again, I've only had great experiences with ME both getting to the resort and then back to the airport. Hope this helps and either way, enjoy the trip!:wave: