Using Magical Express or Private TownCar?

[sandheichert]

We are planning to go to WDW in December and stay at WL. Wife and I with 1yo and 6 yo. Has anyone used the private town car service with the stop at winn dixie? If so is it worth it?

 

[Nansafan]

I have not had the pleasure/hassle of traveling with young children so I am not speaking from personal experience. What I can share is this, if you do a forum search you will find many threads discussing shipping packages to your resort to arrive a day or 2 before you do. At least one member discussed shipping a box of diapers down so that they didn't need to pack a box or make a grocery stop. Many members have opted to ship themselves packages to avoid paying Disney prices for water/snacks etc. I ship packages via Fedex and UPS all the time for employees who are attending trade shows out of state to be held by the respective hotel until their arrival. This could be an option for you if you use DME.

Personally we have used DME and Quicksilver. Quicksilver was terrific and we would recommend them as a towncar service to use. We never used the grocery store stop since we felt we didn't need it. We use DME now since it is free. The video is fun and being on the DME bus, it feels like we are already at WDW instead of traveling to get there.

 

[CleveRocks]

And you won't have the option of a grocery store stop which in itself is worth the cost of the town car. The savings on things like snack foods, drinks, and bottled water etc. probably won't offset the cost of the town car but like the cost of staying at a park resort, you're also paying for the convenience. And if your youngest is still in diapers, you don't want to pay Disney prices for diapers at the resort stores and I'm pretty sure you don't want to try to pack enough diapers for your entire stay.

Good points.

There's another way to save money on groceries, one that doesn't require the added expense of paying for a car service. You can arrange for a grocery delivery to your resort. There are 3 local options for this (two stand-alone delivery services, and one supermarket that offers delivery).

There are great reasons to use a car service ... personal attention, privacy, not waiting in lines, direct transit, and so on. But I'd hate to see someone spend the money on a car service ONLY for the reason that they think it's the only way to save money on groceries versus paying on-site Disney prices.

I hope I'm making myself clear here (which, I realize, is suspect due to a certain recent post of mine ). If someone loves the idea of a car service, the grocery stop is tasty icing on the cake. But if someone is simply looking to save money wherever possible ( if that is the ONLY consideration), then the combination of Disney's Magical Express and a grocery delivery simply can't be beat.

On a personal note, as far as packing enough diapers for the whole stay ... I actually liked doing that. It left room in the suitcase for souvenirs on the way home.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Well stated Cleve!!!! Belle

 

[RetiredFRN]

Reply

I have used both ME and quicksilver town car service. I agree that it is a matter of preference unless you have a bad experience with ME like myself (which I have posted allready). That being said, I think ME is a great free service and good for people who are on a budget or don't want to handle their luggage. I used Quicksilver twice in the past couple years and have allways had a great experience with them, courteous and on time. I save and work hard for my DW trips and like the experience of a town car. I would go for the town car, treat yourself your at DW!!!

 

[Disneykidder]

Love DME. It is fast, convienient, comfy and free. We have used it on our last 2 trips and loved it both times. If you do decide on the town car service, use the tags for your luggage for DME and then just not use the buses. This way you still don't have to get your luggage.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Im sure that Cleve will correct me if I Am wrong however if you arent using DME DONT use the yellow tags as your luggage will not be delivered to your resort unless you check in for your bus ride to the resort!!!!! Belle

 

[mickey&me]

We went in Dec. 2007 and used ME. We had great service--a smooth ride, no luggage to bother with except carry-ons (of which we had our max, since DS is type 1 diabetic and we always carry on our necessaries for that), quick arrival (at ASMo with stops at the other All Stars before we got there, which still only took maybe 10 minutes).

If it's the groceries upon which you are basing your decision, a couple of places do deliver, or you can ship a box to your resort beforehand.

 

[Monty]

It's definitely a matter of personal preference. I'm a DME guy all the way, but I don't want groceries and love not collecting luggage! We've never had any problems with luggage getting lost or anything [or if it did, DME tracked it down and I never even knew!].

There are folks who swear by the car services and think they're the best thing ever and others who insist that a rental car is the only way to go! :lol:\\

Decide what's likely to work best for you!

 

[maren]

Good points.

There's another way to save money on groceries, one that doesn't require the added expense of paying for a car service. You can arrange for a grocery delivery to your resort. There are 3 local options for this (two stand-alone delivery services, and one supermarket that offers delivery).

There are great reasons to use a car service ... personal attention, privacy, not waiting in lines, direct transit, and so on. But I'd hate to see someone spend the money on a car service ONLY for the reason that they think it's the only way to save money on groceries versus paying on-site Disney prices.

I hope I'm making myself clear here (which, I realize, is suspect due to a certain recent post of mine ). If someone loves the idea of a car service, the grocery stop is tasty icing on the cake. But if someone is simply looking to save money wherever possible ( if that is the ONLY consideration), then the combination of Disney's Magical Express and a grocery delivery simply can't be beat.

On a personal note, as far as packing enough diapers for the whole stay ... I actually liked doing that. It left room in the suitcase for souvenirs on the way home.

Cleve… I have to admit your reference to “personal attention” hit the proverbial nail on the head. Even though I sincerely believe my points regarding the town car services are valid, for me, at this time, the greater reason is just that… personal attention.

When my daughters were younger (they’re disgustingly grown now) we started using town car services because that was the only way to get to WDW from the airport other than Mears or car rentals. The town cars were cheaper than either of those options plus we really liked the grocery stop primarily because I hand no desire to pack two weeks worth of diapers. And we sure didn't want to pay Disney prices for diapers either.

But now that the kids are older, I must confess that our greater reason to hire a town car is that we really like being met in baggage claim and taken directly to our resort. Once we’ve landed at Orlando we want our “Disney Time” to start as soon as possible. I suppose it’s just become a part of our Disney experience. Having somebody waiting for us in baggage claim, waving a sign with my name on it, is something I only get to experience on our Disney trips.

 

[figmentmom]

Everybody's different! I personally enjoy starting off our Disney trip with DME - it's just part of the magic for us.

 

[sandheichert]

Thanks to all......one more question though..

if you use DME do the buses stop at all resorts.....going to WL and don't want to have to stop at all of the resorts..

Thanks

 

[Shrike]

I'm seem to remember that the DME bus to WL includes stops at Poly, GF, Contemporary and Ft. Wilderness(?).

I'm unsure as to which order the stops are in.

 

[wannabeBelle]

if you use DME do the buses stop at all resorts.....going to WL and don't want to have to stop at all of the resorts..

Thanks

No each DME bus does not go to EVERY resort during any given run. I believe that each bus will never stop at more than 4 resorts within a certain area. What the order of those 4 will be is up to the driver though. Hope this helps!!! Belle

 

[Nansafan]

After you check-in at the DME counter, you are instructed to proceed to the loading area. Once there a DME CM asks which resort you are going to and they point you to a specific line for your bus. They are counting how many people are in line and when your bus arrives, you are led to the appropriate bus. As Belle says each bus stops at 3-4 resorts in a given area, i.e. MK resorts, Epcot resorts. etc.

 

[CleveRocks]

if you use DME do the buses stop at all resorts.....going to WL and don't want to have to stop at all of the resorts..

Thanks

DME buses stop at a maximum of 4 resorts. There is no pre-set order, and no "written in stone" pre-set grouping of resorts. They typically group resorts by "zone" (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney), but they very very frequently break from this pattern due to the reservations they have.

You must make a reservation to use DME. Since they know about how many people are going to which resorts at about what time, DME can plan/dispatch buses for maximum efficiency. If they make a run that goes to more than one zone, then there will be a maximum of 3 resorts on that bus.

As Belle said, the driver decides the order of drop-offs. DME decides where the bus goes, but it's up to the driver to decide where he/she stops first, second, etc.

The MK zone includes the 3 monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Poly, Contemporary) and Wilderness Lodge.

The Epcot zone includes the Boardwalk complex area resorts plus Caribbean Beach Resort.

The Animal Kingdom zone includes Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs Resort, the All-Stars resorts, and Pop Century.

The Downtown Disney zone includes the Port Orleans resorts, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs Resort, and Fort Wilderness Campground. [I know it seems weird that FWC is listed as a DD resort rather than a MK resort, but the driving entrance to FWC is just down the road from the others in that zone].

I'm sorry if I missed any there.

Disney obviously wants people to use DME rather than avoid DME, and thus they designed it to run as efficiently as possible. The time it takes to get to your resort is, on average, about the same whether you take DME, use a cafr service or get a rental car.

Your choice of transportation should be based on a combination of the level of service you desire and how much you are willing to pay for it.