I agree. I think three hours is bad enough.. but four hours in advance, NO WAY. Waiting that long at the airport with kids my age (at the end of a Disney trip) is like he** on earth, for me at least!
As to car services....
Tiffany Town Car - They were my go-to service for many, many trips. Pretty primitive website, but great service. I had a couple of drivers that were a bit off earlier this ear so decided to try some other places (see below). But they’re probably the best I’ve tried. I’d use them again.
FL Tours - One of the more ‘popular’ names you tend to see around here. Used them once earlier this year. GREAT trip from MCO to Disney - professional driver, clean car, very friendly. The ride back (different driver and car) was HORRIBLE. Car had been smoked in - heavily - and we could barely breath. I was really close to refusing service, but with a flight to catch I didn’t want to risk it. I was so disappointed because our arrival experience was gso good....but I won’t be using them again.
Bayhill Transportation - Another one with a bad website, but don’t let that throw you. Used them on my last trip. Professional driver, clean car. The only thing I wasn’t totally thrilled with was the installation of the car seat for DD3 - I basically had to re-do it both coming and going to get it to a point I was comfortable. The driver - while super nice - obviously had never had kids nor been trained in proper car seat installation. I will probably use Bayhill again on my next trip.
So yeah - I guess I sound like a totally picky customer based on the above, but I’m really not! I think the problem with all of these companies is finding and keeping quality drivers in this economy, so as the consumer we’re sort of left with the variability in really good and not so good drivers.
FYI, people will tell you that if you still want to use DME but don’t like the return time, just enter a “fudged” flight that lines up with a time that you’d rather be leaving for the airport. I’ve never done that myself but I’ve seen it mentioned.
Maybe others have some ideas as well.
Hope that is helpful.