Sneaking from Disney to Universal

[Thematic]

My wife and I are planning an eight day trip to Orlando, and we'll be staying on-site at Disney. However, I've been wanting to go to Islands of Adventure since it opened (last time I was in the area they were digging out the waterways for the park, sigh).

Since I'm fairly sure that Disney won't exactly be bending backwards to make it easy on me to escape to the competition, does anyone have any tips on the best/cheapest way to get from a Disney hotel to the Universal parks? We'll be staying at the Port Orleans Riverside hotel, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any tips/advice you can give! I'm looking forward to Disney, but I really want to finally get on those coasters. :love:

[lindalinda]

I'm sorry, I dont really know the answer because I always stay onsite at Unversal and sneak over to WDW. I would guess a cab tho. Be patient and someone will answer.

Best tip is to arrive early and hit the big rides first (Hulk Spiderman and Dueling Dragons). Have fun. I absolutely love it myself.

BTW, did you have to make a new username to sneak over here to the darkside?:rotfl2:

[Thematic]

I'm sorry, I dont really know the answer because I always stay onsite at Unversal and sneak over to WDW. I would guess a cab tho. Be patient and someone will answer.

Best tip is to arrive early and hit the big rides first (Hulk Spiderman and Dueling Dragons). Have fun. I absolutely love it myself.

BTW, did you have to make a new username to sneak over here to the darkside?:rotfl2:


Nah, first time at the site. :laughing:

How do you sneak off to Disney? What works that way would theoretically work in reverse, methinks.

[Principessa1284]

um. taxi? shouldn't be more than $20 each way.

[Thematic]

um. taxi? shouldn't be more than $20 each way.

I thought a cab would be a lot more than that! If it's that cheap, really no reason not to do it that way.

[lindalinda]

I drive down in my car, so I just sneak over in that!

[rie'smom]

It will be more than 20.00. It can cost 20.00 to get from a WDW hotel to the AK. I website that I looked at said 2.00drop and 2.00/mile and it's about 15 miles=60 roundtrip.Call to check rates to make sure. Have a wonderful time!!

[Thematic]

It will be more than 20.00. It can cost 20.00 to get from a WDW hotel to the AK. I website that I looked at said 2.00drop and 2.00/mile and it's about 15 miles=60 roundtrip.Call to check rates to make sure. Have a wonderful time!!

Yeah, I'll make sure to call ahead for rates.

Thanks! :thumbsup2

[robvia]

It's better to rent the car for the week, even if it costs more. The convenence factor makes up for it. You can explore I-Drive, visit offsite restaurants, and make a grocery store stop.
Many Disney people are driving up to Universal to give it a try. The problem is they only want to spend 1 day and try to do both parks. This doesn't work very well because things get hectic, and if you don't arrive at 8am, the lines are long.
So it's best if you drive up a couple mornings, arrive the parking garage at 8am, visit a park in the morning, then drive back to Disney.

[Charleyann]

My wife and I are planning an eight day trip to Orlando, and we'll be staying on-site at Disney. However, I've been wanting to go to Islands of Adventure since it opened (last time I was in the area they were digging out the waterways for the park, sigh).

Since I'm fairly sure that Disney won't exactly be bending backwards to make it easy on me to escape to the competition, does anyone have any tips on the best/cheapest way to get from a Disney hotel to the Universal parks? We'll be staying at the Port Orleans Riverside hotel, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any tips/advice you can give! I'm looking forward to Disney, but I really want to finally get on those coasters. :love:

Just read on the Canadian forum that you can take the Lynx bus from the ticket and transportation center at Disney for 1.50 ! Takes just 20 minutes. The nfrom Seaworld take the trolley or cab. Maybe there is a bus t oUniversal too!

Bus 50 to Seaworld

Charleyann

[tubtruck]

I payed $30 back in August for a one way trip in a metered yellow cab from when we moved hotels from the Grand Floridian to the Hard Rock Hotel, this did not include tip

[damo]

No city bus from disney to universal without transfering. We took a cab last time and it was over $30 each way. If you are going to go by cab it is cheaper to take Disney bus to Downtown Disney and get a cab from there. I have heard that Mears will take you return for $14/person but I can't confirm this.

[rie'smom]

It's better to rent the car for the week, even if it costs more. The convenence factor makes up for it. You can explore I-Drive, visit offsite restaurants, and make a grocery store stop.
Many Disney people are driving up to Universal to give it a try. The problem is they only want to spend 1 day and try to do both parks. This doesn't work very well because things get hectic, and if you don't arrive at 8am, the lines are long.
So it's best if you drive up a couple mornings, arrive the parking garage at 8am, visit a park in the morning, then drive back to Disney.
I just went to the Alamo site because there's are 2s rental offices on Disney property. If you prepay and use the letters PBD in the rate code box,a same day with pick up at 7 am and return at 5:00 PM comes to:
75.51 for economy
78.21 for compact
and so on
from 7 am one day to 5:00 the next day:
151.02 for economy
156.42 for compact
It's really not bad when you consider that paying a taxi fare + a tip is not a whole lot cheaper.You would need to type in your exact dates as this was me just plugging in possible dates. We always rent a car too because we can come and go as we please.

[Principessa1284]

well.. i estimated 20, based on the amount of time it takes to drive there from where i used to live near disney. plus i had gotten $30 estimates from the airport.. so, my mistake.

If you DO take a cab from port orleans, tell them to take 536 to I-4, then to Universal Blvd. That's the fastest and most direct route.

[Fan2CSkr]

We have taken cabs from The Universal hotels to MK. Last time it came to approx $35 each way w/o tip. One time we were right at the $30 mark on the way back. Since the car companies (town cars) start at $65.00 Round Trip this seems to be the better and more comfortable deal. But, last time we did all cabs even airport round-trips and it was more time efficient. I'm thinking of renting a car next trip but my husband is against it and prefers cabbing it. After paying the rental fee and adding on the hotel parking fee it still comes out cheaper not to mention more convenient to just grab a cab.

[David R]

You may also want to look into different limo services. It may not be that different from a cab fare (cabs in Orlando are expensive IMHO) and you'll know the exact cost, unlike a cab (a cab may take a slightly longer route, or you may be stuck in traffic for a while due to rush hour, high number of tourists or accidents.)

[CaroleD]

For $15.00 Mears shuttle will take you from your resort to Universal. Thats round trip price. We did this in 2003 from Coronado Springs. I phoned Mears for my trip in May and its still available. I'm staying at POFQ. The phone # is 407-423-5566 to reserve the shuttle and you must reserve 24 hours in advance.
I assume you know you can get a week long pass for Universal for 85.00. Also you might want to purchase their version of fast passes online.
Have fun on the darkside. Spiderman is the best ride!

[mike&amy1508]

As the above poster said, schedule a Mears shuttle for $15 per person round trip, or a Mears taxi for $30.
Mearstransportation.com is the website.

[billcsho]

I am staying in a hotel a few miles from Disney but offer free shuttle to both. That would save me at least the $11 parking plus gas. :)

[robvia]

That's fine, but the shuttles don't start running until after 9am and return around 5pm. This takes away from the early morning advantage. Here, I'll show you the paper from the Amerisuites directly across from Universal.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC05884.JPG

If the shuttle time is 09:15am, then you probably won't make it to the gate of IOA until 10am at the earliest.

If you arrive between 10-11am with the "herd" then Spiderman and Hulk will have a 1 hour wait. That's why I tell everyone to do what ever it takes to arrive the parking garage or drop off point at 8am. The limo and rental car will let you do this, even if you pay for parking. You'll get 2 hours of walk on rides and enjoy the park. If you take the shuttle over, you'll be standing in line getting frustrated.

[billcsho]

I just call my hotel. The shuttle to US is rather late as Robvia said. Anyway, I'll be driving to IoA early in the morning since I want to take my family back to MK in the mid-afternoon. While for US, I'll stay there for a whole day on a weekday next week near the end of my trip. So taking the hotel shuttle would be fine. It is interesting that the shuttle at my hotel going to the Disney departs a lot earlier and has 2 rounds. I guess it is the same bus going to Disney theme parks 2 rounds before going to US. :confused3

[kellymonaghan]

Instructions here:

http://www.theotherorlando.com/contents/chapters/1/parkingalt.html

Getting from the Walt Disney World area to Universal is tricky, but possible. Take Lynx Route 50 from Disney’s Ticket & Transportation Center to SeaWorld and switch to the I-Ride Trolley. The I-Ride Trolley is the best way to reach International Drive. For more information, call (407) 841-5969 or visit www.golynx.com on the Internet. On the web site you will be able to download maps of the routes that interest you.