Transportation Options from Disney to Universal/IOA

[Magicmcky]

WE are going do disney in Feb. how hard is it and how long does it take to take city bus to and from dd disney to universal and seaworld?

 

[macraven]

depending on stops, it could take up to one hour.

 

[Starclassic]

We're planning on renting a car for just 1 day to go to IOA while we're at WDW. Does anyone know about how much we can expect it will cost? TIA.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Taxi, 6 people...4 adults and 2 children to Universal, I am thinking this is the cheapest way to go to split the cost of the cab.

Is it easy enough to get a cab for 6 from the resorts?

and is $35 a fair guesstimate from Coronado Springs Resort to Universal?

and lastly, do the cabs take credit card? although I am a bit wary of using a cc in a cab

 

[macraven]

yes, the taxi cost can be $35 for you but don't go during rush hour.
sitting in the taxi will raise the price.
time and mileage determines the cost.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Thank you. Universal opens next monday at 9am I believe. WHat time should we leave Coronado Springs at to be there for when it opens. I seem to recall a long walk from taxi drop off to the entrance to the park.

 

[macraven]

when i go from the motherland resort to the darkside, i leave very early to avoid traffic on I 4.

i get picked up at 7 and arrive there around 7:20.

i do that to avoid the traffic.

city walk opens at 8 and i get coffee, rolls, etc there.
after having nescrapfe at disney, i need starbucks real bad........
sometimes the shops will open before 8:00.

traffic on I 4 hits around 7:45-50 from what drivers have told me.

 

[ougrad86]

We're planning on renting a car for just 1 day to go to IOA while we're at WDW. Does anyone know about how much we can expect it will cost? TIA.

That is something we were looking into - the opposite direction though.

Some of the travel sites have were you can rent cars, so just plug it in and see what you come up with. You don't actually purchase until you give them your CC. Keep in mind time of year and size of car needed can make a big difference.

The problem we ran into was the time. With local car rental, as opposed to the airport, they are not open 24/7. You might have to rent the car a day ahead, keep it that day, and if you leave late return it the following day - that can add up to two days, maybe three depending on when you return it (it is a 24 hour clock from the time you rent). You will have to pay parking at Universal as well as your hotel if it is not included. And fill up with gas before you return, they gouge you otherwise.

It turned out to be too much for us - we are renting a cab. We have two small families that will fit in one cab, so that works better cost-wise and time wise.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Thought I would update with our experience!

Monday February 6th, we were going to Universal Studios.
We were staying on site at Coronado Springs resort. So what we did was take the bus to Downtown Disney, and we went to the taxi stand there. I was told that this would save us close to $10 by taking the cab from DTD.

We decided cab was better option, rather than Mears. a) cost b) flexibility

The cab to Universal cost us about $28.00, at 10am. We were dropped right by the escalator up to the crosswalk, and then boom we were right at City Walk.

Coming back, there was a taxi stand, and you had to go via the man at the stand to get a cab. There was a family holding up the line because they weren't understanding prices or something, and the guy was trying to explain by showing on the side of the door, the start cost and then the per mile and time cost. They wanted to bargain to get a flat rate and well anyway. I digress.

We were finally shown to a cab, (a van coming back for only 4 of us), and the return was $26.00 This was right near closing, so maybe around 530pm?

So for $54 round trip, it was a better option for the 4 of us, in that we weren't tied down by booking any time with Mears, and the price was just fine.

Hope that info helps someone.

 

[Dalyman0]

Thought I would update with our experience!

Coming back, there was a taxi stand, and you had to go via the man at the stand to get a cab. There was a family holding up the line because they weren't understanding prices or something, and the guy was trying to explain by showing on the side of the door, the start cost and then the per mile and time cost. They wanted to bargain to get a flat rate and well anyway. I digress.

We were finally shown to a cab, (a van coming back for only 4 of us), and the return was $26.00 This was right near closing, so maybe around 530pm?

Hope that info helps someone.

Thanks a*lil*bit*goofy,

This is some of the exact information I have been looking for.

How busy was the traffic on the way back?.... ie. how long did the drive back take?

Were there many van taxi's available? Did it take long to get a taxi?
(We are a party of 6)

Dallas

 

[lala3291]

Thought I would update with our experience!

Monday February 6th, we were going to Universal Studios.
We were staying on site at Coronado Springs resort. So what we did was take the bus to Downtown Disney, and we went to the taxi stand there. I was told that this would save us close to $10 by taking the cab from DTD.

We decided cab was better option, rather than Mears. a) cost b) flexibility

The cab to Universal cost us about $28.00, at 10am. We were dropped right by the escalator up to the crosswalk, and then boom we were right at City Walk.

Coming back, there was a taxi stand, and you had to go via the man at the stand to get a cab. There was a family holding up the line because they weren't understanding prices or something, and the guy was trying to explain by showing on the side of the door, the start cost and then the per mile and time cost. They wanted to bargain to get a flat rate and well anyway. I digress.

We were finally shown to a cab, (a van coming back for only 4 of us), and the return was $26.00 This was right near closing, so maybe around 530pm?

So for $54 round trip, it was a better option for the 4 of us, in that we weren't tied down by booking any time with Mears, and the price was just fine.

Hope that info helps someone.

Thank you for this information! Quick question...where is the taxi stand located? Is it right near Citywalk where you get dropped off? Sorry if this is a silly question...we have never been to Universal, but are planning to take a taxi there one day from WDW! Thank you!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

@Dalyman : I didn't time the return to be honest, but it really wasn't that long. Plus the guy took on exit, that had him off the highway for a few street lights. He said many people get mad when he goes that way but he said that it was a bit faster and cheaper...and he was about $2 cheaper on the return.

The traffic to go back was nothing really. It wasn't an issue for us.

We got a van by accident really. It was the next available, and the people behind us were only a party of 2, as well as those in front of us. There was a long line of cabs there, and a few vans. So you won't have a worry. The man at the stand would call for a van if needed. I wouldn't expect any wait really.
(unless there is a line up of people waiting to leave. In our case, there was only a few goups in front of us, and the 1 group at the counter who was causing the delays)

@lala3291: The cab stand was literally at the bottom of the escalator where they have the taxi drop / guest drop off. When you arrive, you literaly get out and go up an escalator, and after about a 1 min walk you are on the city walk. Same spot when you return. It was super easy! I hadn't been to universal in just over 10 years, and so it was like it was my first time. And it was easy :O)

 

[Metro West]

How busy was the traffic on the way back?.... ie. how long did the drive back take?

Unfortunately...traffic conditions change all the time. If there is a break down or an accident, you will be sitting in traffic for a long time. Normally it's not too bad but there are times when it takes less time to walk.

 

[hochuli]

Hi all, first-time poster but I've been lurking.

My H and I are going to Disney and staying off-property but want to spend .5-.75 day at IOA, focusing on WWoHP.

We will be going Tuesday, April 17th. Is the Dreams Unlimited pkg worth the extra cost to get in early?

We will be sharing a car with family, so if we didn't' do Dreams Unlimited, we'd probably get dropped off or take a taxi, or one of those each way.

Thanks!

 

[hochuli]

To follow up on my question above, if we purchase the DU tickets without transfer ($85 vs. $130), will we still be able to get the early entry?

 

[damo]

To follow up on my question above, if we purchase the DU tickets without transfer ($85 vs. $130), will we still be able to get the early entry?

Universal says you aren't supposed to. However, some people have. I wouldn't expect it but be happy if you get it.

 

[dbragas]

Anyone take a taxi from SSR (or nearby) to Universal recently? I checked the Mears taxi estimator (~ $25 each way), but given some posts I've come across from last year, I suspect this estimate is on the low side. Especially given the rising price of gas!

 

[macraven]

Anyone take a taxi from SSR (or nearby) to Universal recently? I checked the Mears taxi estimator (~ $25 each way), but given some posts I've come across from last year, I suspect this estimate is on the low side. Especially given the rising price of gas!

someone posted on the other transportation forum thread that they took a taxi from dtd and it cost them $28 to UO.
on the return back, taxi from UO to disney was $26.

guess the ride back was less traffic and quicker.

you pay for time in the taxi and miles.

 

[Disneylover711]

Thank you so much!!! This is extremely helpful!!!!

 

[AnjieNet]

We are heading to Orlando in October starting at Universal for two days off-site before heading to All-Star Movies and Disney. We will probably get a rental car for the Universal portion of the trip. My question is would it be better to take the rental back to the airport and take Magic Express to the resort or just use a car company (Alamo? National?) that we could drop the car off at the Car Care Center at Disney? Better as in cost and time. Or would it be a trade-off - Cost more for a one-way rental but take less time if we were to go to the CCC and vice versa?