mayshamp
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2011
- Messages
- 70
I've been going to Disney World for several years, and each year I take the taxi on different occasions, but I don't like them and try to avoid them for the most part. There was once about 2 years ago when I took a taxi from Pop Century resort. The bellman called me this old, decrepit thing that was obviously an non-official taxi. The driver, a middle aged Hispanic guy, was very nice, and I didn't have the heart to turn him down. The inside of the taxi was hot and worn out without air conditioning. That thing couldn't sell for more than $2000. It was a hot summer day and we were sweltering during the 20 minute drive. He didn't have a meter but didn't overcharge me. He had pictures of his family taped up in the taxi and you can really tell that he needed the money. I gave him a big tip, but my kids were mad that it had no air conditioning, and afterwards chose to take the Disney bus instead of any taxis from that point on.
On the other hand, I also once took a new SUV taxi from Swan to Pop. It was so beautiful that I complimented the driver on it. He said it was brand new and cost $60,000. I told him about my previous experience with the hot taxi, and he told me that I should have reported the bell boy for doing that to me. The problem is, to say anything to the Pop Century front desk requires a 20 minute wait, and it wasn't a big deal to me. The new taxi air conditioning was perfect. I gave him a good tip for driving such a beautiful taxi. He told me that cost of going places within Disney world was standardized at $16, which didn't turn out to be true with my later taxi rides, unfortunately. I wish it were.
I find it rather annoying that Disney World trips are not standardized in pricing. I've paid anywhere from $16 to $25 going from Epcot to Pop, not encountering any traffic delays, during the same vacation. That's one big reason I avoid taxis. The other reason is the lack of air conditioning. The taxis are rarely properly air-conditioned, and we love the buses' killer air conditioning since we always go during the Florida summer heat. The air conditioning isn't a problem at night or early morning, though, so we limit our taxi rides to those times.
The worst part about the Disney taxi situation is that Magic Kingdom doesn't allow taxis. They claim that they don't have the space but I think that's nonsense. They could have made it work. They had no trouble expanding the bus stops. So every time after Wishes fireworks we are stuck with the bus unless I'm willing to walk to Contemporary, and I've never done it because it looks awful far at night.
Another problem with taxis is paying for it. They only take cash. Theoretically, they often have the machine for the taking credit cards. I once stared at the machine in the back seat and then asked the driver if he takes credit cards. He said no no, don't you have cash? I assured him that I did, but I was sure that the machine was for credit cards. I asked what the machine was for and he didn't answer. I think the taxi company should encourage the drivers to accept credit cards. Otherwise, if I happen to be short on cash I have to avoid taxis, which is very annoying. I'm also forced pack a few hundred bucks cash to Disney World for the purpose of taxis. I've never had a problem with it, but it would be nice if I didn't have to hide cash in my suitcase.
My main tip to fellow travelers is to avoid the taxi at Disney World like this: say if you are going from Caribbean Beach to Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner. Go to the bus stop and jump on the first bus that shows, be it Epcot, Hollywood Studio, or Animal Kingdom. (But not Magic Kingdom; it's too far.) That will take you 10 minutes total because a bus is bound to show immediately. And the buses are empty enough to guarantee you seats. Then you take the resort bus to AKL. On the way back, it will be dark and cool, and you might be too tired to do the bus again, and you can take the taxi. This cuts your taxi costs by half. Or, if you are tough, you can jump on any bus to Epcot, HS, or AK, and then take your resort bus home. Extra 10 minutes plus walking time to get there. However, be sure that the park that you go to is still open. Some parks close around 8 or even earlier.
If you are going to Magic Kingdom resorts, you have to take the Magic Kingdom bus and then take the monorail (or boat). That's not too bad, but the monorail has poor air conditioning and stinks like pee. But it's fast and comes often. If you are going to Epcot's resorts, you can take the Hollywood studios bus and then walk about 20 minutes along the river. A beautiful walk in the evening. Then come back on the taxi, or walk again!
Disney used to recommend that to go to another resort, you go to Disney Springs and transfer there. Don't ever do that unless you are right next to Disney Springs; otherwise it takes too long. Just look the map and see which parks are close to you, then go to any of those parks so that you have multiple bus choices and can jump on the first one you see, as long as the park will be open during your trip.
And speaking of Disney Springs, if you want to eat out and don't know where, try Disney Springs restaurants first. You have a direct bus getting you there and back, and you have a lot of choices, be it quick service or table service, and on the dining plan.
On the other hand, I also once took a new SUV taxi from Swan to Pop. It was so beautiful that I complimented the driver on it. He said it was brand new and cost $60,000. I told him about my previous experience with the hot taxi, and he told me that I should have reported the bell boy for doing that to me. The problem is, to say anything to the Pop Century front desk requires a 20 minute wait, and it wasn't a big deal to me. The new taxi air conditioning was perfect. I gave him a good tip for driving such a beautiful taxi. He told me that cost of going places within Disney world was standardized at $16, which didn't turn out to be true with my later taxi rides, unfortunately. I wish it were.
I find it rather annoying that Disney World trips are not standardized in pricing. I've paid anywhere from $16 to $25 going from Epcot to Pop, not encountering any traffic delays, during the same vacation. That's one big reason I avoid taxis. The other reason is the lack of air conditioning. The taxis are rarely properly air-conditioned, and we love the buses' killer air conditioning since we always go during the Florida summer heat. The air conditioning isn't a problem at night or early morning, though, so we limit our taxi rides to those times.
The worst part about the Disney taxi situation is that Magic Kingdom doesn't allow taxis. They claim that they don't have the space but I think that's nonsense. They could have made it work. They had no trouble expanding the bus stops. So every time after Wishes fireworks we are stuck with the bus unless I'm willing to walk to Contemporary, and I've never done it because it looks awful far at night.
Another problem with taxis is paying for it. They only take cash. Theoretically, they often have the machine for the taking credit cards. I once stared at the machine in the back seat and then asked the driver if he takes credit cards. He said no no, don't you have cash? I assured him that I did, but I was sure that the machine was for credit cards. I asked what the machine was for and he didn't answer. I think the taxi company should encourage the drivers to accept credit cards. Otherwise, if I happen to be short on cash I have to avoid taxis, which is very annoying. I'm also forced pack a few hundred bucks cash to Disney World for the purpose of taxis. I've never had a problem with it, but it would be nice if I didn't have to hide cash in my suitcase.
My main tip to fellow travelers is to avoid the taxi at Disney World like this: say if you are going from Caribbean Beach to Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner. Go to the bus stop and jump on the first bus that shows, be it Epcot, Hollywood Studio, or Animal Kingdom. (But not Magic Kingdom; it's too far.) That will take you 10 minutes total because a bus is bound to show immediately. And the buses are empty enough to guarantee you seats. Then you take the resort bus to AKL. On the way back, it will be dark and cool, and you might be too tired to do the bus again, and you can take the taxi. This cuts your taxi costs by half. Or, if you are tough, you can jump on any bus to Epcot, HS, or AK, and then take your resort bus home. Extra 10 minutes plus walking time to get there. However, be sure that the park that you go to is still open. Some parks close around 8 or even earlier.
If you are going to Magic Kingdom resorts, you have to take the Magic Kingdom bus and then take the monorail (or boat). That's not too bad, but the monorail has poor air conditioning and stinks like pee. But it's fast and comes often. If you are going to Epcot's resorts, you can take the Hollywood studios bus and then walk about 20 minutes along the river. A beautiful walk in the evening. Then come back on the taxi, or walk again!
Disney used to recommend that to go to another resort, you go to Disney Springs and transfer there. Don't ever do that unless you are right next to Disney Springs; otherwise it takes too long. Just look the map and see which parks are close to you, then go to any of those parks so that you have multiple bus choices and can jump on the first one you see, as long as the park will be open during your trip.
And speaking of Disney Springs, if you want to eat out and don't know where, try Disney Springs restaurants first. You have a direct bus getting you there and back, and you have a lot of choices, be it quick service or table service, and on the dining plan.
I don't even think most of them are trying to cheat their company; it's just they prefer their tips in cash, and the irony is that if they pull that on me, they ain't getting a tip. I learned this from one summer of traveling with my grandmother who hates to carry cash. The first time few times I fell for it. Halfway through the trip I asked before I got into the cab- they said their card machine was down, and I said I bet the next guy has a working card machine, sorry to bother you sir. And so the machine suddenly worked again.
