best way to get from mco to Universal or rent car entire trip?

[calablovedisney]

We are going to Universal-Royal Pacific-for 3 days and then renting a car to go over to Disney for the remainder of our trip.

I have been reading through threads and I am trying to find the best way to get from the airport to the hotel for the best price. I don't want to spend $100 for a one way trip. I think I might as well rent a car right from the airport instead and might pay less or the same overall, and it would be faster.

My general plan was to get form the airport to Universal for the 1st 3 days, then rent a car from Budget (the best deal I could find for a company close to universal) across the street in the holiday inn, and head over to Disney.

Then I am finding it will cost at least $100 to get to Universal plus tip!

Does anyone have any better suggestions? I read one person suggested a 1 day rental to get from the airport to universal, but I priced it out with a coupon and it came up to almost $400 for one day! that's insane!

so if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them. thanks!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Look around the Universal forum; there's a rental car place right at Hard Rock Hotel, but I cannot remember which one it is.

If you keep the car the whole time, remember the parking costs if you're staying onsite. They charge at midnight each 24 hour period you're there, so you could park from 1am Monday to 11:59pm Tuesday and just get one charge (which is nice), but still, each midnight adds up. (that said, we always have a car and the parking fees just go into the budget)

 

[Kimberle]

I would just take cabs and ditch the rental car. US resorts charge you a daily parking fee. You won't need a car there 'cause it's so compact. (Unless you venture off site.)

We took a cab from BC to US and back. Each fare was about $35 (plus tip).

You could then take ME back to the airport.

If you want a car, that's another story. But, you don't really "need" one.

 

[calablovedisney]

yes, you are right! I was trying to avoid having the rental car while at Universal, but we do prefer to have our own car at Disney.
So, I wanted the most economical way to get from the airport to Universal. I think I underestimated the cost of that and I am now looking at all options. I was thinking that if it is roughly $120 for transportation, maybe I should just rent a car the entire time.
decisions, decisions.....

 

[shoney]

A taxi from MCO to US/IOA should be under $50.
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main....+Airport+(MCO)&to=Hard+Rock+Hotel+at+Univeral

 

[Jestocost]

A taxi from MCO to US/IOA should be under $50.
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main....+Airport+(MCO)&to=Hard+Rock+Hotel+at+Univeral

I don't know about UNDER $50 unless there's absolutely no traffic; but it definitely won't be $100. Our experience has been that a cab from MCO to Universal will run about $50-60 plus tip.

 

[calablovedisney]

I will look into it more. I was hoping that would be the case that it would be more like $50 or $60. then it makes more sense to go with the taxi for sure and rent from Budget at the Holiday Inn. There is a car rental at the Universal resorts, National I think, but they are more expensive than Budget.

I was looking at a thread on the Universal boards and they have a transportation sticky and there were many quotes of $100 for taxis and car services. thanks!

 

[shoney]

I will look into it more. I was hoping that would be the case that it would be more like $50 or $60. then it makes more sense to go with the taxi for sure and rent from Budget at the Holiday Inn. There is a car rental at the Universal resorts, National I think, but they are more expensive than Budget.

I was looking at a thread on the Universal boards and they have a transportation sticky and there were many quotes of $100 for taxis and car services. thanks!

That's round trip. We have a private transfer reserved for June, $100 to and from MCO with a grocery stop.

 

[Kimberle]

There is a car rental place at the Swan/Dolphin, too. You just have to run the numbers and see what works best for you!
Have a wonderful trip! HP is a blast!!