Car Service for Multiple Trips?

[FreddyGlove]

Hey guys.

We're travelling to Orlando in September, and have some pretty complicated (well, kinda) travel requirements and I was wondering if anyone had decent experiences with a one-stop-shop sort of deal.

Basically, the really long and short is that we start with 3 people getting picked up at the same time. Then we need transportation to USO. Then a few days later, transportation to another hotel. After that, 1 passenger leaves so he needs a ride to the airport. Then it's 4 more days of to and from Disney parks (the hotel shuttles don't leave early enough to get us to rope drop). Finally, a trip back to the airport at the end of the trip.

Any advice is welcomed. I'd rather not rent a car, but if you guys think it'd save a ton of money, I'd do that.

Does anyone know of a good car service that I might be able to pay upfront for something like this? Or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks

 

[ktate82]

Hey guys.

We're travelling to Orlando in September, and have some pretty complicated (well, kinda) travel requirements and I was wondering if anyone had decent experiences with a one-stop-shop sort of deal.

Basically, the really long and short is that we start with 3 people getting picked up at the same time. Then we need transportation to USO. Then a few days later, transportation to another hotel. After that, 1 passenger leaves so he needs a ride to the airport. Then it's 4 more days of to and from Disney parks (the hotel shuttles don't leave early enough to get us to rope drop). Finally, a trip back to the airport at the end of the trip.

Any advice is welcomed. I'd rather not rent a car, but if you guys think it'd save a ton of money, I'd do that.

Does anyone know of a good car service that I might be able to pay upfront for something like this? Or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks

I'm thinking renting a car is going to be the easiest and cheapest option here. Otherwise you are looking at quite a bit in taxi fare or town car services.

 

[FreddyGlove]

You might be right.

When we travelled in 2011, the approximate cost of a round trip was around 50$..

Do you think that with parking costs and rental fees, it would still be less than 3-400 to rent a car for 10 days?

 

[Alesia]

I've never heard of any car service that would do somthing like that.

What you should do is look up all of the routes on taxifarefinder.com (don't forget to add in the 15 to 20% tip,) add them all up, and then see if you can get a better rate for a car rental.

My guess is that a car rental is going to be way cheaper.

 

[FreddyGlove]

Thanks for the advice, guys. My next question is, if I rent a car, what's driving like in Orlando? I plan to basically just park it either at the hotel or park all day, and the hotels we're staying at are the RPR at Universal, as well as the Tuscany Village on Arrezzo way.

Is it mostly highway driving? I'll have a GPS but I'm admittedly a bit nervous driving in other countries. Is it manageable?

 

[Alesia]

Thanks for the advice, guys. My next question is, if I rent a car, what's driving like in Orlando? I plan to basically just park it either at the hotel or park all day, and the hotels we're staying at are the RPR at Universal, as well as the Tuscany Village on Arrezzo way.

Is it mostly highway driving? I'll have a GPS but I'm admittedly a bit nervous driving in other countries. Is it manageable?

It's pretty much all highway driving. We found it to be really easy, but we're American, so I can't really give you a Canadian perspective.

 

[FreddyGlove]

I guess it's not that different from Canadian, I'm just not used to huge, multi-lane expressways.

I hate to keep bugging, but you keep giving me helpful information! Is there anywhere I can go to get good tips in terms of which route to take, or how early I should leave in the mornings to make sure we make it to parks for rope drop (when heading to Disney)?

Thanks again for all your help! This place is great.

 

[Alesia]

I guess it's not that different from Canadian, I'm just not used to huge, multi-lane expressways.

I hate to keep bugging, but you keep giving me helpful information! Is there anywhere I can go to get good tips in terms of which route to take, or how early I should leave in the mornings to make sure we make it to parks for rope drop (when heading to Disney)?

Thanks again for all your help! This place is great.

Google maps is indispensable for that kind of stuff. As far as when to leave, that really depends on where you're staying.

 

[ktate82]

You might be right.

When we travelled in 2011, the approximate cost of a round trip was around 50$..

Do you think that with parking costs and rental fees, it would still be less than 3-400 to rent a car for 10 days?

Depending on how big of car you want, we have an intermediate for $226 for 11 days in Sept (just keep watching the rental car websites and don't prepay unless you are a day or two out). Parking is around $18 a day at each place. If you are staying at a Universal Hotel, they charge a parking fee too. It may be easier to get a rental car after Universal if that is the case. I would make a spreadsheet listing all the costs for each one (I'm a spreadsheet lover) and see what your costs are.

 

[FreddyGlove]

Depending on how big of car you want, we have an intermediate for $226 for 11 days in Sept (just keep watching the rental car websites and don't prepay unless you are a day or two out). Parking is around $18 a day at each place. If you are staying at a Universal Hotel, they charge a parking fee too. It may be easier to get a rental car after Universal if that is the case. I would make a spreadsheet listing all the costs for each one (I'm a spreadsheet lover) and see what your costs are.

It's a great idea.

In just crunching the numbers, I feel like we'll easily save something ridiculous like 3-400 dollars in comparison to hiring a vehicle each time.

Ultimately, I'm honestly just a little nervous about the driving. I'll have a GPS and all, I'm just not the most seasoned driver if it's aggressive.

 

[Alesia]

It's a great idea.

In just crunching the numbers, I feel like we'll easily save something ridiculous like 3-400 dollars in comparison to hiring a vehicle each time.

Ultimately, I'm honestly just a little nervous about the driving. I'll have a GPS and all, I'm just not the most seasoned driver if it's aggressive.

I didn't think it was aggressive at all.

One thing that I found helpful was to take a look at the route on google maps. Even with the GPS, I feel more comfortable if I have some idea of where I'm going.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I didn't think it was aggressive at all. One thing that I found helpful was to take a look at the route on google maps. Even with the GPS, I feel more comfortable if I have some idea of where I'm going.

I beg to differ.... driving around Disney property is aggressive...you have guests who never been there, going places they aren't familiar with, changing lanes, speeding, cutting others off... It's like a free for all ....we drive to WDW and leave our car in the resort lot... just getting to WDW property and navigating to our resort then out once for groceries is enough for us... worse is following the screen or directions from a GPS....

It all boils down to time of day but after 8 am, with CM's racing to work, Disney buses... travelers....no thanks...Florida drivers have no respect for rules and laws ..

 

[FreddyGlove]

I beg to differ.... driving around Disney property is aggressive...you have guests who never been there, going places they aren't familiar with, changing lanes, speeding, cutting others off... It's like a free for all ....we drive to WDW and leave our car in the resort lot... just getting to WDW property and navigating to our resort then out once for groceries is enough for us... worse is following the screen or directions from a GPS....

It all boils down to time of day but after 8 am, with CM's racing to work, Disney buses... travelers....no thanks...Florida drivers have no respect for rules and laws ..

Yikes, that doesn't set me at ease at all! Haha

So what you're saying is leave really early and have eyes in the back of your head!

 

[Alesia]

I beg to differ.... driving around Disney property is aggressive...you have guests who never been there, going places they aren't familiar with, changing lanes, speeding, cutting others off... It's like a free for all ....we drive to WDW and leave our car in the resort lot... just getting to WDW property and navigating to our resort then out once for groceries is enough for us... worse is following the screen or directions from a GPS....

It all boils down to time of day but after 8 am, with CM's racing to work, Disney buses... travelers....no thanks...Florida drivers have no respect for rules and laws ..

That wasn't my experience at all. Granted, I've only driven there on one trip (it was this past May/June.) I was really nervous about it, primarily because of posts like this, but I found it really easy. The signs are easy to follow, and as long as you have some idea of what direction you'll be going you can minimize the need to change lanes.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't find it aggressive either. Miami is aggressive. Orlando is orlando residents just trying to get to work while dealing with tourists who haven't a clue.

If there are two adults or more, think carefully and choose one to drive and one to navigate. The navigator must be a clear communicator and a non-panicker. Ok that's not a word. But it's a personality! Give them the map or the gps (both is good) and both should have a clear sense of where you are going.

Disney property is easy. Know where you are (what resort area you are in, like the Epcot resorts area) and where you are going (DTD, MK resort area, etc). Follow the signs. Done.

The tricky bit with I4 is that 4 west is actually going south in the themepark area. And 4east is going south. (Please let me have remembered that correctly and not in reverse) The navigator must know that well and not get thrown by the direction on the signs and the direction you are actually heading. If you look at a map of I4 as it exits orlando at either end, it makes sense. It just does the wrong thing through the themepark corridor.

 

[ktate82]

I don't find it aggressive either. Miami is aggressive. Orlando is orlando residents just trying to get to work while dealing with tourists who haven't a clue.

If there are two adults or more, think carefully and choose one to drive and one to navigate. The navigator must be a clear communicator and a non-panicker. Ok that's not a word. But it's a personality! Give them the map or the gps (both is good) and both should have a clear sense of where you are going.

Disney property is easy. Know where you are (what resort area you are in, like the Epcot resorts area) and where you are going (DTD, MK resort area, etc). Follow the signs. Done.

The tricky bit with I4 is that 4 west is actually going south in the themepark area. And 4east is going south. (Please let me have remembered that correctly and not in reverse) The navigator must know that well and not get thrown by the direction on the signs and the direction you are actually heading. If you look at a map of I4 as it exits orlando at either end, it makes sense. It just does the wrong thing through the themepark corridor.

I agree. We have rented a car and drove several times and never had a big issue. If we missed our turn, we could always take the next one and be fine. We got a map from the front desk when we checked in, and it was easy to read. Do make sure that someone other than the driver is navigating though.

 

[FreddyGlove]

Well, it'll be me, my wife and my 21 year old cousin. I better sit him in front- she's a super nervous driver!