disney to universal without a car

[essom71]

How do most people travel to universal without a car if they are staying at a disney resort. We will be travelling with 5 people in August?

 

[dvc deernut]

once my son took a taxi to universal. Dw usually spends a couple of dollars to take bus from wdw to one of the malls. Im not sure if the bus system goes from wdw to universal.

 

[tigger2on]

There is a metro bus too. Not sure of the link though but it picks up at AK, MK, DD

 

[tigger2on]

http://www.golynx.com/?fuse=cstm&app=route

here is the schedules & route maps

 

[weewuvvdisney]

We were 7 and it cost us $80.00 return (tips included) so a little over $11.00 each. We reserved a taxi/van the night before at the front desk of our resort. For the return trip, there are taxies waiting at the exit of Universal Studios. Very organized there - just tell them how many and then point you in the right direction. It was cost effective and saved us a lot of time by not being shuttled from resort to resort with pick-ups and drop-offs.

You could also reserve with Mears Transportation. I think it is $18.00 return (or something like that). Check out the Transportation Board here because there may be links to Mears as well as package deals which include transportation and park entrance.

Have fun!

 

[damo]

http://www.golynx.com/?fuse=cstm&app=route

here is the schedules & route maps

The Lynx bus apparently takes well over an hour --- and closer to two --- to get from Disney to Universal. Your most economical option is probably a van taxi.

 

[essom71]

thanks so much for all the help!

 

[minnie56]

You know you can rent a car at the Swan or Dolphin (never remember which??) and the Disney Car Care Centre? They will come pick you up...and we have rented a few times for anywhere between $30-$40 for 24 hrs. You can keep for the 24 or drop back early should you wish. When we have rented one we then use it to collect some bottled water, wine etc etc and take back to our Resort. We rent when we want a Mall day or a Universal, Sea World etc day.

 

[irisesareblue]

I've seen in other threads that Mears Transportation offers shuttles from Disney resorts to Universal.

http://www.mearstransportation.com/

 

[TLPL]

I would rent a car for 1 day like minnie suggested, and go grocery/Outlet shopping and visit off site restaurant while you have the car that day. Make the most out of it.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

We booked a town car, but I can't remember who it was through.....anyways I had called around and got a rate of $75 dollars for there and back. They picked us up at our hotel room and then when we wanted to leave we called the drivers cell and he was there within 20 mins. It worked out great and they even supplied car seats for the kids.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

You know you can rent a car at the Swan or Dolphin (never remember which??) and the Disney Car Care Centre? They will come pick you up...and we have rented a few times for anywhere between $30-$40 for 24 hrs. You can keep for the 24 or drop back early should you wish. When we have rented one we then use it to collect some bottled water, wine etc etc and take back to our Resort. We rent when we want a Mall day or a Universal, Sea World etc day.

If you are considering renting a car - check the pick up and drop off dates. We found that the driver would loose time having to pick up by a certain time and having to return by a certain time. We had checked out car rentals from the Swan/Dolphin and found their times were limited in the evenings.


By going by taxi/van, we could come and go as we wished. Driver didn't have to go the night before (and miss out on things) to pick up the car.


There are a few options so you just need to figure out what is best for your group.

 

[Think I'm Tink]

There is an option that includes one day park hopper tickets and Mears transportation from Disney to Universal and return back to Disney.

http://www.*********************.com/universal/1daypasses.html

This ticket allows you one day to visit both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and you get free shuttle transfers from your Disney Resort Hotel to Universal Studios. This transfer is a scheduled transfer. You call the transportation company 24 hours before you want to visit Universal and they will schedule a pick up time right in front of [your] Disney resort.

I haven't used this myself, I read about it on PassPorter Boards. Apparently you have to crunch the numbers to make sure that it would make sense financially over any of the other options - car rental, Mears, taxi, etc. If you are renting a car, remember to factor in parking fees at Universal (something like $12-ish? I think)

 

[Corbisblue]

We recently got back from our first trip to WDW and did one day at Universal Studios. This is our experience.

We were going to take public transportation from Downtown Disney but we left a bit too early and the bus from our resort to Downtown wasn't running yet so we missed the first Lynx bus.

We asked Guest Services about the Mears Transportation and they said that the amount of time you have to wait and the amount you pay that you might as well take a taxi. Mears stops at other resorts and could take you almost as long as taking public transportation.

In the end we took a Taxi and it was $40 each way. Which is cheap if you are taking 5 people. The taxi was ride about 20mins each way. I think we lucked out that there wasn't any heavy traffic, hard to say.

To save yourself a headache and people from getting cranky take a taxi. It's just my opinion from the experience we had. Hope this helps!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

In the end we took a Taxi and it was $40 each way. Which is cheap if you are taking 5 people. The taxi was ride about 20mins each way. I think we lucked out that there wasn't any heavy traffic, hard to say.

Where were you staying Corbisblue?

 

[minnie56]

If you are considering renting a car - check the pick up and drop off dates. We found that the driver would loose time having to pick up by a certain time and having to return by a certain time. We had checked out car rentals from the Swan/Dolphin and found their times were limited in the evenings.

By going by taxi/van, we could come and go as we wished. Driver didn't have to go the night before (and miss out on things) to pick up the car.


There are a few options so you just need to figure out what is best for your group.

I seem to have always collected the car in the a.m...they come and get me...and I return the next morning and take the bus from the Swan/Doplhin to a park. When I have used the shuttle from the car care centre they have also been fine with dropping me either at a park or back to my Resort. Last time I rented (last Sep) I called the night before and rented a car for $30 for the day.

 

[Corbisblue]

Where were you staying Corbisblue?

We were staying at Pop Century but took the Taxi from the Polynesian Resort. It's where we ended up after our failed attempt at taking the Lynx.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

We were staying at Pop Century but took the Taxi from the Polynesian Resort. It's where we ended up after our failed attempt at taking the Lynx.

Thanks. We'll be at the All Star Movies. I figure since the Mears transportation is $18pp and a taxi is only around $40, we'll do the taxi, it's only two of us. Thanks for your help!

 

[chimo2u]

What is the price for Mears ONE WAY ticket? is it still 18$ pp or is it cheaper if you don't do return??

 

[Corbisblue]

Thanks. We'll be at the All Star Movies. I figure since the Mears transportation is $18pp and a taxi is only around $40, we'll do the taxi, it's only two of us. Thanks for your help!

No problem! It was a frustrating time getting there. I'm happy to help people avoid that!