Do I need to bother with Sunpass?

[ChuckNin]

Travelling from MCO to Universal.
Then from Universal to Disney and back several times.
Then from Universal to Kennedy Space Center to MCO

Is there a cash lane available for these routes?
I'd rather not worry about Sunpass and rental fees in I don't need to.

Thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you rent with Alamo you only pay for the sunpass on the days you drive on a toll road. $3.95 a day plus the tolls.

 

[MI_firefighter]

This is where I am at too. I have Alamo and I'm debating just paying the $4 a day plus tolls to not have to stop at the booths. For the two days we are driving, it seems worth my time to just pay the $8 and not slow down.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

WDW to USO and back can easily be done without toll roads.

MG

 

[georgina]

We don't bother with Sunpass, just take some quarters. Not sure what time you are driving, but we did not hit a line at all in the cash lanes last month (not during rush hour though). I guess I'm too cheap to pay $8 to save 5 minutes.

Shouldn't be any tolls from Universal to Disney. Haven't looked at trip to Kennedy Space Center either, are there tolls? When I was driving aroiund So CA, I always set my phone to avoid toll roads.

 

[joelkfla]

Travelling from MCO to Universal.
Then from Universal to Disney and back several times.
Then from Universal to Kennedy Space Center to MCO

Is there a cash lane available for these routes?

Yes. Be sure to keep right to exit to the toll booths.

 

[nacho113]

Travelling from MCO to Universal.
Then from Universal to Disney and back several times.
Then from Universal to Kennedy Space Center to MCO

Is there a cash lane available for these routes?
I'd rather not worry about Sunpass and rental fees in I don't need to.

Thanks!

If you are a frequent visitor to Florida and/or want to spend any time outside the Disney bubble, a Sunpass transponder can be a great option.
Upfront the cost is $20 to purchase the portable transponder and you save 10-15% off the posted toll prices.
Even using Alamo's system (which is the cheapest most reasonable option from all the rental car companies), if you happened to use the system on 4 or 5 days the fee would have covered the cost of purchasing the Transponder. Then any future visits, you are ahead of the game since the Transponder can be used over and over in different vehicles. Sunpass has an app for your smartphone to update the vehicle info each time you rent so you'll never get hit with an errant toll violation.

If you are just looking at 1 trip to the area, I would just take some cash (quarters and dollar bills) and pay tolls at the booths.

MCO airport to WDW or Universal can be done on the side streets but it's a bit of a pain. The toll cost is minimal on 417 or 528 ($3-$4 each way). Seems like kind of a waste to spend $7 ($4 fee + the $3 toll) on Alamo's plan to pay a $3 toll

WDW to Universal (the tourist corridor along I-4) has no tolls.

Universal to KSC most direct and fastest route uses toll road (toll is approx $5 each way), but can also be done without using toll roads (considerably slower and longer drive though)

 

[ChuckNin]

Unfortunately, we booked with Thrifty car rental, which seems to charge the most of any of the car companies in fees for Sunpass.
As long as I can pay cash/change, I have no problem waiting for a few minutes to pay the toll.
Do I need to have exact change, or can I hand them a $20 bill?
Thanks all!

 

[bumbershoot]

Travelling from MCO to Universal.
...
Then from Universal to Kennedy Space Center to MCO

There are cash lanes. I see no need to do anything but get some ones and a roll of quarters, and just stop to pay the tolls.

As long as I can pay cash/change, I have no problem waiting for a few minutes to pay the toll.
Do I need to have exact change, or can I hand them a $20 bill?
Thanks all!

Most areas have change-given lanes. But just in case, have a handful of ones and a roll of quarters anyway. That way, if you always get the change-given lanes you can hand them your big bill, but if you hit a toll where the change-given areas are closed, you'll have whatever you need.

 

[MillauFr]

I always like a discount so I got a Sunpass. No way I am going to pay full price for the tolls.

 

[ChuckNin]

Thanks all!

 

[dioxide45]

There are cash lanes on the Beachline to the east coast. These are staffed toll lanes, so they do offer change. Just be sure to take the "exit" on the right to the toll lanes.

 

[georgina]

I always like a discount so I got a Sunpass. No way I am going to pay full price for the tolls.

So I guess you drive there more frequently than we do, which is less than once a year? I can't justify the cost for a few occasional tolls. I have an EasyPass for the northeast which is great for time and money saving.