Don't Call a Cab

[.jabba.]

Been doing the Disney thing now for the past 14 years and decided last week to enjoy some Food and Wine at Epcot, without taking the car of course. Having made our way to the park entrance in our cab, I was gobsmacked to discover that cabs have to pay the parking charge just to drop you off. Think about it - I'm going to Epcot to spend the usual bucket load of cash but our poverty stricken Disney organisation charge the person who is dropping me off?? You just couldn't make this up. Next they'll be increasing parking charges by a dollar each year - oh, sorry, they already do that.

 

[dudspizza]

Been doing the Disney thing now for the past 14 years and decided last week to enjoy some Food and Wine at Epcot, without taking the car of course. Having made our way to the park entrance in our cab, I was gobsmacked to discover that cabs have to pay the parking charge just to drop you off. Think about it - I'm going to Epcot to spend the usual bucket load of cash but our poverty stricken Disney organisation charge the person who is dropping me off?? You just couldn't make this up. Next they'll be increasing parking charges by a dollar each year - oh, sorry, they already do that.

You kidding me? Or did the cabbie just play you for another 11 bucks?

Duds

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Did you take a Mears cab?

As far as I knew (and I could be wrong, but I've NEVER seen a Mears cab pay), Checker Cabs who is operated by Mears has the exclusive rights to Disney property, and therefore is allowed to come and go through the toll plazas.

 

[localdriver]

Did you take a Mears cab?

As far as I knew (and I could be wrong, but I've NEVER seen a Mears cab pay), Checker Cabs who is operated by Mears has the exclusive rights to Disney property, and therefore is allowed to come and go through the toll plazas.

This isn't legit in my view, My guess a gypsy cab trying to cause trouble.

 

[rsschneck]

You kidding me? Or did the cabbie just play you for another 11 bucks?

Duds

That's what I am thinking.

 

[Dis Ohana]

How do you know the difference between a Mears cab or a "gypsy" cab? If I were to walk down to the lobby, would the bellman call a legit cab for me?

 

[Charleyann]

Why charge to drop someone off?

Charleyann

 

[Edd]

The Mears cab does not have to pay to drop you off at any of the parks. They have a sticker on their vehicle that gets them through. If it was Mears the driver took you for a ride. The bell stand at some of the Disney resorts will call you a non-Mears vehicle if there are no Mears cabs on the stand. Not all the time but it does happen. Of course the bellman gets a bonus from the driver. Mears cabs are safe on Disney. Don't use or turn down any other cabs provided to you by the resorts. The checker cab, yelow and black in color, are the official cabs.

 

[canwegosoon]

sorry OP...you were taken...I have never had to pay for parking fee.

 

[seashoreCM]

Caution: Do not ask the driver a yes no question (Example: Are you a Mears cab?) Instead at least ask a question that requires the other person to come up with the answer on his own.

Now that it is known (I never knew that) that Mears cabs should not charge the guest the parking fee, is it a good thing or a bad socioeconomic thing in the long run when I ask specifically for a Mears cab, and the bellhop summoning someone else will end up sticking the driver with a no-show?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[FayeW]

sorry OP...you were taken...I have never had to pay for parking fee.

I don't think the OP was taken by the cab driver, unless it WAS a Mears cab. I have seen signs saying that there is a charge for dropping off. I distinctly remember seeing a sign enroute, right after we left Wilderness Lodge. My husband and I were stunned to see it, and had quite a discussion about what a ripoff it is.

 

[seashoreCM]

How does it work from the airport? Can you go out to the taxi stand and take, say, the fourth cab in line because it is a Checker cab, passing up the ones in front that are not part of the Mears family?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

How do you know the difference between a Mears cab or a "gypsy" cab? If I were to walk down to the lobby, would the bellman call a legit cab for me?

Disney Cast Members are only allowed to call Mears... however, if the OP was coming from off-property, then it was certainly possible that they got into either an independant company, or another one of the larger taxi companies around Orlando. Certainly nothing wrong with any of them, although sadly they do have thier fare share of scammers who give the honest ones a bad rap.

You can tell it's a Mears cab because it will have the Mears logo between the front door and the front tire. "Checker Cab" is the division of Mears that will pick up on Disney property and I believe the surrounding area as well. From the airport, they have "Yellow Cab" (which ironically is orange)

Be wary of the "Check-her Cab" and "Check-A Cab" and the like... lol

 

[RodJohnson]

How does it work from the airport? Can you go out to the taxi stand and take, say, the fourth cab in line because it is a Checker cab, passing up the ones in front that are not part of the Mears family?

Yes, you may request a Mears taxi at the airport, but be aware Mears cabs at the airport are YELLOW CAB, not Checker cab. The taxi starter at the airport is a Mears employee and will be more than happy to put you in a Mears cab.

 

[Edd]

Disney cast members do call gypsy cabs, who reward them with an extra $5.00, if there are no Mears cabs around. Not sure how much it happens but it does happen.

At the airport you get put into the next cab on the line. Now you can choose to ride with a certain company if you don't like the cab you are assigned to, but you can't walk up and say I want the 4th cab on the line or point to the 4th cab on the line and request it. Not many people know you have a choice. It certainly won't work if you are considered to be racially biased.

 

[RodJohnson]

Checker cab drivers do not pay the parking fee at the parks, however, other cabs do. Mears Yellow cabs ARE required to pay with the exception of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Easy way to tell, did the driver stop at the booth and pay the attendent before entering the lot? If he did, he was required to pay, if he didn't you got ripped off and needed the cab number to report incident to supervisor at Mears.

Furthermore, I would NEVER EVER get into a cab that was not an official, licensed cab. Many "Gypsy cabs" work the area and may not have the proper insurance to cover you if an accident were to occur there are NO LAWS requiring cabs to carry livery insurance and many carry nothing other than liability, if your involved in an accident resulting in your injury or death a common insurance policy will not pay because the owner of the vehicle was not insured as a taxi, only as a privately owned vehicle.

 

[RodJohnson]

Disney cast members do call gypsy cabs, who reward them with an extra $5.00, if there are no Mears cabs around. Not sure how much it happens but it does happen.

At the airport you get put into the next cab on the line. Now you can choose to ride with a certain company if you don't like the cab you are assigned to, but you can't walk up and say I want the 4th cab on the line or point to the 4th cab on the line and request it. Not many people know you have a choice. It certainly won't work if you are considered to be racially biased.

Edd your incorrect sir, you may request ANY cab you like. Cab drivers can even do "meet and greet" at the airport, just like a limo or sedan, if you have a driver you prefer.

 

[tkldisney]

Aa few years ago (before I started renting a car) we used limo service to get to CR. When we approached MK resort entrances the driver was going to pay to enter just to drop us off. At that time I was TDS CM so I just showed my ID and no charge to enter. If you have an AP you can also show that and driver/taxi will not have to pay fee.

 

[Edd]

If you have a favorite driver you prefer you can request him with the starter, right. You can also have the driver do a "meet and greet" at the airport which is usually done.

However, the OP asked if she can request the 4th car in line. Well look at it this way. If drivers in cabs 1, 2 and 3 are black and driver of cab 4 is white and all the cabs are yellow cabs, and the requester is white, would you as a starter allow the passenger to skip 3 yellow cabs who have been in the airport longer than the 4th and put the passenger in the fourth. If you say yes, I guess I am wrong. If you say no, you see my point and maybe I am right. Most starters will suggest that you have to use the taxi that is first in order to satify the customer. Other starters will go ahead and place the passenger in the 4th vehicle and explain to the other drivers that the passengers requested and that is all he can do. In most cases passengers who take cabs are used to taking the first cab the starter assigns them.

 

[RodJohnson]

Well, Edd we see eye to eye after all. I have been passed up usually by a female that requests a female driver.