Flying in to Tampa, rent or Uber to WDW?

[P.Nightshade]

We're going to be staying at the Dolphin on our next Disney trip and we've decided to fly. Our options are to take a nearly 2 hour shuttle to the ATL airport and fly in to MCO or fly out of the small airport in our area and land at PIE in Clearwater then shuttle/Uber/rent. We've pretty much decided ATL is out because of the unpredictability of Atlanta traffic. So, if we fly in to Clearwater what's the best option for getting to the Dolphin? I've not really found much in the way of pricing for shuttles. Uber or a rental from the airport to the Dolphin seem to run close to the same. Any thoughts? Any experience?

 

[Kae]

Use National rent car 1 day airport turn in at Dolphin/swan then rent again to go back.


kae

 

[JimMIA]

I drive for Uber (in Miami), but I would rent a car in your situation...for the certainty.

Any time you have a longish trip like that with rideshare, it is possible you will have to kiss several frogs to find a prince. The problem is that such a ride takes a driver way out of their normal driving area, with a virtually-certain empty ride back which would greatly reduce the value of the trip to WDW for the driver. And you'd face the same issue going back to Clearwater.

Rental car is much simpler -- rent, drive, turn in. Repeat on the way back.

 

[P.Nightshade]

Thanks guys! Rental it is.

 

[writerguyfl]

Use National rent car 1 day airport turn in at Dolphin/swan then rent again to go back.

That's the ideal situation: Rent from Alamo/National because they have a desk right at the Walt Disney World Dolphin.

If prices for those companies are exorbitant, you can find Avis, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise, and Budget at the various Disney Springs Hotels. You can drive to your hotel, drop off your belongings (and maybe some people), and then return the car. To get back, you can pay someone or walk over to Disney Springs and take a Disney bus back to your hotel.

All that extra hassle might be worth it if 1) you're planning on going to Disney Springs on your arrival day or 2) Alamo is charging $100+ more than the competitors above.

Note: Avis (at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista) and Dollar (at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista) are the closest in terms of walking to Disney Springs.

 

[Kae]

the hilton LBV Palace is a good drop off too

 

[kaytieeldr]

the hilton LBV Palace is a good drop off too

Generally, sure, but the OP's destination IS the Dolphin.

 

[SteveH]

We went the other way, and got our car through Costco. Pick up at Dolphin and dropped off at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, few days in CWB then Uber to Tampa and home, the rental was very reasonable from Swan to St Pete.

As we priced things out the best deals are Airport to Airport, but at least dropping the car off at the airport was very reasonable too.

Price out a drop off at MCO and Dolphin, if its enough of a savings dropping off at MCO it might save $, but then your still taking an Uber back to your hotel. I'd just drop off at Dolphin and enjoy your trip.