From WDW to Universal-Best Way?

[melindaandrob]

We are staying at WL and would like to spend a day at Universal. What is your suggestion for transportation?
We are debating renting a car for one day vs. taking a yellow cab. Is it easy to take a cab from Universal back to WL? We will have a cell phone if we need to call for one.
Thanks
Melinda

 

[gschmerl]

We are staying at WL and would like to spend a day at Universal. What is your suggestion for transportation?
We are debating renting a car for one day vs. taking a yellow cab. Is it easy to take a cab from Universal back to WL? We will have a cell phone if we need to call for one.
Thanks
Melinda

Mears Transportation runs shuttles from WDW to Universal. It costs about $14 per person round trip.

 

[melindaandrob]

Does the shuttle stop several places? If it does would anyone know approximately how long your travel time would be?
Thanks again!
Melinda

 

[robvia]

I think the shuttle does stop a few times, but I don't know the exact details.
Are you ok with renting a car?
The drive time is about 20 minutes. You can see my site with pictures here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstoioa.htm

 

[momof3disneyholics]

The cheapest thing to do would be rent a car. I tell my guests this all the time. You could rent a car for under 50.00 with tax. It would be approx. 35.00 for a taxi each way. Plus with a car you have the flexibility to come and go as you please.
I never recommend Mears because in my experience it is costly at 14.00 a person, plus there are several stops along the way. They are usually late in my experiences too.

 

[Eclpz314]

We took a taxi from RPR to AK and not only did we get charged for the taxi, but every taxi that goes in there has to pay the $8.00 parking fee too!! So, we had an extra $8 tacked on to our fare. The cab driver said he can get away at MK with telling the attendant he's making a dropoff at the one of the hotels, but not AK. Plus you still have a bit of a walk to the entrance from where taxis are allowed to drop off.

 

[phamton]

We took a taxi from RPR to AK and not only did we get charged for the taxi, but every taxi that goes in there has to pay the $8.00 parking fee too!! So, we had an extra $8 tacked on to our fare. The cab driver said he can get away at MK with telling the attendant he's making a dropoff at the one of the hotels, but not AK. Plus you still have a bit of a walk to the entrance from where taxis are allowed to drop off.

I think the original poster was going from Wilderness Lodge to Universal so there wouldn't be a fee for Animal Kingdom.

The taxis drop you off at the guest drop off so there is no fee for parking at Universal Studios. There are also a ton of taxis at guest drop off when the park closes so you wouldn't need to call for a cab when you leave.

I still think a rental car is the way to go but with a rental you will have to pay $9 for parking at Universal. With a taxi, you won't have to.

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

Glad someone started this thread. We're not renting a car this time. We'd like to spend a day at Universal too, but we're not sure the best way to get there, either. Cabs sound pricey. This Mears Shuttle ... when you go to their website, it seems the only info you can check is airport transportation, not WDW hotels to Universal. ??? Anyone use Mears to Universal? Any idea where they pick up? Anyone know how many miles Universal is from the WDW area? (Namely, POFQ??) If it's too expensive/too much of a hassle to get there, we'll just buy another pass to the Disney parks instead.

 

[Disney Dee]

We like using Mears, its just the 2 of us now, and it ends up half the price of renting a car. We order it for an hr before the park opens, that way you aren't late and get there before the park opens.

 

[gschmerl]

Mears picks up at many of the WDW hotels and I think it drops you at the Universal parking garage.

 

[HARRYC]

hi all somehwere on the board i remem someone telling about the seldom mentioned method of using the public bus service that runs around orlando...

http://www.golynx.com/index.cfm

the lynx bus service runs between all the parks costs pennies and the planner above tells you where to get it and where it goes by selecting your start and finsih destinations

at worst it may mean having to jump disney bus to say downtown to get to a lynx bus stop

cheers the noo

harry

 

[spotowner]

Took a cab from US HRH to MGM 28$ plus that 8$ Disney Tax.

hi all somehwere on the board i remem someone telling about the seldom mentioned method of using the public bus service that runs around orlando...

http://www.golynx.com/index.cfm

the lynx bus service runs between all the parks costs pennies and the planner above tells you where to get it and where it goes by selecting your start and finsih destinations

at worst it may mean having to jump disney bus to say downtown to get to a lynx bus stop

cheers the noo

harry

 

[melindaandrob]

A BIG Thank you for the suggestions!!
After number crunching and weighing pros and cons we decided to rent a car. We rented through Alamo, they are located at the car care center within WDW AND they provide a shuttle from Disney resort properties, Lake Buena Vista, and Hotel Plaza Blvd. (to name a few)
We got a GREAT price, $23.98 for the day, plus taxes etc.
Thank you again!
Melinda (and Rob)