Getting from Universal Area to Kissimme rental home

[torinsmom]

We are taking the Amtrak to Orlando in August, doing Universal for two days and then on to Disney. I had planned on renting a car, but just realized I can't do that without a major credit card. I don't have one at this time; I use my Visa check card for everything. Looks like a cab from the station to our Universal area hotel will be less than $20. We are staying right across the street from Universal and our hotel has a shuttle, so we don't really need a car there. My sister and her family are coming in the night we will be moving to our Disney area vacation home, but it will be late and I would like to get there in the mid afternoon. In checking taxi rates, it will be close to $60 minimum to take a taxi from Universal area to our rental home. Is there any way to get there cheaper? I was thinking if I could get to Downtown Disney, I could get a cab a lot cheaper, but how would we get from Universal to DTD?

 

[keishashadow]

my DS paid $30 with a tip from CSR to Universal in March. Depending on where the rental home is located, the rate seems par, especially considering with taxes/fees/gas a one day rental car could top $60.

Did you try calling mears directly for a quote or try their estimator?

http://www.mearstransportation.com/services/taxi-fare-estimator.asp

 

[torinsmom]

Okay, getting $41 with that link. I am assuming you tip 15-20% for a taxi, so $47-$50. I guess I can deal with that. I was thinking a shuttle to DTD and then a taxi from there, but it probably would save $5 and take a lot more time.

THANKS!

 

[goofy4tink]

There is no shuttle. As I mentioned in another thread, you can't bring luggage on the Mears shuttle to and from US/IoA. I tried, was told no. We left our studios at BWV, headed to US/IoA for a night and then returned to BWV for the rest of our stay. We just packed backpacks with a change of clothes and toiletries. But luggage? Nope.
I would just use a cab or a car service.

 

[torinsmom]

Now I need to ask if my hotel will hold my luggage until we are done at Universal that day. I didn't really think about it before b/c we planned on just sticking the luggage in the car while we were in the parks. Hopefully they will hold it and we can get a taxi from there. I am a little worried about leaving the laptops there though. How well do hotels do at keeping valuables safe when you leave them with them like that?

Wish I could find a car rental company that would do a debit card rental

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, they will hold them. I always worry about storing laptops and such though. You could ask at the front desk if there is a safe to store them in.

 

[keishashadow]

Now I need to ask if my hotel will hold my luggage until we are done at Universal that day. I didn't really think about it before b/c we planned on just sticking the luggage in the car while we were in the parks. Hopefully they will hold it and we can get a taxi from there. I am a little worried about leaving the laptops there though. How well do hotels do at keeping valuables safe when you leave them with them like that?

Wish I could find a car rental company that would do a debit card rental

wish grantedwarning deposits are in $500 range as i recall when planning for my DS's trip

via search function here - see below link for lots of info! Just one link of many or google rental car companies that accept debit cards.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2704671&highlight=rental+car+with+debit+card