Getting to/from WDW and MCO cheaply!

[Princess Mindy]

heres the situation: I am booked at the Dolphin from 9/3-9/6. I found out that they do not offer DME at the Dolphin. So I'm thinking about how to get from MCO to WDW without breaking the bank. I want to spend my money when I get there not IN getting there!

So here are the things I was thinking about:
Adding an extra night at All Star with the AAA rate of 65$ and using DME to get to WDW. (can I do that?)
But how will I get back? I have not found an inexpensive solution to getting back to MCO from the Dolphin. Town cars are 50$ one way and I've heard scary things about Mears shuttle.
The other option is taking the bus. Anyone tried it? Is it safe/easy/relatively fast?

I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me on these ideas-or if you have any of your own, please share!
Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I think you'll be better off just booking the Mears shuttle bus. It's only about $30 r/t pp. There have actually been some people that have booked the Mears shuttle and ended up being put on the DME bus and going to the Swan/Dolphin resorts. I'm thinking about staying at the S/D next Dec and will be using the Mears shuttle myself.

 

[speedyf]

In 2004, we were 6 people arriving at MCO for a one week stay in 3 different rooms. It would have cost us close to $200 for Mears round-trip.

I used the codes on Mousesavers and rented a car for 1 day on our arrival date. Since we were 6, I rented a mini-van for about $45 after taxes, etc for the one day. I picked up the van at the airport and we drove to Pop Century. The next day, I returned the car to the Car Care Center and a shuttle van brought us to the TTC.

I did the same thing on the return trip to the airport. I rented a car for 1 day on our departure day. I called the Car Care Center and a shuttle van came to Pop Century to pick me up. I rented the van and returned to Pop Century to pick up my family. We returned the van that same afternoon at the airport.

So....round trip....it costed us about $90 for 6 people.

I believe the Dolphin has an Alamo / National rental counter in house. You could rent a car at the airport and return the keys the next day at your hotel. This also gives you the ability to drive to a nearby store and stock up on water, soft drinks, or snacks for in the room.

Now...if you are only going at 2 people, then this advice probably won't help. I've priced out a full size car at National using coupons and codes from Mousesavers.com and was able to get a rental for around $35 after tax from MCO to the Car Care Center. You could probably do it for about $70 for 3 or 4 people and come out ahead.

If you decide to do this, also look into joining the clubs associated with Alamo and/or National. It's free to join and you can usually skip the counter.

It may not be the best way to do it....but, I figured I would throw it out there as an option.

Speed

 

[yellowfish78]

Along the lines of the above post, both Alamo and National are based at the Dophin. Instead of reserving for a day, see what a two or three hour rental one way from airport to hotel (and back) might cost compared to using the Mears transfers. It might be just as cheap to do this with a compact car and throw in a grocery stop than using Mears. Just throwing in another idea!

 

[WaltD4Me]

First, how many people on your trip?

If it's just you, you might have to bite the bullet and take Mears, but if there is two or more and town car service might really be worth it.

The town car service I use is $85 R/T -- Mears is usually, I think $30 a person, so for just two of you, it's going to be $60 R/T and if there are four of you, it's $120 R/T - Also with most town car services you can get a free grocery stop and you can save a ton of money by picking up a few things, snacks and breakfast items, bottled water, ect...to make the town car service really worth it. I also like using a service, because I get to my resort faster (no waiting for other people, no stopping at other resorts) and the pick up for my return is usually only 2 hours before my flight...not 4 hours before like Mears did to me once...so more time in the parks!

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

We plan to stay at the Dolphin in August & decided to rent a vehicle from MCO (Alamo) & drop off at the Dolphin. We can stop on the way for anything we might need.

We'll rent again for the trip back to the airport, picking up that morning at Dolphin & dropping off at MCO.

The cost of a mini-van (using Entertainment book discount) from MCO to Dolphin...$32.38.

The cost of a mini-van (using Entertainment book discount) from Dolphin to MCO...$39.81.

Certainly that was my choice over a shuttle or pricier towncar each way.
If you don't have an Entertainment book, check Mousesavers for some universal discount codes.

Who knows, it may even come down in price. It already did from the mid-size SUV I had reserved last week (only about $6, but now we have even more room with the mini-van).

National is another option.

Good luck.
Mickey & Minnie Mom

 

[Princess Mindy]

With renting a car, how much do you pay extra in tolls?

oh btw there are 2 of us

 

[bg4]

Using 417 its about $2.25 each way
less if you use Beachline to I-4
nothing if you use Sand Lake Rd