Getting to Universal Studios from WDW...possible?

[conmama]

We'll be staying at a WDW resort and spending our time at the parks. However, our teenager wants to visit Universal Studios one day. We won't have a car, having used the Magical Express from the airport. How can we get over to Universal Studios without renting a car? Is there a shuttle maybe? If we do need to rent a car, how would we go about doing it for a day?

 

[Subrbnmommy]

I find that the easiest way is to take a cab. I'm sorry but I don't remember how much it costs.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We went to Universal back in 2004 and used Mears. In fact we just went to Seaworld last week and used Mears again. The cost was $16 per person. I called 2 days ahead of time to schedule a pick up time from the All Star Sports. They picked up promptly, paid cash and received a ticket. They told us to call back 2 hours before we wanted to leave the park. At Seaworld we went to quest services and they had a phone we could use. It worked out great. Enjoy Universal. Jimmy Buffet Marquiteville is a great place to eat. Food was very good at least back in 04.

 

[Tinks1984]

If you find the taxi's too expensive, then I know that the Lynx busses run from I-Drive. You'll have to get the bus from TTC to I-Drive and then hop onto the Lynx ones from there. I'm sure someone will be able to give you the correct route number...

 

[conmama]

Is Mears a cab service? And is that $16 roundtrip?

thanks for these suggestions....it looks like this might be the way to do it.

 

[bradk]

Mears is a shared shuttle, for $16 per person round trip from your resort to the passenger dropoff point. a cab should run $50 - $70 roundtrip.

it's really not worth attempting the lynx for multiple reasons.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

We've used the Mears shuttle service several times with no problem.

 

[MouseyMin]

Depending on the size of your family, it might be less expensive to rent a car for the day. All of the major rental agencies have a facility on Disney property - just pick your favorite! Alamo is at the Disney Car Care Center, National is at the Dolphin (along with Alamo too), Hertz is at Shades of Green, Dollar is at the Grosvenor, Avis is at the Hilton, and Budget is at the Doubletree (the last 3 are on Hotel Blvd. within walking distance of Downtown Disney Marketplace). Have a great trip!

 

[holcomb-mania]

We used Sunray Transportation for just this situation in December. IIRC, $60+tip for a roundtrip towncar (SUV upon request, if avail). Service was excellent. Everything was handled via their website and emails. We won't consider any other means of transportation in the future.

For other car services, check out the Transportation board on the DIS. There are lots out there (FL Tours sponsors that board).

 

[Mr. Stitch]

If you use Mears cab service make sure to clarify your pick up times. We had a very unpleasant experience which resulted in a complaint via letter to Mears in 05. We went to Universal for half a day because we had free passes. The Mears cab did not pick us up and therefore we and 2 other families were left for two hours to wait for a cab. We had to call over and over again to get picked up. Each time we spoke to a rep they said the prior rep cancelled the pick up. I heard Disney actually owns Mears and all their buses are run via this companies transport. I would not take their cab out of the parks at anytime again in the future.

 

[kimberh]

If you rent a car, it is very easy to get to and from Disney property to Universal. We drive and have done this on a few trips... depending on the ages of your girls, make sure you go to the right park. There are many good restaurants to choose from.

 

[momtimesone]

We had pop hotel call us a cab. From pop to universal was 30.00 on the dot and on the way home it was 40.00 dollars but only because we had him take us to McDonalds on the way back to the resort. Our cab driver turned off the meter when we went in to get food and restarted it as soon as we got back in the cab. Beware of gypsies we took a cab back from epcot to the resort and the driver told us 8 dollars and when we got in and started driving he stated it was going to be 20.00 so we got ripped. Only use approved taxis with actual fairs posted on there cabs.