HELP! Anyone split stay with WDW?

[Kaitysmom]

How do you get from the airport to US? We usually rent a car, but thinking that we might skip it this next trip. We are staying 3 nights at PBH and then moving on to Disney. Disney offers Magical Express when we go, so I guess getting back to the airport will be easy enough. Not sure what to do...

 

[Sunnydaze68]

We always use Tiffany TownCar. www.tiffanytowncar.com. I think it is $55 (one way) to Universal Hotels and there is a discount coupon on the website.

 

[JessicaR]

We split a stay between AKL and HRH. We had a town car pick us up at airport and drop us at AKL. When it was time to head over to HRH the same company picked us up at AKL and dropped us off at AKL. We used FL Tours, Andy is terrific! I think we saved some $ because we had so many legs and they have a printable coupon also.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Last year we split our stay between HRH and GF. We used Tiffany towncar and the service was great. Now I've heard they changed owners so I'm a little nervous about using them again. This year we're doing Nick Hotel, GF, and HRH so I really need to feel good about the towncar company we use since we have so many legs to this trip.

 

[shl1108]

For us with 3 kids, we always rent a car. Even if they have the Disney transportation. Its a nice option, but when we stayed at the Swan Dolphin we waited long times and sometimes the line was too long to get on the boat so we had to wait for another boat. Especially when the parks are closing and everyone is running to the boat! We drove to MK one day which was a breeze. Paid for parking, but when we went over to AK later that day we didn't have to pay for parking again. Downtown Disney you don't pay for parking. (at least when I was there last)

We used our car last time to go to Blizzard Beach, downtown Disney, the grocery store for snacks etc.., drive through McD's etc..and to a medical clinic when my daughter had a high temp turning out to be an ear infection. Then on to the pharmacy. We did use the disney transportation, but not the bus. I don't think I could handle trying to get on a bus with 3 kids fighting for a seat with all of our stuff!

I guess we just had a bad time trying to time the boat from the Dolphin and pushing and shoving to get on a boat back to the dolphin from the MGM. It was fun using the boats etc.. but the car was really a nice back up to use whenever we needed.

This trip we have two hotel stays; Liki Tiki Village for Disney and HRH for Universal. We are also going to Seaworld one day and possibly a water park depending on time.

I can say even if you only use the car a few times to shuttle to/from airport and drive to US or Seaworld etc..or downtown Disney..and you can get a good rate. Then it is SO easy to have your own car for flexibility.
We have a great rate from Alamo using special codes. We have a Premium car from May 2nd- May 11th for $183 which includes All Taxes and Fees!

I wonder what the price difference would be for a towncar rides to and from the airport, to Universal and disney...I didn't ever check into it, but it would be interesting to find out how much less it is than a car.
What the cost would be for 5 people?

HRH May 2005!!!!!!

 

[hannahouse]

I wonder what the price difference would be for a towncar rides to and from the airport, to Universal and disney...I didn't ever check into it, but it would be interesting to find out how much less it is than a car.

We've got 3 transfers, and it's $160. Remember you've got parking to pay for, also. However, I think with a car, you might be able to save some with meals.

 

[shl1108]

Yes, I do remember running to get lunch at drive throughs for the kids when getting the car either from the airport, after parks et.. I know one morning too we grabbed some muffins & doughnuts at the store to eat. One night we went down to International drive (short drive) and went to dinner at the Olive garden with the kids.

Also, we went to a couple of stores to buy some cheap trinkets for the kids. One was a soft Mickey blanket after my daughter was sick (we spent the whole day at the clinic waiting, pharmacy waiting etc..) and I bought her a bunch of gatoraide. sp? Also, we ran to get some more sunblock, beer (on ice in the hotel).

When we go to Las Vegas we sometimes rent a car just when its the two of us. When we have brought our kids (gymnastics meet) we rented a car which our stroller broke so we cruised to wallmart to buy another one. It never fails with our kids that we have to go somewhere unexpected.
But sometimes when we travel getting taxi's can be cheaper. Depends on how much we have to change hotels/places and see other things. Sometimes it is cheaper than the RT transfers!

(quick story...we were in Vegas with some friends who wanted to use public transportation and buses for hire for everything...we were stuck at the airport for 6 hours previously, when we landed they wanted to go on a bus to get to the hotel. We smiled nicely and said OK...we wanted to pay extra for a taxi and get the heck to our hotel..needless to say,the bus wasn't full yet, so we sat there for over 45min. until the bus filled up...and it turns out the taxi would have been cheaper for the 5 of us)

I am just a huge advocate for my own transportation or quick taxi rides nearby!! Everyone is different

I also compare cost to renting and paying for parking as to how much realistically with tips for drivers it will be. This time I didn't because I knew we would need a car. I have to say that I was disappointed that you have to pay at the HRH for parking. But still for us it is more cost effective and flexible to get a car.

Can't wait for MAY 2nd! HRH club, cabana & fun!

 

[SplashMom]

We just returned last week and we did both--a towncar for transfers and a rental for a portion of the time. We were nervous about driving to and from the airport since we have little experience in Florida and we were arriving around 9 pm so we arranged Tiffany Towncar to pick us up. The towncar dropped us off at Pop Century and the next day we rented a car from Alamo (great rate--$138/week, taxes incl. full size) at the Dolphin. We used it for the week and returned it to the Dolphin (very easy). We then transferred to the Hard Rock Hotel in Universal where we didn't need a car (since we could walk to the parks from the HRH). We then had Tiffany do the transfer. At the end of our trip, Tiffany returned us to the airport--no worry about returning the vehicle when we were in a rush. It worked out perfectly. Tiffany was $125 for the three way transfer (there is an online coupon for $5). The total combined was reasonable and we just had the car when we needed it.