help! what would you do? Disney transportation

[srchavez1@aol.com]

We are heading to Florida in May and will be staying at Quality Suites Maingate East. It is the two of us (each 22 years old) so we won't be renting a car because it is too expensive if you are under 25. Given the fact that a car is out of the question...what is the best way to get around to disney, universal, downtown disney, and shopping? Our hotel does offer free transportation to Disney and Universal, but I've heard horror stories. Anyone use taxi service while in Disney? if so is it at least semi-reasonably priced? Thanks everyone!
John

 

[Lewisc]

Without a car I'd stay onsite (try for a code rate in a value) or at least in one of the DTD hotels.

Without a car you're probably going to be stuck getting a cab.

 

[mishoe01]

I would see how much of a cost difference it it b/w the Quality and a value resort on site. Staying on site and using Disney transportation is wonderful, and while buses may be crowded, it's not stressful (IMO).

Orlando also has a great public bus system (lynx) - you may want to look into that - I know they have a 7 day pass for $10 per person. Their website is www.golynx.com - there is a route (nbr 56) that runs along 192 (AKA Irlo Bronson Hwy) to TTC and MK (from there you can use Disney buses).

Hope this helps!

 

[spiceycat]

go to mousesavers and get the current discount codes and stay at a value resort.

if you don't have a car - this is probably the best solution.

 

[disneysteve]

I'll have to agree. Though I'm not a fan of the onsite hotels, in your case I think its the best option. There are only 2 of you so the size of the rooms isn't really an issue. Even if the onsite room costs a bit more, having the Disney transport will more than make up for it. You'll be able to do far more and not blow money on cabs and buses. You'll still need a cab (or something) to get to Universal, but not to get around Disney property.

Steve

 

[srchavez1@aol.com]

I appreciate the thoughts of staying onsite, however we are pretty tied to the quality suites...and am trying to make the best transportation plans. does anyone know the approx taxi cost from 192 area to Disney? Any other overall tips for our first trip together (each 22 years old) I have been to Disney with the family 6 times over the years...she has never been there before...any little tips or insite are greatly appreciated...Thanks everyone!
John

 

[disneysteve]

You can use the hotel shuttle to get to Disney. The only drawback to that is that it runs on a limited schedule - a few outgoing times in the morning and a few return times in the evening. But its not bad if you want to go and spend the day on property as long as you are back at the pick-up point in time for the bus.

 

[UKDEB]

We usually stay at villas close to the 192 and the taxi fares are around $30-$35 each way, so not a cheap option. Also, it's OK getting cabs from WDW to your accommodation as you can direct the driver, but trying to get them to pick you up and take you to Disney is another matter - they only seem to be familiar with locations on Disney property. I guess they would probably be OK with hotels on the 192.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by srchavez1@aol.com
I appreciate the thoughts of staying onsite, however we are pretty tied to the quality suites...and am trying to make the best transportation plans. does anyone know the approx taxi cost from 192 area to Disney? Any other overall tips for our first trip together (each 22 years old) I have been to Disney with the family 6 times over the years...she has never been there before...any little tips or insite are greatly appreciated...Thanks everyone!
John

John--ITA with Disneysteve. Normally you can get much better deals offsite BUT $30 cab rides will quickly eat up any financial savings and scheduled shuttles that take over an hour because they stop at many other hotels will get old quickly.

Not sure of your circumstances but you might really try to at least get a hotel in DTD. If you can't change your hotel just try to stay in the parks all day and budget some money for taxis.

 

[srchavez1@aol.com]

Thanks everyone for you input...I've looked into the orlando bus system and its schedule and it apprears as if the pick-up/drop-off area is very close to our hotel and it runs constantly throughout the day...also knowing I can buy a seven day pass online and have it already set when I leave is attractive. If anyone has any pro/con stories of the public bus system I would love to hear it...but right now it looks like our best option.
Thanks again,
John

 

[disneysteve]

Ok, my curiosity is getting the best of me. None of my business of course, but why are you so committed to the Quality Suites? I've stayed there and its a nice place, but it seems that the transportation issue would really make it not such a good choice.

Steve

 

[Tinkerbutt]

Disneysteve...since you asked the OP first and my curosity has the best of me too....why are you not a fan of onsite? I've never had the courage to try offsite so I was looking for a different opinion!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Tinkerbutt
Disneysteve...why are you not a fan of onsite? I've never had the courage to try offsite so I was looking for a different opinion!

This is a constant topic of debate around here. There are those who are firmly onsite fans and those who are just the opposite. I've done both numerous times (as my signature indicates). I think the options offsite are far better for us. I'll give a quick summary of our reasoning since this is OT for the thread. I'd be happy to go into more detail if you PM me.

1. We prefer to drive everywhere ourselves and not use Disney transport. We don't like waiting for buses and being limited to the routes they run. Why pay for a Disney hotel when we aren't going to use the transportation.

2. The rooms are small, even at the deluxe hotels. And the prices are ridiculous for what you get. Offsite we can get a 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo for as little as $55/nite, about the price of a Disney value hotel with a discount. For $79/nite, we can get a 3-bed, 2-bath house with a private screened-in pool. How can you possibly compare that to a plain room at All Stars?

3. Driving to and from the parks is really no big deal. Door to door, it only takes 10-15 minutes from the nearest developments or hotels to the parks. You could easily wait at least that long just to get a bus at a Disney hotel.

4. No matter where we stay, we always keep breakfast food on hand and eat in our room. That's much easier offsite where we have a full kitchen and full-size fridge/freezer.

5. We get 2 or more tv's so my daughter can relax and watch one show and my wife and I can watch something else.

6. When we don't share a room, we all sleep better. This alone is worth staying offsite for us. Disney is definitely one place where you need your rest to enjoy your days.

7. We still get to enjoy all that Disney has to offer. We can shop at DTD, eat at any of the onsite hotels, stop at AKL to look at the animals, watch fireworks from the Contemporary, rent a boat at the Poly, visit the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness, etc. You don't need to be a resort guest to do any of those things.

I could go on and on, but this isn't the place. Those are the main reasons, though.

 

[srchavez1@aol.com]

Reasons for our commitment...
1. We found a pretty good rate for a suite..$69 a night
2. We are going to be there four seven nights with 2 days off so even though there are only two of us we do want a larger area vs just a small room.
3. We want to options of eating offsite. We do not want to be handcuffed to the options of disney dining only.
4. We very much want a continental breakfast...so we can grab a quick free bite to eat before we head off to the parks.
5. We are 22 and while not looking to get too crazy or anything we are looking forward to the free drinks from 4-6 daily.
6. Not to take anything away from the value disney hotels..but they aren't exactly the type of hotel we are looking for. it seems like there would be lots of little kids running around everywhere...as well there should be, don't get me wrong this is disney and it is a great place for kids to go and i loved it when i was a kid...and i also know there will be plenty of kids staying at our hotel...i don't want this to sound bad..we are not against kids at all...we just prefer a hotel that caters to adult guests.
7. This hotel does offer free transportation to Universal, that would otherwise probably be pretty expensive as it is across town..that is one day we will probably just have to suck it up and use their transportation.

So with all of those things considered we have decided after making a check-list of the most important things to us...that quality suites has a definate advantage. In the very beginning of researching our trip we were considering the Contemporary, and while we are not on an extreme budget we decided that $200 or more a night was a little steep...and the value hotels weren't exactly what we were looking for.
Hope this helps, and if you think this is really crazy and i will regret my current plans...honestly please feel free to let me know. This is the first trip together we are planning and I'm not a Disney expert. This site has already helped me so much...I check it daily and will be much better off thanks to everyones input.
Thanks,
John

 

[disneysteve]

I don't think you're crazy at all. Actually, I think you've done a darn good job of thinking through the pros and cons and picking a place that fits your needs the best.

The only point on your list which doesn't really hold up is #6. There are just as likely to be a bunch of kids running around QS as onsite. I wouldn't describe QS as a hotel that caters to adults.

Other than that, I think you've made a really good choice. And $69 for QS is a great price. Their suites are roomy and the included breakfast is decent. Plus the free drinks if you are around in the afternoon (we never were when we stayed there) are an added bonus. Also, you are a short walk from Old Town which is a fun place to grab a bite to eat (Flippers has great pizza), shop at some unusual stores, do some rides - nice gokart track, have a drink, see some antique cars (cruise nites every Fri. and Sat.).

Have a great trip.

 

[Mickey527]

Some of your reasons do sound ok, but we are not here to judge the others. You plan the trip that is suitable to your needs.
I personally love staying on site, but I am a DVC member so I get larger rooms each trip. I am staying off site in May but I have a rental car.
Have you checked out L&M rental? I know they rent to people under 25 and if you get a rate from another rental car agency they will match it. Just make sure to bring your insurance papers from home if they cover rental cars.
Your hotel is in a nice area and you can walk to quite a few different restaraunts from it.
You might have a problem with the 4-6 happy hour time. I can't imagine leaving the parks via bus or cab and going back to the room for two hours and then going back to the parks. Let us know how that works out for you. Peggie

 

[srchavez1@aol.com]

The 4-6 Happy hour is actually a relatively minor detail...we will be staying seven nights...we have two days planned to just do some shopping and hang out around the pool...those will be the only days we will be utilizing the happy hour. You are very correct that it would not make sense to try to find transportation back to the hotel for 2 hours then back to the park...plus we wouldn't drink and then go back to the park...drinking alcohol ranks very low on our list of things to do...its just a nice benefit that the hotel offers that we would like to take advantage of once or twice.
John