how safe is travelling in taxi with small kids and no husband

[newfiegirl]

I am so nervous about traveling without my DH....my 3 year old and myself were planning on taking a day and going shopping to the mall...are the taxi services safe?

 

[marivaid]

As long as you stick to real cabs and not those vans with "for hire" on top (never seen any inside Disney though) you'll be fine. The drivers aren't always chatty but they take you where you want to go and that's pretty much all you need from them.

 

[duffy]

Women have been travelling without men for years, and they've been fine.

I went in Nov. 2009 with my sister, my daughter, her daughter and her son. He was the only man, and he was 5 years old. We drove to the airport, got to Orlando, rented a car and spent a great week without any husbands.

 

[tkldisney]

If staying on Disney property one of the bellmen will get car for you to mall. If your going to Prime Outlets, when you leave you will see taxi's lined up where you were dropped off. If you'll feel safer just pick one from the same co that dropped you off. As previous post just don't get one that says "for hire".

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I really don't get this living in fear of everyone else thing...don't mean to flame, but it is not like you are in Somolia or something.
Again, I apologize, I just find this totally ridiculous.

 

[duffy]

Phil, I agree totally, but I just was not brave enough to post my true thoughts.

I don't recall ever hearing or reading anything cautioning women to NOT travel without men. This is not Iraq or Afghanistan. You do not need to have a male relative escort you anywhere.

 

[marivaid]

Phil, I agree totally, but I just was not brave enough to post my true thoughts.

The first thing that popped into my head when I read the OP was "what is this, 1842 ??" but then I decided to be Nice Girl for once and actually answer the question

 

[Hannathy]

I really don't get this living in fear of everyone else thing...don't mean to flame, but it is not like you are in Somolia or something.
Again, I apologize, I just find this totally ridiculous.

I agree! I am a middle aged woman and this new generation of women really worry me! Considering all the stuff we had to fight for and go thru to get where we are and now it seems like they are going backwards. There is no way the changes that are in place would have every been accomplished if we had been as afraid and timid as this group is. I blame this on the current overprotective parenting. Of course they are afraid they were never let off the apron strings and encouraged to be independent.

Use common sense and you will be fine.

 

[seashoreCM]

If the taxi in the batters box is not the brand you want, you are free to go to the on deck circle or even the bench. Sometimes you have to wait for someone else to take the cab at bat because a railing blocks the curb.

Yellow or Checker (not sure which) is the official taxi company for Walt Disney World but the other is just as good and reliable. The difference is that you have to pay the parking fee if he has to go through a Disney toll plaza even if it is not his first time through that day.

It is a good idea to have cash on hand because there are numerous reports of their not being able to take credit cards for some excuse or other.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

I am so nervous about traveling without my DH....my 3 year old and myself were planning on taking a day and going shopping to the mall...are the taxi services safe?

Don't worry about it. I did a solo trip last year and took a taxi from DTD to the outlets alone. As previous stated, the drivers aren't chatty, but they get you where you need to go without any problems. Enjoy shopping!

 

[TaraPA]

I've used taxi's in & around WDW for years alone, with other ladies or just me & the kids. It never even crossed my mind that it would be unsafe, as I travel alone or without another adult frequently. We never had any incidents or anything out of the ordinary to report.

 

[iloveokw]

Ok look this at a different perspective......maybe the OP isn't used to using taxis....never would need to take one in our town. Been in many taxis in big cities....every ride but one or two have scared the s**t out of us. On the other hand, no shopping in Orlando would be worth taking a small child to in a taxi tho.

 

[deedeetoo]

On the other hand, no shopping in Orlando would be worth taking a small child to in a taxi tho.

What is wrong with taxis, either for women or children? I travel frequently on business by myself, take taxis all the time, and never thought to be worried about it.

 

[newfiegirl]

For all of you who gave a less than polite response...yes that's what I think it was, I actually spent the last 4 years living in a community where not only are there NO taxis, there are perhaps 5 vehicles in total in the town. We travel by snow mobile and there are about 250 people living within our town. Now you might have a better perspective of why I might be nervous travelling with only my 3 year old. No it's not 1852, it's my reality! Thanks to the others who provided a helpful response.

 

[joelkfla]

I actually spent the last 4 years living in a community where not only are there NO taxis, there are perhaps 5 vehicles in total in the town. We travel by snow mobile and there are about 250 people living within our town.

Wow -- I'm picturing the TV shows "Northern Exposure" and "Air Alaska". It's very cool that you are experiencing that unique way of life for real.

Enjoy your visit to WDW, and prepare to be culture shocked!

 

[Hannathy]

For all of you who gave a less than polite response...yes that's what I think it was, I actually spent the last 4 years living in a community where not only are there NO taxis, there are perhaps 5 vehicles in total in the town. We travel by snow mobile and there are about 250 people living within our town. Now you might have a better perspective of why I might be nervous travelling with only my 3 year old. No it's not 1852, it's my reality! Thanks to the others who provided a helpful response.

I think people, myself included reacted to your referring to not having your husband with you, that a woman couldn't do it alone, she needed a man.


I think you would have gotten better replies if you had said

"how safe is it to take a taxi in Orlando?" "Are there any places I should avoid?, I'll be alone if that would matter, I won't be with a group" "What company should I look for or does it matter?"

 

[jdb in AZ]

newfiegirl, I'm glad you defended yourself. For a website that touts itself as being the friendliest Disney website, I've sure run across some trolls here.

Does newfie stand for Newfoundland? If so, the climate as well as the culture will be a real, um, adjustment for you. You may need to go to the parks early in the day, and when the heat gets to you, head back to your hotel and the pool (or the mall) then head back to the parks after sundown.

 

[duffy]

I think people, myself included reacted to your referring to not having your husband with you, that a woman couldn't do it alone, she needed a man.


I think you would have gotten better replies if you had said

"how safe is it to take a taxi in Orlando?" "Are there any places I should avoid?, I'll be alone if that would matter, I won't be with a group" "What company should I look for or does it matter?"

Exactly. I'm almost 50 and I haven't been in a taxi since I was a teenager, I barely remember it, so I probably would have questions too. But my husband grew up on a very isolated farm and the nearest town with a grocery store is a 30-minute drive away. He would not know any more than me what to do to get a taxi, or what is the best strategy.

Not having experience with taxis does not mean that you should necessarily have your husband with you.

 

[cel_disney]

The one thing that I think will make your case a little special is the need for your 3 year old to be in a carseat of some type. Thats florida law and it applies to taxis as well (not like NYC where its not a law for them).

I would suggest calling and scheduling a cab through the concierge at Disney with a carseat for both the ride there and back from the mall. And make sure you have a number to call if you need to change the return time. Often the drivers in the taxi line do not have carseats available.

That all being said - I am a carseat obsessor. I never let my kids ride without a 5 pt harness before 5 etc as a general rule...but when we went to Disney in 2008, we used a taxi to get us from POFQ to BC and used a taxi's carseat. It was a NIGHTMARE. I would have felt MUCH MUCH MUCH safer if I had asked for a booster and been able to rely on the carseat belt instead of the carseat to hold my child in place. Your daughter will be 3 - if she is big enough weight wise for a booster (most are tested at 30lbs), I would recommend asking for a booster instead of a carseat to avoid the grossness and scare factor that we had!!

To your original question - you will be fine traveling with just your 3yr old!!