How to get to places off site

[ilikedthecore]

Hi, can someone tells me the easiest/cheapest way for two people to get to offsite attractions such as Discovery Cove, Universal etc? The last time I went to Disneyworld we just got a taxi from the front of the hotel but I'm assuming this is not the most economical way? Renting a car is not something we want to do. Thanks!

 

[Elise79]

Getting offsite is easiest with a car - what are the reasons you don't want to drive? Personally, we wouldn't be without a car in Florida.

Other options are Mears shuttles which you can pre-book and are shared.

There is public transport which is cheap but will take you more time.

Taxis are the next most convenient to having your own car but are the most expensive.

 

[queendisney]

Hi, can someone tells me the easiest/cheapest way for two people to get to offsite attractions such as Discovery Cove, Universal etc? The last time I went to Disneyworld we just got a taxi from the front of the hotel but I'm assuming this is not the most economical way? Renting a car is not something we want to do. Thanks!

I take it you are staying on the WDW resort as you mention 'offsite attractions'.

To be honest both of the two attractions that you mentioned, Universal/IOA and Discovery Cove are far easier if you do catch a cab as the public transport is far to long winded for them. You can however catch a Lynx 50 bus to SeaWorld and walk across the parking lot to pick up a shuttle to Discovery Cove but again it takes up valuable time. So I would say Lynx 50 if you are going for the day to SeaWorld (it is quite quick and you can pick it up outside DTD or at the TTC). Lynx 50 again then transfer to an 8 for the Premium Outlets. Anything else I'd catch a cab or a Mears shuttle.

 

[Kath2003]

Hi, can someone tells me the easiest/cheapest way for two people to get to offsite attractions such as Discovery Cove, Universal etc? The last time I went to Disneyworld we just got a taxi from the front of the hotel but I'm assuming this is not the most economical way? Renting a car is not something we want to do. Thanks!

The cheapest way is the Lynx bus.

For Discovery Cove, Sea World & Aquatica it's cheap AND convenient. Go to either the TTC or Downtown Disney. Wait and the bus stop. Catch a #50 bus (every 30 minutes, timetables at www.golynx.com) - cost is $2 (notes or silver coin, no change given). Get off at Sea World (20 mins from Downtown Disney). From there, walk to Aquatica (5 mins) or Discovery Cove (5 mins) or go into the Sea World parking lot and follow the signs for a free shuttle bus to Discovery Cove (1 minute ride). To get back to Disney, pay another $2 and do the same thing in reverse.

For Universal, it's a bit more hassle, but doable.
1. Follow instruction as above for Sea World but ASK FOR A TRANSFER BEFORE YOU PAY. You will receive a ticket which allows you to board the next bus at no extra cost.
2. From the Sea World stop*, wait for a 38 (every 20 minutes) or 8 bus (every 15 minutes). Swipe your transfer ticket as you board, no need to pay again. Take the bus to Wet 'n' Wild (on the right) - around 20 minutes).
3. Get off the bus at Wet n Wild. Cross the street, and walk past Walgreens on your left. Cross Universal Boulvard as if you were heading toward iHop, but turn left instead. 10 minutes flat walk over the I4 will get you to Universal. You can see it from where you turn. Loads of people walk, it's not far.

Total journey time: 1-1.5 hours; sometimes you can get lucky and do it in around 50 minutes. On the way back, do the same but stand on the opposite side of the road from Wet n Wild, outside Walgreens, to catch a 38 or 8 back to Sea World, then the 50 back to Disney.

* Hint: if an I-Ride trolley comes along whilst you're waiting, you can pay another $2 (transfers aren't accepted, it's a different company) to board this one if you don't want to wait around. It will also take you to Wet n Wild - and back again!

For Universal, if you can't face the second bus, you can save a lot of money by taking the bus to Sea World from/back to Disney - it's a 20 minute $2 trip so consider if it's worth it. Cabs run about $15-20 from Universal to Sea World with a tip, and are readily available at both parks.

Anywhere else you want to go on the bus?!

 

[queendisney]

yes it is all do-able but so time consuming as you have to add on the time it takes to get from your resort to the TTC or DTD and the time your buses run to them in the morning. So if you want to get to Discovery Cove early you are far better off getting a taxi. Also if you are thinking of doing any of the new Harry Potter stuff at Universal you really do need to get there early as well...

 

[Rjsoto24601]

Where are the cabs located at DTD and what is the approx. fare and time to get to the Premium Outlets?

 

[chmurf]

Where are the cabs located at DTD and what is the approx. fare and time to get to the Premium Outlets?

you will find cabs at the Marketplace (maybe a couple of other places)
But there is a lot of construction going on at the moment in DTD, so they might have moved the cab station.


there are 2 premium outlets.
One on vineland that's closest to WDW, but with a little less stores and choice.
It will cost your roughly $18 each way (including a 10% tip) 15 minutes ride

and one is at the top of international drive and will cost around $40 each way, 30 minutes ride.

you can also take the bus to get there.
Lynx 50 to seaworld, then Lynx 08 (north for the international drive outlets, and south for the vineland outlets, they're both along Lynx 08)
that's $2pp each way but more time consuming.

 

[Rjsoto24601]

Thank you so much! Looks like we'll be going to the one on Vineland. The other is just too expensive to get there!

 

[zavandor]

When I went last September I've rented a car only for one of the weeks I was there. The first week I used Disney Transportation, the second I used the car to go offsite, this helped to cut the budget.

If you visit 2-3 locations outsite WDW, the cost of taxis quickly add up to the point the car is cheaper, other than much more convenient.