Bought 7 day pass for $10 via Internet - received before I left. Upon arriving at MCO, I took LYNX 42 (after wait of about 15 minutes) to new Publix on International. Driver let me out at Publix entrance. Had to roll luggage through entrance and parking lot, not too bad. Bought "had to have" things, e.g., Atkins bars, Diet Rite, bottled water, etc. Took cab to resort. Screwed here as cab driver took I4 almost doubling the mileage, I expect, and the meter clicked as we waited to get on I4 to travel to the next exit. Next time, I'll insist that driver go via 535, Hotel Plaza, Pleasure Island, etc. It's only about 5 miles that way. When I asked driver, she said "too long" (I acquiesed this time, but not again). Fare was $15.75 plus my tip...$20 total.
Once at resort, Bellman loaded up stuff (including all the groceries), I checked in, and then he took me via van to my studio and unloaded the groceries. I gave him a $5 tip.
So, I got to the room for the LYNX fare of $1.50 (without a pass, the way I'll do it next time) plus the $20 cab ride with tip plus the $5 bellman tip. I had all the groceries I needed for the week too (somethings I simply felt I could not do without). It was about five hours for me to get from the airport, lollygagging around at the grocery, waiting for taxi, taxi ride, checkin, etc. I arrived at about 1:00 pm and was in my room with all my groceries unloaded by 6:00.
The ride from the airport to the Publix was about 1.5 hours, but pleasant enough, on Beeline and then down International Drive.
With the bus pass, I caught the 56 from the transportation center at WDW down 192. Went all the way to the Osceola Mall, but it was horrible and caught the next bus back. .
Another day, I caught the 50 from the transportation center to Downtown Station and then caught the 4 to the Millenia Mall. Horrible dropoff by the street without any cover from the sun or rain. Mall was not worth it for me. Also, hanging around the Downtown Station was not particularly pleasant. And, I wasted big part of the day waiting on buses. Won't do that again.
The 50 stops at Sea World and bus driver subsequently told me that I could have gotten off at the first stop after it comes off I4 and walked a block or so to Westwood to go to the Florida Mall (has a dropoff directly at the mall) and to go all the way back to the Publix and the Premium Outlets.
This was an adventure and I learned alot. Next time, I'll simply pay the $1.50 fare from the airport to the Publix, insist on the shorter cab ride, and if I want to hit Sea World, simply pay another fare there and back. You can also buy a day pass for $3. On some trip in the future I may try the above switcheroo to get to the Fl mall, but not next time.
I took Mears back for $19 (including tip).
Bus was certainly worth it for me to hit Publix on way in. And, I will do this again next time (August). It seems a very efficient way to get groceries in terms of both time and money, particularly since I may not have been able to get into my room before 4:00.
Iride trolley runs up and down Intl Drive too but I didn't use.
Go to www.golynx.com for systems map and specific schedules. If you're used to a limo, you might experience some culture shock going via Lynx, but for me (55 years old), the trip from the airport to the Publix is THE way that I'll ensure that I am able to pick up my needed stuff on the way to the resort.
Once at resort, Bellman loaded up stuff (including all the groceries), I checked in, and then he took me via van to my studio and unloaded the groceries. I gave him a $5 tip.
So, I got to the room for the LYNX fare of $1.50 (without a pass, the way I'll do it next time) plus the $20 cab ride with tip plus the $5 bellman tip. I had all the groceries I needed for the week too (somethings I simply felt I could not do without). It was about five hours for me to get from the airport, lollygagging around at the grocery, waiting for taxi, taxi ride, checkin, etc. I arrived at about 1:00 pm and was in my room with all my groceries unloaded by 6:00.
The ride from the airport to the Publix was about 1.5 hours, but pleasant enough, on Beeline and then down International Drive.
With the bus pass, I caught the 56 from the transportation center at WDW down 192. Went all the way to the Osceola Mall, but it was horrible and caught the next bus back. .
Another day, I caught the 50 from the transportation center to Downtown Station and then caught the 4 to the Millenia Mall. Horrible dropoff by the street without any cover from the sun or rain. Mall was not worth it for me. Also, hanging around the Downtown Station was not particularly pleasant. And, I wasted big part of the day waiting on buses. Won't do that again.
The 50 stops at Sea World and bus driver subsequently told me that I could have gotten off at the first stop after it comes off I4 and walked a block or so to Westwood to go to the Florida Mall (has a dropoff directly at the mall) and to go all the way back to the Publix and the Premium Outlets.
This was an adventure and I learned alot. Next time, I'll simply pay the $1.50 fare from the airport to the Publix, insist on the shorter cab ride, and if I want to hit Sea World, simply pay another fare there and back. You can also buy a day pass for $3. On some trip in the future I may try the above switcheroo to get to the Fl mall, but not next time.
I took Mears back for $19 (including tip).
Bus was certainly worth it for me to hit Publix on way in. And, I will do this again next time (August). It seems a very efficient way to get groceries in terms of both time and money, particularly since I may not have been able to get into my room before 4:00.
Iride trolley runs up and down Intl Drive too but I didn't use.
Go to www.golynx.com for systems map and specific schedules. If you're used to a limo, you might experience some culture shock going via Lynx, but for me (55 years old), the trip from the airport to the Publix is THE way that I'll ensure that I am able to pick up my needed stuff on the way to the resort.
