My Wife Calls Me 'Cheap': Has Anyone Taken Public Busses From MCO To A WDW Resort???

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Captain Blue Sky
I truly appreciate the insights you all have given me. Although, I have to say that the www.golynx.com website DOES list dozens of Disney stops at many of the big hotel complexes... And the route that their online trip planning service provided from MCO to WDW really only showed 1 transfer!

The 3D routes (Downtown - Disney Direct, #300-304) are cast member commuter buses. They pick up throughout Orlando, and drop off at various cast-only places throughout Disney in the early AM (like, 7am), and then do the reverse, and pick up at various cast only places at Disney in the afternoon, and return to various Orlando areas.

Only the 50 and the 56 are regularly scheduled to run to Disney. And when they do, they only drop off at the Transportation & Ticket Center... so, yes, on Lynx, you only have one transfer to get to WDW. It's once you're at WDW that you transfer more using Disney Transport.

 

[antmaril]

I agree with your wife!

 

[ducklite]

If I were your wife, I'd be in WDW having fun with the kids, having taken a car service, while you were standing at a bus stop someplace

While I can understand trying to save a little money, this isn't how I'd start my vacation.

Anne

 

[riu girl]

Captian Blue Sky,
Maybe you could consider this transportation option:

Rent a car from Thrifty rentals (just off-site at MCO).

Using discount code AU02 you can rent an economy car for $79 US/week. Including taxes and fees the total is $105 US/wk.

We rented one for our upcoming holiday in December but had to split the rental (Dec. 18-23) and then Dec 23-31. Which is fine for us since we will be leaving WDW on the 23rd and going to the beach for a week. We can simply swing by Thrifty and pick up our new rental on the way to the beach.

Using this code you can only book for a 4 to 10 day period at a time. I don't know how long you will be in WDW but you might want to consider this option.

Even if you rented from Alamo for $36 per day , then you would have to rent from them again (at another $36) to get back to MCO at the end of your holiday. For a little more $ you would have the car for your whole vacation.

Let me know what you decide.

Suzy
PS - Any more news on I-air????

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

Hi Suzy,

You had such a good idea!! Although I was not able to use Discount Code UA02, I was able to make a reservation for a Dodge Intrepid 4-door sedan for only $100 for the whole week!!!!

$100 for the whole week is an unbelievable rate!!! And to think that I was going to take the bus!!!

Again, thanks for the great idea!!! I owe you!!!

Unfortunately, there is no 'new' news about I Air. Although, the I Air people at the airport the other day didn't look at all too happy...

Thanks so much for the tip!!

 

[seashoreCM]

I have taken public buses from airports to other places, but not to Disney.

A huge disadvantage of Lynx to Disney is that you first head up, away from Disney at least half an hour to the transfer point in downtown Orlando. Then you backtrack to the latitude of the airport and then down to Disney. All in traffic.

Unfortunately I dislike taxis for long rides, because there are too many complaints about running up the meter and even normal waiting in traffic will. If you can find an official (not gypsy taxi) flat rate service at the airport that would be the best thing to do short of a car rental.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

When you reach someone's voice mail are you often guilty of sending an empty envelope?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

 

[riu girl]

Captain Blue Sky,

I used AU02 to get an economy for $79/week (105 US toal taxes and fees incl.)(Thrifty)


What code did you use to get an Inteprid for $100/week (I assume taxes and fees are on top of that)?

I might upgrade to get an Inteprid also if it is only a little more $$$.

Don't feel you owe me at all. You have provided me with invaluable info. on Independence Air.

Have a great day.

Suzy V.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

Hi Suzy,

I didn't use a code to get the $100 per week for an Intrepid!! I just put in my dates (June 2005) and POOF!! There it was!!

It might be a special??? It was not the first, second, or third car in the results field. I had to scroll down the page and there it was!!!

I had to print it out to show my wife as she thought I had flipped my ever-lovin' lid!!! She thought I was pulling her leg! Was she surprised when I showed her the confirmation!!!

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

I noticed you live in North Carolina.
Why are you flying to Orlando?
It's not a bad car ride from North Carolina to WDW.
If you leave at 5 in the morning you'll be at WDW by 4 in the afternoon. Just in time to check in, rest a while and go to dinner. Trust me, it's No Big Deal!
I drove down from Boston with my wife and 4 year old daughter last March and I'm driving down from Boston next April.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree with your wife!!! I can see one person doing this if they have the time, but a family? Really make your wife's day and arrange a town car if you don't need a car when you're there. Who wants to lug all the luggage on a bus?

Oops, I just read through some of the replies and see you decided on a rental car..good choice!

T&B

 

[Jen D]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
If you are really considering this as a big cost, how do you plan to eat at WDW? Also what about souveniers? If you can't afford the transportation to the resort from the airport, you really should save your money and stay home until you can afford the cost.

Now where did he say he couldn't afford it? I didn't see that. He is trying to pinch pennies, two different things! I'm a cheapskate too, I'm sympathetic. But we cheapskates do enjoy the good things in life, and many of us can afford them! But if we can get the same result for a cheaper price.... that's the ticket. We just don't like to feel we are paying too much for something that can be had easily for less money. So we try to look at all the options.

That said-- Captain, I'm glad you have abandoned the public transport idea and are opting for a car! Some cities are set up with low cost public transport from the airport to major tourist areas-- rail or direct bus or whatever. Orlando is not one of them! Renting a car or getting a towncar definitely falls in the category of "worth the cost."

 

[Twende]

And found it to be wondeful!

The pick up area at the airport is right where the other shuttle buses are. The LYNX buses are very modern and not crowded. They stoop down if you need them to, like if you are in a wheelchair or scooter.

We took our luggage on wheels and set it in the area by our feet and had no problems at all. We paid I think $1.25 it might have been $1.50( March 2003) and asked for a free transfer. We went to the downtown bus station and transfered to the next bus. I think we waited about 10 minutes in a very nice outdoor bus station. The drivers were wonderful and polite and walked us over to our next bus. All of 60 feet away! LOL!

We took that bus to the Transportation Center in Disney and from there we had our choice of normal Disney transportations. We were headed to The Pop so we took the Disney bus to MGM and an MGM bus to Pop Century, our resort.

It took us well under 2 hours and we did not have a problem or care in the world!

It was all very easy to do and we figured that we could do something much more contructive with the saved money! It was a relief not to wait to get a rental car and then figure out how to get to where we were headed!

There were others on our plane flight that were headed to the same resort as we were and they rode the shuttle bus from the airport and we beat them to the front desk!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Twende, nice to know it can be done! Glad you had a good experience.

 

[riu girl]

In all honesty, if just DH and myself, I would try the bus. But since we will have two young kids awake from 3:30 am and then take them on two different flights (and a two hour stopover in between) in order to get to MCO, I just think (for my piece of mond and stress level) it would be easier to rent a car. And since we got a rental from Thrifty for 79US per week (plus taxes and fees) I feel we are getting good value.

But as I mentioned above, if just DH and me, I would take the bus and then put the transportation $ saved towards something really special at WDW.

Suzy V.

 

[Jen D]

Well done Twende! I'm impressed.