Not sure where to post this....Getting from WDW resort to Universal

[Kimber767]

I will be going to WDW in the fall..probably September. We plan to stay at a Disney resort. BUT...we'd also like to go to Universal Studios for a day. I use a wheelchair, and am wondering if there would be an issue getting transportation from WDW to Universal and back again? Should I work this out on the Disney end, or by contacting Univeral? We are flying down, and really do not want to rent a van for the one day we are going off Disney property.

 

[deerhart]

your either going to have to rent something or take a taxi to get between the two. The only transportation between Disney and universal is public busing, nothing by either company.

 

[Kimber767]

Oh, OK, thanks. That is what I thought, but figured I would ask.

 

[Kimber767]

OK, another question. I use a power chair, and it does not fold up or anything. Is there some sort of public wheelchair transport I could make a reservation with?

 

[jmartinez1895]

http://www.dexknows.com/local/trans...s/geo/c-orlando-fl/att/handicapped-accessible
These compaines claim to be accessible, but I'm not sure to what degree. You may want to start contacting them now and checking out what they offer and pricing. You may find it better to rebnt a van ( I know you don't want to), because I think that with a power chair taxis are going to be very few and far between. I have heard a place call discount mobility usa rents vans at a good rate.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to move this to from the disABILITIES Community Board to the disABILITIES Board since it is about travel to WDW.

 

[Kimber767]

Thanks for moving it, Sue. One of my friends who is coming with us has family in Orlando, so she is going to ask them to suggest some places as well.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Mears Transportation, which runs most of the taxicabs in Orlando, has over 20 accessible cabs. Their dispatch number is 407-422-2222. You can call and reserve one of the accressible cabs, they charge the same as the regular cabs. Also, you can call without a reservation, but that will probably add (a lot) to your wait time as they would have to locate an available cab and send it to your location.

 

[clkelley]

Mears also has accessible shuttles. It is approximately $16 RT per person to go to Universal.

From your Disney room, dial '0" the night before you want to go to Universal. Tell the WDW operator you want to be connected to Mears

Tell them you want to go to Universal, where you are staying, approximately what time you want to leave, and stress to them that you need an accessible van.

They will give you a pickup time and location for the next morning.

Be at the location they state about 15 minutes before pickup.

When they arrive, pay the driver the fare IN CASH per person.

You will be transported to Universal. This is a shared ride and it is possible that you will stop at other hotel(s) before going to Universal, but it is less likely with the accessible vans.

When you get to Universal, you have two options. You can schedule your return at that time, OR you can call the phone number on your return voucher 2 hours before you wish to depart. Again, when you call remind them that you need an accessible van. You will be picked up at the same location you were dropped off and will be returned to your Disney resort. Once again, it is possible that you will have other guests in your van and stop at other hotel(s) on the return, but less likely with the accessible van.

If you would like to purchase the transfer with a credit card, then do the following:

Stop by ANY Mears desk at MCO before boarding DME and tell them you would like to purchase RT transfers from Disney to Universal Studios and tell them how many guests. You will then get paper ticket vouchers for your ride, BUT still call and make the actual transfer reservation the night before you wish to go over there.

I hope this helps!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

If you are interested on renting a wheelchair accessible van, there is information in post #2 of the disabilities FAQs thread. You can get to that thread at the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.
The van rental information is toward the end of post #2.

One heads up - wheelchair van rentals are quite expensive. Count on it possibly being twice the cost of renting a non accessible van.

 

[aubriee]

Mears also has accessible shuttles. It is approximately $16 RT per person to go to Universal.

From your Disney room, dial '0" the night before you want to go to Universal.

Tell them you want to go to Universal, where you are staying, approximately what time you want to leave, and stress to them that you need an accessible van.

They will give you a pickup time and location for the next morning.

Be at the location they state about 15 minutes before pickup.

When they arrive, pay the driver the fare IN CASH per person.

If you would like to purchase the transfer with a credit card, then do the following:

Stop by ANY Mears desk at MCO before boarding DME and tell them you would like to purchase RT transfers from Disney to Universal Studios and tell them how many guests. You will then get paper ticket vouchers for your ride, BUT still call and make the actual transfer reservation the night before you wish to go over there.

I hope this helps!!!

Just a quick, probably stupid question: I will also be needing a ride from WDW to US, but will not need an accessible van, so I guess I can just call the 0 from my room phone the same way? You said pay in cash for the round trip. When do you tip, 1/2 to each driver or just tip when you pay for the r/t when you are dropped off at US?

 

[clkelley]

Yep, if you don't need an accessible van, it works the same way, you will just be picked up by their normal service, either in a van or large bus, depending on the number of folks that have reservations.

If you choose to tip, then 1/2 for each driver is appropriate.

Oops, I just realized I missed one important fact in my original post. When you dial 0 from your WDW room, that gets you the WDW operator.

Tell the operator that you need to be connected to Mears.

The voucher you receive for your return trip, will have the Mears phone number on it to call from your cell phone for your return.

 

[JuniperJen]

We used the Mears shuttle in 2004 (we were actually staying at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel and used the shuttle to go to MK and back). I was using an ECV, so we rode in the accessible van. On the morning trip to MK, we stopped at one hotel to pick up a family of three with a son in a power chair. On the return trip, we were the only ones in the van.
We will be using Mears in December when we stay on site at Disney. My husband is dying to see Harry Potter at Universal, so we will probably go to Universal one or two days in the Mears accessible van. For us, it is a better option than renting an accessible van for two days.
I hope you have a great trip!