Please tell me about the water taxis and other transportation

[cheesemouse]

Hello - A little background: We will be doing a split WDW/Universal stay in February. 4 nights at Bay Lake Tower and 4 nights at Portofino. We will have a rental car. We have 2 small children and two strollers. My DH will be attending a conference during the mornings of the Universal days. My questions:

1) Please tell me about the water taxis. How long does it take from Portofino to Universal Studios and how long to IOA? How frequently do they run?

2) Are the water taxis stroller friendly or would I have to fold up the strollers? I am contemplating going to IOA with the kids by myself during the mornings but don't know that I can manage keeping track of two kids on a boat and trying to fold/unfold the stroller, hold bags, etc.

3) Where do the water taxis drop you off for IOA? Is it a lot of walking to the park entrance?

4) If we don't do the water taxi, how long of a walk is it from Portofino to IOA?

5) Lastly, if the strollers prove to be too much for the water taxis, can we drive and park at IOA? Is the parking close?

Thanks! We have lots of experience with WDW but ZERO with Universal and it's stressing me out!!!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

There is one drop-off place from all the resorts to Citywalk, which is walking distance to the entrance to both theme parks. We've never waited more than 15 - 20 minutes for a taxi.

If I recall, you will have to fold up the strollers. Maybe someone else has a clearer recollection than me on that one, but every time I've gone, everyone is seated in the benches and strollers are folded up.

It's not a lot of walking from the drop-off point to either park. Maybe three minutes to Universal and five to Islands? Everything is very, very close together.

I've never stayed at the Portofino, but I have stayed at HRH and the RPR. They're kind of long walks, IMO. I guess it depends on your enthusiasm at the start of the day and/or your exhaustion at the end of the day. I'd estimate that HRH/RPR walks to the parks are 15 - 20 minutes at our pace. Portofino is further than the other two hotels. But the walks are absolutely gorgeous. It's a seriously nice stroll.

No, you wouldn't want to drive. You'll end up parking really far. Onsite guests are much closer to the parks than those parking in the daily-guest garages.

I know in the past, too, there is a van that you can take to the hotels. We've had to take it when it's been raining.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[mdb78]

The water taxis are stroller friendly. We just parked ours at the front of the boat and sat on the bench on the front of the boat. The water taxi driver said there was no need to fold it down, which was a plus for us since our stroller breaks down into two pieces. This was 2 weeks ago and I guess we got lucky since the most # of strollers that were on were 3 full size strollers (including ours) after park closing. None were folded down. Now, if you just happen to get on a boat were most of the passengers had strollers, I'd assume you would be asked to fold it down if it doesn't fit up front.

 

[cheesemouse]

Thank you for the responses!

 

[donaldduck352]

I have seen as many as six strollers on the boat.There is always the walking path that is very beautiful and tranquial,but it's a long one(for me) to CW.It comes out at the entrance of the Studios.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Hello - A little background: We will be doing a split WDW/Universal stay in February. 4 nights at Bay Lake Tower and 4 nights at Portofino. We will have a rental car. We have 2 small children and two strollers. My DH will be attending a conference during the mornings of the Universal days. My questions:

1) Please tell me about the water taxis. How long does it take from Portofino to Universal Studios and how long to IOA? How frequently do they run?

We stayed at Porofino in July 2010, the boats were running every 30min. I think the water taxi took 5-8 min. We did not take the boats very often as they were very crowded in July. Hopefully Feb crowds will be much lower

2) Are the water taxis stroller friendly or would I have to fold up the strollers? I am contemplating going to IOA with the kids by myself during the mornings but don't know that I can manage keeping track of two kids on a boat and trying to fold/unfold the stroller, hold bags, etc.

Our kids are older, so no strollers, but I saw families with kids in the stroller

3) Where do the water taxis drop you off for IOA? Is it a lot of walking to the park entrance?

The drop off is the same for IOA as it is for Studios, kind of in the middle and not far for either park.

4) If we don't do the water taxi, how long of a walk is it from Portofino to IOA?

If you find the water taxi too crowded or not coming fast enough, there is a bus that comes to the front of the hotel, runs ever 30 min. We did not take the bus, so I can't really comment on stroller use. We used the rickshaw's everyday, you pay separately for them. I am not sure how well a stroller would work using them though. I found the walk and even the short cut walk too far for us, especially after a long day. We timed it at 25 min, too long for us.

5) Lastly, if the strollers prove to be too much for the water taxis, can we drive and park at IOA? Is the parking close?

PBH is much closer than driving and parking. I would not recommend parking at the main lot, you would be farther.

Thanks! We have lots of experience with WDW but ZERO with Universal and it's stressing me out!!!

see comments above
Hope you have a great time

 

[La2kw]

There is also a shuttle bus that makes rounds from the hotels to the parks. It hits all three hotels and the drop off area near Universal Studios and Citywalk.