Rental, Tiffany, Taxi or Mears -- A Transportation Question

[Daxx]

We're planning a quick 4 day jaunt to WDW in Oct. for the Columbus Day weekend (to celebrate DS's bday). We have our AP's so that expense is out of the way. We'd just need to pay for airline and WDW hotel. And transportation from airport.

Here's our question ... we're there for such a short time that we don't feel we need to get a rental car. Can anyone advise prices of Tiffany town car, taxis and/or Mears Shuttle from airport direct to WDW? We have 2 adults and one child (although may have 1 additional adult).

Thanks for any/all info.!

 

[Cyndo723]

Where are you staying onsite? This last April, I was able to do 2 one way car rentals for less than the price of a town car. The town car service usually runs about $85-$95 for a round trip. Renting a car for one day was under $40. You can pick up the car at the airport then return it the next day at the Dolphin. On your last night, you pick up the car at the Dolphin and return it to the airport the next day when you fly out. It is a little more effort, but it gives you the option to shop, resort hop, or eat out on the first and last days of your trip without the using the bus system. It is probably only worth it if the Dolphin is convenient to where you are staying and if you can get good rental rates.

 

[Cyndo723]

I forgot to add that taxis are the most expensive way to go. I forgot to make transportation arrangements one time and decided I'd just call a cab. ( I was traveling alone.) The trip to airport was almost $50 before the tip.

 

[Daxx]

Cyndo -

I never knew you could do that! That's cool to know!

We'd be staying at All Stars or Pop Century ... so getting the car to the Dolphin would be no problem. We could always use Disney transport to get back to All Stars.

What agency would I use to do this?! Thanks for your help!

 

[Cyndo723]

National is the one I used. I think it is the only one available on property at WDW. You can also drop off and pick up at the car care center, but I don't know how to get there on Disney Transportation. Mousesavers has codes for discounts.

 

[gigi1313]

national and alamo are both onsite at the dolphin and car care center...

check mousesavers for discounts... although we found the best rate thru bj's!

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

If you drop the rental car off at the Dolphin, there will not be a bus from Dolphin to All-Stars. You would have to go from Dolphin to a park then a park to All-Stars. Also, can you imagine getting on one of those crowded buses with all of your luggage? It's not worth it.

 

[ceecee]

$40.00 a day for a rental car will get you to the Dolphin, but won't you need a car to get back to the airport as well? Plus renting a car takes some time, with Tiffany towncar the guy is waiting on you and you get to the resorts a lot faster and if you are only going for 4 days I wouldn't want to waste any time.

 

[gigi1313]

Originally posted by LovesHauntedMansion
If you drop the rental car off at the Dolphin, there will not be a bus from Dolphin to All-Stars. You would have to go from Dolphin to a park then a park to All-Stars. Also, can you imagine getting on one of those crowded buses with all of your luggage? It's not worth it.

we typically check in/drop off luggage while we still have the rental car and then drop it off, take a bus or boat to wherever we're having dinner (usually epcot), and eventually make our way back to our hotel!

(we also visit my aunt who lives about 45 mins from disney on our first day, hence the real need for the car, but since we found it so convenient, i would recommend it, esp if you want to make a grocery/walmart stop... and the last time we were charged much less than the rate quoted 'cause we turned it in before a full day... we only had it about 8 hours)

 

[Cyndo723]

I would never try to use Disney buses with all of my luggage. You check in and drop off your luggage. Then drop off the car either that night after dinner or the next morning on your way to Epcot or MGM. On the last full day of your trip you pick up the car in the afternoon and take it back to your hotel. You pack up and leave the next morning. I didn't find it to be that much trouble at all. In fact, when you drop off the car at the Dolphin, the valet comes out to the car when you pull in and everything is done right there. No going to a desk or anything. It all depends on what you plan to do while you have the car. If you like to do "offsite things" it's a way to have the transportation needed for only the time when you need it. I guess it would also be possible to rent for one day to visit Universal or Sea World. It's just an option to keep in mind if it fits your plans

 

[Daxx]

If you drop the rental car off at the Dolphin, there will not be a bus from Dolphin to All-Stars. You would have to go from Dolphin to a park then a park to All-Stars. Also, can you imagine getting on one of those crowded buses with all of your luggage? It's not worth it.

No ... not quite. You'd rent your car at the airport and drive to All Stars and drop your luggage off. Then drive the car to the Dolphin and go to the parks from the Dolphin.

When you leave, you get Disney transport to the Dolphin and get the car and drive it to All Stars. Then, you put your luggage in the car. Then, you drive the car to the airport and drop the car off at the airport.

No reason, whatsoever, to have luggage on Disney transport! That would be insane!

Get it now?!

won't you need a car to get back to the airport as well?

If I understand correctly, you can rent a car at the Dolphin. You'd take Disney transport to the Dolphin to pick up the car, drive the car to your resort, load it, drive to the airport and drop it off at the airport.