Stupid Taxi Questions?

[DisneyLiz44]

So, from another thread I learned that for the 4 of us it will probably be cheapest to take a taxi from Yacht Club to Hard Rock Café in Universal Studios. I think. My stupid questions are:
1. The taxi fare rate quoted is for the cab ride not per person, right?
2. What is the going rate to tip the taxi driver?
2. Should I request a specific cab company or should I steer clear of any.
3. Whom/Where do I go to request the taxi in my resort?
4. How far in advance can I arrange it?
I live in the suburbs and maybe have used a taxi less than 10 times in my life!

 

[Alesia]

1. Right
2. 15% to 20%
3. Mears is the official cab of WDW
4. Just ask at bell services or the front desk. There are cabs just out of site all the time. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. To get back to your resort, just call mears - it shouldn't take long to get a cab.

 

[purple figment]

So, from another thread I learned that for the 4 of us it will probably be cheapest to take a taxi from Yacht Club to Hard Rock Café in Universal Studios. I think. My stupid questions are:
1. The taxi fare rate quoted is for the cab ride not per person, right? Right

2. What is the going rate to tip the taxi driver? 15-20%

2. Should I request a specific cab company or should I steer clear of any. Mears is the only cab company authorized to pick up fares on Disney property. Its cabs include Yellow, Checker and City cabs.

3. Whom/Where do I go to request the taxi in my resort? When you walk out the main entrance to the YC there will usually be several cabs waiting in the driveway. Valet can signal the first cab in line for you.

4. How far in advance can I arrange it? You really don't have to arrange it in advance. If there's no cab in sight at the main entrance, just let the valet desk know and they'll call one. Usually Disney limits the number of cabs waiting at the main entrance to 2 or 3, but there are additional cabs waiting their turn around the corner so it will be just a matter of a couple of minutes.
I live in the suburbs and maybe have used a taxi less than 10 times in my life!

I don't know Universal's cab policy, but I would choose a Mears taxi when returning to YC.

 

[DisneyLiz44]

Thanks for the answers. Sounds easy enough.
We will not be going back to yacht club. 4 days Disney- 3 days Universal- then renting a car to visit relatives on the east coast near Daytona. We are hoping to get tickets to the Daytona 500 to end our trip. I have been told it is easy to get tickets the week of the race in Florida (advised not to buy tickets online in advance).

Thanks Again!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There are good answers in this thread.

I just have a clarification about Mears taxi cabs. Mears in the Orlando area operates three brands: Checker Cab Company, Yellow Cab Company, and City Cab Company.

Only Checker Cabs are allowed to line up at taxi stands at Disney resort hotels and Disney theme parks. All other cab companies are forbidden from joining the line -- even Yellow Cab and City Cab.

At a WDW resort, an employee at the porte cochere will normally summon a cab for you. That often just involves signaling the first Checker Cab in the line, of it could involve calling the company. If someone summons a cab for you, a tip for that person is customary. (I usually tip $2 unless there's a reason to go higher or lower.)

One comment about tipping the cab driver: I agree that 15-20% of the metered fare is usually fine. If there's luggage and there are several passengers, and if the driver is friendly and helpful regarding the luggage, then it's often appropriate to go higher.

 

[Donna M]

So, from another thread I learned that for the 4 of us it will probably be cheapest to take a taxi from Yacht Club to Hard Rock Café in Universal Studios. I think. My stupid questions are:
1. The taxi fare rate quoted is for the cab ride not per person, right?
2. What is the going rate to tip the taxi driver?
2. Should I request a specific cab company or should I steer clear of any.
3. Whom/Where do I go to request the taxi in my resort?
4. How far in advance can I arrange it?
I live in the suburbs and maybe have used a taxi less than 10 times in my life!

Helpful questions.

I am 57 and have never used a cab. I walked form the cruise terminal in Montreal to the bus station because I didn't know how to use the cabs and too embarrassed to try. (It was a short enough walk...would have been a lot shorter it I didn't take a wrong turn!)

 

[dzndft]

Thanks for the questions and the replies. We will most likely take a taxi from WDW to US also. I have researched the rates, but would like to hear from someone who has actually taken a cab recently and what their fare was. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.