Sun Pass- worth it to buy?

[asmit4]

We are going from MCO to DW and we are renting a car. Is it worth it to just buy a Sun Pass? Seems the rental agencies screw you with crazy fess for this. I figure if we go to DW once per year for even a few years we will more than make up the cost.
How difficult is it to pay the fees manually with cash if we are just going from MCO to DW to Aquatica, and back to MCO?

 

[Thumper_Man]

If you are just going from MCO to WDW & back, then no; its not worth buying the Sun Pass. There are still booths that accept cash and it is by far cheaper to pay this way.

From WDW to Aquatica there shouldn't be any toll booths. At least we didn't encounter any when we went to Sea Word in December last year. Aquatica is in the same vicinity as SW.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Forgot to mention it wasn't very difficult to pay using cash. We took a roll of quarters along and I believe most booths had a lane that you could just toss the quarters in to pay the tolls. Less people in this lane and much faster.

 

[sam_gordon]

We are going from MCO to DW and we are renting a car. Is it worth it to just buy a Sun Pass? Seems the rental agencies screw you with crazy fess for this. I figure if we go to DW once per year for even a few years we will more than make up the cost.
How difficult is it to pay the fees manually with cash if we are just going from MCO to DW to Aquatica, and back to MCO?

We drove from MCO to FLL for a cruise back in June (then returned via Cocoa Beach). National charged us $8-10 (+tolls). I don't consider that exactly "crazy". Now yes, if we returned yearly it might be worth getting a sunpass, but it would take three trips to start "earning" money.

 

[asmit4]

I found a car for a rental company- maybe hertz? or one of the main ones that wanted 8.99 PER DAY PLUS tolls! For a 7 day rental that's another 60 some bucks!

 

[rwdavis2]

Just get a roll of quarters and pay attention to which lanes take exact change.

 

[sam_gordon]

I found a car for a rental company- maybe hertz? or one of the main ones that wanted 8.99 PER DAY PLUS tolls! For a 7 day rental that's another 60 some bucks!

We used National. I think it was $4.99/day that we USED Sunpass. We used it two days.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I found a car for a rental company- maybe hertz? or one of the main ones that wanted 8.99 PER DAY PLUS tolls! For a 7 day rental that's another 60 some bucks!

Yeah, they can get crazy.

We accidentally discovered the best way to go last time. I think ME uses this route.

Once you get your rental car, head towards the South Exit to Toll 417. Turn right onto 417 (or just follow the signs to Disney World/Tampa). This road should just lead you straight to WDW. There will be 2 tolls along the way. One I think was $1.75 and the other one I think was $2.00. The Exact Coins booth is usually to the left. Big Blue sign, can't miss them.

After you pay the 2nd toll,
You will see a sign that says "Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, 4 Miles." Immediately after there is another sign for "Exit 6, International Drive. To: 536, 535, I-4 East. 3/4 mile."

A little further down the road you will see another sign that says "Exit 6. World Center Dr. EPCOT, Downtown Disney, Next Right."

Take Exit 6 for International Drive/World Center Drive. If you keep going to Exit 3, you'll have to pay another toll at this exit. Unless you don't mind paying another toll, then you can just proceed to Exit 3. There is no toll at Exit 6.

Keep going on World Center Drive and eventually you'll see this.

 

[gmeh1]

We used National. I think it was $4.99/day that we USED Sunpass. We used it two days.

$2.95 fee per rental day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates) . You are only charged if you use it.
Participation is automatic once you use it.https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

 

[gmeh1]

Yeah, they can get crazy.

We accidentally discovered the best way to go last time. I think ME uses this route.

Once you get your rental car, head towards the South Exit to Toll 417. Turn right onto 417 (or just follow the signs to Disney World/Tampa). This road should just lead you straight to WDW. There will be 2 tolls along the way. One I think was $1.75 and the other one I think was $2.00. The Exact Coins booth is usually to the left. Big Blue sign, can't miss them.

After you pay the 2nd toll,
You will see a sign that says "Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, 4 Miles." Immediately after there is another sign for "Exit 6, International Drive. To: 536, 535, I-4 East. 3/4 mile."

A little further down the road you will see another sign that says "Exit 6. World Center Dr. EPCOT, Downtown Disney, Next Right."

Take Exit 6 for International Drive/World Center Drive. If you keep going to Exit 3, you'll have to pay another toll at this exit. Unless you don't mind paying another toll, then you can just proceed to Exit 3. There is no toll at Exit 6.

Keep going on World Center Drive and eventually you'll see this.

That third toll (after exit 6) is unmanned, exact change is required. I love exit 6.

 

[Thumper_Man]

That third toll (after exit 6) is unmanned, exact change is required. I love exit 6.

Good to know. I'll have to remember that for the future.

 

[sam_gordon]

$2.95 fee per rental day (24 hr. interval) that customer incurs tolls, plus tolls (at posted cash/TOLL-BY-PLATE rates) . You are only charged if you use it.
Participation is automatic once you use it.https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

Thanks. I was going off my memory of looking at the receipt. And you remember what they say about getting older... wait, I forget.

 

[MillauFr]

I guess I don't understand why people who go once a year don't buy the transponder. Using quarters seems so antiquated.

Besides the days when toll agencies have people collecting tolls or have bins where you throw quarters into are quickly coming to an end.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I would never purchase it just to go to the airport and back. It took no time with dollar bills and a roll of quarters, remember to get a receipt. I never had any issue with chargers nor was pressured for the tolls with my rentals.
Just got home Saturday.

 

[jnfr2424]

I have a sun pass and yes I rent a car for me its the convenience of not having to stop and pay a toll. I just keep driving until I get there. Besides its easy to budget I just put $20 on the account and leave it- whatever I use I use. It will be used again for another upcoming trip

 

[asmit4]

I have a sun pass and yes I rent a car for me its the convenience of not having to stop and pay a toll. I just keep driving until I get there. Besides its easy to budget I just put $20 on the account and leave it- whatever I use I use. It will be used again for another upcoming trip

I am going to buy one. We will be going once a year and I have immediate family that will be going also a few months after us. They say it's transferable to different cars- just like our EZ pass in NY. It will just be nice to always have it.

 

[Moparlar]

I have a sun pass and yes I rent a car for me its the convenience of not having to stop and pay a toll. I just keep driving until I get there. Besides its easy to budget I just put $20 on the account and leave it- whatever I use I use. It will be used again for another upcoming trip

I believe some of the tools are cheaper with a sunpass than using cash.

 

[ParrotBill]

We visit almost every year and we drive to Tampa where there is one expressway that has no manned tolls... so we bought a Sunpass.

And this time we drove the Greenway all the way around to avoid Orlando I-4 traffic and the Sunpass made it a breeze with the full-speed overhead toll sensors. We also took a trip to Miami once where there is an expressway with no manned tolls.

If you buy one, get the one that can be moved - has suction cups. The lower cost one is a permanent one-car stick on.

We take ours when we drive or when we fly for Rental cars as I cannot stand the outrageous added price the rental car companies charge.

 

[asmit4]

I just bought one. It will be mailed to me. the suction cup kind I can pass from rental to rental and to close family members for their trips. I just want to avoid the headaches.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks. I was going off my memory of looking at the receipt. And you remember what they say about getting older... wait, I forget.

LOL, CRS, something I suffer from.