Transporation from MCO Airport to Universal Hotels

[jennifer333]

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice I've gotten reading these boards over the years. It has been a couple of years since we have gone to Universal and we are super excited for our upcoming trip at the end of this week. In the past with our vacations for WDW and the couple of times we have gone to Universal we've always used Mears shuttles. I have never had a horrible experience with them, but have frequently been frustrated by the amount of time we spent waiting at the airport until we actually get a shuttle. (I also dislike how early we have sometimes had to leave the hotel to get our shuttle at the end of our trip). This time I want to get to my hotel (the Royal Pacific Resort) as soon as possible. This trip is just me and my husband, but we are thinking of springing for a car service/towncar. Can anyone give suggestions for a reliabl car service. I was thinking of using Mears towncars or perhaps Tiffany Towncars... Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks very much.

 

[jillybeene71]

We used a car service... if you want my opinion on it...i could pm you with details.

 

[macraven]

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/vfh.htm

not all of the companies are good.

i could tell you i have used 7 different companies and some of them i have repeated.

have used happy limo, tiffany, murray hill, and the other 3 companies that i have used are not allowed to be stated on the disboards anymore.
they have been banned.

but i still use the one that was banned just this year.
i always have bob for a driver.
and they are the cheapest.
i use them for a 3 legged trip and pay under $120 for them.

everyone has a favorite company to use.

for me what i look for is clean car, clean driver, prompt and on time, a company that watches the websites and knows in advance what time my flight will arrive, meets me with a sign at the airport near luggage, makes a free grocery stop for me before i get to the hotel, treats me with respect and values my business, and doesn't blast radio music in the car.

i don't ask for much, eh...........

 

[robandeye]

I just booked trans through cbc transportation. It was the cheapest rate I found, and they seem to do all the things macraven asks for. I know a previous poster said they had a good experience w/ them. We are going in about 1-1/2 weeks, so I can report more when we get home. Hope this helps.

 

[jennifer333]

I just checked out CBC's website and they do seem to have better rates than Tiffany. I haven't seen as much about CBC on the boards though. Can anyone give more info or their experiences with CBC? Were the cars prompt and clean?

Thanks.

 

[angina]

Aside from the transportation companies, how much does a cab ride from the airport to one of the universal studio hotels cost?

Does the following sound like a correct quote for car service on a towncar:
$90 roundtrip from MCO airport to Universal hotels? Anything cheaper?

 

[macraven]

I just booked trans through cbc transportation. It was the cheapest rate I found, and they seem to do all the things macraven asks for. I know a previous poster said they had a good experience w/ them. We are going in about 1-1/2 weeks, so I can report more when we get home. Hope this helps.

I just checked out CBC's website and they do seem to have better rates than Tiffany. I haven't seen as much about CBC on the boards though. Can anyone give more info or their experiences with CBC? Were the cars prompt and clean?

Thanks.

read the trip report by ky07 in the trip forum.
he used cbd and was not happy. said he would never use them again.

just because a company is cheap doesn't mean it is a better company to use.
you get what you pay for.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1884849



there have been other trip reports that have mentioned their issues with that company.

 

[sunshine1010]

Don't forget --- you have to pay for daily parking at these hotels.

 

[dlbbwu]

Don't forget --- you have to pay for daily parking at these hotels.

We stayed at the Portofino this past June and I thought for sure I would have to pay for parking (been watching all the threads on parking). In fact I had to use my room key to get in and out of the gate at times. Alison also stayed there about the same week. We did not pay for parking (or was never charged for it) and I don't believe Alison was either.
Now maybe it was an oversight. I was really scared i was going to be charged since I had to use my room key to get in and out of the parking garage.

 

[sunshine1010]

dibbwu......whatever the case may be...I'm GLAD you didn't get charged. That's one less expense for you!

Personally, I don't support being charged for parking for somewhere that you go to (hotels, parks, etc.).

 

[dlbbwu]

I totally agree, Sunshine! Especially the price you have to pay for the Portofino hotel. It would seem all the "expensive" hotels charge for parking. We have stayed at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC and this hotel is not cheap ($490.00 per night + tax) and they charged $35.00 per day to park....ouch....