transport from airport to Universal?

[williamson_ja]

I am thinking about taking a first time trip to Universal. We would stay onsite. How does everyone get from the airport to the hotels? I am assuming that they don't have anything like Magical Express. Do you just get a taxi? I am worried about this as there would be 8 people in our travel party. This seems like it would be a hassle. I don't want to rent a car as we would need to rent 2 cars to fit that many people and really won't need one once we are at the hotel since we can walk to the parks.
Any thoughts....

 

[ky07]

I am thinking about taking a first time trip to Universal. We would stay onsite. How does everyone get from the airport to the hotels? I am assuming that they don't have anything like Magical Express. Do you just get a taxi? I am worried about this as there would be 8 people in our travel party. This seems like it would be a hassle. I don't want to rent a car as we would need to rent 2 cars to fit that many people and really won't need one once we are at the hotel since we can walk to the parks.
Any thoughts....

Most of us use shuttle services like mears but you would have to check thier website to find out how much it would be but I think it would be less exspensive and less of a hassel to use them cause with 8 in your party a taxi could be exspensive

 

[bas71873]

I have reserved a town car service and round trip it is costing me $109 (for 3 people). I didn't want to do a bus or van for fear I would have to sit & wait for it to fill up before they take us to the HRH. I want to land, get my bags and GO

Note that if you rent a car, then you have to pay that insane parking fee at the hotels just to have a car sit in the parking lot

 

[Darcy03231]

I would go with a towncar service.

 

[re121258]

We used a towncar service for our fall 2008 trip. It was $95 for up to 4 people, and $10 more with up to 10 people.

 

[circelli]

We used a towncar service for our fall 2008 trip. It was $95 for up to 4 people, and $10 more with up to 10 people.

May I ask who you used?

Thanks

 

[re121258]

I used Murray Hill Transportation. We were very satisfied with the service, on time and courteous.

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

I'm thinking of using Murray Hill Transportation but I have a stupid question (I don't get out a lot )....How much do you tip the driver? Thanks

 

[patster734]

We'll have 6 in our party for our October trip, so we'll probably be using a van from one of the town car services, possibly FL Tours.

I'm thinking of using Murray Hill Transportation but I have a stupid question (I don't get out a lot )....How much do you tip the driver? Thanks

As we will be including a grocery stop between the airport and the hotel, we'll be tipping the first driver $15. The return driver will get $10.

 

[re121258]

I'm thinking of using Murray Hill Transportation but I have a stupid question (I don't get out a lot )....How much do you tip the driver? Thanks

We tipped $10 to the first driver and $10 to the return driver.

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Thanks! I hate not knowing what a good tip is.. 10$ sounds good Thanks again

 

[keishashadow]

re tipping: typical US standard is 18%, more for better service; of course follow ur heart

curious, anybody know how much a cab would be from MCO to Universal hotels? leery as im not sure if the rate is fixed or ur on the meter, could get pricey if traffic gets snarled

 

[ky07]

re tipping: typical US standard is 18%, more for better service; of course follow ur heart

curious, anybody know how much a cab would be from MCO to Universal hotels? leery as im not sure if the rate is fixed or ur on the meter, could get pricey if traffic gets snarled

You have to watch some of those guys for example when we stayed at doubletree on major blvd for 2 days last year we used taxis just from universal to the hotel in the evening and one guy charged us $5.00 and the other guy with the same company took his time and went all the way around the hotel and charged us $10.00 which was double and then wanted a tip and I told him here is your tip don't think all of us are stupid and charge us double then maybe you will get a tip next time

 

[keishashadow]

You have to watch some of those guys for example when we stayed at doubletree on major blvd for 2 days last year we used taxis just from universal to the hotel in the evening and one guy charged us $5.00 and the other guy with the same company took his time and went all the way around the hotel and charged us $10.00 which was double and then wanted a tip and I told him here is your tip don't think all of us are stupid and charge us double then maybe you will get a tip next time

ha, he must've pegged u for a tourist wonder what tipped him off lol

seriously, no meter to tell u the are

im trying to figure out how much from the airport to hotel, going to dig around transport board to see if info there

 

[keishashadow]

i am so smart, smrt

http://www.mearstransportation.com/...rsal Studios Plaza&toc=Orlando&toz=32819-7601&

**Fares will vary depending on route taken, time of day and traffic conditions

estimated 14 miles, approx $32, pre tip

since the above disclaimer indicates that fares will vary, assume it's a metered fare-afterall

 

[ky07]

ha, he must've pegged u for a tourist wonder what tipped him off lol

seriously, no meter to tell u the are

im trying to figure out how much from the airport to hotel, going to dig around transport board to see if info there

Yes the taxi had a meter but he never turned it on
So I guess he thought stupid tourist they won't know any better but we have stayed at that doubletree several times and knew how much it cost and I figured the guy pocketed that $10 anyway

 

[Leslierx]

I would highly recomend a town car service. My first trip to orlando was for a disney cruise, and we took the Disney transportation (aka a bus) and the charge was per person and we had to line up at the airport like cattle and wait to load bus, and stop at other places etc. The next trip we used happy limo,and there were 5 of us, so we got a Ford Excursion that picked us up at airport, took us to Disney hotel, with a free grocery stop on the way, then after our land portion, picked us up at hotel and on to Port Canaveral. I can't remember the cost, except that is was CHEAPER than the bus transportation since instead of per person, it was per car. This trip we are using Florida Tours and are being picked up in a town car (there is only 3 of us this trip) and we have a free 30 min grocery stop on the way to our Universal Hotel. I can't explain how more relaxed it is to have a car pick you up. They are waiting for you at luggage claim area of airport with a sign with your name on it, they help you get your luggage to the car and off you go. Compared with getting luggage yourself then weaving thru the airport to find the appropriate companies rep with a sign, then being led to bus area along with 30 or so other people. Then stopping at other hotels along the way... Plus it is usually cheaper than if you were to pay for the transportation, especially if you have 8 people!

 

[brocklesnar69]

You have to watch some of those guys for example when we stayed at doubletree on major blvd for 2 days last year we used taxis just from universal to the hotel in the evening and one guy charged us $5.00 and the other guy with the same company took his time and went all the way around the hotel and charged us $10.00 which was double and then wanted a tip and I told him here is your tip don't think all of us are stupid and charge us double then maybe you will get a tip next time

Do they really "ask" for a tip? I used to work in Food & Beverage, and "asking" for a tip was a BIG no-no.

Is there any CHEAP public bus or (CHEAP) transportation system which goes from the air port to a bus stop near Universal? I would rather pay a few bucks for a bus pass then $40 bucks for a taxi ride from the air port to my off-site hotel. I dont care how long the drive takes, just as long as it is CHEAP () and it drops me within walking distance of my hotel.

 

[ky07]

Do they really "ask" for a tip? I used to work in Food & Beverage, and "asking" for a tip was a BIG no-no.

Is there any CHEAP public bus or (CHEAP) transportation system which goes from the air port to a bus stop near Universal? I would rather pay a few bucks for a bus pass then $40 bucks for a taxi ride from the air port to my off-site hotel.

I know they are not suppose to but this guy did

 

[macraven]

Do they really "ask" for a tip? I used to work in Food & Beverage, and "asking" for a tip was a BIG no-no.

Is there any CHEAP public bus or (CHEAP) transportation system which goes from the air port to a bus stop near Universal? I would rather pay a few bucks for a bus pass then $40 bucks for a taxi ride from the air port to my off-site hotel. I dont care how long the drive takes, just as long as it is CHEAP () and it drops me within walking distance of my hotel.

i just was reading today on line that mears shuttle from MCO to UO was $15 pp.
if i can find that article again, i'll post it here.