Transport to Shopping Mall - Not using hire car

[English Rose]

Hi we (2 adults 2 children) are returing for our second visit in August. Staying in WD Port Orleans - will not be hiring a car and would like to get to Florida shopping Mall (would anyone recommend this mall- have been to Beltz outlet factory IDrive area and would like recommendations on best shopping centre locally to WDWorld resort.)
Have heard about lynx bus but am nervous as we are not used to your bus system.
Is getting a taxi or would Mears take us there be too expensive.
We will also be visiting Seaworld and Universal this time - again any help on cost involved and do we ring when we get to our hotel to book.
Many thanks
English rose

 

[ktglads]

First of all, welcome to the DIS!

I can't help you on the transportation to the shopping mall or SeaWorld, but I do have some experience going to and from Universal.

You can take Mears round trip from your hotel to the theme parks. This costs $13 per person.

You can take a taxi from your hotel to the theme parks. This will cost about $30 each way, so $60 round trip (this includes a tip)

You can use a towncar from your hotel to the theme parks. This will cost $35 one way or $55 round trip (this does not include tip, which is generally 20%).

These options are all roughly the same price, so really, it will be what you prefer.

I would reccommend looking into the Universal Studios hotels if you want to visit the parks more than once. You would only have to do the transportation one way, are within walking or a nice boat ride to both parks, and have the awesome perk of front of the line access, which is basically a fastpass for every ride. The Royal Pacific is not that much more expensive than POR if you have an entertainment card (you can get the book at entertainment.com). PLus, if you figure in the $50 transportation cost to the hotel room, you may be coming out ahead.

 

[OrlandoCabbie]

I really like Mall at Millenia. As I understand, it's the newest mall in the area. It to is about a $30 one way cab fare.

With great shopping and dining, you should be able to make it a fabulous side trip.

------------------
John "Mr Dawg" Shannon
Member of OrlandoCabbie.com
Orlando's Elite Fleet

 

[English Rose]

Thanks for all your help - trying to plan ahead this time. We have already booked Port Orleans as we stayed there before and like the location and it adds to the disney magic. We spend most of the time in WDW and get lost in its magic.
Appreciate the costings - we will probably only go to Seaworld and Universal as we didnt see these last time. Perhaps visit a mall as well if theres time.
Once again thankyou
English Rose

 

[Laklia]

We are planning in staying at the Animal Kingdom hotel (forgoten the name again - a bit moused-out at the moment!!) and wanted to avoid renting a car - or only for a few days. Trouble is, there's all these great tips like buying a cheap stroller for $10 in Walmart (+ cheap ponchos, mineral water etc etc) and if we're delivered straight to the hotel by the airline we're not sure how to do it.

Is there any bus we could get from one of the Disney sites to I-drive, or somewhere with normal shops?

 

[English Rose]

Hello Laklia
Since my original posting - we will try out Lynx buses this time. They have there own website to view routes.
Last time we spent a lot on cab fares to ID and like you want to venture out more this time round. I was informed to get from WDW to International Drive you catch the 50 from the transportation centre across from the Magic Kingdom.
You can buy a dayrider ticket for $3 which gives you unlimited use.
If you are going to seaworld the 50 stops directly outside the park.
Here you can catch an i-ride trolley that will take you length of I-Drive. we have used I-rides before - very easy

Quoted approx $65 for round trip plus 20% tip to seaworld using one of the car companies.
As we will be there 14 nights It would work out quite expensive to use this on a regular basis.
PS does anyone know if we can order rain ponchos online to be sent to UK.
Hope this helps
English Rose

 

[Laklia]

Thanks English Rose

We will probably get a hire car for a few days as my youngeets is not a good traveller for long distances, but don't want to hire one and leave it in the car park for most of the time!

I'll check out the bus site

 

[jel0511]

My advice would be to rent a car for a few days in the middle of your trip and plan all of your off-site excursions around this time. You can rent an economy car for usually around $20 - $25 per day, and it would give you great flexibility as to where/when you wanted to go. Alamo/National car rental agencies are right on WDW property and it's easy to get a car from there. It really would be your best bet for getting around Orlando. The Lynx buses are available, but I personally agree with the assessment that it could take you up to 2 hours to get to/from any off-site place using that mode of transportation. Personally for me that would be VERY frustrating and not worth the few bucks you'd save versus renting a car.

 

[English Rose]

Thanks for all your replies to my original posting - all opinions valued, good or bad.
I dont think you can beat personal experience and as we dont go till August exploring all options open to us.
Where we live in England we use buses all the time and as we (sorry) dont want to drive - silly but your roads scare us- I want to be plan ahead. If we do use private transport I can go knowing the outlay and if we did try out the bus I know what extra time to account for.
Thankyou everyone - much appreciated
English Rose

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by English Rose
Thanks for all your replies to my original posting - all opinions valued, good or bad.
I dont think you can beat personal experience and as we dont go till August exploring all options open to us.
Where we live in England we use buses all the time and as we (sorry) dont want to drive - silly but your roads scare us- I want to be plan ahead. If we do use private transport I can go knowing the outlay and if we did try out the bus I know what extra time to account for.
Thankyou everyone - much appreciated
English Rose

Cities like New York have mass transit that works well. The buses in Orlando aren't really set up for you to get from the Disney resorts to the malls and such. The bus seems to work ok if you want to get to Sea World. If you don't want to rent a car you might just include some cab fare in your budget.

 

[ktglads]

Originally posted by English Rose
Thanks for all your replies to my original posting - all opinions valued, good or bad.
I dont think you can beat personal experience and as we dont go till August exploring all options open to us.
Where we live in England we use buses all the time and as we (sorry) dont want to drive - silly but your roads scare us- I want to be plan ahead. If we do use private transport I can go knowing the outlay and if we did try out the bus I know what extra time to account for.
Thankyou everyone - much appreciated
English Rose

The roads scare us too! I went to South Africa last year and was terrified when I sat in the front seat. Maybe it was the fact that we happened into the end of a rally race, but even sitting in front in the opposite side of the car was just plain weird to me. I can understand your reluctance to rent a car.

 

[OrlandoCabbie]

Originally posted by Lewisc


In cities like Vegas cab drivers tend to use creative routes in order to maximize the meters. Are similar things done by MCO?

That kind of activity runs rampid in Vegas. While I won't say it doesn't happen here, the informed consumer can have a safe efficient ride in a taxi without the fear of being ripped off.

Approximate fares to all of the resort areas are listed at the starter booth. The starter can also help pinpoint the fare a little closer.

 

[duchy]

The Lynx buses are available, but I personally agree with the assessment that it could take you up to 2 hours to get to/from any off-site place using that mode of transportation. Personally for me that would be VERY frustrating and not worth the few bucks you'd save versus renting a car.

Looking at the Lynx timetable TTC to Seaworld is 25 mins which strikes me as pretty good-a shuttle from Mears could take just as long depending on number of hotel pick ups. Cost $3 v $12 for the shuttle.