Transportation between MCO, Universal, and Disney

[ShuisFan584]

Hey all! We finally booked our Disney vacation for October. Since I haven't been to Universal since 2001, and DH has never been, we decided we want to go to Universal this year. We're going to eventually book one of the Universal hotels (haven't decided which one yet) so that we can take advantage of FOTL.

I'm used to just staying on Disney property and we've always used Magical Express. But now that we'll be going from MCO to Universal, from Universal to Disney, and then Disney to MCO, I'm trying to think of the best way to get around. I'm sure many of you here have done split Universal/Disney stays before and I was wondering how you usually handle it. Is it best to rent a car? Taxi/limo? Something else? I was just wondering what's the best way to go.

 

[Planogirl]

Can you take ME just one way? If so that's a given. I would use Mears or rent a car (if you think you'll get some use out of it) for the rest. You can take taxis but I find them awfully pricey particularly from the airport.

 

[lildamo]

We're doing a Disney/Universal split stay in September, with Disney first then Universal second.

We're going to take Magical Express from MCO to Pop Century, then cab from Downtown Disney to Royal Pacific (will be cheaper from Downtown Disney!) and then probably cab back to the airport, or take Mears.

A cab from Downtown Disney to Royal Pacific is estimated at around $35, so with two of us that's $17.50 each -- not bad! The cab from Universal to MCO is more expensive ($50ish), and so Mears is probably a more economical option.

 

[bouldertcr]

We're doing a Disney/Universal split stay in September, with Disney first then Universal second.

We're going to take Magical Express from MCO to Pop Century, then cab from Downtown Disney to Royal Pacific (will be cheaper from Downtown Disney!) and then probably cab back to the airport, or take Mears.

A cab from Downtown Disney to Royal Pacific is estimated at around $35, so with two of us that's $17.50 each -- not bad! The cab from Universal to MCO is more expensive ($50ish), and so Mears is probably a more economical option.

lildamo,

I am doing the same but I was going to take a cab directly from our resort (Swan) to RPH (I used the Mears Taxi calculator and it came out to $35 too). I am curious to know how you are getting your luggage to DTD to pick up the taxi?

And I agree with you that it is definitely more economical to take the shuttle from RPH to MCO.

 

[ShuisFan584]

Thanks all, this is really helpful! I'll have to look into Mears.

 

[lildamo]

lildamo,

I am doing the same but I was going to take a cab directly from our resort (Swan) to RPH (I used the Mears Taxi calculator and it came out to $35 too). I am curious to know how you are getting your luggage to DTD to pick up the taxi?

And I agree with you that it is definitely more economical to take the shuttle from RPH to MCO.

I think we'll just take it on the bus from Pop Century to Downtown Disney. I doubt we'll be packing heavy so it shouldn't be a big deal! But we may just suck it up and pay more and take the cab from the hotel.

 

[chimo2u]

I think we'll just take it on the bus from Pop Century to Downtown Disney. I doubt we'll be packing heavy so it shouldn't be a big deal! But we may just suck it up and pay more and take the cab from the hotel.

We are doing the same thing.....Taking the ME from MCO to our resort (BC) then upon checkout taking a cab from BC to Universal (PBH). It looks like a cab will be cheaper than paying Mears rates for 2 ppl.
Then we need to decide btwn a cab from PBH to MCO or Mears to MCO?? I don't know what the Mears > Airport rate is, so that is something I will have to still look into!

If it was up to me, the whole trip would be at Disney But my 14 yo son loves HP and has always wanted to see Universal Studios...so it became a must do for our trip! I hope I enjoy Universal

 

[lildamo]

We are doing the same thing.....Taking the ME from MCO to our resort (BC) then upon checkout taking a cab from BC to Universal (PBH). It looks like a cab will be cheaper than paying Mears rates for 2 ppl.
Then we need to decide btwn a cab from PBH to MCO or Mears to MCO?? I don't know what the Mears > Airport rate is, so that is something I will have to still look into!

If it was up to me, the whole trip would be at Disney But my 14 yo son loves HP and has always wanted to see Universal Studios...so it became a must do for our trip! I hope I enjoy Universal

I believe from Universal to MCO is $18 per person or something like that one-way on Mears.
And we love Universal even more than Disney - go in with an open mind and I'm sure you'll love the experience!