Transportation to and from WDW from off-site

[BuffyTheSlayr]

We are staying at the Best Western Saratoga Resort villas on W. Irlo Bronson Highway Feb 16-21 then at the Super 8 Orlando International Drive North Feb 21-26.

We are not renting a car, and the shuttle from the BW is sketchy at best. We are taking taxi cabs.

My question is where do we ask the cabs to take us? Like main gate or something? I've never been so I'd like to know what to say to the cabbie.

Any taxi that are best? Also I want to get to the park of my choice that day about an hour early so we can get to, is it called a Rope Drop?

I've been to Disneyland five times over the past thirty years but never WDW and I'm a bit scared at the large scale-ness of the place.

I have all my guide books but sometimes they just don't answer these kind of questions. Sorry if I ramble...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We are staying at the Best Western Saratoga Resort villas on W. Irlo Bronson Highway Feb 16-21 then at the Super 8 Orlando International Drive North Feb 21-26.

We are not renting a car, and the shuttle from the BW is sketchy at best. We are taking taxi cabs.

My question is where do we ask the cabs to take us? Like main gate or something? I've never been so I'd like to know what to say to the cabbie.

Any taxi that are best? Also I want to get to the park of my choice that day about an hour early so we can get to, is it called a Rope Drop?

I've been to Disneyland five times over the past thirty years but never WDW and I'm a bit scared at the large scale-ness of the place.

I have all my guide books but sometimes they just don't answer these kind of questions. Sorry if I ramble...

The cab drivers will know where to go.

At the Magic Kingdom, taxis currently operate to and from the Ticket and Transportation Center. From there, you take a large ferry or a monorail to and from the park. At the other three parks, the cabs drop off and pick up near each park entrance. Checker Cab, owned by Mears Transportation, drops off and picks up and at Disney parks without being charged a parking fee by Disney.

HOWEVER, have you looked into the cost of taxis?

From your Best Western Saratoga Resort Villas in Kissimmee, the rate to the Magic Kingdom is estimated at $31 each way, plus tip, according the Mears Taxi Fare Estimator at http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/taxi-fare-estimator/

How are you getting to your off-site hotels from the airport? How are you getting between them?

If you really don't want to rent a car, you might want to take another look on-site Disney resorts. The price is higher, but you get free airport transportation and free transportation between resorts and parks.

By the time you pay all your taxi fares, how much will you save staying off-site?

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

We are actually staying for free ($12/day tax) because BW Saratoga is one of our timeshare properties so...hey...free. We decided to stay a little longer that's why we are opting for Super 8- either that or go home early. It's about $50/night. Yeah, it's pricy for cabs but we figure we can use some of the shuttles from the hotel when we don't want to get there super early.

I mean, it would be fab if we found other people at the resort that would share the cab with us but that's needle in the haystack thinking, isn't it? Thx!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As PP stated by the time you shell out all that money for a taxi you would be better off staying on site at Disney. If you don't want to stay at a Disney resort you would be far better off to rent a car. Like PP said you will spend $75 a day to go to and from your resort and a Disney park.

 

[joelkfla]

If you really don't want to rent a car, you might want to take another look on-site Disney resorts. The price is higher, but you get free airport transportation and free transportation between resorts and parks.

By the time you pay all your taxi fares, how much will you save staying off-site?

Other options that may cost less than Disney resorts are the Swan or Dolphin Hotels, or the DTD hotels. They don't have free airport transportation, but do have free theme park transportation.

The Swan & Dolphin share buses with Disney's BW, and are walking distance to DHS & Epcot, as well as having boat service to those parks. They also get you into EMH.

The DTD hotels have a separate free shuttle service that runs every 30 minutes during park hours. They do not participate in EMH, except for the Hilton.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We are actually staying for free ($12/day tax) because BW Saratoga is one of our timeshare properties so...hey...free. We decided to stay a little longer that's why we are opting for Super 8- either that or go home early. It's about $50/night.

Okay. I understand. You are committed to the Best Western Saratoga Resort Villas, and you probably have a big 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartment-style room, not a traditional hotel room.

But why the Super 8 Orlando International Drive? It's up toward Universal Orlando. Are going to visit Universal or Disney from there? If it's Universal, that's one thing. But if it's Disney, you'll spend way too much on the combination of room rate and taxi fare, compared to staying at a Value Resort at Disney or looking for a good rate at WDW Swan and Dolphin.

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

Okay. I understand. You are committed to the Best Western Saratoga Resort Villas, and you probably have a big 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartment-style room, not a traditional hotel room. But why the Super 8 Orlando International Drive? It's up toward Universal Orlando. Are going to visit Universal or Disney from there? If it's Universal, that's one thing. But if it's Disney, you'll spend way too much on the combination of room rate and taxi fare, compared to staying at a Value Resort at Disney or looking for a good rate at WDW Swan and Dolphin.

Well, if I had my WAY, we would be staying at WDW the whole time but then if we did everything MY way, we would have no money to spend on the trip to begin with!

Just FYI, we are first going on a Norwegian Epic cruise for a week then flying in the Orlando for MY dream trip of WDW. I'm really bad with money but my better half isn't so I'm agreeing to this set up because we get four more days of magic?

I do want to go to Universal to see Harry Potter so we are doing that on Sunday. Again, we are not poor but I'm okay with the cab fare. Better half would prefer to not drive and I'm diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers so this is a bucket list thing too. Complicated I know but as long as we can get there (and I don't get worse) it's all good. Thank you for helping!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Just FYI, we are first going on a Norwegian Epic cruise for a week then flying in the Orlando for MY dream trip of WDW.

Super 8 Orlando International Drive to and from Magic Kingdom is about $40 each way. With I-4 traffic delays and tips, that could mean over $100 roundtrip. And you'd still be staying at a $50 Super 8.

For the same $150 per night, you should be able to get a room at Disney Value Resort, with free Disney transportation, Extra Magic Hours, Resort Airline Check-in, and free Disney's Magical Express back to the airport.

Morning Extra Magic Hours are much better than just getting to a park at rope drop.

At Disneyland, the distances are short, so cab rides are cheap (and often unnecessary, even when staying off-site). At Walt Disney World and the Orlando tourist areas, distances can be substantial. Make sure your husband is aware of this.

Enjoy the cruise and your vacation!

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

Super 8 Orlando International Drive to and from Magic Kingdom is about $40 each way. With I-4 traffic delays and tips, that could mean over $100 roundtrip. And you'd still be staying at a $50 Super 8. For the same $150 per night, you should be able to get a room at Disney Value Resort, with free Disney transportation, Extra Magic Hours, Resort Airline Check-in, and free Disney's Magical Express back to the airport. Morning Extra Magic Hours are much better than just getting to a park at rope drop. At Disneyland, the distances are short, so cab rides are cheap (and often unnecessary, even when staying off-site). At Walt Disney World and the Orlando tourist areas, distances can be substantial. Make sure your husband is aware of this. Enjoy the cruise and your vacation!

Actually "Wife", it's the 21st century..lol! I certainly will bring this up tonight! I'll let you know what happens!

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

Super 8 Orlando International Drive to and from Magic Kingdom is about $40 each way. With I-4 traffic delays and tips, that could mean over $100 roundtrip. And you'd still be staying at a $50 Super 8. For the same $150 per night, you should be able to get a room at Disney Value Resort, with free Disney transportation, Extra Magic Hours, Resort Airline Check-in, and free Disney's Magical Express back to the airport. Morning Extra Magic Hours are much better than just getting to a park at rope drop. At Disneyland, the distances are short, so cab rides are cheap (and often unnecessary, even when staying off-site). At Walt Disney World and the Orlando tourist areas, distances can be substantial. Make sure your husband is aware of this. Enjoy the cruise and your vacation!

We decided to book with All Star Movie resort for those four days. $53 dollar difference so yea! I'm excited!

 

[joelkfla]

We decided to book with All Star Movie resort for those four days. $53 dollar difference so yea! I'm excited!

Congrats!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We decided to book with All Star Movie resort for those four days. $53 dollar difference so yea! I'm excited!

Excellent! I hope you and your wife have a wonderful vacation.

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

Excellent! I hope you and your wife have a wonderful vacation.

Thanks, I owed this to you so thanks X 100!

 

[goofy4tink]

Can I just say how much I love the posters on this board?! You guys are the greatest. You have probably enabled the OP to have a much more magical experience. Way to go guys!

 

[MomRN]

In case you decide to take a cab one day to MK, our driver took us to the Contemporary and we took the walkway to MK. He said it would save us time not waiting for the monorail or ferry.

 

[BuffyTheSlayr]

In case you decide to take a cab one day to MK, our driver took us to the Contemporary and we took the walkway to MK. He said it would save us time not waiting for the monorail or ferry.

That's a good idea! Thanks!