Transportation to/from airport from Universal Resort

[spookymickey]

Hello all, I wanted to ask what people's thoughts were on a group of 8. I was thinking either 2 separate Uber's, or reserving the US Shuttle. We're staying at Cabana Bay. I've read some good and some bad about the shuttle, mainly that there was a limited amount that come back and forth, and you could be waiting up to 30 minutes for one to arrive, plus the multiple resort stops. Also is the packet that you receive at the kiosk desk worth it?

Thanks for any help, ideas, or your experiences.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Hello all, I wanted to ask what people's thoughts were on a group of 8. I was thinking either 2 separate Uber's, or reserving the US Shuttle. We're staying at Cabana Bay. I've read some good and some bad about the shuttle, mainly that there was a limited amount that come back and forth, and you could be waiting up to 30 minutes for one to arrive, plus the multiple resort stops. Also is the packet that you receive at the kiosk desk worth it?

Thanks for any help, ideas, or your experiences.

For a group of 8, the most cost effective method, which also happens to be the most direct, would be to reserve a van with one of the myriad of private car services in the area. Mears has 8 passenger vans.
The driver will meet you at baggage claim, help with luggage, and escort you right down to the van, which will be waiting in the Express Pickup lane.

 

[spookymickey]

For a group of 8, the most cost effective method, which also happens to be the most direct, would be to reserve a van with one of the myriad of private car services in the area. Mears has 8 passenger vans.
The driver will meet you at baggage claim, help with luggage, and escort you right down to the van, which will be waiting in the Express Pickup lane.

Great! Thanks for the tip. So then all the talk that the packet you get from the US Shuttle isn't really anything special like people have stated? So used to having the Magical Express to use, US needs to get something like that.

 

[youngdeb12]

Great! Thanks for the tip. So then all the talk that the packet you get from the US Shuttle isn't really anything special like people have stated? So used to having the Magical Express to use, US needs to get something like that.

Even with 8, for the prices they charge for the shuttles, it's more economical to just rent a van and have your own private transport.

 

[hhoope01]

Even with 8, for the prices they charge for the shuttles, it's more economical to just rent a van and have your own private transport.

If you are renting, don't forget to include parking charges, gas, tolls, etc. to your cost estimates.

 

[youngdeb12]

If you are renting, don't forget to include parking charges, gas, tolls, etc. to your cost estimates.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We have a group of 10 and hired a van service to pick us up and drop us off and transfer between hotels. $400 total + gratuity for transportation from MCO to US, US to WDW and then WDW to MCO.

 

[spookymickey]

Even with 8, for the prices they charge for the shuttles, it's more economical to just rent a van and have your own private transport.

I've looked into that too. But for 6 days, the price ends up being double if not triple for a rental. Depending on the vehicle. Also the $18 a day for parking adds in. So it's going to most likely end up being an Uber as the costs break down. Thank you again for all the comments. Just getting everyone's opinions is helpful.

 

[spookymickey]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We have a group of 10 and hired a van service to pick us up and drop us off and transfer between hotels. $400 total + gratuity for transportation from MCO to US, US to WDW and then WDW to MCO.

Oh ok, that makes sense. Yeah for our trip it's just directly from MCO to Cabana Bay. No other stops. But I see how your setup makes sense for multiple locations. Thank you again.

 

[spookymickey]

If you are renting, don't forget to include parking charges, gas, tolls, etc. to your cost estimates.

Yep, was going over all those scenarios, and renting was almost as much a the stay alone. Even grabbing a vehicle for the drive over, dropping it off at the rental area onsite, it would be around $200. So trying to be as cost efficient as I can, ride sharing will be the most economical.

 

[youngdeb12]

Yep, was going over all those scenarios, and renting was almost as much a the stay alone. Even grabbing a vehicle for the drive over, dropping it off at the rental area onsite, it would be around $200. So trying to be as cost efficient as I can, ride sharing will be the most economical.

Ride sharing was going to be our other option. It would be cheaper than hiring the shuttle, but we preferred just having the certainty of someone picking us up and dropping us off at set times.

 

[MrsDanielle]

I have a 7:00 am international flight on the return trip home. Should I plan on leaving the hotel at 4:00 am? Which service would you use ? I’m thinking a taxi or rideshare would be the quickest/most guaranteed way of getting there on time. I’ve also considered just moving hotels on the last day to be closer to the airport. Any recommendations?

 

[Distisso]

I have a 7:00 am international flight on the return trip home. Should I plan on leaving the hotel at 4:00 am? Which service would you use ? I’m thinking a taxi or rideshare would be the quickest/most guaranteed way of getting there on time. I’ve also considered just moving hotels on the last day to be closer to the airport. Any recommendations?

We booked a hotel close to the airport for our last night. We'll leave our luggage with bell services during our last park day, and then head to the hotel when we're done. It's way less expensive and less of a rush in the morning.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I have a 7:00 am international flight on the return trip home. Should I plan on leaving the hotel at 4:00 am? Which service would you use ? I’m thinking a taxi or rideshare would be the quickest/most guaranteed way of getting there on time. I’ve also considered just moving hotels on the last day to be closer to the airport. Any recommendations?

We have stayed at the Hyatt at MCO before and it worked well.

 

[JoanieCricket]

We are a family of 4 flying into MCO and staying a 3 nights at Aventura hotel. I think we're pretty convinced that getting a ride share makes the most sense from MCO to Aventura. But what are our options from Aventura to Port Canaveral for a cruise? Is ride share the way to go? Or is there an alternative?

Also, if ride shares are the way to go for transport, should we get an XL since we're 4 (3 adults, 1 teenager) with 4 checked bags between us all? TIA for any advice!

 

[hhoope01]

We have stayed at the Hyatt at MCO before and it worked well.

This is what we do quite often. The MCO Hyatt is extremely convenient. No worrying about traffic or what time to get a pick-up. The morning is much less chaotic since we are already at the airport. The Hyatt is a nice hotel with a nice pool and restaurant (or you can eat at most any of the airport restaurants if you prefer.)

 

[KateDrake]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We have a group of 10 and hired a van service to pick us up and drop us off and transfer between hotels. $400 total + gratuity for transportation from MCO to US, US to WDW and then WDW to MCO.

Deb, do you mind sharing the name of the service you used? Looking to do the exact same thing with a group of 10!

 

[musika]

Does anyone know if a hotel-only booking will qualify for the superstar shuttle? We're a family of 4 and I'd prefer not to use ride share if we can. I haven't bought tickets yet, if I call them to book tickets can they keep my existing hotel reservation and have that qualify as a "package"?

 

[Ross Kratter]

Does anyone know if a hotel-only booking will qualify for the superstar shuttle? We're a family of 4 and I'd prefer not to use ride share if we can. I haven't bought tickets yet, if I call them to book tickets can they keep my existing hotel reservation and have that qualify as a "package"?

I think it will. That said, the SuperStar Shuttle will end up being about the same price as car service, if not more, depending on the size of your party, so I’d just go with car service instead.

 

[musika]

I think it will. That said, the SuperStar Shuttle will end up being about the same price as car service, if not more, depending on the size of your party, so I’d just go with car service instead.

The way I read it, the shuttle should be approx $136 (2 kids/2 adults), and all the quotes I'm seeing for car service start at $185... $50 USD is about $500 CDN I think (I kid, but the exchange rate is real!) Am I missing something?

 

[saskdw]

The way I read it, the shuttle should be approx $136 (2 kids/2 adults), and all the quotes I'm seeing for car service start at $185... $50 USD is about $500 CDN I think (I kid, but the exchange rate is real!) Am I missing something?

We used an Uber XL to go from the Portifino Bay Resort to the airport on Dec. 24th and it was $48 plus tip. The XL would easily fit 4 people plus luggage.