Transportation to US/IoA

[macraven]

Not sure if this makes sense or if possible but here goes. We always rent a car, never thought of NOT renting a car. But this year we are going to US/IOA for a day (straight from MCO) - and then to WDW the next day for 6 days

Would it make sense/possible to take mears from MCO to UN and then next day from Univeral (Un) to WDW and then take Magic Express to MCO at end of trip?

Would this qualify for Mears 19.00 Round trip pp? Or is it not considered a round trip? We are a party of 3...thanks!

i have read that some have used the Mears transportation that way.
they purchased round trip but did not use them on the same day.

call and clear it with them if they are still allowing that.

dreams unlimited did allow transportation broken up like you need.
peeps that used du for their uo tickets also received their free transportation.

if you don't buy your uo tickets from du, check with them about the transportation they offer to uo.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not sure if this makes sense or if possible but here goes. We always rent a car, never thought of NOT renting a car. But this year we are going to US/IOA for a day (straight from MCO) - and then to WDW the next day for 6 days

Would it make sense/possible to take mears from MCO to UN and then next day from Univeral (Un) to WDW and then take Magic Express to MCO at end of trip?

Would this qualify for Mears 19.00 Round trip pp? Or is it not considered a round trip? We are a party of 3...thanks!

Sorry I missed this one. No, you won't be able to do that. The Mears shuttle, that runs between US/IoA and WDW, doesn't allow any luggage on it. My friend and I booked a night at RPR a few years ago..right in the middle of our WDW stay. We took backpacks with overnight stuff. That was allowed. But regular luggage? No. I doubt you would be allowed to bring even a carryon bag on the bus with you.

You would have to get a car service or a cab to do what you want to do. It might make more sense to head directly to WDW, and then, spend a day at US/IoA once you got checked into your resort. Then, you could use the $19 r/t fare.

 

[scottmel]

Sorry I missed this one. No, you won't be able to do that. The Mears shuttle, that runs between US/IoA and WDW, doesn't allow any luggage on it. My friend and I booked a night at RPR a few years ago..right in the middle of our WDW stay. We took backpacks with overnight stuff. That was allowed. But regular luggage? No. I doubt you would be allowed to bring even a carryon bag on the bus with you.

You would have to get a car service or a cab to do what you want to do. It might make more sense to head directly to WDW, and then, spend a day at US/IoA once you got checked into your resort. Then, you could use the $19 r/t fare.

thanks everyone. I can't imagine how it could not be more ecomonical to rent a car.. That seems the easiest and cheapest by far then dealing with the car companies...Thank you!! Will stick with my usual rental car plan.

 

[Feckless]

Sorry, I've gone through this thread and couldn't find an answer to this question: we've pretty much decided to use a Tiffany Towncar to get us to US for our Day on the Dark Side. However, on the way back, can we ask them to drop us at MK or will they just take us back to our hotel?

TIA!

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry, I've gone through this thread and couldn't find an answer to this question: we've pretty much decided to use a Tiffany Towncar to get us to US for our Day on the Dark Side. However, on the way back, can we ask them to drop us at MK or will they just take us back to our hotel?

TIA!

They should be able to drop you off anywhere you want....you're paying them.

 

[MelissaMouse]

I have looked on the mears website to look up shuttles, can you only book online for airport transportation? Is the only way to use the shuttle from a WDW resort to US to call them? Thanks!!!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

This is probably a really dumb question, but I have confused myself totally looking at at this morning.

We are going to VWL next Thursday. . .YAY! Anyway, we will check in at VWL on Thursday in the early morning, and then that afternoon we will go over to RPR for a night (keeping the VWL ressie that night too). We will spend the night at RPR, go to IOA, and then come back to VWL on Friday afternoon.

I think our best option (for me, DH, & DS3) is to do the town car thing. However, I don't really know what time we would need/want to leave VWL to go nor do I know what time we would want to leave IOA. Do I have to have the times set in stone for the town car, or can I call a couple of hours before I want to go? I am figuring I have to have set times, and that's ok. I just want to make a good plan before we go!

 

[goofy4tink]

This is probably a really dumb question, but I have confused myself totally looking at at this morning.

We are going to VWL next Thursday. . .YAY! Anyway, we will check in at VWL on Thursday in the early morning, and then that afternoon we will go over to RPR for a night (keeping the VWL ressie that night too). We will spend the night at RPR, go to IOA, and then come back to VWL on Friday afternoon.

I think our best option (for me, DH, & DS3) is to do the town car thing. However, I don't really know what time we would need/want to leave VWL to go nor do I know what time we would want to leave IOA. Do I have to have the times set in stone for the town car, or can I call a couple of hours before I want to go? I am figuring I have to have set times, and that's ok. I just want to make a good plan before we go!

You do have to give them set times. If you feel you can't do that, you may want to just use a cab.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Thank you so much! That's sort of what I figured.

Dumb question number 2 --are there cabs available outside WL? I read that there are ones available at IOA and at RPR, but I wasn't sure about WL.

Thanks again!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Thank you so much! That's sort of what I figured.

Dumb question number 2 --are there cabs available outside WL? I read that there are ones available at IOA and at RPR, but I wasn't sure about WL.

Thanks again!!

Yep, sure are. If there isn't one there, all set to go, you can just have the Bell Services people call one for you...doesn't take long.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Thanks again!!

 

[Anal Annie]

We are planning our first venture over to Universal for our trip that starts in THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY and I've been thinking about just using a taxi. I don't want to rent a car bcuz I don't want to pay for parking at Universal. That just adds to the expense. I booked 1 night in the middle of our trip at HRH for the early entry & FOTL access and was just planning to bring either a carry-on size duffle or a backpack with what we need for the 2 days at Universal. We are going from BWV to HRH & I got an estimate on the Mears website for $35 for a taxi. Since I read that Mears doesn't allow "luggage" and to save time by going directly to the HRH I thought for the 3 of us it might be just as easy to use a taxi as it would the shuttle (even though it may cost us $20 more it would be a straight shot with no other stops or detours).

My FIRST QUESTION is do the Orlando taxi cabs take credit cards or do I need to plan to pay in cash for these 2 trips?? I've gotten away from carrying too much cash these days so want to be sure to have enough with us if I need it for that.

ALSO, if we want to get checked in at the HRH AND still make early entry do you think we should plan to leave BWV around 7:00 or 7:15? I've read that rush hour traffic can start to pick up by 7:30...don't want to get caught up in that on vaca!!

Any thoughts on the taxi payment method & timing??

 

[jeankeri]

For Timing to get to Universal, we were there 3 weeks ago and rented a car. Park opening was @ 8am for IOA, so we left BWV @ 7am, arrived @ Universal parking lot @ 7:20. At this time there was no traffic

 

[Halloween Baby]

We are planning our first venture over to Universal for our trip that starts in THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY and I've been thinking about just using a taxi. I don't want to rent a car bcuz I don't want to pay for parking at Universal. That just adds to the expense. I booked 1 night in the middle of our trip at HRH for the early entry & FOTL access and was just planning to bring either a carry-on size duffle or a backpack with what we need for the 2 days at Universal. We are going from BWV to HRH & I got an estimate on the Mears website for $35 for a taxi. Since I read that Mears doesn't allow "luggage" and to save time by going directly to the HRH I thought for the 3 of us it might be just as easy to use a taxi as it would the shuttle (even though it may cost us $20 more it would be a straight shot with no other stops or detours).

My FIRST QUESTION is do the Orlando taxi cabs take credit cards or do I need to plan to pay in cash for these 2 trips?? I've gotten away from carrying too much cash these days so want to be sure to have enough with us if I need it for that.

ALSO, if we want to get checked in at the HRH AND still make early entry do you think we should plan to leave BWV around 7:00 or 7:15? I've read that rush hour traffic can start to pick up by 7:30...don't want to get caught up in that on vaca!!

Any thoughts on the taxi payment method & timing??

We're doing the same thing! We're leaving CSR mid-trip and going to RPR for two days. We also plan on using the taxi just for the ease of not having to wait and spend so much time on the shuttle. I was thinking we'd have to leave much earlier than that, but it's good to hear someone else has plans and we can go later. I'm just worried about getting ahead of traffic, then time spent checking in, then time from the resort to the park!

 

[macraven]

i use car service when i check out and leave the motherland resort for the darkside resort.

i do my pick up at 6:45.
i am able to avoid traffic that way.

i'm at the darkside hotel by 7:00/5 then.

it will take you about 5 minutes or so to check into hrh.
shouldn't be a line that time in the morning at the check in counter.

you do need to get your photo ID done at the hotel so you can use the express lines in the park.

you will also need to check your belongings with valet before you leave the hotel for the park.
no need to carry a backpack with you all day....

if you are like me, i would rather be waiting in the gate line before the park opens for early entry than running into issues and not at the park early.

3 weeks from now the parks will still have the crowds.
it usually doesn't drop off until that last week in august.

 

[goofy4tink]

We are planning our first venture over to Universal for our trip that starts in THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY and I've been thinking about just using a taxi. I don't want to rent a car bcuz I don't want to pay for parking at Universal. That just adds to the expense. I booked 1 night in the middle of our trip at HRH for the early entry & FOTL access and was just planning to bring either a carry-on size duffle or a backpack with what we need for the 2 days at Universal. We are going from BWV to HRH & I got an estimate on the Mears website for $35 for a taxi. Since I read that Mears doesn't allow "luggage" and to save time by going directly to the HRH I thought for the 3 of us it might be just as easy to use a taxi as it would the shuttle (even though it may cost us $20 more it would be a straight shot with no other stops or detours).

My FIRST QUESTION is do the Orlando taxi cabs take credit cards or do I need to plan to pay in cash for these 2 trips?? I've gotten away from carrying too much cash these days so want to be sure to have enough with us if I need it for that.

ALSO, if we want to get checked in at the HRH AND still make early entry do you think we should plan to leave BWV around 7:00 or 7:15? I've read that rush hour traffic can start to pick up by 7:30...don't want to get caught up in that on vaca!!

Any thoughts on the taxi payment method & timing??

We spent a night at RPR a year or so ago. My friend and I both had studios at BWV, but figured that since we got such a good rate at RPR at US/IoA, it made sense to just keep our studios at BWV.
We did the Dreams Unlimited pkg deal.....park passes for 2 days/transportation included from WDW. You are right, Mears doesn't allow luggage on their shuttles. BUT....my friend and I each packed a backpack with a change of clothes and our toiletries for the night/next morning. We were able to carry everything we needed that way..and still use the shuttle.
We left BWV around 7:20ish, and got to US/IoA by 8, and were checked in and arriving at the park entrance by 8:45.
You can cut down on that time by taking a cab..the cab will take you directly to the resort. Because we used the shuttle, we were dropped off below the parking garage area and had to hike over to the resort to get checked in and drop our stuff off!!
If there are several of you, it may, in fact, be cheaper to use a cab vs the $19 pp r/t cost of the shuttle. (at least that's what I think it is now).

 

[Anal Annie]

We spent a night at RPR a year or so ago. My friend and I both had studios at BWV, but figured that since we got such a good rate at RPR at US/IoA, it made sense to just keep our studios at BWV.
We did the Dreams Unlimited pkg deal.....park passes for 2 days/transportation included from WDW. You are right, Mears doesn't allow luggage on their shuttles. BUT....my friend and I each packed a backpack with a change of clothes and our toiletries for the night/next morning. We were able to carry everything we needed that way..and still use the shuttle.
We left BWV around 7:20ish, and got to US/IoA by 8, and were checked in and arriving at the park entrance by 8:45.
You can cut down on that time by taking a cab..the cab will take you directly to the resort. Because we used the shuttle, we were dropped off below the parking garage area and had to hike over to the resort to get checked in and drop our stuff off!!
If there are several of you, it may, in fact, be cheaper to use a cab vs the $19 pp r/t cost of the shuttle. (at least that's what I think it is now).

I got our tix at Costco - they are 3-day passes that don't expire until Dec. 2015 so we will use 2 days now & save the last day for another trip. Since there are 3 of us I was thinking the duffle would hold everything (I'm HOPING with FOTL we can actually get through enough stuff to have a couple of hours to visit the resort pool so I want to bring our bathing suits too). I've read that the Universal parks do not allow bags on rides so I wasn't going to carry a backpack if I could avoid it. I don't want to get sucked into the locker system. We will just leave the duffle with bell services.

By the time we go in August both parks have regualr opening at 9:00 rather than at 8:00 (so I assume that means WE can get in at 8:00) with the on-site entry? Or is the early entry only for the WWOHP?

 

[MariMouse]

Anyone know the cost of a taxi to Universal from Pop Century?

 

[Anal Annie]

Anyone know the cost of a taxi to Universal from Pop Century?

I priced it out on Mears website to go from BWV to Universal & it was $35. I would assume it's probably about the same to / from POP. You can double check it on their website tho...

http://www.mearstransportation.com

 

[MariMouse]

I priced it out on Mears website to go from BWV to Universal & it was $35. I would assume it's probably about the same to / from POP. You can double check it on their website tho...

http://www.mearstransportation.com

Thanks so much!