Traveling Alone

[supergirl04]

I will be in Orlando for a conference and want to attend one of the parties. But I will be traveling alone and staying near Universal. Does anyone have tips for getting back to the hotel from Disney? I am a woman traveling alone and am hesitant to get an Uber or Lyft.

 

[JimMIA]

As a driver for both Uber and Lyft, I understand your hesitation. Uber and Lyft are perfect bad-news clickbait, and you never hear the good aspects of rider safety that the companies provide.

To give you a more balanced view, here's some rider safety information from Uber. This page not only contains a ton of good information, it also has links to additional information. Just keep in mind that this is Uber only, and Lyft does not provide all of the safeguards provided by Uber.

https://www.uber.com/us/en/safety/
The keys to rider safety start before you get in the car. While the driver is en route, you will see their vehicle information, including tag number, the driver's real first name (not some stupid screen name), and a recent photo of the driver (more on that later). You can also see the vehicle's location as they drive toward your pickup spot. So when the car arrives, you can confirm not only the vehicle information, but also the driver name and match the photo to the face behind the wheel.

When all of that matches, you know the following:

• The driver's true identity is well-known and verified by Uber -- Uber only.
• The driver has passed a recent and very rigorous background check, with requirements set by Florida law -- both companies do annual background checks.
• The driver is subject to constant monitoring for any problematic behavior that would raise issues on a background check. With Uber, it's not just an annual background check, it's continuous monitoring as well -- Uber only.
• The driver's identity is frequently, and randomly, checked. Before we can sign in, we are often asked to take a quick selfie. That selfie is verified with facial recognition software, and if it doesn't match, the driver is not permitted online. That recent selfie is the photo you will see on your app -- Uber only.
• Your ride -- from acceptance to several minutes after dropoff -- is double-tracked by Uber. They track both the driver's phone and your phone, so you're ride is being double-monitored. Both companies, but Uber monitors more closely than Lyft and for longer after ride completion. Uber's monitoring also includes crash detection and alerts monitors if the vehicle has an unscheduled stop for any time.
• You can share the progress of your ride with trusted friends/relatives, and they can watch your progress from start to finish -- both companies.
• There is a suite of rider safety functions included in the rider app, including crash notification, direct 911 calling from the app, extended stop notifications which trigger a call directly to you to be sure you're okay, and others. Uber only
• Your phone number (and the driver's phone number) are never revealed. All communications between driver and rider are transmitted through Uber and your number remains confidential. Both companies
• Your pickup and dropoff locations do not remain a permanent part of the ride history. Obviously they are available to the driver during the ride, but once the ride is over, exact locations do not appear in ride history. Both companies

There are many more features, and very few of these are provided by any other means of transportation. Taxi drivers and limo drivers have background check requirements, but they vary widely from city to city.

If you have any questions, fire away!

 

[shoreward]

If you can get yourself over to one of the Disney resorts (i.e., from MK, you can walk over to the Contemporary, or if you are at EP, you can walk over to the BC - about 5 minute walk from the IG), you can catch a Mears taxi. From Hollywood Studios, you can walk or take the boat to the YC and catch a cab there.

 

[joelkfla]

Yes, Uber, Lyft, or taxi are your only practical choices. Taxis are normally much more costly than Uber or Lyft, but Uber & Lyft increase their fares when demand is high, and if you're leaving MK at the end of an after-hours party, there may be less of a difference between them and a taxi.

You cannot get any of these right at the MK; you will need to go to either a resort or the TTC. You can walk or take the Resort Monorail to the Contemporary Resort, or you can take the Express Monorail or the Ferryboat to TTC (only one of those may be running after the party).

The website rideguru.com can give you estimated fares for all 3 options, but those will be normal fares. Remember that Lyft & Uber will likely be higher than the estimates when leaving after a party. You can install the apps on your phone and check the actual fares when you're ready to leave. Taxi fares don't change by time of day or demand.

If you're using Uber, you may be more comfortable requesting the "Comfort" option, which, for an extra cost, guarantees a high-rated driver and a compact or larger car (as opposed to a subcompact).

 

[kaytieeldr]

If it helps any, I'm a 60+ female who has used Lyft in the Greater Boston area, numerous times. The closest I've come to unpleasant experience is the driver who was brusque at 4 AM. I have never, ever felt unsafe or in danger with any rideshare driver.

 

[Darcy03231]

If you really don't want to use Uber of Lyft, the only other options would be a taxi or rent a car for a day. While it would be the most expensive option, if I were traveling by myself I would go with the rental car.

 

[JimMIA]

There is one other option that might be viable if the party is not on the first day of your conference. You may find other attendees in the same situation -- needing a ride after the party. They may already have cars, or you may be able to team up with them so you're not riding alone.

These things have a way of working themselves out once you are actually at the conference.

 

[lorenae]

I travel alone often, and am often taking uber and lyft late at night. I have no qualms about it, as long as it 'matches' up right. You'll be holding your phone, and checking out the car as it pulls up, and you can keep your phone in your hand the whole time. It's perfectly safe, and the couple of bad incidents that happened can happen with any situation. You'd be safer in an Uber than a nighttime subway station in many places, for example.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Nothing to worry about in two years i only had one bad encounter if a male insists you sit up front cancel the ride and get someone that is less then a creap

 

[bumbershoot]

But I will be traveling alone and staying near Universal. Does anyone have tips for getting back to the hotel from Disney?

I would just rent a car.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I would just rent a car.

What is wrong with lyft i take it all the time honest people making a living %99.9 percent of the time

 

[L_MD]

I'm a youngish woman who pretty much only does solo trips, and I've never had a bad experience in an Uber anywhere (cities, WDW). The worst that's happened to me in an Uber were too-chatty drivers and a driver who got a bit lost and took a few more minutes than usual to get to Wilderness Lodge.

Don't be afraid to do lots of checking: like, always make sure the license plate on the car matches up with what the app is saying. It's an extra 10 seconds of your time and the driver won't mind. Keep your phone in your hand if it makes you feel better, or let a friend know that you're taking an Uber (I think you can do this in app).

Anyway, I'd really suggest it for your trip, because it's so convenient and very cheap.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm a youngish woman who pretty much only does solo trips, and I've never had a bad experience in an Uber anywhere (cities, WDW). The worst that's happened to me in an Uber were too-chatty drivers and a driver who got a bit lost and took a few more minutes than usual to get to Wilderness Lodge.

Don't be afraid to do lots of checking: like, always make sure the license plate on the car matches up with what the app is saying. It's an extra 10 seconds of your time and the driver won't mind.

You'll have to walk to the rear of the vehicle in Florida because we don't have license tags on the front of the car. So take those few seconds for your safety. I not only "won't mind," I'll actually go out of my way to THANK you for being careful. I WANT you to be comfortable.

or let a friend know that you're taking an Uber (I think you can do this in app).

You can not only notify them, they can actually follow your ride on the map in real time . They will see your car moving along as it's actually happening-- and that is with both Uber and Lyft.

 

[JimMIA]

One thing that may help to bring a little perspective to the safety discussion is to realize the scope of Uber and Lyft. There is a lot more data available on Uber, so I'll focus on Uber with occasional data from Lyft.

• Uber provides 14-15 MILLION rides each day
• Since inception, Uber has provided more than 10 BILLION rides; Lyft has provided more than 1 BILLION rides
• Uber services more than 600 cities in 65 countries worldwide; Lyft is available to 95% of the US population, and is available in some cities in Canada
• Both companies continue to expand at a rapid pace

So...have there been hundreds of bad incidents involving these two companies? Yes, hundreds of incidents in 11 BILLION rides. Each incident is inexcusable, but the likelihood of being involved in any kind of incident (including traffic accidents) is very small.

One interesting factoid I came across researching this info is the disparity between Uber and Lyft rider demographics:

• Uber's rider gender breakdown: 52% male; 48% female
• Lyft's rider gender breakdown: 64% male, only 36% female

That one really surprised me; I would have thought they'd be very similar, but apparently not.

 

[supergirl04]

Thank you all for the responses! Feeling better about traveling over to Disney. I’ve never been to a Christmas party so am looking forward to going

 

[rigs32]

I feel much safer in an uber/lyft than in a taxi. Why? If a taxi driver wants to do something bad, there's nothing to track me or my phone.

When I get into a lyft, I have the person's name, photo, cell phone number, and license plate number. Much easier to track someone down if things do go wonky. But I've used lyft in a variety of cities at all times of day or night and never had a safety issue.

 

[JimMIA]

I feel much safer in an uber/lyft than in a taxi. Why? If a taxi driver wants to do something bad, there's nothing to track me or my phone.

When I get into a lyft, I have the person's name, photo, cell phone number, and license plate number. Much easier to track someone down if things do go wonky. But I've used lyft in a variety of cities at all times of day or night and never had a safety issue.

You don't have the driver's cell phone number, and they don't have yours.

You have the ability to call the driver, but the call is routed through Uber/Lyft to ensure privacy for both riders and drivers -- and that's true with both companies.

 

[kylenne]

I live in NYC and have taken rideshares dozens and dozens of times both at home and on vacation in various cities at all hours including down at WDW and never once had a problem. I usually Lyft as opposed to Uber just because they constantly throw credits at me and I get statement credit once a month from one of my Mastercards. But Uber is safe also, and for all my trips I’m either alone or traveling with my female partner.

Like others have said use common sense and the plethora of safety measures in place—far more than taxis have tbh. If anything I find the drivers in Orlando to be extra friendly. The worst that ever happened was one driver we had that was clueless and not paying attention and got lost on the way from Poly to AK at rope drop.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I live in NYC and have taken rideshares dozens and dozens of times both at home and on vacation in various cities at all hours including down at WDW and never once had a problem. I usually Lyft as opposed to Uber just because they constantly throw credits at me and I get statement credit once a month from one of my Mastercards. But Uber is safe also, and for all my trips I’m either alone or traveling with my female partner.

Like others have said use common sense and the plethora of safety measures in place—far more than taxis have tbh. If anything I find the drivers in Orlando to be extra friendly. The worst that ever happened was one driver we had that was clueless and not paying attention and got lost on the way from Poly to AK at rope drop.

I know what you mean about the dredits I have 10% off

 

[Best Aunt]

I feel much safer in an uber/lyft than in a taxi. Why? If a taxi driver wants to do something bad, there's nothing to track me or my phone.

That's how I feel.

Also, the Uber/Lyft drivers know they will be rated. They typically keep their cars clean. A lot of the cabs I have gotten in have been gross.