Uber of Lyft from MCO to Disney resort

[Surfinpiratee]

I don't have any experience with Uber or Lyft. Which do you prefer? What is the average price for each from MCO to Disney?

 

[OKW Lover]

I have no experience with either but you can check the price at any time by using their app to get an idea of what it will be when you arrive.

 

[FCDub]

They are both basically the same. Uber has cars with a carseat available, depending on your traveling party.

https://ride.guru can give you price estimates.

 

[SteveH]

They are both similar services, and rates from Ride Guru come out to be about the same as well. But with Uber's data breach last year and their choice not to report it they are my 2nd choice over Lyft.

 

[Kaytie]

I prefer Lyft. While the rates are comparable and many drives drive for both companies, the Lyft drivers seem to have a better attitude.

 

[JimMIA]

I drive for both companies, and my recommendation is that you have both apps on your phone and compare both pricing and pickup times.

Newbies should feel comfortable with either company. All drivers and vehicles must meet very stringent standards set by the State of Florida, and you will be covered by a $1 million insurance policy during your ride.

Most drivers drive for both companies, so you are likely comparing the same vehicles and drivers...which makes comparisons pretty meaningless. At least that's my experience having ridden as a passenger with both companies in several cities, and with more than 1,300 rides as a driver with both companies. As we say in Miami: "Lo mismo" -- the same.

Specific to the airport, both companies stage in the same lot, pick up at the same places, and both use an electronic queue -- so it's luck of the draw.

As FCDub correctly stated above, there are some differences in the options offered by the two companies. The main one that matters to families with small children is that Uber offers both X (up to 4 riders) and XL (up to 6 riders) with ONE car seat for a child.

Both companies offer both larger vehicles and more luxurious vehicles for riders who need or prefer those options.

I would yield to Joel or Rob on specific differences between the companies in the Orlando market.

However, my sense is that there would be little difference ONSITE, because both companies provide good coverage. OFFsite, I suspect that Uber would have both many more riders and many more drivers. More of both means drivers are closer to their passengers, so pickup times would likely be quicker with Uber. That is very much the case here in Miami, and I suspect that OFFsite at Orlando would be similar.

Bottom line: from the airport, or ONsite at WDW, there is probably zero difference in the rider experience. OFFsite, Uber might be better -- but I don't drive in Orlando, so if an Orlando driver says different, listen to them.

 

[vicb]

Resurrecting this thread to ask an additional question... I have used Lyft a handful of times so have the app and understand basics but don't understand how I would know if/when surge pricing would be in effect. Wanting to have transport for 4 adult and 4 suitcases from MCO to Dolphin and then same for return trip. I am trying to decide between a town car service (with grocery stop) and Lyft. The towncar is significantly more $$ and I don't think the little bit we could save on water and breakfast snacks would make up the difference. I did look up on ride guru so have an estimate. So.... surge pricing??? TIA

 

[FCDub]

If the price is higher than what you just got an estimate on, there's surge pricing. It's completely unpredictable and can happen when it's bright and sunny outside or pouring rain. It just means there is more demand than available cars.

 

[joelkfla]

Resurrecting this thread to ask an additional question... I have used Lyft a handful of times so have the app and understand basics but don't understand how I would know if/when surge pricing would be in effect. Wanting to have transport for 4 adult and 4 suitcases from MCO to Dolphin and then same for return trip. I am trying to decide between a town car service (with grocery stop) and Lyft. The towncar is significantly more $$ and I don't think the little bit we could save on water and breakfast snacks would make up the difference. I did look up on ride guru so have an estimate. So.... surge pricing??? TIA

With 4 adults + 4 suitcases, you'd wanna request Lyft Plus. The luggage likely wouldn't fit in a standard small car.

 

[vicb]

If the price is higher than what you just got an estimate on, there's surge pricing. It's completely unpredictable and can happen when it's bright and sunny outside or pouring rain. It just means there is more demand than available cars.

So hard to make a decision... any idea how much more is typical for surge pricing?

 

[vicb]

With 4 adults + 4 suitcases, you'd wanna request Lyft Plus. The luggage likely wouldn't fit in a standard small car.

Thank you, good point. I had sort of thought that as well. The towncar service requires a larger vehicle for 4 passengers with 4 bags.

 

[AngiTN]

Resurrecting this thread to ask an additional question... I have used Lyft a handful of times so have the app and understand basics but don't understand how I would know if/when surge pricing would be in effect. Wanting to have transport for 4 adult and 4 suitcases from MCO to Dolphin and then same for return trip. I am trying to decide between a town car service (with grocery stop) and Lyft. The towncar is significantly more $$ and I don't think the little bit we could save on water and breakfast snacks would make up the difference. I did look up on ride guru so have an estimate. So.... surge pricing??? TIA

You can tell if you click on the tiny little i in a circle (and when I say tiny, I mean teeny tiny) that appears next to the ride cost. It will show you the break down and include if there is a Surge at that time. I think one of the apps may also put a pop up on the screen that indicates prices are slightly higher than avg at this time, or something to that effect. I know I've seen that in the past but don't know 1, if they are still putting it on there and 2, which app it was. I use both equally when at Disney

I stuck an arrow to point to it here

 

[JimMIA]

Resurrecting this thread to ask an additional question... I have used Lyft a handful of times so have the app and understand basics but don't understand how I would know if/when surge pricing would be in effect. Wanting to have transport for 4 adult and 4 suitcases from MCO to Dolphin and then same for return trip. I am trying to decide between a town car service (with grocery stop) and Lyft. The towncar is significantly more $$ and I don't think the little bit we could save on water and breakfast snacks would make up the difference. I did look up on ride guru so have an estimate. So.... surge pricing??? TIA

I don't know the Orlando market and Joel can correct me if this is inaccurate, but this has been my experience in Miami.

Airports don't usually surge -- or if they do, they surge very little.

I would think Lyft would surge (they call it Prime Time) even less than Uber. I've never had a Lyft Prime Time for our airport -- in fact, I've only had one PT ride anywhere in a year and a half of driving for Lyft...lol.

In addition, as Joel said, you will need an XL or Plus vehicle, and surge pricing on XL/Plus is much less common than on X or regular Lyft. I've never had a Lyft Plus prime time ride.

I think if you look at your Plus estimate from Ride Guru, it should be pretty close. I would have both apps on your phone and check both before ordering.

 

[JimMIA]

You can tell if you click on the tiny little i in a circle (and when I say tiny, I mean teeny tiny) that appears next to the ride cost. It will show you the break down and include if there is a Surge at that time. I think one of the apps may also put a pop up on the screen that indicates prices are slightly higher than avg at this time, or something to that effect. I know I've seen that in the past but don't know 1, if they are still putting it on there and 2, which app it was. I use both equally when at Disney

I stuck an arrow to point to it here

The little i thingee, as your screenshot indicates is the Uber app, and yes it's still there. I just updated my rider app yesterday, and I still see it. You will only see the tiny i on some vehicle classes initially -- for reasons known only to the Uber Codekids.

When you tap the vehicle description (whether or not there is a tiny i), you will get an explanation of the ride (capacity of vehicle and overall fare, plus wait time charges). And -- added bonus! -- a tiny i. If you tap that tiny i, you will see all of the fare components broken down, and that should also reflect any surge.

WAY easier to just have both apps on your phone and compare fares, availability, and pickup times.

 

[FCDub]

So hard to make a decision... any idea how much more is typical for surge pricing?

There's no typical amount. Could be 25% higher, could be 400% in extreme cases. Just depends on the specific situation.

 

[AngiTN]

The little i thingee, as your screenshot indicates is the Uber app, and yes it's still there. I just updated my rider app yesterday, and I still see it. You will only see the tiny i on some vehicle classes initially -- for reasons known only to the Uber Codekids.

When you tap the vehicle description (whether or not there is a tiny i), you will get an explanation of the ride (capacity of vehicle and overall fare, plus wait time charges). And -- added bonus! -- a tiny i. If you tap that tiny i, you will see all of the fare components broken down, and that should also reflect any surge.

WAY easier to just have both apps on your phone and compare fares, availability, and pickup times.

I know that's still there. I took that screen shot just a few minutes ago. And I know it's Uber, as again, I just took that screen shot, and it has Car Seats, which only Uber has
I meant the notice that "Prices are higher than usual" that pops up. I don't know if THAT is still there, or not. And I can't remember which app gave that message

 

[vicb]

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies, this info is very helpful. So I think I understand better now in terms of pre-scheduling apparently you can not pre book Lyft Plus so we will have to do that at the airport when we arrive. We are arriving early afternoon so not in rush hour driving, hopefully it won't be surge pricing or Prime Time. Traveling with my young adult "kids" who are like "duh, lets just take Lyft Mom" haha. The estimates are for $38-$47 dollars each way (plus tipping) which is way cheaper than the town car service ($146 round trip plus tipping each way).

 

[JimMIA]

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies, this info is very helpful. So I think I understand better now in terms of pre-scheduling apparently you can not pre book Lyft Plus so we will have to do that at the airport when we arrive. We are arriving early afternoon so not in rush hour driving, hopefully it won't be surge pricing or Prime Time. Traveling with my young adult "kids" who are like "duh, lets just take Lyft Mom" haha. The estimates are for $38-$47 dollars each way (plus tipping) which is way cheaper than the town car service ($146 round trip plus tipping each way).

You can pre-schedule rides with either company, but not from airports because electronic queues are usually used at airports.

In reality, there is little sense in using the pre-scheduled feature with either company...ever. It's not necessary, and all it means is your ride request will be placed automatically instead of you doing it manually. Those automatic dispatches are typically done at least 15 minutes before you said you'd be ready, and because of that they are more likely to lead to a $10 cancellation fee than a seamless pickup. And Lyft's pre-scheduling system is particularly bad.

I wouldn't think you'd have surge at the airport, but I would check both companies' prices anyway. Both prices and availability may vary between companies.

 

[joelkfla]

You I wouldn't think you'd have surge at the airport, but I would check both companies' prices anyway. Both prices and availability may vary between companies.

Like I've said, I haven't done airport pickups, but the few times I've checked there have been a hundred or so cars in the queue. So yes, there's no logical reason to surge at the airport, based on the historical justification of attracting more drivers to a high demand area.

OTOH, as I understand it, the latest TOS basically says Uber can charge whatever they want, as long as they quote it in advance. Fares do not have to be tied to driver pay rates or current demand.

 

[vicb]

This thread is a perfect example of how great these boards are! Such helpful info so quickly today.