Universal Needs a Magical Express

[ArwenMarie]

I was talking to some friends of ours, same age as us, with school-aged children. Big WDW fans and were interested in seeing Universal. They wanted to do a short trip early next year and I seemed to convince them to do a Uni-only trip and they seemed open to it.

But then, even after all of my encouragement that they would love UOR, they could not get it through their heads how to get there and back from the airport.

We suggested just renting a car and they said no, not comfortable. So then I mentioned about taking a shuttle or a car service, and they didn't seem keen on that.

It was like as soon as they found out there wasn't a "Magical Express" type service, their brains just shut down and didn't want to deal with it.

Disney has really got people trained on Magical Express. I wonder if Universal will ever get some sort of service like that or at least streamline it with the Universal packages so it seems easier to people.

Anyway, it was an interesting conversation. Since we always have rented a car at the airport, I never realized what a huge factor ME plays.

 

[nugov2]

They do offer transportation. It just isn't free:

Airport Transportation
An airport shuttle service is available for hotel guests arriving into Orlando International Airport through Destination MCO. Visit the concierge desk for details. Fees apply.
Departure Point from Airport: Ground transportation area on lower level of airport.
Departure Point from Hotels: Porte Cochere of each hotel

 

[damo]

I don't think there are enough people who would use it yet. You'd have to wait around for quite a while for it to fill. Maybe with the addition of another hotel. They do have free transportation to SeaWorld in the morning so they aren't opposed to the free transportation idea.

 

[macraven]

ME wasn't a magical experience for me at all.......disney doesn't have everyone nailed to that transportation.


i tried it one time from mco to the motherland.
long waits for the bus to fill up then a long ride being the umpteenth stop at the resorts.

i'll never get that 100 minutes back again in my life.


i go with private car service for my 3 leg transportation needs.
vacations for me should be relaxing and whatever the costs, it will be.
my priority is time and ease of travel instead of money.


direct car travel from the motherland or from MCO to the darkside is best for me.
if a person is going to do a one day visit at the darkside from the motherland, you want the fastest way there.

and like damo posted, the crowds are not there for UO to go that route and provide an Universal Express bus.

 

[RMulieri]

I don't find it a big a deal to find transportation..heck..I remember traveling to Disney prior to Magical express .I may be in the minority, but I hated ME.Took me over 2 hrs to get from the airport to the resort ..Towncar service all the way for this family..Out of the airport and at universal in under an hour..I rather Universal NOT offer transportation and keep the prices lower..Everyone at Disney pays for that ME perk , whether they use it or not.

 

[crostorfer]

I've never had anything but positive experiences with DME, but honestly, the town car service is outstanding and comes with a bit of an extra special feeling. It is $50 well spent for personalized service, with the added benefit of not being stuck on a bus with cranky, over-tired, and ill-behaved toddlers and pre-schoolers who have just been cooped up on a plane for 2-3 hours. It is a much more grown up experience.

The cab from MCO to Universal is around $50 plus tip. Town car is the same, and they meet you at baggage claim and help you with your bags. You can't lose with the town car service, and you get transported in style. It's worth price to pay to go directly from point A to point B.

 

[Magpie]

Family of four, with two teens - we just grab a cab from the airport to the Royal Pacific. No trouble at all. There's always cabs at the airport, no matter what time you get in.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Any Universal bus transportation to and from Disney? I understand you can take a city bus but have to change in route...It could take an hour plus. We are going to Disney after the first of the year and the kids would adventure to Universal Studio for a day.

 

[damo]

Any Universal bus transportation to and from Disney? I understand you can take a city bus but have to change in route...It could take an hour plus. We are going to Disney after the first of the year and the kids would adventure to Universal Studio for a day.

No. Universal only does transportation to Sea World.

It is simplest just to take a cab.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We always do car services/taxis when we need them. In Orlando, we usually rent a car, but in other places, that's how we do it, well worth it.

I think they just are hooked on that one-stop shopping that WDW offers. For example, they also buy the dining plan because they say it makes things easier.

Anyway, it was interesting to hear. Then I gave up lol!

 

[keishashadow]

ME isn't exactly free. The cost of it and other internal transport attributes to the room rates dramatically increasing over the years.

No incentive for Loews to offer it when they earn revenue from parking fees.

I'm surprised Loews doesn't tack on a resort fee as most of the deluxe non wdw properties

 

[Bluer101]

ME isn't exactly free. The cost of it and other internal transport attributes to the room rates dramatically increasing over the years. No incentive for Loews to offer it when they earn revenue from parking fees. I'm surprised Loews doesn't tack on a resort fee as most of the deluxe non wdw properties

Don't say that they might be reading, lol.

True, we don't need anything magical outside Harry potter area. Pay for what we use.

 

[keishashadow]

Don't say that they might be reading, lol.

True, we don't need anything magical outside Harry potter area. Pay for what we use.

no worries, my dog won't even listen to me.

 

[Seeker615]

If they want things easy then tell them to book a package on the Universal site.

We did it last year and got 3 days of park to park park tickets, 4 days of the complete dining plan, 5 nights at the Royal Pacific, Harry Potter Breakfast and Blue Man group tickets.

We also got car service to and from the Royal Pacific. It was so easy and the service was awesome. We arrived in baggage claim and the driver was already there. He helped us with our bags and we were the only ones in the van. He was friendly and lively the whole ride over. It was much easier and nicer the ME.

Booking a package on Universal is simple and you can add or subtract whatever you want.

 

[littlejimmy]

ME wasn't a magical experience for me at all.......disney doesn't have everyone nailed to that transportation.


i tried it one time from mco to the motherland.
long waits for the bus to fill up then a long ride being the umpteenth stop at the resorts.

i'll never get that 100 minutes back again in my life.


i go with private car service for my 3 leg transportation needs.
vacations for me should be relaxing and whatever the costs, it will be.
my priority is time and ease of travel instead of money.


direct car travel from the motherland or from MCO to the darkside is best for me.
if a person is going to do a one day visit at the darkside from the motherland, you want the fastest way there.

and like damo posted, the crowds are not there for UO to go that route and provide an Universal Express bus.

This is exactly my mentality when vacationing.

 

[bumbershoot]

ME wasn't a magical experience for me at all.......disney doesn't have everyone nailed to that transportation.

Agreed!

ME isn't exactly free. The cost of it and other internal transport attributes to the room rates dramatically increasing over the years.

Yep.


I don't like to have something included when I likely won't use it (we're rental car people). And ME is definitely being paid for by everyone, whether they use it or not.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Just wanted to say I agree with y'all We don't buy packages, meal plans, we always rent a car, take taxis if we need them, etc. We've never rode a Disney bus.

It was just interesting to me at how well-trained Disney has some people with that darn ME! But I guess if you don't fly a lot for travel, then finding a car service or taxi can seem harder than just following the signs in MCO and getting on the bus with Mickey's face on it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Any Universal bus transportation to and from Disney? I understand you can take a city bus but have to change in route...It could take an hour plus. We are going to Disney after the first of the year and the kids would adventure to Universal Studio for a day.

You can book a ride on the Mears shuttle....I believe it's around $20, rt, pp. Plus tip. You do have to reserve it no later than the night before you want to go. Then, you can either book your return p/u time when you reserve, or you can call Mears (they give you the number to call) about 2 hrs or so before you're ready to leave, and they give you a p/u time.
But a car service will probably run you about $60, plus tip r/t, for 4 people. A cab will probably be the same. So, if you have more than 3 in the group, a car service or cab might be the best way to go.