Why no love for cabs?

[dmunsil]

I fairly commonly see people ask here about a transportation problem and specifically say, "I don't want to take a cab," which I find frustrating if the cab is clearly the best option. And there are folks here who never offer advice about cabs, even if it's an obviously big speed advantage over Disney transportation.

I mean, obviously if you are trying to save money cabs are not usually optimal, but sometimes you can take a short cab ride for a small sum of money and save huge amounts of time. There are some trips that are just plain slow on Disney transport or require two legs, each with a variable wait. Most notably, resort-to-resort transportation is almost always much faster in a cab with some exceptions.

I am wondering if there are other things about cabs that make people dislike them or just make them wary. I know I never really took cabs growing up; most people don't use them regularly unless they grew up in Manhattan or something. Is that part of it? People just forget about them or don't feel comfortable taking them?

And of course there's that unpredictability thing. You can guesstimate a cab fare, but if traffic is bad or your driver gets lost, your cab fare just keeps going up.

I'm curious: if you just don't take cabs, ever, what's the reason? Save money? Predictability? Don't trust them? Don't feel comfortable with the tipping and so forth? Some combination of all of those? Something I haven't even thought of?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We never use cabs on WDW property... Don't need to... Disney transportation works fine for us. We're on vacation and aren't in any big hurry to be anywhere and we don't resort hop to eat, food across WDW is about the same and we don't waste time or money on TA restaurants.

I personally don't care to use a cab that basically is over 5.00 to sit in then pay so much per mile and minute... And then what, tip the driver for doing his job of getting me somewhere ....

I read all kinds of posts, oh, just take a cab here and there... Those fares add up, why? Disney free transportation doesn't work for you... I'd never recommend a taxi on property unless out running a hurricane or something... Plan ahead, use the system and relax... Nothing there I have to rush to and have to pay for to get there... Just my feelings!

 

[seashoreCM]

I fairly commonly see people ask here about a transportation problem and specifically say, "I don't want to take a cab," which I find frustrating if the cab is clearly the best option. And there are folks here who never offer advice about cabs, even if it's an obviously big speed advantage over Disney transportation.

I mean, obviously if you are trying to save money cabs are not usually optimal, but sometimes you can take a short cab ride for a small sum of money and save huge amounts of time. There are some trips that are just plain slow on Disney transport or require two legs, each with a variable wait. Most notably, resort-to-resort transportation is almost always much faster in a cab with some exceptions.

I am wondering if there are other things about cabs that make people dislike them or just make them wary. I know I never really took cabs growing up; most people don't use them regularly unless they grew up in Manhattan or something. Is that part of it? People just forget about them or don't feel comfortable taking them?

And of course there's that unpredictability thing. You can guesstimate a cab fare, but if traffic is bad or your driver gets lost, your cab fare just keeps going up.

I'm curious: if you just don't take cabs, ever, what's the reason? Save money? Predictability? Don't trust them? Don't feel comfortable with the tipping and so forth? Some combination of all of those? Something I haven't even thought of?

All of the above.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[amomma23]

The buses are FREE and perfectly fine with us. We have 3 kids, so we can only take a van, not a regular size car. With kids, I have to worry about car seats. If it were just DH and I and we were running very late for something, I guess I would go for it. Otherwise, we'll bus it.

 

[Alesia]

Well, when someone says, "How do I get from AOA to POFQ?" It's a pretty safe bet that they are looking for directions using WDW transportation. I'm sure they can can figure out how to take a cab for themselves.

Plenty of posters give info on cabs if they're asked about them - it actually comes up a few times a day. Questions such as: "Do my kids need a car seat in a cab?" or "How much is a cab from AOA to POFQ?" or even "What is the fastest way to get from AOA to POFQ?"

In any case, I've never used a cab in WDW. I'm not opposed to them or anything, I've just never felt the need.

 

[seashoreCM]

I fairly commonly see people ask here about a transportation problem and specifically say, "I don't want to take a cab," which I find frustrating if the cab is clearly the best option. And there are folks here who never offer advice about cabs, even if it's an obviously big speed advantage over Disney transportation.

By the way, why do you find it frustrating when others post a question and already state some details about what they are looking for in an answer?

Of course they will get stock answers such as "Resort to resort trips via Disney Transport require making of a connection." or "All park to Downtown Disney trips via Disney Transport require making a connection at a resort."

If they used search and did not find a suitable answer within ten minutes, then posting their question is fair game (puts another iron in the fire). How to get from A to B is such a frequently asked question that there are plenty of folks here who will jump in quickly with stock answers.

In addition, the taxi indistry is not consumer friendly. Disputes or problems are very likely to become confrontational and the law generally sides with the taxi company. There is also a "big company" versus "small company" mentality. Complain to a taxi driver or a small store owner and he feels that making good is taking food off of his own table. Whereas with a big store or transit company the person you complain to will still collect his salary and does not have the urge to take things personally.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have used cabs in WDW...usually from resort to resort when I'm in a time crunch.
But, usually the transportation system works just fine for us. We plan accordingly, when budgeting time. Cabs can add up quickly, and that just adds more expense to an already expensive vacation.
But sometimes a cab is a good solution. For instance...we ate at YC and we were staying at Pop. We needed to get back to Pop fairly quickly since a member of the group wasn't feeling too great. We could have taken the boat to HS and then the bus to Pop, but that would have been time consuming. So, we took a cab. It was about a 7 min ride and cost was under $10, tip included. It worked quite well for us, in that particular situation.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Many of my recent trips have been solo so I have not rented a car and tend to use ME together with WDW transport. But I have used cabs when I felt it necessary (i.e., very early breakfast ADR elsewhere, late night back to resort from the Boardwalk, etc.).

I think many on this site have decided in advance of their trip how they will handle transportation. Whether they decide to rent a car, get a towncar from the airport and use WDW Transport or just use ME and WDW transportation, they make that choice before traveling and tend to stick to the plan (we are planners, on here ). So we pre-program ourselves to stick with the plan. Maybe we all need to be a bit more spontaneous - haha!

 

[mdsd8700]

I guess we are in the minority. We always rent a car and don't use Disney transportation except the occasional monorail trip. Even with a rental there have been a few times we taken a cab. That probably sounds crazy but I'm not a fan of the TTC so if we are not staying at BLT we take a cab to the CR and walk over to the MK. Leaving the rental car behind. Same for the return. Everyone is different but for us the cost is worth the convenience. However we do regularly use cabs at home when in downtown Chicago or visiting other major cities like NY. So maybe we just are more comfortable doing so.

I wouldn't recommend it as a regular mode of transportation but for an occasional trip we don't mind taking a cab at all.

 

[Greysword]

We rent a car too (It's fun to be free!). However, we generally use WDW transportation, which is part of the experience. Taxis are expensive for the service provided, especially since there is a lower cost option, so we prefer not to use them.

 

[MeeskaMomma]

People with small children may shy away from cabs because I'd the car seat issue. It is my understanding that you have to have your own car seat to use a cab. Although cabs around Disney may be different since there are so many families. If any one knows how the car seat thig works I would be interested I hear.

 

[dmunsil]

Well, when someone says, "How do I get from AOA to POFQ?" It's a pretty safe bet that they are looking for directions using WDW transportation. I'm sure they can can figure out how to take a cab for themselves.

Sure, but what if they're asking the best way to get from WL to Poly? The answer to that question, IMO, is always a cab. Or they're going from Boardwalk to Grand Floridian? POP to Yacht Club? CBR to AKL? I'm sorry, but the best way to do those is cab, cab, cab.

Plenty of posters give info on cabs if they're asked about them - it actually comes up a few times a day.

Yes, of course you're right, but there are occasionally exceptions. There was a thread recently with the title "Cab fare from WL to Poly" in which multiple people felt compelled to share the best way to get there using Disney transit. Which I have to say, good for them for sharing info; I'm not saying it's not nice of them to help out. But I couldn't figure out, A. why anyone would ever suggest Disney transport spontaneously for that route unless someone said they couldn't or wouldn't take a cab, and B. why they would do so in a thread titled "Cab fare from WL to Poly".

It takes all kinds to make a world, and I in no way begrudge people their preference of transportation. And I would never think less of people for helping out; that's what we're here for and sometimes people can really use the answer to the question they should have asked, not the question they asked. So I'm not saying people should stop, I'm just trying to make conversation. It felt to me like sometimes people bend over backward to avoid mentioning cabs, and I couldn't figure out why.

By the way, why do you find it frustrating when others post a question and already state some details about what they are looking for in an answer?

Well, when it's a trip where a cab ride is 2 minutes and a few bucks and Disney transport is up to 45 minutes and two bus rides, then it's frustrating that they seem to have taken off the table the single best option. It's like if someone said, "I want to buy a cantaloupe but I don't want to go to a supermarket or a farmer's market". My first thought is, "Why don't you want to do the thing that will be by far the easiest?"

Now, if they said, "I can't take a cab because I won't have a car seat for the baby," then at least I understand why it's off the table. Of course, my first thought is, "why not bring the car seat for the baby?" But I'm perfectly happy to just lay out the options and point out (hopefully politely) that bringing a car seat could save them 45 minutes of waiting and busing.

 

[Ofinn]

We always use cabs when going from resort to resort. I think it's silly to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation, and then spend 1-2 hours out of your evening getting to your dinner reservation just because you don't want to spend an additional 10-20 dollars. I have never understood it.

 

[helenk]

I have taken cabs when I stay at the Allstar resorts before checking into the AKV. Generally the fare runs about $8 or $9 no big deal.
I have on occasion taken a cab from my resort to another if I am running late for an ADR.
I don't use them frequently though, when we have a rental car WDW is quite easy to navigate so no problems there. If we use Disney transportation you just factor in travel time. I figure I am on vacation, I am generally not in a big hurry, I get there when I get there.
If you are a family vacationing in WDW cabs may not be part of the budget.

 

[Alesia]

Sure, but what if they're asking the best way to get from WL to Poly? The answer to that question, IMO, is always a cab. Or they're going from Boardwalk to Grand Floridian? POP to Yacht Club? CBR to AKL? I'm sorry, but the best way to do those is cab, cab, cab.

I disagree. It is certainly the fastest, but that doesn't necessarily equal "best" for everyone.

Yes, of course you're right, but there are occasionally exceptions. There was a thread recently with the title "Cab fare from WL to Poly" in which multiple people felt compelled to share the best way to get there using Disney transit. Which I have to say, good for them for sharing info; I'm not saying it's not nice of them to help out. But I couldn't figure out, A. why anyone would ever suggest Disney transport spontaneously for that route unless someone said they couldn't or wouldn't take a cab, and B. why they would do so in a thread titled "Cab fare from WL to Poly".

That particular poster had 7 people, including 2 toddlers - that complicates the issue quite a bit. Getting a cab with 2 car seats is not easy, which is something that the OP may not have considered.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think you might be surprised by how many people are just not comfortable using cabs! They have never used a cab at home. They are unsure of what to do about getting one, paying for one, and tipping. Others will say that they are not comfortable getting into a car with a stranger! Yes, I know what you're thinking...that's just plain silly! But, for those who have never, ever been in a cab? It can be a very unsettling experience.

Why do people continue to give advice as to using Disney transport vs a cab? Because most people, that are heading to WDW for the first or second time, have no idea that they can use Disney transportation. Is it the fastest way to get somewhere? Maybe not. But it's there...and it behooves us to let people know how to navigate around WDW.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Also to add... The few times we have used a cab ( off property, from Amtrak Kissimmee station to WDW and back).... They reeked if old cigarette smoke, were filthy inside, had drivers that spoke very little English .... Not something I'm comfortable using 1000 miles from home.

Once leaving WDW to return to Kissimmee train station, cab driver needed directions, asked us how to get there and then went and asked another cab driver... Broken English... No thanks!

 

[dmunsil]

But, for those who have never, ever been in a cab? It can be a very unsettling experience.

I can really understand this. It was a little unsettling for me the first time I used a cab on my own. I grew up in Phoenix, where I never took a cab. On the other hand, my friend who grew up in New York City had been taking cabs since he was a kid. I mean, mostly he took the subway, but he'd take a few cab rides every year. But I can remember worrying that I wouldn't tip "right" or that I'd tell the cab driver the wrong thing or he'd get lost. And actually, cab drivers getting lost is not an entirely uncommon occurrence. Not so much at WDW, where there aren't that many locations, but in the rest of the world, for sure.

What I think would be great is if Disney started running the cab service, which of course because it's Disney would be called "Disney Premium Magic Transport Plus", and you could get a Magic Transport Plan add-on for only $50 per person in your party for all the Magic Premium Transport Plus you can use. Unless of course you want the Magic Premium Transport Plus Deluxe Plan, which also gives you a collectible lanyard to hold your collectible Magic Premium Transport Plus Deluxe MagicPass+ card.

Of course, if they did that I'd sign up instantly.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We've been going to WDW since the 70's, back when MK was the only park, and have never used a cab. We live in the Chicago area, where taking a cab means going on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, without characters. The idea of taking a cab while at WDW is very unappealing. Besides, Disney transportation is free.

I don't know why some people consider dropping $20 for a cab ride to be "no big deal". Twenty bucks will buy two of those fancy drinks with a glowing plastic ice cubes.

I've spent enough money for a WDW trip. I really don't want to spend more money when I have other options. I'm not saying I would never take a cab, but so far I've done fine without it.

 

[AndreaDM]

We always use cabs when going from resort to resort. I think it's silly to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation, and then spend 1-2 hours out of your evening getting to your dinner reservation just because you don't want to spend an additional 10-20 dollars. I have never understood it.

Agreed! Especially if we're going to say, HDDR. Our WDW vacations are usually only 4-5 days so time is precious.