Heeeelp! How do I get to Disney World?

[starkey6]

My friend and I are going to Florida for spring break this year, and naturally, we want to go to Disney for a bit. However, we are eighteen :brick: , and if we flew down, we wouldn't have a car to get from her aunt's house in Tampa to the earthly delights of Disney. We really don't want to drive because its such a long trip for young drivers, but how do we get from Tampa to Disney without a car? Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated

 

[bgraham34]

I know you can get a bus up near Disney and then get a taxi but where I am not 100 percent sure.

 

[aimster]

Well, without a car, only way I can think of getting to Disney from Tampa is to look into bus/motorcoach schedules. I'm sure there's some kind of coach service up to Orlando/Disney around here. I'll see if I can do some investigating since I live in Tampa myself.

 

[Dwarful]

Sieze the day and the keys to the car! You said you were 18, its not that far from Tampa to Orlando really. We flew into Tampa this year because we saved a bundle on airfare. I think the drive took us less than 1 1/2 hours and that was driving at a pace where we could all easily stay together (12 people, 3 vehicles). If your good drivers and used to highway driving, then I don't see a problem with it. at 18 my friends and I were doing the 6+ hour drive from So. Il. to Chicago to see the Blues play the Hawks and that was in snow and ice! Good luck!
also does Amtrack service Tampa & Orlando? that might be a possiblity for you!

 

[Yellow Shoes]

The way I understand the situation, the major problem is that at 18 you cannot rent a car.

How about you have your aunt rent a car in her name, you guys pay for it (of course) and you take HER car to Orlando? That way she isn't without a car because she's driving the rental and you have access to a car.

 

[careship]

They do have amtrak from Tampa to Orlando and then maybe a mears or whatever from there to the parks? Just a thought. I think it's around $80 but you can check www.amtrak.com and on the left it shows rail sale. They may have some deals for you. I know i can go from Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago, IL for $8.60 one way and $8.60 the other way. May be worth looking into for you.

EDIT rail sale link http://tickets.amtrak.com/Amtrak/railsale

They have some Orlando - Savannah and things like that for like $15 so check it out and see what you can come up with. Hope this helps.

 

[starkey6]

Thanks you guys, all of your suggestions a really big help!

 

[maxime29]

I suggest call a cab. Couldn't say if it's the best choice since I'm not sure of the cost.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

My atlas says its 84 miles from Tampa to Orlando.

That would be SOME cab ride.

I suspect that a cab isn't the most economical option.

 

[Moustronaut]

The way I understand the situation, the major problem is that at 18 you cannot rent a car.

I thought Enterprise rent a car rents to people 18 and over.

 

[starkey6]

Thanks again for all of your help
We are taking YellowShoes advice and renting a car for her aunt so we can take her car. With this plan in action only 8 more months until Disney :sohappy:

 

[TomDisney]

From Malfunction Junction (Where I-4 begins at I-275 in Tampa) to Disney, it's about 66 miles to the Disney exits. Of course, about 35 miles of that is under construction between Lakeland and Orlando right now too...

Unfortunately, there isn't much mass transit here in Florida, especially between Tampa and Orlando...a cab would be expensive. The best alternatives would be to look at either Amtrak or Greyhound as possibilities.

 

[aimster]

I thought Enterprise rent a car rents to people 18 and over.

I think the rule for all car rental companies is you have to be at least 25 to be able to rent a car. Kind of an inconvenience if you're a young traveler. But I can understand their reasoning behind it. But I think they should lower the minimum rental age to maybe even 21. Even though you're "legal" when you turn 18, alot of people (myself included) don't cosider kids "legal" and a bit more responsible until they're 21. But that's just me.

 

[Moustronaut]

I think the rule for all car rental companies is you have to be at least 25 to be able to rent a car. Kind of an inconvenience if you're a young traveler. But I can understand their reasoning behind it. But I think they should lower the minimum rental age to maybe even 21. Even though you're "legal" when you turn 18, alot of people (myself included) don't cosider kids "legal" and a bit more responsible until they're 21. But that's just me.

I know enterprise in the st.louis area let me rent a car when I was 22 for an extra surchange. Had to do that while I was having a car repaired. But I don't remember if that was from 21 to 25 or from 18 to 25.

But I really like the idea that yellowshoes had. totally one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments! :brick:

 

[maxime29]

My atlas says its 84 miles from Tampa to Orlando.

That would be SOME cab ride.

I suspect that a cab isn't the most economical option.

:lol: Yes it is! I didn't realize it was that far. :hammer:

 

[aimster]

Yeah once I get to where I-75 South meets I-4 (I live in north Tampa about 6 & 1/2 miles from I-75 so I can avoid the mess where I-275 meets I-4) it takes about an hour to get from there to Disney. I'll be so glad when the construction from Lakeland to Orlando is finished though. I've been lucky I haven't hit any delys around there yet.