No car, shuttles from WDW to Universal?

[mrtoad]

Not sure if I am putting this in the correct spot or not. Just wondering if you are staying on WDW property but do not have a car, is there a way to get to Universal? We never go to Universal but do want to check out the new Harry Potter section of IoA on our next trip. I am not sure if there is a shuttle or anything or if we would need a taxi.

Thanks!

 

[lilclerk]

There's LOTS of threads on this recently, but the cheapest option (depending on the size of your party) is a Mears shuttle. Last I heard it was $18/person round trip. Here's the number (407) 423-5566
When I took a cab, I remember it being roughly $80 plus tips round trip (to/from Pop Century)

Have fun!:wave:

 

[spacebaby]

An alternative to Mears, although more lengthy is to take the 50 Downtown Orlando Lynx bus from TTC, get a free transfer slip and then get off at SeaWorld, use the transfer to get on the 8 International Drive Lynx bus which will take you down International Drive. Get off at Wet n Wild and it's a 10 minute walk along Universal Boulevard (Over I4) to the parking lot and entrance to CityWalk. The 1 way bus fare was $1.75 the last time I was there (I did the trip in reverse as I stay on I-Drive so used the service to get to WDW and I walked to Universal every time I went).

 

[Aprilnjosh]

Cheaper to rent a car for the day.

 

[Aprilnjosh]

There is an Enterprise rental on property and "They'll pick you up!"

 

[amaley01]

Thanks for great info, I didn't realize a taxi would be that much
:lookaroun I'm starting to plan our next trip

 

[Alexx]

Cheapest way to get to universal is to get a lynx bus to i-drive and then walk to universal

 

[PalisadesPkteer]

I believe you have to take a taxi to the Mears location on International drive. You take their shuttle to Universal. They bring you back to International drive and you get a taxi back to Disney resort.I have been told that the max they could charge you is $20 because you are within a certain area. Not sure if this is true or not. But if its $20 then $20 again you are now paying what it would cost you to rent a car for the day anyway.

I asked this once to someone at Mears. Need to dig up the info.

 

[lilclerk]

I believe you have to take a taxi to the Mears location on International drive. You take their shuttle to Universal. They bring you back to International drive and you get a taxi back to Disney resort.I have been told that the max they could charge you is $20 because you are within a certain area. Not sure if this is true or not. But if its $20 then $20 again you are now paying what it would cost you to rent a car for the day anyway.

I asked this once to someone at Mears. Need to dig up the info.

They'll pick you up at your WDW resort.
It probably would be cheaper to rent a car for the day, but I hate driving on vacation and avoid it at all costs :lol:

 

[hrcollectibles]

There is an Enterprise rental on property and "They'll pick you up!"

The Car Rental Locations on Property are
Avis
Alamo (The official car rental company of Walt Disney World)
Budget
Dollar
Hertz

 

[Alexx]

Mines still the most cost effective way but not the quickest.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Mines still the most cost effective way but not the quickest.

Out of curiosity, exactly how much time does that trip you described take? It sounds like it would take a very long time, which might outweigh the money saved.

 

[Rob562]

Out of curiosity, exactly how much time does that trip you described take? It sounds like it would take a very long time, which might outweigh the money saved.

Part of the problem is that you first have to get to Downtown Disney. Easy if you're staying at Saratoga Springs or a Hotel Plaza Blvd hotel, not easy if you're elsewhere on property as I don't think the Disney buses start running to DD any earlier than 8 or 9.

Once at DD, according to the Lynx website there's a 7:18am bus that with a transfer that would get you to Wet n Wild at 7:56am. From there it's just under a mile walk to the entrance of City Walk.
A 7:56am bus would need 2 transfers and get you to Wet n Wild for 8:31am.
Later than that, who knows... Cheap, but defintiely the least flexible of all of the options.

Back in September, my Mears 8:10am pickup at All-Star Sports had me walking into Citywalk at Universal at exactly 9am, and that was essentially door-to-door service, with a second pickup at one of the other All-Stars, and a drop-off at SeaWorld on the way to Universal. That was $18.


-Rob

 

[meganw1985]

I recently had this same delimma. We had plans to stay at Pop our first night in Orlando (flight gets in 1015pm) and after decided to do the next day (our first day) at Universal to do Harry Potter. After lots and lots of research, I came up with this: cheapest WOULD be the Lynx bus, but a complete hassle. Especially with a 7yo. Most expensive would be cab (around $90+), followed by a towncar rental ($81), then the Mears Shuttle ($60ish for 3 of us). I got a code, however, from Mousesavers.com for National Car Rental, and got a fullsize car (think Impala) to pick up upon arrival at the airport, return at the Disney Dolphin the next evening, for $50, + unlimited miles. It was by far our best option! Plus being able to rent it at the airport, and return it on Disney property where we won't need further transportation, is awesome! (We have also since cancelled our Pop reservation for that night and got a room at the Crowne Plaza Universal off of Hotwire for $70 so we'll be closer on Sat morning).

 

[betteratmk]

There is an Enterprise rental on property and "They'll pick you up!"

Where is the Enterprise on property please?:wave:

 

[wendysue]

I would call the rental agency at the Car Care Center next to the MK and they will pick you up at whatever time you want. We rented a car for 2 days and it cost 85.00. Really easy. We plan on doing this again in November.

 

[fosse76]

They'll pick you up at your WDW resort.
It probably would be cheaper to rent a car for the day, but I hate driving on vacation and avoid it at all costs :lol:

I doubt it. Unless you do priceline, you can't really rent a car for $18 (the quoted price here for the Mears Shuttle). PLUS, you have gas and Universal's parking fee.

 

[Alexx]

Out of curiosity, exactly how much time does that trip you described take? It sounds like it would take a very long time, which might outweigh the money saved.

Well i've never stayed on property but from I-drive it takes about 30 minutes to walk to Universal.

 

[Cookees68]

Free Shuttle to Universal from WDW Property

I do believe you can purchase a 1 day/2 Park with free roundtrip transfers (courtesy of Mears Transportation) from your Disney Resort to Universal Orlando.

I know it is on a couple of reputable travel agency website, and perhaps, it is on Universal's website as well.

Sounds like a no brainer to me!

For us, we are waiting until next year until the hoopla dies down and the lines and crowds won't be so heavy.

Good luck in your travels.

 

[slappy magoo]

I doubt it. Unless you do priceline, you can't really rent a car for $18 (the quoted price here for the Mears Shuttle). PLUS, you have gas and Universal's parking fee.

Yeah, but Mears is $18 per person, not per party. You've got a party of at least 3 people, that's $54, it may wind up being cheaper to rent a car for the day if you can find a coupon code. Party of 4 or more, odds are even better the car's a better value, plus you have the convenience of coming and going at your leisure, without worrying about missing a bus and having to wait for a next bus.