Staying at Disney, want to visit Universal

PMC0849

PMC0849

Well-Known Member
So, we are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, but we want to take one day from our schedule to visit Universal. We will not have a car, so I am wondering is it easy to get Universal and back from AKL? How long of a trip on average is it?
 
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R W B

R W B

Well-Known Member
I've been told by multiple people a basic taxi ride is $20-$25 each way. I always drive myself and takes about 20 min with little traffic.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
The Mears shuttle is pretty cheap and a flat rate. Cab cost will vary based on traffic, I think...and you never know what you'll get on I-4.

There are a lot of car services in Orlando. I don't know if WDWMagic recommends one and I know I can't. Be sure, if you hire a car, that it's well-recommended. Some are great and some aren't.
 
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dreamfinder

dreamfinder

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Depending on your party size, you can also rent a car from the Swolphin, Car Care Center, and most of the DTD area hotels. It may be cheaper than paying per person for other methods. We did that, got it in the morning, made it to Uni by park open, and spent the whole day and returned it that night,
 
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Gabe1

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
R W B said:
I've been told by multiple people a basic taxi ride is $20-$25 each way. I always drive myself and takes about 20 min with little traffic.
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Beware of gypsy taxi's, they are abundant. If you go that route have bell hop call one forward at your resort and I would recommend on trip back to Disney to go to Universal Resort and have bellhop call one forward for you again. Both Disney and Universal only allow one taxi company to use their resort taxi stands.

$25 sounds cheap. I've paid $20 to go from AKL to the Contemporary. Like Luv said, traffic escalates the price.
Try this: http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/taxi-fare-estimator/
 
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wendysue

wendysue

Well-Known Member
dreamfinder said:
Depending on your party size, you can also rent a car from the Swolphin, Car Care Center, and most of the DTD area hotels. It may be cheaper than paying per person for other methods. We did that, got it in the morning, made it to Uni by park open, and spent the whole day and returned it that night,
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We rented a car at the car care center. They will pick you up at your room and bring you back. It was much cheaper than the other options, and we stopped and did some shopping for cheaper drinks, snacks, etc. before we took the car back. This was a couple years ago, but we got the car for 2 days for 89.00.
 
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kasey1988

kasey1988

Well-Known Member
We also rented a car, we have rented from the car care Center and from a company in a DTD hotel. It can be pretty cheap and most will pick you up at your resort and drop you back off after you return the car. We used it to stop at wal mart and the mall while out.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
lilclerk said:
I've definitely paid closer to $40 each way to get to Universal from Pop in little to no traffic.
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That sounds more like what I'd expect to hear without traffic. And again, there could be traffic.

Just the other night, I saw a traffic jam that went on for miles and miles. It wasn't on I-4, but you just never know when you're going to have to sit!
 
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R W B

R W B

Well-Known Member
Gabe1 said:
Beware of gypsy taxi's, they are abundant. If you go that route have bell hop call one forward at your resort and I would recommend on trip back to Disney to go to Universal Resort and have bellhop call one forward for you again. Both Disney and Universal only allow one taxi company to use their resort taxi stands.

$25 sounds cheap. I've paid $20 to go from AKL to the Contemporary. Like Luv said, traffic escalates the price.
Try this: http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/taxi-fare-estimator/
Click to expand...
I've only seen Mears Taxis on property that I can remember but why avoid Gypsy taxi's? We have a lot of them here in New Orleans and around here that just means they are Taxis without having a Taxi license. May be a big deal to some but as long as I get where I need to get in a timely manner and in one piece it doesn't bother me. I always drive though so we've never needed one.

Also, since everyone was saying the $25 sounded cheap I wanted to double check that price and yea, a co worker of mine said he paid $25+tip for his family of 3 to go to Uni from the beach club but he said it was $35+tip on the way back though.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
R W B said:
I've only seen Mears Taxis on property that I can remember but why avoid Gypsy taxi's? We have a lot of them here in New Orleans and around here that just means they are Taxis without having a Taxi license. May be a big deal to some but as long as I get where I need to get in a timely manner and in one piece it doesn't bother me. I always drive though so we've never needed one.

Also, since everyone was saying the $25 sounded cheap I wanted to double check that price and yea, a co worker of mine said he paid $25+tip for his family of 3 to go to Uni from the beach club but he said it was $35+tip on the way back though.
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There are many good reasons to avoid the gypsy cabs, especially in tourist areas.

If you want to take them, by all means, do it.

But Gabe gave good advice for most people. Avoid them! Especially if you have no idea how illegal games are played and aren't smarter and/or tougher than the crooks who sometimes operate these scams...just don't get involved with it.

There is no lack of cab stands at any of the Disney/Uni parks and hotels. If you' want a legal cab, you can get one.
 
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75disney

75disney

Well-Known Member
We rent a car every trip for one day to visit family in the area. Alamo and National are at the Disney Car Care Center. They have a complimentary shuttle that will pick you up at the resort and take you to rent the car. They also provide a shuttle back to your resort (they may even drop you at the TTC if you ask) once you return the car. We pay about $45 for one day. You can also rent and/ or return a car to the Dolphin, but there is no shuttle; you are on your own to get there. We usually rent from the Car Care Center to get the shuttle service and then return it first thing the next morning at the dolphin and then take a boat to HS or Epcot. It is very easy to do.
 
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Dwarful

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
we have done this trip both ways...renting a car for a day or two days from Car Care Center and arranging through Tiffany TownCar service. Both worked well. I personally liked the car service they picked us up at the time we requested, we arrived about 40 minutes before park opening (per our request) and on one day we wanted to leave the park before our prearranged time and we were able to rearrange our time without any difficulties.
 
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PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
We always take a taxi from CSR to Uni. It cost us 45-48 dollars. We always take the cab back to DTD for 30 dollars. We find it best to just call the front desk and say you need a cab, they can patch your right through to mears. I've called the night before or a few minutes before and never had an issue. I believe it took about 20 minutes
 
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