Uber v. Rental Cars at Disney World
Considering using Uber or Lyft at Walt Disney World instead of renting a car? This post covers my recent experience of ditching the rental car and instead relying on ride sharing services for transportation to Universal, from the airport, and to the Magic Kingdom and other parks.
For those unfamiliar with Uber and Lyft, they are relatively new “ride sharing” services that are essentially nicer alternatives to taxis that allow users to request rides via robust mobile apps. These apps show drivers in your vicinity, anticipated pick-up time, and have a host of other features. Why they are called ride sharing is beyond me, as you pay for the rides, and the driver is doing this as their full or part time job. They have both exploded in popularity in the last couple of years and have proven to be market disrupters that have wrecked havoc for taxi companies and have been politically controversial in some areas. (This will be relevant later in the post.)
This was actually a bit of a last minute idea, inspired by a commenter in my recent Tips for Renting a Car at Walt Disney World post who suggested the idea. I’ve never been overly keen on renting a car at Walt Disney World, as I enjoy the “escapist” experience of simply relying on Disney transportation (especially the “cool” transportation…I’m not looking at you, articulated buses), so I immediately jumped at the idea.
I already had a quote in with AutoSlash, and they had scored me a $151 rate on an economy car for the duration of my trip, which was a pretty good price, all things considered. I wasn’t sure if I could beat this by using Uber, but I figured if it was in the same ballpark, I would rather go with Uber (or Lyft…but I never ended up using the latter) so I didn’t have to bother with driving. With my rental car reservation cancelled, I was off to MCO with both apps loaded in my phone…and READY FOR ADVENTURE! Dun dun dun!
Wondering whether this might be an economical or convenient alternative to renting a car or solely utilizing Disney transportation? Let’s take a look!
The start to my experiment was a rocky one. Before the trip, I had used a third party website to calculate the cost of some fares to make sure I wasn’t going to lose my shirt on this plan, and one of the routes I checked was the airport to my Disney Springs hotel.
It turns out Orlando is one of the hotbeds for ride sharing battles, with Uber and Mears having a very public clash. Mears makes Comcast look like an exemplary pillar of customer service, so it’s no surprise that they are making effort$ to keep Lyft and Uber out. In Mears’ defense, what fun is transportation in Orlando if you don’t pay exorbitant fees while receiving awful service?
When I landed at the airport and opened Uber, I received a message that they couldn’t do airport pickups at Orlando International Airport. I was anxious about this that message first, knowing that a cab from the airport to Walt Disney World could cost $60 or more thanks to the virtual Mearsopoly.
With the prospect of going to the parks on the table, I quickly jumped into MacGruber mode, and found a way to deactivate this ticking bomb by taking an off-site parking shuttle to some random spot outside the airport. From there, I had an Uber within 5 minutes.
For those of you who don’t want to go the parking shuttle route, my driver informed me that you can also drop your pin outside the airport, request a driver, and then immediately call and let them know you’re actually at the airport. If you go this route, the best method is to do a pickup at the departures drop-off area. From what I understand, most drivers will do this, although some won’t. YMMV.
My driver picked me up and got me to my hotel in 18 minutes for a total cost (including one toll) of $16.01. Not bad for a 14.6 mile drive from the airport, and even with the parking shuttle my total time spent on this was around 35 minutes, making it faster than a normal Disney’s Magical Express ride and comparable to getting a rental car at the airport. (Note that it would have taken about 25 minutes had I dropped the pin outside the airport and called.)
My plan for the trip was to use a hybrid approach of relying on Uber and Disney transportation depending upon the circumstances, and I employed this strategy pretty successfully. Basically, whenever it was a midday hour, which is when I feel Disney transportation is most unpredictable and least efficient or at various other strategic times when it made sense, I’d use Uber.
For these random trips, I used Uber 4 times for a grand total of $38.03. This included getting from Caribbean Beach Resort to the Contemporary at 7:30 a.m. one morning (cost of $12.57 that included the dreaded “surge pricing”) to be early for our 8 a.m. Be Our Guest breakfast ADR.
I figure this one is worth mentioning specifically because several readers have asked about the best way to get to early morning ADRs: Uber is your new answer. (Just make sure to specify the Contemporary unless you want to go through the Ticket & Transportation Center.) Other rides were more mundane, in ordinary circumstances where it felt like the bus would be a hassle.
One thing I learned over the course of these random tips is that it’s always a good practice to call your driver and let them know exactly where you are. Our time at Caribbean Beach Resort illustrates why this is important for a few reasons. Maps can be wonky sometimes, and the driver’s map might take them to the wrong place.
Even if there is no issue with the route, it might be difficult for them to tell the specific spot at the resort where you’re located unless you call and tell them. Since Uber and Lyft are relatively new to the Orlando market, there are some drivers who don’t know the ins and outs of Walt Disney World’s transportation grid. This was not an issue for us as our drivers always called us if there was any potential confusion, but you might want to be proactive so they arrive as quickly as possible.
I used Uber less than once per day, and actually played it a bit conservative. I was right across the street from the Disney Springs bus stops, and actually had great luck walking over there and quickly grabbing a bus on a couple of occasions when heading to Epcot (choosing the first bus to show of the Crescent Lake Resorts).
I also tend to stay in the parks until after they have closed for the day (the shops on Main Street are open until about an hour after park closing), which means the buses are parked there waiting for me at the end of the night. I also took Disney’s Magical Express back to the airport (my 3:10 a.m. pickup had no one else on the bus!), so I only had one airport charge.
In these regards, I’m a bit of outlier because my use of Disney’s transportation in these situations isn’t exactly what the average guest will encounter. Just for the sake of discussion, let’s say an average guest would have used Uber 4 more times for a total cost of $40 more.
If you are an average guest trying to determine how much you might spend on Uber, another thing to consider is surge pricing. This is when pricing increases by a multiplier (1.5 to 2x in my experience at Walt Disney World) when demand is high to get more drivers on the road. Demand is highest at Walt Disney World right before park opening, at rush hour, and right as the parks close. If these are the primary travel times, plan to pay surge pricing on occasion. Still cheaper than a Mears taxi.
Without question, the greatest case for Uber or Lyft was in traveling from Walt Disney World to Universal Orlando Resort. Much like the early morning ADR question, this is one we get a lot. In the past, the best option we’ve found for those who don’t have rental cars the duration of their trips is either renting a car on-site for the day, or taking a pricey shuttle. Neither is cost-effective or all that appealing, especially when you add on that $17 parking fee.
The cost for Uber from Caribbean Beach Resort to Universal Orlando Resort’s guest drop-off zone in the morning was $14.31. The cost on the way back (during rush hour) heading directly to Epcot was $15.92. The trips were 19 and 26 minutes, respectively.
For the two of us, it was ~$30, and it would have easily cost $50-$100 for a 1-day rental car (including parking) or shuttle, plus either alternative would have taken longer. For those who aren’t renting a car for the duration of their trip, Uber or Lyft are the unquestionable best options for getting from Walt Disney World to Universal.
All told, I spent $84.27 on Uber, and had my best experience with transportation at Walt Disney World in ages. Even removing my special circumstances from the equation and spending another $40-60, a normal guest still would have come out ahead by using Uber rather than a rental car, and that’s before factoring in things such as gas, tolls, and parking (as applicable) to the cost of the rental car.
The additional upside for me was efficiency and convenience, as Uber beat both a rental car (no parking!) and bus transportation (sometimes it feels like taking a swan pedal boat might be faster than Disney buses) in those regards. In terms of service, Uber was characteristically impeccable. Since drivers depend upon positive ratings to remain with Uber and Lyft, they go the extra mile to make the experience positive for riders. This is a stark contrast to taxis I’ve encountered, some of whom grumble when you try to pay with credit card instead of cash.
Overall, there is no one size fits all answer in terms of the “best” means of transportation around Walt Disney World. For me, utilizing Uber and Lyft to supplement Disney transportation, or replace a rental car is a pretty ideal option (that is, until Launchpad invites me to fly on his private plane).
It allowed me to save on the cost of a rental car and not worry about driving. Even though that still meant dealing with Disney transportation some of the time, my issues and delays were minimal to non-existent. The added upside was that I never had to worry about getting lost, finding a parking spot, or driving at the end of a long day, which I definitely considered a win.
If you’re new to the Uber or Lyft scene, you can get a free ride up to $20 by signing up via this link for Uber (or use code tomb3417 if the link doesn’t work) or a free ride up to $20 on Lyft via this link (or code tom291882). You lose whatever portion of the great you don’t use on your first ride, so it’s a good option for a long ride, such as that voyage from the airport to Walt Disney Word. Don’t use it to get from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian. (Walk between the two, you bum!)
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts…
Could you see yourself using Uber and Lyft at Walt Disney World instead of renting a car, or are you unpersuaded, still preferring the freedom of a rental car? Would you pay ~$9 in some cases to avoid a long wait at a hot bus stop? Do you have any other tips for using Uber and/or Lyft at Walt Disney World? We love to hear from readers, so if you have any thoughts or questions, post them in the comments!
We will be it Disney for the first time in November. We are staying 10 days on site but wanted to get a car for a couple days for shopping and other “non-Disney” activities. Could we just used Uber for that? Would it be cheaper since a car will be $50ish a day?
Yes you can use Uber for that. Regular fare comes to roughly $1 per mile so it would likely be cheaper. Hope this helps.
Any idea of uber cost for three from Sanford airport to WDW resorts?
The app’s fare estimator says $40-53
We are going in July and have 8:30 reservations at Crystal Palace, is Uber the best way to get there from All Star Music I have read that the buses are sketchy before normal operating hours
Yes. Uber drivers operate all hours of the day.
Great article. I’m curious on your thoughts of getting to/from Sea World from WDW. Any idea on what the costs would be when compared to renting a car and paying for parking?
Great article . Very helpful .
Thank you for this post! I’m going to research into the prices and possibility ofutilizing uber from MCO to port canaveral. We are a family of 5 and trying to get my family to the cruise ship is giving me a headache. $70pp is more than a rental, but I don’t feel like dealing with the hassle of all the paperwork for a rental. Uber is fairly new to me considering I live in Williamsburg, va. We are slower to catch on to these ideas!
Uber XL from MCO to the cruise terminal estimate is $80-105.
Update: just got back from a trip where we stayed at Yacht Club and used Uber extensively to get to and from MK via the Contemporary/Poly. In general, it worked really well — never waited more than 10 minutes, and most of the time it was more like 5, and it was far cheaper than a cab. Only frustration was the the drivers sometimes got hassled coming into the resorts to drop us off, which I don’t really understand. Why are cabs let through with no problem, but if an Uber comes through to drop someone off, we have to go through this elaborate charade pretending that we have an ADR at Chef Mickey’s or something?
They relaxed a bit. We don’t have these problems much anymore.
I used Uber early morning this past Sunday, May 24 to get from All-Star Movies to Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends. The only driver available at 5:20am was UberX. I had a promo code, so I knew it wouldn’t end up costing me anything. I requested the ride and he was scheduled to pick us up in 25 minutes. He was on time, but when he turned into the Studios lot, he kept saying “too early to pay” (he had broken English). I had no idea what he was talking about. He turned around at the booths where you pay to park and basically dumped my son and I off on the side of the road instead of taking us to the front of the park. Do you have any idea what he was talking about? I’m still baffled.
I can’t figure this one out either. Sorry for your experience.
Tom, Thank you so much for the Uber post!
I am heading to Universal in two weeks and would prefer to take Uber over a taxi from MCO. I was wondering if you could tell us what shuttle you took to get offsite? I see that several nearby hotels have shuttles, but I always assumed you have to have a reservation at those locations to use their shuttles.
Also, do you know if Uber with take you to MCO, or are they banned from both arrivals & departures?
Thanks in Advance!
We have no restrictions for dropping off at the airport.
Thanks for this post. Need to rent a car my last few days in FL for a drive down the gulf coast. Car rentals are expensive one way! I see that you mentioned AutoSlash. I have never heard of them. Have you used them much? Thanks!
I just have to thank you for posting this! I’m a WDW Cast Member myself, so I don’t often think about the planning aspects of the vacation, but I’m planning my brother-in-law’s first trip post-Military and your posts have been invaluable. I was really racking my brain trying to figure out how all our early morning ADRs were going to work if we couldn’t drive!
You may not know, and that’s okay, but I thought I’d ask – does the promo code work for the UberXL program? We are six altogether and I thought that it might be a better fit.
Great article and very timely! I’ll be heading to the World in two weeks and pre-planned some taxi vs. Uber estimates since I’ll be bouncing between hotels. This article just solidified my determination to use Uber.
Similar to the idea of ride sharing, have you ever considered using a “house sharing” service, such as AirBnB, for lodging?
We have used AirBnB, but not in Orlando. We even used it when we went to Paris and that went pretty well!
I was thinking about using Uber to go to Sea world and Universal on our next trip. I was wondering if you have any insights regarding the car seat issue if you have little ones.
What is your best bet if you want to visit off Disney attractions but rather not lug around your own carseats?
Hi Tom, I am at walt Disney and I have been doing exactly what you have mentioned here in the article. The reason I started googling about this is that, this weekend, uber drivers are being asked to pay the 17 dollars parking fees even to drop off people at animal kingdom. Is this new? Anyone experienced it? They only let the cab companies through.
Or any other park.
I would be curious to hear from others on this. I am really, really hoping that you just had a couple of bad experiences with Cast Members who decided to make their own policy on the fly, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this is the new Disney policy. Mears and Disney have a close relationship, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mears put pressure on Disney to cut down on Uber usage.
If this is the solution coming from Mears on how they’re handling this new concept, shame on them! This is the time for them to start thinking outside the box and coming up with their own concept. If not, they’ll end up like blockbuster “P
This is not an issue any longer. We can pick up and drop off at the parks and resorts with no extra fees required.
Ok, off topic, but please, please, do a review on the updated CBR! We are staying there in September, and I believe your last review on the resort was prior to the renovations. I would owe you one. (disclaimer, I have no influence, knowledge, or items of value that would interest you).
A review of the updated Caribbean Beach Resort, and the pirate rooms is coming soon. And by soon, I mean at some point in the next 2-3 months.
Thanks so much for trying out Uber & reviewing it for all of us! I was always wondering how that would work & if the drivers would have problems picking up in WDW. Just curious on your choice of Uber over Lyft? Price? App issues? I saw that you signed up & had discount codes for both. It’s definitely something I will use on our trip in Sept. Thanks again!
It just happened that way. I typically use Uber more in the real world, so I think I have a tendency to open that app first. Typically, the only time I go to Lyft is when there isn’t an Uber really close by. I never had that problem at Walt Disney World, hence not using Lyft. In the real world, I’ve had great experiences with both, FWIW.
There are much less Lyft drivers available than Uber. Most people will opt to use Lyft if Uber currently has surge pricing. The trade off is you may wait longer for your Lyft to arrive.
Tom
Another fantastic post and a really great idea. I have always rented a car but I might try this on my next trip. The one potential problem is the next time I go it will be with the grandkids and their parents and my wife. Do you know how uber would handle that. I can’t imagine we could fit 7 people in a car. Does the app ask how many travelers when you sign in?
No, it doesn’t ask how many riders. My recommendation would be to use UberXL, and then call the driver immediately after making the request to see if the car can accommodate that many passengers. That way, you give them plenty of time to cancel and don’t waste your time or theirs.
Brilliant! Thank you so much for this article. So timely as we’re leaving in less than a month. We have an 8am ADR at Be Our Guest and a late reservation at Sanaa. The last time we were there we used a taxi for our early and late reservations and it was fine, but this will be much more convenient and less expensive. Even better, I just got an email from my credit card company yesterday that if I sign up for Uber and use the credit card’s code, I get two free rides up to $30. Sweet!
I just wanted to drop another not to say thanks for the referral code. My car is at the mechanic today and instead of renting a car or having someone else pick me up and take me to work, I tried Uber for the first time. It was very convenient and thanks to this article – free!
(And you get a free trip out of it as well. Nice!)
Yep! It’s a win-win scenario (well, except for the part where you have to pay the mechanic).