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Sting
June 20th, 2006, 23:57
Hello, my name is Krys, and I have been visiting these forums for a while and reading into things (great resource). I am going to be posting a much larger Introduction in the INTRODUCE YOURSELF section, but for now, I just need some help. Just for the record, I am Canadian.

Me and 9 of my friends are going to Orlando in May 2007. We are planning on staying 15 nights at a Vacation Home, and everything is working out great except for the transportation issue.

The main problem: We are all currently under 20, and even when we go on the trip, none of us will be over 21. This means we can only rent from two small car companies (L&M and Eagle) and even at that, we have to pay a $25.00 Underage Surcharge with L&M or a $15.00 Underage Surcharge with Eagle. We are obviously choosing Eagle as it is the same rate as the Under 25 surcharges all the big companies do.

Anyway, the car rental is going to cost us quite a bit for 2 weeks. It is possible, but it is also pretty stressful. We'd have to worry about parking, toll boothes, gas, ect.

I have been looking at the idea of getting Taxi's or Mears, with a 10-Passenger Van to perhaps take us where we need to go. I thought this would be incredibly expensive, but according to an Orlando Travel Guide i was reading, Taxi's are "expensive unless you have 5 or more people in your group". It didn't explain this statement and I am trying to figure out if getting Mears or another shuttle/taxi service would be worth while for a group of ten 20/19 year olds, instead of renting vehicles and dealing with the hastles of being underage, and driving in a city we know (very little) about.

Any help, comments, and explanations about what is better would be GREATLY appreciated!

tednvon
June 22nd, 2006, 21:01
Great question...

here is a link for to start with...I searched Google for "orlando limos" and there are lots of sites...

here is one that advertised rates to and from the airport and to and from the parks.

Park to Park you could use monorail or buses or boats.

From this site, A little quick math...if you do 10 transfers in the 15 days either to and from the parks or to and from any Disney property, looks like about $140 RT plus tip or about 1500 bucks divided by 10 is about 150 pp for transportation. Does not include to and from airport, about another 30-40 bucks pp.

Mears looks like you can get a 2 week unlimited pass for about $230 pp that includes everything...go to the right side of this site to "rates pdf" and scroll way down to the all inclusive rates.

All in all, you have lots of options...It does look like you could do a stretch limo for about the same price as a Mears Van if you do not do a rental

If you can rent a 15 passenger Van for 14 days at Eagle, looks like about $1700 for 2 weeks....or about 170/pp plus about 20-30 for gas...

Lots more freedom with the Van...Or look at two minivans for even less...

Good Luck...Ted

mod note: please don't link to other sites

Sting
June 22nd, 2006, 21:14
Woah, thanks alot Ted. Certainly didn't expect this much help. (I should have though, as I have seen lots of good tips from this forum) I am going to look into that.

WE considered getting the 15 Passenger Van, but unfortunately being underage(under 21) makes it so we can't rent any "Speciality" vehicles... and I assume a 15 Passenger Van is a speciality Vehicle. But it IS worth asking for. Because it would save us alot of hastle too.

$230pp isn't bad at all actually... with cars it would going to cost almost that much anyway (I believe with what we've figured it would cost around 220pp with the rental cars as is).

I am checking rates, and do you think that 2 week thing for Mears would allow us rides from the Vacation Homes (as they do not provide a shuttle service to Disney Parks).

They are pretty close, in Davenport, but that may be too far for Mears to go on the 2 week pass. We may have to look at some Vacation homes right in Kissimmee or closer to Disney (Renting hotels or staying on Disney would definately be too expensive for us to do... as right now we have the trip just under 1500 and we don't want it to go over 1600)

I am going to look into the Limo option as well... now that'd be riding in style lol.

tednvon
June 22nd, 2006, 22:21
Hi..looks like the links would not copy to my thread...sorry...I googled Eagle car rental and orlando limo and Mears...

If you are looking for a house, ask Mears if they will pick up in the area just off 192 around Formosa Gardens Blvd. Specifically will they pick up in Emerald Island, Oak Island Cove or Indian Creek...

Is your housing budget 1600 for a week or two weeks...I have no doubt you can find a nice 6-7 bedroom home that sleeps 10 easy for 1500/week...for 800 you can find a 4 maybe five bedroom in one of these housing areas. It will take a little negotiating with owners but I can give you some tips if you want...

These housing developements are very close to 192 and Disney and should be well within their travel area...By the way, the $230 all inclusive does include unlimited trips to Disney and back as well as trans to the airport, as I read it...it is called the ORLANDO SUPER PASS and it is on the Mears site...click on "shuttle service" and then look left for "rates pdf."

Good Luck...Ted