Buses and coaches, Orlando

The best and easiest way to get around Disney is to use the bus system. There are buses that pick up from all the Disney resort hotels, campground, and resorts and drop off at which ever park you wish to go to. There is no cost for this service which makes it even more appealing. At the Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort where we stayed there were at least 3 different bus routes to take you around there.

Public transportation in Orlando is spotty to the tourist area, especially Kissimmee and International Drive. I would suggest taking a shuttle (van or small bus) from Orlando International Airport. Mears is the largest and most reliable. Their website for a reservation is: http://www.mearstransportation.com/

Look on the airport web site under parking and transport http://www.orlandoairports.net/main.htm there should be a shuttle serve that will get you into the general area you are going to. If necessary take a shuttle to a nearby hotel and take a taxi from there. If you are staying at a major hotel, check with them for shuttle or ground transfer suggestions.

DG

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Walt Disney World's transportation is one of the things that make a vacation at WDW so carefree, relaxing, and magical. Simply put, Walt Disney World's transportation network is among the most efficient, easy to use, and convenient of any mass transit system in the world. The system includes the famous Disney monorail, as well as busses and watercraft, to move guests from resort hotel to park and back, park to park, and from any other location to another within the 30,000+ acres of the complex. The vehicles are always clean, loading and unloading of passengers is simple and well-thought-out, and the wait for transportation (except during the very busiest of times) is minimal. It's hard to over-emphasize the convenience of the internal transportation.

Taking Disney Buses is one of the cheapest way to go from one themepark/waterpark to the other (You can only do park hopping if you're holding a DISNEY PARK HOPPER TICKET ~ this would allow you to go to one themepark to the other in one day). There are designated stops wherein you can hop on and hop off. Free of charge.

We went down to orlando for a little more than a week. We had TransFloridian pick us up at Orlando International and drop us off at our hotel in Kissimmee. They charge by the group not the person which saved us money and it's a private shuttle. While talking to the driver he told us they go all over Florida not just Orlando. We ended up taking one day with them and going also to Tampa to Busch Gardens, which was great. They dropped us off and then picked us up at a time we told them. Door to Door service to Tampa!!! We used the free hotel shuttle to Disney, but next time we are booking with TransFloridian for they do that as well and we can come and go at our leisure rather than be in a crowded van and have to wait. There is enough crowds and lines at the parks noone is in any mood to do in a van to and from the hotel as well. They also offer roundtrip discounts which is nice too. All in all a wonderful time and now we know we can come to Orlando and go anywhere in the state as well.

Take the I-Ride trolley to stop #15 or 16, head to Universal Boulevard and after about a 10 minute walk, you'll have reached the Universal parks.

or alternatively

Take the Lynx bus #8 or #42, look out for the I-Ride trolley stops #15 or 16 and disembark near these stops. Walk over to Universal Boulevard after about a 10 minute walk, you'll have reached the Universal parks.

Shuttle buses to International Drive from the airport will cost $15 one way, and $25 roundtrip. We took the public buses instead. The Lynx bus # 42 goes straight to International Drive, from stop B-15 at the airport. It only costs $1.50. Takes about 60 minutes to get to International Drive.

It is possible to get to Disney from I-Drive using public transport, just be aware that it can be very time cosuming, especially as the public buses are not that frequent (and to my experience, often doesn't run to schedule). This is how:

Only using Lynx buses:
Take bus #8 towards Sea World, get off at the 1st stop after the bus has turned right off International Drive. Change here for bus #50 (front of bus will indicate Magic Kingdom) which goes the the Disney Transportation & Ticket Center. Alight here and transfer to Disney transportation to your desired theme park. (NB remember to ask for a free transfer ticket when you board bus #8 to avoid paying again on bus #50) The place where you disembark the #50 is also the same spot to catch the bus on your return trip.

Using I-Ride trolley and Lynx buses:
Catch the main line southbound trolley to stop 38. Cross the street to stop 38 on the other side of the road (stop marked 38 South).
Take the #50 as above.

The I-Ride trolley is a very convenient mode of transport to get from A-B along International Drive. However, be aware that during peak holiday seasons, the I-Ride trolleys can get very full, and you may end up waiting for a few trolleys to pass before you can get on. If you are lucky enough to board, be patient, as the trolley makes frequent stops, and can get held up at each stop by the many tourists who fail to have their change ready for the fare, or the fare machines that simply will not take your $1 bills (which happens a lot!!!). FYI - Multi-day passes are available from numerous outlets along International Drive:
3-day: $5
5-day: $7
7-day: $9
14-day: $16

If you're the type who will get easily frustrated, then take the Lynx buses instead, buses # 8 and 42 run up and down International Drive. Fares cost more than the I-Ride, but generally, you will get to your destination a lot faster. (Multi-day passes for Lynx buses are available too - www.golynx.com)

Another key note is that the air conditioning is sometimes too cold in the I-ride... so don't get on if you're still damp/wet from a swim.