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3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Paying $65 for an Uber Ride to Disney’s Pop Century Resort


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I get paid to talk (and talk, and talk, and talk) about Disney. I know more than the average (normal?) person, and I probably talk about Disney too much. In fact, let me do a little impression of my family for you: “You’re going to Disney World…again?” It’s around this time when I try to justify my decision by explaining that my trips are educational; I’m here sharing my tips with you, aren’t I?! So, please, for my sake, listen to my advice, and tell us if you learned something. Maybe then my frequent trips to Disney World won’t seem so bad.

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Pop Century Resort

OK, so why am I here? Well, I’ve been doing some reflecting, and I’ve come to a few conclusions in the never-ending Uber vs. Mears debate. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, basically, there are two main ways to get to Disney World from Orlando Airport: 1.) Rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, or 2.) Mears Connect (a shuttle service). I’ve used Uber, Lyft, AND Mears to get to Disney World, but there are a few things I wish I had known about my Uber experience.

Planning guide for the ultimate Disney vacation

 

1. There’s no “Regular Uber”

When I’m trying to get to my Disney hotel from the airport, I don’t need anything fancy. I don’t need the V.I.P. treatment; I just need a safe, reliable way to get from Point A to Point B. Translation: give me the cheap, regular Uber, not the premium Uber Black.

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©Uber

Looking at a sample trip from the Orlando Airport to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, there are several types of rides available at any given time. You’ve got the “Premium” category with Uber Black. Then, there’s the “Economy” category, which might sound like the cheapest option, right? WRONG. This is where things get confusing.

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©Uber

Believe it or not, in most cases, UberX is the cheapest option. With a name like “UberX,” you (like me) might think, “This is the fancy one.” But it’s not! Uber gets a failing grade from me regarding the names of its rides — it can be confusing!

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©Uber

So, if you want to take a “regular Uber,” your best bet is to go with the UberX. It’s described as an “affordable ride all to yourself,” and this option seats up to four people. If you’ve got a bigger group, you might need the XL, which seats up to six. The good news is that the prices are typically sorted from lowest to highest, so just do a quick scroll down the line to make sure you’re getting the best deal based on your needs.

2. Don’t trust the prices — ever

Remember how I said Uber can be confusing? Well, I hate to say it, but the confusion doesn’t end with the names. Let’s say you want to estimate the cost of your Uber ride, so you run a sample trip from the airport to your hotel on the app before your trip. Let’s say the price for an UberX is $38. Not too bad, eh? Well, don’t trust that price.

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Uber

Depending on the time of day, available drivers in the area, and the demand, the price for the SAME DESTINATION can SKYROCKET, thanks to surge pricing. I ended up paying close to $65 for a ride previously listed at $38. And before you ask, yes, that was the cheapest option at the time.

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©Uber

Admittedly, this makes it hard to build a budget for ridesharing in Disney World. One day, your trip could be under $40, the next, it could be double that price.

3. Sometimes, it’s just about luck!

Now, I have also used the Mears Connect shuttle service to get to Disney World several times, and that service has its own set of pros and cons. On one hand, it might be cheaper than Uber or Lyft. On the other hand, you might have to visit multiple stops before the bus driver drops you off at your hotel, which can add a lot of time to your journey.

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Inside a Mears Connect bus

That said, I’ve been lucky enough to hop on a Mears bus with NO extra stops (even without paying for a private ride through Mears), so sometimes, it all comes down to timing and luck. The same thing goes for Uber — you might time it juuust right and find an Uber driver right where you need them with no wait. Either way, you’re at the mercy of the service you select — that’s the cost of going to Disney World without a car!

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Mears Connect

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

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Small World Vacations

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

These 10 Disney World Essentials Have Saved Me Over and Over Again

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Have you ever used an Uber to get to Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Paying for an Uber Ride to Disney’s Pop Century Resort first appeared on the disney food blog.

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