Using Uber only - Review

Question

So on all our previous trips we always hired a car, we have always rented a villa (except for our very first trip ) for 2 weeks or did split stays, 5 nights at Disney, 2 at Universal & a week in a villa, just back from from a 2 week villa rental with 2 nights at HRH May 22-24.

We were 5 adults, 5 X 23kg (50lb) suitcases & 5 personal bags, I was going to be the only driver & just didn’t fancy it this time around. I had costed a decent sized vehicle to take us all & luggage comfortably, 10 park days parking costs & I like a cocktail of an evening.

For the airport runs we used Welcome Pickups from MCO to our villa at Indian Wells which is quite close to LBV, it’s 5.5 - 6 miles to Disney Springs for reference which cost $83.00 each way as we preferred to travel in one vehicle & didn’t want to be messing about with potentially needing two Ubers on arrival because of the luggage. I had never used the Uber app either by the way.

After that we used Uber XL 99% of the time for all our park runs, supermarket runs, shopping trips, restaurant runs in the evenings etc, a couple of Uber X if only say 3 of us were travelling, over the two weeks we spent $753.78 on Ubers.

For us it worked out great, usual wait time was 5 minutes or so, twice we waited 9 / 10 minutes, a rainy night at Disney Springs & a late evening at MK after which we took the monorail to Contemporary & booked a ride from there.

I’ve nothing negative to say about our experience at all, for us it worked out great. I did purposely book a villa as close to LBV as possible, we were 1 mile from a Walmart Super Centre & a Publix & obviously if you stay out west on 192 or Highway 27 using Ubers will be more expensive.

This is not meant as an anti car hire or pro Uber post, just wanted to give our experience, that’s all.

Answer

Using Uber exclusively in Orlando can be a very viable option, especially if you are traveling with a group and want to avoid the hassle of driving, parking, and paying for rental cars. Your experience illustrates that with careful planning, it can be cost-effective and convenient.

Key points from your experience:

You had 5 adults with substantial luggage (5 x 23kg suitcases and personal bags) and chose to use a large vehicle for airport transfers. Welcome Pickups was used for a direct transfer from MCO to your villa, costing $83 each way. This allowed you to avoid splitting into multiple Ubers upon arrival.
During your stay, you primarily used Uber XL for group travel to theme parks, shopping, restaurants, and other outings. The occasional Uber X was sufficient for smaller trips.
Total spend on Ubers for two weeks was $753.78, which included frequent park runs and other trips around the area. Average wait times were about 5 minutes, and even during busy or rainy periods, the wait was under 10 minutes.
Choosing accommodation close to major destinations like Lake Buena Vista (LBV) significantly reduces Uber costs and travel times. Proximity to grocery stores like Walmart and Publix also adds convenience for daily needs.

Advantages of relying on Uber in Orlando:

No need to navigate unfamiliar roads or deal with parking at busy theme parks.
Can enjoy evening activities without worrying about driving or designated drivers.
Flexibility to adjust transportation based on the number of passengers and luggage using Uber X or XL.
Reduced stress of renting a car for short stays or split-location trips.

Considerations for this approach:

Cost can add up depending on your proximity to parks and attractions; staying closer to central areas like LBV is beneficial.
Heavy luggage may require careful planning for airport transfers, potentially using a dedicated service like Welcome Pickups.
Availability of Uber vehicles can vary slightly during peak park hours or adverse weather, though your experience shows wait times are generally short.

Overall, your experience demonstrates that using Uber as your sole mode of transport in Orlando is convenient, efficient, and can work well for groups, provided your accommodation is strategically located. It removes the stress of driving and parking, allowing you to focus on enjoying your vacation.

Using Uber only - Review

More Orlando Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions