A Rideshare Pickup Warning

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Always be careful 

One of the nice things about a Walt Disney World vacation is that you don’t need to have a car. You can get a ride from the airport, and then take Disney transportation. Sometimes, though, the Disney transportation won’t get you there on time, or the route isn’t direct. People who stay off property don’t always rent a car, which means they have to find a way back to their hotels. Rideshares such as Uber and Lyft are a convenient way to travel, and they cost less than a taxi does.

This is where the warning comes in. I have heard a couple of stories lately of people who have gotten into cars in the rideshare pickup area at Walt Disney World, but the car wasn’t actually a rideshare. Fortunately, I haven’t heard of anyone getting hurt or robbed, but it is only a matter of time if people aren’t careful.

Always book your ride through the app of the company that you are using, even if there are cars in the waiting area. Don’t just walk up to a car and hop in. Once you’ve booked your ride, check to make sure that it is the correct car and that the driver matches the picture.

Use your intuition. If something feels off, do not get in the car. It’s better to hurt the driver’s feelings than to put yourself in a dangerous situation. Also, it’s not a bad idea to have the location turned on on your phone.

Use the GPS on your phone to map the route that you should be taking. If the route doesn’t match the way that you are going, don’t be afraid to speak up. It could be that the driver knows a better way, but if it’s totally in the wrong direction something might be off. Be prepared to get out of the car as soon as it stops.

We all want to think that nothing bad will happen at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Sadly, the Magical Disney Bubble is a myth. There are predators and thieves everywhere. Disney has fantastic security, but it only goes so far. We all need to take precautions to ensure that we stay safe.