Look for deals! This was on a JetBlue flightA few days ago, I shared a warning about rideshares. My goal wasn’t to scare anyone, but instead to remind readers to be careful. There have been some scary incidents in Orlando lately, and these would not have happened if the riders had been more diligent. I don’t say that to blame the riders, but there are safety precautions in place that were ignored.
So today I’d like to instead talk about rideshares in general, and how they can save you time and money. The two main services in the Orlando area are Uber and Lyft. With the end of Disney’s Magical Express, many people decide to use a rideshare to get to and from Orlando International Airport. (You can learn about two other options here.) If I were flying into Orlando and didn’t have a car, I would probably use a rideshare.
Both Uber and Lyft are easy to use. Search for them in your app store. Download the app, and follow the instructions to set up your account.
There are often discount codes for either service. You can save a little bit of money that way. Don’t limit yourself to using just one service, especially if you find coupons for both.
You might find options when you book your ride, such as sharing the ride with others. This is a time versus convenience thing. If you share the ride, you might not be the first stop, so it could take a little bit longer.
I use rideshares when I travel to Disneyland, and plan to when I head back in May. I rented a car at LAX once, and that was a nightmare. I booked a local shuttle once and the driver was horrible! I lost track of the number of times we were honked at for cutting other drivers off. Rideshares have never been a problem. I’ve only encountered friendly drivers who were more than happy to share information on the area.
If you use a rideshare, please tip the driver generously. He (or she, but I’ve always had male drivers) is using his own car and paying for his own gas. You can tip through the app.
I know that a lot of people are concerned about using rideshares, but there are safety guidelines in place. Always book through the app, even if there are cars lined up in the rideshare waiting area. An Uber or Lyft decal on the windshield means nothing, those are easy to make. Before you get into the car, check the license plate. If it doesn’t match the one in the app do not get in! You will also see a picture of the driver, that should match as well.
The stories that I shared recently were not about people who actually drove for Uber or Lyft. They were people who just got in the pickup line at Disney. Both Uber and Lyft use background checks. Drivers are also rated by former passengers, so if someone does not have a good rating you can choose someone else.
Using a rideshare service is not something to be scared of. That said, we all have our own comfort levels. If it is something that you are not feeling good about, there are other ways to get around when you are at Walt Disney World, or wherever you may be.