TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orlando park and fly

Anyone done a park and fly at Orlando Airport recently? Our flight leaves at 6:15 AM and we live 2 hours from Orlando, so looking into a park and fly option. However, the cheapest I'm finding with 8 days parking is $190. Due to how early our flight is, we really need a shuttle that starts by 4:30 AM, which also leaves out most of them. Almost looks like we'll be driving that morning at o dark thirty and parking at the airport.

While I can not speak for Orlando, I found at both Columbus and Cincinnati airports the Park & Fly option now includes a higher hotel price, only 5 days of free parking and you pay the rest. They force you to book at the "Park & Fly" rate and it is more than the rack or AAA or any other discounted rate. When I did the math, it was actually cheaper to pay to park at the airport at both cities I mentioned. I am thinking this might be a trend that most other airports will eventually adopt.

Never from Orlando (we live in Pennsylvania), but on our latest trip we stayed at a Sleep Inn right adjacent to the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport and they did a great job. Their airport shuttle started at 4:30 a.m. and we had a 6:10 a.m. flight. Had to schedule that the night before when we arrived at the hotel. I have many cousins in the Orlando area (Winter Park), so I'm sort of familiar with the area around the Orlando airport and on West Sand Lake Road there is also a Sleep Inn that offers an airport shuttle starting at 4:30 a.m. I threw in some mock dates for this June (9 days parking) and the price posted on the Park, Sleep & Fly website was reasonable at $126 if sleeping there the night before. So, you might want to check that out using the "Park/Sleep/Fly" website. Good luck.

It seems that, other than the park n fly, which did have parking for up to 10 days I think, most hotels at Orlando seem to charge $8 a DAY for any days in addition to the room rate. Found some nice hotels with shuttles for around $100 or sometimes a bit more, but an extra $8 a night really jacks it up.

Sounds crazy but call Uber a couple of times around town early in the morning. When you find the “right” driver ask him how much to go to the airport and do A one way rental home. You never know.

Our employees flew into Orlando (2hr trip to our house on the west coast) and it was $85 plus tip. Used him again for the ride to Tampa (1 1/2hr)- same price. You can also get an Uber price quote from the app.

Sorry, we are two hours from Orlando airport. I can't imagine what a price would be for that!!

Carol, I have used "The Parking Spot" at MCO and am a member of the "Spot Club" which is just a way to make reservations more quickly. I just ran some random dates and it showed 9 bucks a day for uncovered parking, it is open 24/7 and the place is huge and shuttles are roaming the lot to pick you up, it's far better than long term at JFK. Oh, you also get a couple bottles of cold water when you leave, cold beer would have been better!

Thanks. Sounds like the place that we used to park in Miami, which sadly is no more. How is the shuttle pick up service at the airport?

Not sure if you are staying overnight before your flight but giving the head valet guy $50.00 should do it for you.

It's been a few years since I've done it but if I remember correctly they have a specified pickup area that is marked by signage and/or you give them a call. It's a big outfit and assuming your return is not an odd time like your departure it should be quick either way. Their lot is fairly close to the airport and despite that I drove fire trucks in NYC for a living, I found getting to the lot a challenge, other than that it was OK.

$50 tip?? Geez.. I'm a poor person!!!

Carol, our guys paid $85 for the 2hr trip from Orlando airport to our house. Plus tip.

OK, I really just don't trust those kind of things, especially if the end result is that I'm getting on a plane for SXM..

We used a personal recommendation from a neighbor. He did a good job! We are renting a car on our next visit (we have a car already at the house but I want some freedom, lol) But I wouldn't hesitate to use Uber. Used one in NE to the airport. He was friendly and on time. Just another option!

Hey, you have a whole lot more faith in a total stranger than I do!! I don't trust anyone!!!

Remember when your parents told you NOT to get in a car with a stranger? NOW, people interact with/call or otherwise arrange with a total stranger for transportation, get in the car and trust them to get the job done without consequence. Sorry, I do not get the Uber or Lyft thing either.

To some extent there's the same concerns with a taxi, but at least around here, it's a real taxi. With this deal, that person is using their personal car and could break down anywhere, or just flat not show up, etc., etc. I frankly doubt I would ever use such a service, but certainly NOT to take me the airport to get to SXM.

I guess they have some requirements and standards they ahve to meet but I would be hisitant.

Friends used Uber for a wedding last fall in Cincinnati. Several of them were late arriving due to the drivers not showing up on time, getting lost and one mentioned a car older than the Uber standards and an ashtray overflowing with cigarettes.

I will take my chances with a licensed taxi.

I have used Uber several times in the last few months: two trips to/from airport and then around town in Newport Beach, CA. All picked me up within five minutes of placing the order, cars were clean, you can compare the license plate on the car/van with what's in the app. I have been very impressed and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Good for you. I won't be using them.

Get a limo, isn’t this a big anniversary trip? Make sure they have bubbles stocked for the ride.

I second that suggestion!! Go big or don't go at all!

I agree!

Hey, is someone going to pay for it??? I'd rather have a nice meal on island..

Get the price and we will start a Go Fund Me My Limo page

Thanks for the thought, but I don't believe in people doing Go Fund Me pages for people who should pay for things themselves.

Happens all the time.

I know. It's one thing if other people just decide to do it on their own because they like someone or whatever, but this concept of people doing it for themselves, that I just don't get..

We live one hour from OIA. Unless you are fling on miles drive to Fort Lauderdale and fly Jet Blue. What a great flight. It's worth the effort!

We did book on miles on Delta on this trip. We have another trip already booked on AA miles, and then after that, will definitely look at Jet Blue, yes..

Never heard it called OIA before, had to look it up!! We always call it MCO...

MCO is the 3 digit airport identifier, stands for McCoy Airport or Airfield, which is how it started, all signage is Orlando International Airport, or OIA, and that is how it is normally referred to on local news channels, Newspapers etc. Even as a local I normally use MCO as that is what you use when you book flights.

OK!

Carol - what about renting a car to drive to the airport, staying st the Hyatt in the airport then renting a car to get back home??

Sounds way too complicated for me. Guess we will just get up at 2:30 AM and drive.....

Carol: We found that the park sleep and fly inLauderdale for our trip two weeks ago was high. We rented a car one way and was able to get a reasonably priced room. Sine our flight left at 749 a.m we, too, needed an early shuttle and it all worked out. Once we land we grabbed the shuttle to the car rental and pick up the cheapest car that took unto Naples. We have been doing this many times lately. We also belong to Costco so take advantage of their very nicely price rental cars. It save us about $75 enough for a nice dinner at Toppers with change, Good luck

Steve: I agree it was a great round trip flight from Lauderdale on Jet Blue.

Carol so easy Rent one way drop off at the airport, walk to the hotel, get a good nights sleep instead of not sleeping. Once you land just repeat it no headaches to it.

Problem is, we have a drive a fair distance from here to even rent a car. Don't know what we will do, as so often, we are scurrying around the night before, with a million things yet to do!