Prior to my most recent visit to Orlando, the thought of using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) was overwhelming to me, especially when traveling alone. With MCO having 3 terminals, I was afraid that I’d make the trek to whichever one felt the most convenient, only to be told that I’d need to go to a different one that would end up being the farthest away from where I was. My nerves always get the best of me in situations like this, especially when I’m heading somewhere I’ve never been.
This trip would take me to the just-opened Universal Stella Nova Resort. Not only have I not been to Universal Orlando Resort since the time I stayed at Cabana Bay back in 2015, but I’ve never been without my own vehicle. Here’s to brand-new experiences all around!
The great thing about MCO is that all passengers end up in the same central area once they get off of their planes. There were signs on Terminals A, B, and C showing rideshare was available, and since I was standing closest to Terminal B, that’s where I headed. I only had to go down one level before heading straight out to the curb. My flight landed at 5:45 pm, and there were tons of passengers waiting for their rides right there. Plenty of benches were available there, so I took a seat and opened the Lyft app on my phone to get started.
I fully expected to have to walk one way or the other to meet up with my driver, but much to my surprise, I could input my exact location and didn’t have to move a muscle while I waited 20 minutes for the driver to arrive. I honestly couldn’t believe how easy it was, and with all your options regarding vehicle size, I couldn’t recommend this more. I especially love how the Lyft app shares the make and model of the vehicle that’s on its way, the license plate number, and the name and photo of the driver, so there is no mistaking who you’re safe getting into the vehicle with. This is a big deal in my book, especially if you’re traveling alone and don’t have people expecting you upon your arrival.
My driver was excited to go to Stella Nova as she’d seen it being built in the areas she’d driven in but hadn’t had the chance to go there yet. Be warned that there is very heavy construction all around Stella Nova and Terra Luna and that most GPSs don’t recognize the address just yet. The confusion added just a few extra minutes to the 18-minute drive, and thank goodness for the hotel’s neon sign, as it was what led the way to where you were supposed to pull in. I was thrilled to be at the resort by 6:30 pm, just half an hour after my plane landed!
For my return flight, I once again scheduled a Lyft pickup as I was walking down to the resort lobby and chose the “wait and save” option, which said a driver would arrive in 1–18 minutes. Surprisingly, as I was in the elevator, I received a notification saying my driver would arrive in 3 minutes! That was pretty awesome, especially considering that it was only 5:30 in the morning.
On the way to the airport, my driver was curious about how it was to stay in the brand-new hotel. He also shared that the new resort was completely booked for the next 3 months, which I found surprising as I wouldn’t have guessed that it would be that popular until Epic Universe opens on May 22nd. It took us about 15 minutes to get to the airport, and as we approached, he asked if I needed to check my luggage or if I just needed to head straight to security. Since I wasn’t checking any baggage, he dropped me off as close to the center of the terminal as he could, and when I went inside, I was just a few steps away from security.
I’m thrilled that it was so easy to use rideshare for airport transportation, and I’m so glad to know this before I head back to Universal Orlando Resort for the grand opening of Epic Universe! Are you planning on visiting Epic Universe once it opens?
