Getting To Orlando International Airport
 

I'm new to The Villages. Can anyone advise me on the best way to get to the Orlando airport. I live in Wildwood. I'm not looking for the cheapest way, but a reliable way with a trusted service. The trip would be during normal working hours on a weekend.

Groome transportation runs hourly shuttles from the Villages to the airport. I've used them multiple times.

I have successfully relied on Groome, for years. I choose the consolidated pickup/drop off....Brownwood Hotel in my case...over the door to door service.

I've found them to be communicative and helpful when I've caused my own challenges....

We found renting a car one way going to the airport put us in charge of timing.
Returning from airport, and no schedule to meet, the bus was fine.

Not sure why people do not consider Uber/Lyft as it’s about the same cost as the other services. Did you consider parking your car there? You would have to do the math based on how long your gone to see if it works. There was a thread on parking options at MCO not long ago. I do the long term parking for both work and personal. Below for your current question on transportation:
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...t=Orlando+ride

I am happy with them too.
PS
I use the pickup/dropoff at my home option.

We drive and park at the long term parking on Semoran across from Millers Ale House.

MCO airport parking
 

I am taking short 4 day trip next Thursday. So I'm considering just drive and park at the closest parking ( Short Term?) at MCO. Does it ever get full these days? I don't want to call and wait for a shuttle unless I must because no parking is available.

Cheers!

I park in the long term parking north lot all the time. I did hear around Christmas (from the van driver) it got full (duh). For the long term lot at MCO you do not call any shuttles as they run through every so often and I have never had to wait long for one. Make note of the parking lane marked on the pavement where you park as well as the bus stop you get on the bus at. The bus driver will give you a ticket with that information if not just ask for one. Good Luck

ParknFly
 

Park n fly hands down is the best service I’ve encountered.

I have heard that ST parking sometime fills up, but I have never had a problem. It is super convenient provided you don't mind the high cost.

This time of year, you are good.

Thank you all..

We drive and park at Park Fast. Safe covered parking, they pick you up where you park then pick you up at the airport as soon as you arrive.

I have done them all in my 10 years here. Prefer to drive and use the Park & GO. Never a hiccup.

Uber/Lyft cost
 

[QUOTE=CarlR33;2407324]Not sure why people do not consider Uber/Lyft as it’s about the same cost as the other services.

I would use Uber but when I check prices the cost from Linden to MCO is $158. versus Groome $49, with home pickup to Brownwood for the bus. Lyft cost is similar to Uber.

Direct car service
 

We have used Southern Oaks SUV (you can Google them) one time before, and are using them again next week. It's a private car service so you get direct service from your house to the airport and back (no other riders)

We've also used Groome door to door service successfully multiple times. One negative is you may have to wait for multiple stops on the way back home. It depends how many riders are on your trip home. In my experience, there have been one to five other stops on the way home (we're in the Southern part of the Villages)

When we drive ourselves we've used Park n Go Orlando.

Groome is good.

There are also private services that perform this service. We've used Blue Line Services for this in the past. Pretty spendy (Groome x 3, more or less), but doorstep-to-correct-terminal service.

Park N Go and Wally Park is where we park. 24/7 service and a short shuttle from their site to the airport.

Orlando Airport.
 

Best way: Fly in from Miami.

I use Creative Concierge. They have always been dependable. Try creative concierge.com

Flymco.com gives loads of information. It has been a huge help to us. That includes parking availability, security wait times and terminal maps. Parking garages and North Lot fill first. South usually has spaces but the shuttle only goes to Terminal B.

Groome Transportation

Fly frequently. Live south of 44. Most times use Groom 45 per person Home pickup or delivery. Very dependable. Get there early because of Turnpike traffic sometimes. If I arrive early or later i call and they change my pickup time. When my wife and i fly together we sometimes rent a mystery car through Amazon and return it to Leesburg

Before Groome took over I use to take the prior service, they would pick me up at my door, make a few stops to pick up other people and take me to the airport.
I used Groome in December they pick me up about 5 hours before my flight and then dropped me off in front of the hotel in Brownwood to get into another van to take me to the Sanford airport. On the way back they were supposed to do the same thing in reverse, but the pickup was not there. The driver of the original van I was in was nice enough to take me home. This all for about $160, what I decided the next trip to the Orlando airport I'm going to drive and park in one of the nearby lots. The lots have vans to take you to the airport and pick you up on the return.
I just think it is more convenient and for the budget conscious, just figure how long you will be gone and figure the amount of the parking compared to Groome.

We use Paul, a private door to door service. Very dependable. 954-899-3700.

We used to drive over and parked at one of the off site parking lots and they shuttle you to the airport.
We now use private drivers whether we go to Orlando or Sanford. It is worth a little more money to go straight from your home and back!
Just Google airport drivers

Groom, Uber and Lyft

[QUOTE=TripleT;2407580]Both Uber and Lyft have other low cost options and it depends on time of day. I just looked and can get a ride for $74.96. I’m surprised most want to ride in a van with other potentially sick people before the trip starts but I guess if your flying it will get you pre immune , LOL

You want long term, not short term parking at MCO. You walk right into the terminal. Short term is for under 24 hours. Both are at the airport and don’t require shuttles.

[QUOTE=CarlR33;2407701]You couldn’t pay me to go in a shuttle van. I either drive myself and park or hire a person to drive me. I’ve also take uber/lyft and find the prices are much more reasonable leaving the airport than getting there.

The Parking Spot
 

I have only used this parking place one time but it was great. The Parking Spot. You can reserve in advance. As soon as you pull in, a van follows you to your parking spot. The driver I had even took out suitcases out of our trunk. Return was easy. Covered pickup area at MCO for these services. Took us right back to our car. Orlando Airport Parking – The Parking Spot – MCO Parking

I highly recommend FastPark&Relax. We used it in December and it was awesome. You go in line and make a reservation. Then you get a bar code to scan when you get there and they will tell you which aisle to pull into. The shuttle will be ready and waiting to take you right to your gate. When you come back, you just go to the designated pick up area and they will be there quickly to take you back to your car.

Groome
 

I am not happy with Groome. Used them for years but lately they have been doing pickups outsideTV. It happened to me twice. It added a lot of time and the people were…

I’m done with Groome.

We used them recently (MCO-TV) and found them unreliable.
At Terminal A there were 20 people waiting for the Groome Shuttle to TV.
He was late and he only had 10 seats left on the bus after Terminal B & C pickups.
The driver blamed the dispatcher.
We fortunately got on, but 10 others were told to wait an hour for the next shuttle (which might also be full).
When we arrived at LSL, our connecting ride to our house (prepaid mind you), was not there.
The shuttle driver just left us there. Many drivers have left Groome, we understand, so they are now understaffed.

We're done too!

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