Let's see... a taxi guaranteeds your ride/driver has:
- criminal records and background checks verified through actual police and federal databases. if the driver works with vulnerable persons, there are more certificates available!
Uber drivers each receive the following background checks:
- Local criminal history and warrant checks through the appropriate local law enforcement agency (in Florida, those local records are maintained by the county Sheriff)
- State of Florida criminal history and warrant checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Federal (FBI) criminal history and warrant check
- Department of Homeland Security watch list check
- State and Federal sexual offender list checks
- Drivers license check, including driving history
- Confirmation of vehicle registration
- Verification of insurance coverage
- 19-point vehicle inspection by an ACE-certified mechanic
Lyft has a similar system. It's a requirement of Florida law now, but was in use by both companies since they began operating in Florida several years ago.
Both companies also provide $1 million liability insurance coverage when riders are in the vehicle. Mears, the WDW taxi company, provides no insurance because they are self-insured and meet local requirements for self-insuring.
I don't believe Orlando regulations require taxi's to use audio/video recording. I know it's not used by Miami taxis. Many Uber/Lyft drivers do use A/V recording at their own expense.
Rideshare complaint resolution policies are clearly spelled out in the TOS. Taxi policies vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Either way, you complain and the company decides what, if anything, they are going to do about it. If you don't like it, you seek legal recourse.
You're right, taxi fares are definitely NOT competitive. They are set and maintained by a pay-for-play system which enriches politicians and taxi company owners (NOT drivers). The number of taxis is kept small (Miami, with a population of 3 million, has less than 2,000 taxi medallions) to prohibit competition. That's good for the taxi company owners; not so much for the consumer.
That's why taxi fares are 2-3 x Uber/Lyft fares in Orlando -- and it's also why the Florida Legislature took regulation of rideshares away from corrupt local politicians.
Rideshare companies use dynamic pricing, and have since the inception of ridesharing. Dynamic pricing keeps regular pricing low (1/3 Orlando taxi rates in most cases) and increases pricing when demand is higher. Disney, incidentally, also used dynamic pricing, as do all airlines and many many other businesses.
Except for large events, surges (Uber) and PrimeTime (Lyft) are rare -- and of course, the consumer has the option of not using the service. That's why I always recommend that people have both Uber and Lyft apps on their phone and compare prices.