Do NOT count on Mears Connect

[Jrb1979]

I was having discussion with a friend are you guys using the bus system because you enjoyed magical express so much or do you just enjoy going on the bus my argument was that no one likes taking a bus there and will now use Lyft Uber or Rent-A-Car.

I never used Magic Express and don't plan on using Mears either. I always rent a car cause I don't want to trapped in the "bubble" all week. My family loves eating off property and we do like to explore Orlando.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I never used Magic Express and don't plan on using Mears either. I always rent a car cause I don't want to trapped in the "bubble" all week. My family loves eating off property and we do like to explore Orlando.

the bus system at night when your tired is horrendous never used the bud system ever really either

 

[fabfemmeboy]

I was having discussion with a friend are you guys using the bus system because you enjoyed magical express so much or do you just enjoy going on the bus my argument was that no one likes taking a bus there and will now use Lyft Uber or Rent-A-Car.

We're using the bus because it's easier and more affordable for us. I have a wheelchair so we can't use a regular Lyft/Uber if we have any luggage, and the bigger vehicles are always a lot more expensive especially around Orlando Airport. And since we're staying on-property, why in the world would I get a rental car so I can pay per-day for the car and per-night for the parking fee? (To say nothing of needing to bring my portable hand controls to Orlando so I can drive the thing!) Sure, there are times in life my partner and I absolutely pay a few bucks more in "convenience fee", but I can't recall a time we've ever felt like we should spend more money and deal with more hassle to take an Uber/Lyft from MCO to our hotel. We've just flown 5.5 hours not counting any layover; an extra 15 minutes on the bus won't kill us. Once or twice I considered taking a Lyft back to the airport so we could have more time at the parks, but the way our flight times line up it's rarely been worth it.

Do I like taking a bus? Eh. Doesn't bug me. Do I like paying 2x the price to save 15 minutes? Eh, not worth it when there are so many other things to spend money on at Disney instead.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

(I think of it as backwards and opposite of southwest, as in - it's Northwest (NW), but backwards (WN).)

It's a good strategy to remember it.

When it was founded, Southwest was assigned an original identifier of 'OE'. 'SW' belonged to Air Namibia which was founded about 10 years prior (Air Namibia was originally known as 'South West Air Transport').

When Southwest tried to get the SW IATA code, the price Air Namibia wanted was absurd, so they looked for the next best thing. WN was the only IATA code available with a W in it which was even close.

 

[Moliphino]

I was having discussion with a friend are you guys using the bus system because you enjoyed magical express so much or do you just enjoy going on the bus my argument was that no one likes taking a bus there and will now use Lyft Uber or Rent-A-Car.

It was free and relatively convenient, so we used DME. If the new paid buses are still cheaper than the other options and get me to the hotel in a reasonable amount of time I'll use them, too.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I was having discussion with a friend are you guys using the bus system because you enjoyed magical express so much or do you just enjoy going on the bus my argument was that no one likes taking a bus there and will now use Lyft Uber or Rent-A-Car.

I used DME almost exclusively for the last 10 years or so. I stopped on my first trip after the pandemic started. If they were not going to make my luggage appear automatically and I had to get it myself, I re-examined my thought process.

DME was useful to me when it meant I did not have to wait at baggage claim, find my bags and haul them to the resort and give them to bell services and pick them up from bell services and bring them to my room. It meant that I could land in the morning and go right to a park.

After the pandemic, I changed my process. I now fly later in the day and go right to my room and then grab dinner. Thinking about it, from the time I arrived at the airport until I got the hotel with DME was 1.5 to 2 hours. There were always 3 stops and somehow no matter which resort I was in, I was the LAST STOP EVERY TIME.

I tried a private limo. The price was reasonable. They meet me at baggage claim. They helped get my bags. They brought me direct to my hotel (or in OKW for example to my building / room). They even helped get the bags to my room. It took all of about 35 minutes. Rather than sitting in a crowded bus, we would be in a private space with blinders on the windows (if we wanted), and a drink in the back. The ride was very pleasant and incredibly relaxing.

After experiencing that, I do not see myself going back to a bus to save a few dollars.

 

[Jake]

There is a point where Town Cars are a better option. And you get a shopping stop at a food store. To stock up on water and snacks. I can not drink FL water. Gallon of water at Disney is $4 food store $1 you go through a lot of water. You can save $20 on water what makes the Town car price good

 

[Jake]

And Rent a Cars prices are out of sigh. Payed $200 for a car midsize SUV. Because of luggage Now like $700 for the week

 

[J-Dog]

And Rent a Cars prices are out of sigh. Payed $200 for a car midsize SUV. Because of luggage Now like $700 for the week

Well, considering that Mears Connect is $250 + $55 for each person more than 4, and only takes you round trip and nowhere else, and you likely have to wait for it - $700 for a car that you can use at any time for any reason during your trip with no waiting, seems reasonable and totally worth it to me.

 

[bsmcneil]

Well, considering that Mears Connect is $250 + $55 for each person more than 4, and only takes you round trip and nowhere else, and you likely have to wait for it - $700 for a car that you can use at any time for any reason during your trip with no waiting, seems reasonable and totally worth it to me.

That's the express version, FYI. Mears Connect Standard is considerably cheaper.

 

[bakerworld]

I booked Mears Connect November last year for February. At first all I got were red errors but I kept advancing the page and it actually advanced holding all the information. Then I had to go in to edit the info, which worked. Mears actually sent me confirming emails - once thanking me for using them and a couple of weeks ago confirming the information and giving me pick up times.

I hope this works.

 

[BorderTenny]

I'm puzzled as to why this thread remains on the rumors and news board instead of being moved to the transportation board where it belongs.

 

[SealedSeven]

That's what I think, too. They are looking at times, not specific airlines.

Problem is that if you put in a different flight than yours, and either flight is delayed, you'll have issues when arriving as your arrival time didn't match what info they're using.

 

[StageTek]

Problem is that if you put in a different flight than yours, and either flight is delayed, you'll have issues when arriving as your arrival time didn't match what info they're using.

By issues, do you mean Mears will not allow you to get on the bus to the resort?

 

[J-Dog]

That's the express version, FYI. Mears Connect Standard is considerably cheaper.

Yes, and maybe it's due to my lack of patience in general, but I would never even consider that option. Way too much wasted time. That makes a car even more valuable.

 

[dhar_disneyfan]

Took Mears Connect Express service last week.

We booked when it was $200 up to 4 ppl. Southwest dropped us off on one side of the airport, had to walk to a baggage claim on the other side of the airport, then back to Mears. (with luggage and an older travel in tow this was not fun) When we booked we thought we had a vehicle to ourselves. We experienced a short wait (<10minutes) and were placed on a traditional Mears bus. We were the first stop. Many of the other riders were also going to BWV too so it didn't seem like a good use of $$.

Returning Home was a breeze. Same traditional Mears bus, but we were the last pickup location and had a much fuller bus. Not sure what other hotel stops were prior to ours, and how much time we really 'saved' since we were still required to be ready 3 hours prior to our flight. It's worth pointing out that Mears own FAQs said that the express was 2 hours prior, so we definitely LOST an extra hour. (Since updated to 2.5-3 Hours)

Staff were pleasant and helpful.

I don't know that we will pay for the service again at the current price of $250.
Hopefully Sunshine Flyer can create a competitive advantage for travelers. We also are looking at applying the airline cost offset of flying in to Sanford and getting a driver w/ a stop.

You will also get 'free' sunglasses!

 

[seashoreCM]

Just eavesdropping on this thread.

Went to look at the Mears booking site again and saw that the Mears Connect express option also said it was shared and has an additional notation that it was not private.

On another (The DIS) thread someone commented that MCO "wants" travelers there 3 hours in advance to take domestic flights {home} . You can't have your shuttle or limo leaving your resort 2 hours in advance of your flight and arrive at MCO 2 hours (former if not really the current goal) let alone 3 hours in advance.

I could foresee Mears Connect Standard settling down into an hourly service back to the airport from the point of view of any given resort (contrasted with Magical Express' nominal half hour service), and averaging 6 resort stops Disney bound. More frequent trips would be scheduled during heavier travel times or if more guests selected the Express service for different times. .

 

[MinnieMSue]

Took Mears Connect Express service last week.

We booked when it was $200 up to 4 ppl. Southwest dropped us off on one side of the airport, had to walk to a baggage claim on the other side of the airport, then back to Mears. (with luggage and an older travel in tow this was not fun) When we booked we thought we had a vehicle to ourselves. We experienced a short wait (<10minutes) and were placed on a traditional Mears bus. We were the first stop. Many of the other riders were also going to BWV too so it didn't seem like a good use of $$.

Returning Home was a breeze. Same traditional Mears bus, but we were the last pickup location and had a much fuller bus. Not sure what other hotel stops were prior to ours, and how much time we really 'saved' since we were still required to be ready 3 hours prior to our flight. It's worth pointing out that Mears own FAQs said that the express was 2 hours prior, so we definitely LOST an extra hour. (Since updated to 2.5-3 Hours)

Staff were pleasant and helpful.

I don't know that we will pay for the service again at the current price of $250.
Hopefully Sunshine Flyer can create a competitive advantage for travelers. We also are looking at applying the airline cost offset of flying in to Sanford and getting a driver w/ a stop.

You will also get 'free' sunglasses!

wait. You paid for express and were put on the regular bus? That does not seem right at all. The regular bus would have only been around $130. (4 adults). You should have been in a van and gone straight to your hotel. I think they messed up there. Glad it wasn’t bad but I think you got ripped off.

 

[JBRB828]

I used DME almost exclusively for the last 10 years or so. I stopped on my first trip after the pandemic started. If they were not going to make my luggage appear automatically and I had to get it myself, I re-examined my thought process.

DME was useful to me when it meant I did not have to wait at baggage claim, find my bags and haul them to the resort and give them to bell services and pick them up from bell services and bring them to my room. It meant that I could land in the morning and go right to a park.

After the pandemic, I changed my process. I now fly later in the day and go right to my room and then grab dinner. Thinking about it, from the time I arrived at the airport until I got the hotel with DME was 1.5 to 2 hours. There were always 3 stops and somehow no matter which resort I was in, I was the LAST STOP EVERY TIME.

I tried a private limo. The price was reasonable. They meet me at baggage claim. They helped get my bags. They brought me direct to my hotel (or in OKW for example to my building / room). They even helped get the bags to my room. It took all of about 35 minutes. Rather than sitting in a crowded bus, we would be in a private space with blinders on the windows (if we wanted), and a drink in the back. The ride was very pleasant and incredibly relaxing.

After experiencing that, I do not see myself going back to a bus to save a few dollars.

would you be able to give me the name of the limo service you used? And if they are reliable?
We are going in August and will be using a limo service. I have no clue who to use.

 

[Luisfba]

I booked express (for April) for two reasons.. don’t want to wait (we had times where we had to wait a while with MDE) and because we prefer not being in a bus packed with a lot of people.

Since it looks like express is putting people with others sometimes I’m thinking maybe I need to try something different, and maybe I should switch to either a ride share or a private car type service.

For the return trip, about how much time do you all like to allow before your flight? The 3 hours Mears likes to do seem potentially excessive if you are going direct from your resort to the airport.