Help !!! Mears Transportation ?????

[nhnikki]

I am leaving tomorrow and my travel agent booked us with Mears but I am now hearing horror stories about them. Has anyone else used them ???? What did you think? I really don't want to wait around to long since we are not arriving until 3:30 and are only there for the weekend. Thanks

 

[PB'sMOM]

it's a toss up. The last 2 times I've used Mears I have waited 30-40 minutes for a shuttle to get from the airport to the hotel. Not very speedy in my opinion. Also the last time-Dec.2003- it was not an actual Mears vehicle that picked us up-I can't remember the company name-but I am assuming they were contracted by Mears to do pickups. Now on the trip back to the airport it was a Mears vehicle. Every time we have used Mears we have had nice drivers and helpful. Hope this helps. Have a great trip and send up some warm weather.

 

[nhnikki]

Thanks maybe I will be lucky and they will be there waiting and we will be the only ones they need to pick up so they can leave as soon as we get on I specifically packed light so i wouldn't have to wait for bagage now I may have to wait for other people ! I wish my agent had told me ahead of time. i don't even know how much I am paying for this service. I am going to give her a call. Thanks for your help.

 

[mad4themouse]

It's been a while since we used Mears because I no longer book packages. However, I can say that even though it cannot compare to coming and going via your own schedule, it is far from being a nightmare.

We did have to wait for the next bus and it seemed like it took forever but was probably closer to 10 or 15 minutes. The driver wasn't rude, help store our baggage in the hold of the bus and helped us board. The trip was long. We seemed to stop at just about every resort between MCO and WDW. What takes 20 minutes in a private car took closer to 1½ hours by bus. On the return trip, we had to get up very early and meet the bus at our resort lobby with our bags. Again we stopped at many other resorts and then went to every terminal in the airport for departures.

While a Mears motorcoach is not something that I would recommend to anyone, I don't think that it is intolerable. There's not much you can do besides rent a car on your own or make arrangements with a towncar service. Both of those options will cost you more money.

 

[JC Butterfly]

If you booked a package with your agent, you may not have much choice in cancelling.

I agree with the other poster that it is a toss-up for how long it takes.
When at the airport, the van will not leave until it is full. So since it holds 8-10 people, and let's say you are a party of 3 then they will not leave the airport until 6 more people get on board. If you are lucky, they will be headed in the same general direction as you. If not, you may be stuck going to their destination first before yours. Just adding on how much time it will take to get to your hotel. I also agree that I have always had friendly and knowlegable drivers, so not a bad experience just not as efficient as I would prefer.

If you can change your mind, you may look into getting a towncar. About $80 round trip with a free grocery stop. Check out the transportation board for reviews on the various companies.

If you're "stuck" with Mears, relax you will still have a wonderful vacation!!

Brenda

 

[nhnikki]

Thanks. I just talked to my Agent and she said the only change I can make for an extra charge is to request a Mears Taxi which I might do thats only $49. Thanks everyone you have been very helpful.

Nicole

 

[teachingmykids]

I'd like to add my 2 cents for anyone else considering Mears.
We waited for an hour and a half, because we were the only ones going to Wilderness Lodge. I stood right there in front of the man at the desk so he wouldn't forget us. If he had honesty told us the length of time we would have gotten a taxi, but he kept saying it would be soon. It was a horrible way to start our vacation.
I would rather walk to WDW than use them again.
~~g.

 

[nhnikki]

YIKES ! The Agent called Mears for me and Mears told her that they circle the airport every 30 mins and that on the return if they don't pick me up within 5 minutes of the time they stated then I am to call them and they will send a taxi free of charge. If I have to wait more than 30 mins I can be a real B*#!& if I have too. I just hope it all goes well. If not then I won't use them again. I wouldn't mind the wait if I was going to be there for a week but I have plans when we arrive tomorrow. I want to get the most out of our weekend. Thanks again everyone. My eyes have been opened

Nicole

 

[pammy1027]

We waited in line to get checked in to Mears for over an hour. Even if you have a voucher or paid online in advance- you have to wait in the single file line with only 1 person helping. Then you have to wait another 30 minutes for the appropriate Shuttle.

We talked to several folks in line and they say this was normal behavior and service by Mears. I can't believe that they are still in business or that anyone who has used them once would ever consider it again.

I wish you luck and hope that your plane arrival is at an odd time and there are no lines...

 

[Hygiene99]

not a big fan .....
last time i used them we had to wait 50 minutes and this was at
11pm got to boardwalk at 1 am...

finally they put us in a cab van with 8 people total
and then we got to go to resorts on international drive of the 4 stop of course we went last....

I like the time u arrive and think service might be better then....