Is Mears Really That Bad?

[Nikki21]

I am going to need transport from the airport to CSR. It is just going to be 2 of us, myself and my boyffriend.

Is Mears really that bad of a choice for our transportation?

How much is it for each person?

Is it worth it for the 2 of us to rent a town car or get a cab over Mears?

Thanks in Advance

 

[Lewisc]

If you're on a budget take Mears. It may take an extra hour but that really isn't the worse thing in the world. They'll get you there safely.

 

[Nikki21]

do you know how much it is per person for Mears?

ABout how long do you think it takes from MCO to CSR?

thanks

 

[JKanownik]

Mears isn't that bad. It usually takes us 60 minutes to get to our hotel and 30 minutes coming back. Roundtrip from MCO is $29 pp.

Mears Web Site

-DH

 

[clori]

I've done mears a few times. I have never waited more than 1 person in front of me to get the ticket at the airport and then not more than 5 minutes to load onto a van then departing within 5 minutes. Our hotel has always been the first stop with a maximum of 3 stops all on disney property. I would say it is typically 45 minutes from collecting our luggage to checking in at the hotel. Coming back we usually end up on a bus that makes a few stops but we like looking around and it still takes under an hour to get to the airport plus we usually have an flight around 10-11am and no other plans for the day. Since next time we have to start paying for dd we will switch to towncar service. We usually go in value season if that makes a difference.

 

[Nikki21]

thanks guys!!

i guess i have some time to decide.....

i still dont know what i should do......

Mears will cost me and my bf about $60 roundtrip and Im guessing taxi's and town cars will run us about $90 roundtrip...

I dont know if I should spend the extra $30 or not...

Decisions Decisions...

(also, do you tip your mears driver... if so, about how much?)

thanks so much

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son and I have used Mears one way on each of our trips. The first time in 2001, we used them from All Star Sports to MCO. We were the last resort picked up, in a bus. The driver played games with the kids and gave them little prizes.

On April 2, we took Mears from MCO to Pop Century. After paying for our tickets, we waited outside for about 10 minutes for a bus to come. The bus only went to disney, and PC was the first stop. Once we left the airport, it only took us 30 minutes to get to PC. The bus was clean, and the driver was friendly. There were some people on the bus complaining that they had to wait a long time for the bus. I guess we were just lucky.

On Sunday we used Tiffany's because there were 8 of us returning. I didn't have any problem with Mears or Tiffany. When we return, if it's just my son and I, we'll use Mears. If we have more people than I'd use Tiffany's again.

I gave the driver a $5 dollar, one dollar for each bag.

 

[JKanownik]

Tip should actually be a little cheaper for Mears vs. Town car, so the tip shouldn't be a consideration when deciding. If you don't need a grocery trip (which is one reason why a lot of people get a TC), it comes down to which is worth more: $30 or 45 minutes of your time? If your trip is short (3-4 days) then I'd say it's worth it to get a TC. If your trip is any longer I'd save the $30 and go with Mears.

-DH

 

[Luv2Roam]

Fatal car wreck this last Saturday on property where two people died due to a Mears driver running a red light -- so we were told through the grapevine.
We saw the aftermath of the wreck at the intersection, but did not know what had happened.
Alledgely Mears has a bad track record for wrecks. One person wondered why Disney keeps with them. Surmising no other company around here can handle the volume.
But for the record, living near the parks I have seen even worse aftermath of wrecks on property -- and not Mears related. They just don't seem to hit the news.

 

[Bird-Mom]

Luv2Roam-my sister works for aircare and was at that scene on Saturday. She made the comment that the Mears driver was going waaaayyy too fast, and that unfortunately, it happens more often than it should.

We used to use Mears for every trip. However, the last time that we used them, after waiting over an hour at the airport for the bus to fill (which was odd because there were more people waiting than seats on the bus and they had to bring in another bus) and going past our resort a couple of times (we finally figured out that they were dropping off in order of how much the hotel cost-it had to be this because there was no other way to explain the order) and arriving 90 (!) minutes after we boarded the bus, we had enough. The towncar is so worth the extra money; there is no hassle at all. I highly recommend FL Tours. We have gone with Tiffany (never again), Happy Limo (and liked them until they tried to rip us off for drop off at one resort and pick up at another), and FL Tours which is an awesome service.

 

[Vavasmon]

The only time we ever used Mears was Dec 2001.

We waited 15 minutes for the bus. We then waited 50 minutes before the bus left MCO (it was waiting for more passengers).

We made the following stops: CBR, CSR, ASSp, ASmusic, and the ASmovies. All told it took almost 2 hours to get to the lobby of the All Star Movies after I had purchaed the tickets. The bigger
problem was the trip home. When we called to confirm they expained it very busy and the only bus we could take left 4.5 hours before the flight. We made the same 4 other stops on the way out.

I swore we would never do this again. My vacation time is too valuable to wait around like that. The cost difference is not enough. (there are 3 of us - 2 adults 1 child). I never request a grocery stop but that is an option with the towncar service.

We tipped the mears drive similar to a bell man $2 per bag.

I tipped the towncar driver 15 - 20 each way based on service, friendlyness, etc.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I won't use Mears again either. They can be very good, but when they are bad...it's really bad. Our bus had a flat tire and I know that's not their fault, but it was their fault that they didn't get us another bus for another hour. 2 hours to get to the hotel. Too many drops, too much time wasted. It's worth the money to go with a town car. And, when you come in on a bus with all those people then you stand at check in with all those people. At least I flew off the bus to the check in or I would have been there for hours longer.

 

[goofy4tink]

We used them on our first trip to WDW when we knew no better! Did we wait? No. We were boarded really fast. But, it was a van and already had about 7 people in it already. We were crammed in there, with some of our luggage on our laps. It was a really speedy ride. Only good thing was that the other family was going to our resort also. Probably why they put us on that run. Now, we spend the extra and get a town car service. The only way to go.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

It is worth a few extra dollars to use a towncar service.
This is the only way to get a fabulous WDW vacation off on the right foot.
No waiting, no hassle, no crowds, no noise........

 

[clkelley]

The problem with Mears is that you NEVER know what situation you will be in.

Our first Disney trip we got lucky. We walked off the plane, our bags were at the carousel, we got straight on a Mears bus, and were the first ones dropped off. 1 hour from plane to check-in. Really easy. We thought Mears was great.

Move forward 3 months. I get off the plane. Wait in line for 30 minutes to get my Mears ticket. Then wait 1 hour outside to be put on a van, then wait 30 minutes for the van to fill, then I'm the last to be dropped off after stopping at 4 resorts! 3 1/2 hours from plane to check-in!! (Just a note, it took 10 hours from the time I left my home till I stepped into a park. I could have made the drive in 11 hours!!)

So Mears can vary from day to day, can also vary from trip to trip and can vary depending on what time of day it is and how crowded the airport is, etc.

Would I still use Mears?? Yes, in certain instances. When I travel by myself and fly, I usually fly in late at night, so will use Mears to get to my resort as I really don't care how long it takes cause I'm not worried about getting to the parks.

In May we're flying in mid-morning with my family, so we're taking the towncar.

Another thing to consider. If ya'll are over 21 and wish to get some alcoholic beverages, such as beer or wine. You will save WAY MORE on a case of beer or a couple of bottles of wine by taking a town car and having a grocery stop.

Carol

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Luv2Roam
Alledgely Mears has a bad track record for wrecks. One person wondered why Disney keeps with them. Surmising no other company around here can handle the volume.
But for the record, living near the parks I have seen even worse aftermath of wrecks on property -- and not Mears related. They just don't seem to hit the news.

This link will show you Mears' USDOT information with inspections and safety ratings.

http://www.safersys.org/query.asp?s...napshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=550343

And yes, I too have seen more horrible wrecks on Disney property than I care to admit... Careless driving can be done by a shuttle bus driver, a tourist, a cast member, a limo driver, a cab driver, anyone... I've seen it all...

 

[sbatty]

I used Mears over a year ago. It was very cheap for us because It was just me and my DS. 4 and under are free. However, I was a bit surpised that it was expected that he would ride on my lap. Our problem was with the return trip. I had made a reservation for 2:00. We had to make an emergency potty stop and made it to the bus stop at 1:59. I asked a nearby CM if he saw a Mears bus come by recently and he said no. At 2:15 I called Mears and they said that the bus had been at All Stars at 1:45. I wasn't there and they couldn't send another bus for 3 hours. They said I should have been there early. If this was the case the should have mentioned it. I thought that with a confirmed reservation for 2:00 the bus would be there at 2:00 and I really thought it might even be expecting to pick us up. We ended up taking a cab for $50.