Least expensive airport transport?

[DMRick]

We hope to sneak our son and his wife in from Ireland on our Feb gathering, and I wanted to know (since if we go pick him up, it would ruin the surprise) what is the least expensive transport from the airport (we will do round trip, since he won't fit in our rentals when we all leave)? We want him to go to POR (where we'll be watching Bob), and the idea is to have Bob (you know how Bob asks where people are from?) ask if there is anyone from Ireland, and then hopefully capture the look on my grands faces (his niece and nephews, as well as his sisters) when they see their Uncle/Aunt/brother come forward and say they are. Ah..my dream, to have the entire family at Disney at the same time!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

The least expensive would have to be the Mears shuttle. Many people on the DIS (including me) will not use them and prefer car services. Mears will get them to their Disney resort but there is no way of knowing how long it will take. They can get very crowded and stop at any number of other hotels along the way to drop people off.
If time is not a problem then Mears would be your best bet. If you want to get them to the hotel by a certain time you will need a car service.

 

[Lewisc]

Doris--You've been around long enough to know the answer
Cheapest would be for your son to see if someone he mets on the plane has room for 2 extra guest in their rental car or towncar. Next cheapest would be lynx bus, connect for a bus to TTC. Mears would be the cheapest that I'd suggest.

 

[DMRick]

Doris--You've been around long enough to know the answer
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Actually Lewis, I never read these since we always get a rental car LOL. We were trying to avoid "spilling" the beans that they were joining us, but if Mears stinks, and the regular bus is out of the question, and everyone else is too expensive (and we won't know if they meet anyone taking a towncar in advance), I guess this isn't going to be a secret we can keep. After choking on the airfare from Ireland, we hoped to have enough money left to feed them LOL. Just how much are those town cars (ones that you would put your own family in after traveling 14 hours (by plane, train and automobile)? Ummm..any Disers that will be at the airport about 7:30 PM on Feb 24th LOL?

 

[helenk]

The cost of a town car will run you about $95.00 to maybe $115.00 round trip depending on what company you use. There is Tiffany Town Car, Cartier Town Car, Deb Wills site uses myorlanolimoinc.com, Fl Tours is a sponsor of this board, but they are a bit on the high side any only take cash, the are other companies that have been listed on these boards that have town cars, as well.
Mears will cost about $58.00 for the both of them round trip, but this would be a shared shuttle and would go to other resorts. But cost wise would be the best route to go.

 

[Lewisc]

Doris--You've been around long enough to know the answer
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Actually Lewis, I never read these since we always get a rental car LOL. We were trying to avoid "spilling" the beans that they were joining us, but if LOL?

Doris-- I though you must have read enough Disney guides and threads. I think Mears gets a bum rap. They transport a lot of guests. Occasionally someone either has to wait too long to get a bus/van or gets stuck as the last stop and gets the scenic route. Just figure 2 hours from the airport to Disney and you should be OK.

I've read that Mears isn't supposed to have you wait more than 30 minutes even if that means taking you by yourself and/or putting you on a cab.

If you can swing the extra $$$ for a towncar go for it but Mears will be fine.

 

[fran99999]

I must be one of the lucky Mears riders. I have used it 3 times and never waited more than 20 min to get into my 8 passenger van and have only been the 2nd stop once. The other time I was the first stop. I have never had to get on the BIG bus.

When its just the 2 of us we go mears. When its the 5 of us we hire the limo-van. I have also told the limo-van if they have someone else going to the same resort at about the same time I would be willing to share. I paid 1/2 for the return trip once.

I obviously disagree on Mears.

 

[dgaston]

We have used Mears successfully too. While I prefer to have a rental car, we waited only 20 minutes and were the first stop at DTD hotels, back when the then Marriott had $20.xx rates and it was a very low budget trip. The shuttle wasn't bad.

 

[DMRick]

Just figure 2 hours from the airport to Disney and you should be OK.
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Woah..guess we'll be going for a town car. I think that is the only way. I guess after all the other money spent, this would be "good" money in order to surprise everyone.

 

[Lewisc]

Just figure 2 hours from the airport to Disney and you should be OK.
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Woah..guess we'll be going for a town car. I think that is the only way. I guess after all the other money spent, this would be "good" money in order to surprise everyone.

Doris it may be less BUT a half hour wait for them to fill up a bus is certainly reasonable. Your son may have the first stop but if it makes 3 or 4 stops first you should figure another 30-45 minutes. Add that to a 30 minute drive and I'd round it up to 2 hours. IT COULD BE LESS but if you're trying to time a PS or a welcome surprise I'd allow the 2 hours.