Mears airport shuttle?

[SamS]

My sister is flying into Orlando to meet us at the Beach Club Xmas day. If she uses the Mears shuttle, is there any way to predict how long it might take her from the airport to the resort? Her flight gets in about 12:30 in the afternoon, and my wife and I don't want to hang out in the BC lobby for any longer than necessary. I understand that the van will probably make several other stops, but I'm hoping they might all be in the Epcot resort area. Anybody with Mears experience want to reply? (I'm recommending Mears over a cab to keep the price down a little - she's on a fairly tight budget)

 

[Cruelladeville]

It will probably be about an hour before your sister gets to your resort. Ride time from the airport is about a 1/2 hour if they don't make any other stops and they aren't too busy. Usually, it takes awhile to get a shuttle on Christmas Day, though. It just depends upon whether a shuttle is available for the time and resort you want to go to. Last year my daughter waited an hour for a shuttle to Beach Club.

 

[BeckWhy]

I have a similar question.. Maybe I just read the answer wrong, I'm not sure.. But my sister and I are going on the 6th of January... I'm not quite sure what time we get into the airport.. but after that.. about how long do we have to wait for the mears shuttle to leave the airport (I'm not worried about the drive there or anything, just the wait at the airport). What's the longest anyone has waited?

 

[NTDIANE]

LAST 4TH OF JULY IT WAS VERY BUSY, I WAITED ABOUT 20 TO 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE BEEPER THEY GIVE YOU WENT OFF, THEN ABOUT ANOTHER 5 MINUTES FOR EVERYONE TO GET THERE LUGGAGE ON AND SEATED.

DIANE

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Since Mears takes a lot of people to a lot of different hotels there is no way of knowing how long it will take to get to your hotel. It is usually a zoo like atmosphere with a large number of people just standing around hoping to get to their hotel in decent time.
I would suggest to everyone to consider a town car service. Direct service to your hotel (with a food stop if you want), without the craziness of Mears. The cost is not much different depending on how many people are travelling.
I used Mears once and swore that I would never use them again!
Too much hassle, too much noise, not a good way to start a vacation at WDW.

 

[SamS]

My sister is traveling alone. A town car wouldn't be an option would it? I know that she could take a taxi, but I assume that a cab would be fairly expensive. Does anybody know how much a one-way cab ride from the airport to the Beach Club would cost her?

 

[seashoreCM]

For long trips, avoid metered cabs if possible.

Your fare is higher during rush hours, too, because when the cab stops, the meter keeps going.

You can book town cars or limos even on the spot when you get to Orlando Airport. Get a firm flat fare quote before boarding. A few metered cabs will do flat rate fares except this makes things very confusing when cabs wait in a line and the next one which is yours doesn't do flat fare and you reject it.

$40. plus tip each way is a figure to shoot for or shoot under.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[taxi_man696]

Many Orlando cabs offer a flat rate to Disney resorts. It is approx. $50 to book a one-way flat rate cab and $90 to book a round trip flat rate cab. Visit the Orlando International Airport website to get a list of cab companys and follow the links to an individual driver that will piclk you up at the airport just like a town car for a lot less money. Town Cars are JUST EXPENSIVE CABS. Cabs can offer the exact same service for less cost. Just get educated.

Heck, I ran across a cab driver that offers meet and great round trip service to any disney resort with a 30 min grocery stop for $75 round trip.

Try to beat that in ANY town car.

T-man

 

[tjmw2727]

While the price is right I have waited over 20 mintues in line just to pay for and get the voucher for Mears. Then we waited outside in the sun for another 45 mintutes before being called to a bus going to my resort. Unfortunately (Murphy's law?) we were also the last stop and went to 2 other resorts before BC. It was at least two hours from the point of getting luggage and arriving at the resort.

My main worry and the reason I won't use mears any more is the return trip. They want to pick you up 3+ hours before your departure time, you visit other resorts and terminals before yours. On our last trip with mears we came VERY close to missing our flight. I had told the driver several times - we are late please can we go to American Airlines....no response at all!!

The one time we took a cab from the Dolphin to the airport it cost $56.00 plus tip. A towncar when booked in advance is $80-85 r/t and most have a $5.00 coupon. One way seems to be between 40 and 50, I don't think the coupon applies.

I guess for a person traveling alone with no time constraints and a budget, Mears may be the best option, esp if you don't need the return trip.

TJ

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Does Mears pick up at the Sanford Airport?
How much extra (I know it is further than MCO) to a WDW resort hotel?
Do you need to phone ahead and reserve a shuttle or is there a constant supply like at MCO?