Mears travel experiences

[bakerjay]

I will be arriving in Orlando 5/7 morning, traveling to Boardwalk Inn. I will be alone. What is the best way to get to the hotel from the airport? I'd prefer fastest over cheapest but I'm open to all suggestions. I priced out both Mears ($250 RT) and FL Tours ($195 RT). I can't imagine that can be correct for one person?? I must have done something wrong...Thanks in advance!!

 

[HerRoyalHighness]

Mears: It's $250 for private. If you take the standard bus service its $32 round trip.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Destination MCO

i have had better that mears quality and price…. They aren’t a Boston coach but, pretty good

 

[jjb1974]

Do you need a stop at Publix on your way?

 

[dclDream2018]

If your are looking for the new DME experience (Mears paid), you might be looking up the wrong Mears option. I did the Mears DME-like option a couple months back. It was fine IMO (compared to paying $200+ to travel solo). I think it was around $30 rt.

 

[Ross Kratter]

That $250 r/t with Mears sounds steeper than usual. I just checked the website for rates and it’s $100 from the airport and $84 back for a sedan. (I am a chauffeur with them.)

 

[lockets]

Mears: It's $250 for private. If you take the standard bus service its $32 round trip.

$32 RT sounds like a great price so that’s your cheap option. If you want faster over cheaper I’d recommend pricing out an Uber or Lyft ride. You can do a mock trip on the all without booking it to get a sense for pricing.

There’s also another inexpensive service called sunshine flyer. I’ve never tried it but you can search on the boards or web for more info I’m sure.

 

[Lewisc]

That $250 r/t with Mears sounds steeper than usual. I just checked the website for rates and it’s $100 from the airport and $84 back for a sedan. (I am a chauffeur with them.)

Mears Connect Express is $250 R/T for up to 4 pax. Short waits and first stop. It could be private. MEARS might put you on a bus, which immediately leaves and stops at your resort first. On the return you will go directly to MCO.

JMO, not a good deal. You pay more for less.

 

[Best Aunt]

If you're looking for fastest:

If you use Uber or Lyft, I assume there will be cars readily available at the airport. I don't recall posts from people saying they couldn't get an Uber or Lyft.

If you reserve with a towncar service, a car will be at the airport waiting for you. But they don't charge per person, they charge per size of the vehicle. So 1 person could be the same as 3 people.

Tiffany Towncar is showing $165 round trip.
www.tiffanytowncar.com

FL Tours is showing $180 round trip, not sure where you saw it higher.
www.FLTours.com

You also can try contacting Tony Hinds. There's a big thread on his service. People on the Dis having been using him for years.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/ok-but-who-is-tony-hinds.3878272/

 

[dvc lover 1970]

We use uber

 

[Cr8tive]

I have used Mears Connect standard (formerly Disney's Magical Express shared motor coach) for two WDW trips this year. No issues whatsoever.

I like the fact all paperwork/ticketing is digital. You will receive multiple emails, both on arrival and departure day, containing your bus information/QR code/ticket.

If you took Magical Express in the past, the experience from the airport to your resort is the same. Same check-in podium location at MCO as before.

Traveling back from resort to MCO is slightly different - they will send you a reminder link about 10-15 minutes prior to pickup, showing you exactly where your bus is located en route to your resort. It's a nice touch.

Have a great trip!

 

[Lewisc]

If you took Magical Express in the past, the experience from the airport to your resort is the same. Same check-in podium location at MCO as before.

Incoming and outgoing luggage service as well as bus transportation was marketed as DME.

As SW pax using current bus service would require claiming my luggage, going back up to level 3, schelping my luggage diagonally across the airport then down to level 1.

The service isn't the same

 

[DisneyFive]

$32 RT sounds like a great price so that’s your cheap option. If you want faster over cheaper I’d recommend pricing out an Uber or Lyft ride. You can do a mock trip on the all without booking it to get a sense for pricing.

There’s also another inexpensive service called sunshine flyer. I’ve never tried it but you can search on the boards or web for more info I’m sure.

Sounds cheap until you have a family of 5. That extra $160 is frustrating especially when all our previous years it was free.

Dan

 

[Cr8tive]

Incoming and outgoing luggage service as well as bus transportation was marketed as DME.

As SW pax using current bus service would require claiming my luggage, going back up to level 3, schelping my luggage diagonally across the airport then down to level 1.

The service isn't the same

Correct. The experience is the same with the exception of having to claim and transport your luggage from the carousel to the Mears Connect bus on arrival - same as you would have to do with a ride share service.

Fundamentally, it’s the same transport system - without the ‘Magical’ moniker and without the ‘perk’ of no additional responsibility or physical activity required while in vacation mode.

Everyone’s mileage will vary depending on their needs and preferences. Choose the path of least resistance for you and have a great trip!

 

[lockets]

Sounds cheap until you have a family of 5. That extra $160 is frustrating especially when all our previous years it was free.

Dan

Of course! I miss Magical Express greatly. None of this is cheap now compared to what used to be free you’re right. My response was tailored to the OP specifically in that they said they are a solo traveler.

 

[DisneyFive]

Of course! I miss Magical Express greatly. None of this is cheap now compared to what used to be free you’re right. My response was tailored to the OP specifically in that they said they are a solo traveler.

Oh yeah, no worries. I was just complaining.

Dan

 

[Lewisc]

Correct. The experience is the same with the exception of having to claim and transport your luggage from the carousel to the Mears Connect bus on arrival - same as you would have to do with a ride share service.

Fundamentally, it’s the same transport system - without the ‘Magical’ moniker and without the ‘perk’ of no additional responsibility or physical activity required while in vacation mode.

Everyone’s mileage will vary depending on their needs and preferences. Choose the path of least resistance for you and have a great trip!

NO Ride share pickup is on level 2, right outside SW baggage claim. Mears Connect requires schelping luggage up and and to the opposite corner of MCO.

The bus experience is similar. The overall experience, no incoming luggage service and NO RAC means the overall experience is significantly worse. Its not just paying for something that was free. It is difficult or impossible to match the experience

 

[DreamCatcher777]

Interesting so less here took MEARS CONNECT instead using SUNSHINE FLYERS okay Families would guess why but wish some had more experienced the MEARS how it do if it is as good as DME was at least with Arrival Departure taking not much waiting and the number of Stops it has if it is like DME was or if they putting some off-sites in between the on-sites hotels or if they also putting smaller vehicles as a switched vehicle if not to many people are like SF did where ppl putted into smaller vans or shuttles or so instead of those Special Buses????

Can you pay cash that RT or just the Card???

Did they both SF AND MC accepting VISA CARD (+VISA PrePaid) ???

Are they still reliable for departure taking like they were with DME for international Guest 4 hours prior have to depart on 4 p.m. my flight will be around 8 p.m. can I count on them not messing up with that cuz ppl had issues don´t know if that was only with SF or also with MC????