Most convenient/reliable transportation from MCO to WDW and back?

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Always used to use DME and found it to be a good service.

Tried Mears Connect last time I flew and was not impressed.
We had a late night arrival and had to wait an additional 45 minutes on the bus before heading to our hotel.
We also had a very early morning departure meaning we were picked up at 3:30am. Along with 2 other families we stood waiting for 15 minutes and then realized the bus was just randomly parked and off not where it should have been. And the driver appeared to be napping.

It will be 2 adults with one checked luggage each and one backpack each.
This time we arrive at 8:30am and depart at 9:15am.
Would you still recommend Mears Connect and maybe we will have better luck this time or what other transportation would you recommend?

 

[mort1331]

UBER, UBER, UBER....cheaper, faster, direct

 

[Ensusieasm]

Always used to use DME and found it to be a good service.

Tried Mears Connect last time I flew and was not impressed.
We had a late night arrival and had to wait an additional 45 minutes on the bus before heading to our hotel.
We also had a very early morning departure meaning we were picked up at 3:30am. Along with 2 other families we stood waiting for 15 minutes and then realized the bus was just randomly parked and off not where it should have been. And the driver appeared to be napping.

It will be 2 adults with one checked luggage each and one backpack each.
This time we arrive at 8:30am and depart at 9:15am.
Would you still recommend Mears Connect and maybe we will have better luck this time or what other transportation would you recommend?

Try Mears again. I always use Mears.

 

[BlueGreen5]

UBER, UBER, UBER....cheaper, faster, direct

I second this.

Mears is great when you have a 4+ person group/kids and lot of luggage to go along with it. If it's just two adults and limited luggage, there's virtually no argument to do anything other than Uber.

 

[Karalee402]

We've had good experiences with Tiffany Town Car, but honestly, nothing beats Uber. We've never waited for more than 2-3 minutes for a car (and we're a larger party, so we have to do the Uber XL that seats 6), it's a straight shot right to your resort, and for us, it's been on par or even less expensive than Mears (again, as a family of 5). I can't imagine we'll ever use anything else again.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

For those saying Uber...
We have literally never used Uber/Lyft nothing.
How exactly does it work?
On the way from MCO to your resort do you book it ahead of time or can you just walk outside and get one on the spot?
And the way back if we need to leave the resort at 6am are there Uber drivers that early in the AM?
From a cost standpoint I'm reading pricing is pretty comparable with Mears being $33.60 round trip per person and Uber for a standard size vehicle being about $35 per way so I don't think that's really going to factor into my decision.

 

[OKW Lover]

How exactly does it work?
On the way from MCO to your resort do you book it ahead of time or can you just walk outside and get one on the spot?

When you land at MCO go and get your bags. Once you have them, use the Uber app on your phone to order the ride.

For your return trip, it's pretty much the same process. Yes, there are drivers around at 6 am. Or any other time of the day for that matter.

 

[_19disnA]

We always rent a car. It is ready whenever we decide to go somewhere and doesn't stop to drop off people at various other hotels. If you also plan to shop/eat/sightsee off of the property, those online taxis can be pricey and easily cost more than having your own rental car. I personally wouldn't cut it too close on returning to MCO. Traffic or some random accident can cause a delay. Airport always seems congested with families that have small children who don't see to fly very often and are unsure where to go/what to do and not familiar with the various procedures. If you get to the airport early, you can always shop or eat prior to your flight.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

We always rent a car. It is ready whenever we decide to go somewhere and doesn't stop to drop off people at various other hotels. If you also plan to shop/eat/sightsee off of the property, those online taxis can be pricey and easily cost more than having your own rental car. I personally wouldn't cut it too close on returning to MCO. Traffic or some random accident can cause a delay. Airport always seems congested with families that have small children who don't see to fly very often and are unsure where to go/what to do and not familiar with the various procedures. If you get to the airport early, you can always shop or eat prior to your flight.

Renting a car is not for us.
It would defeat the purpose of flying especially since we were set to drive until we found a deal we just could not pass up.
We won't be venturing off property and really we would not have even if we drove. We would have gone a few places on the way down and back but also spent more money.

 

[BlueGreen5]

For those saying Uber...
We have literally never used Uber/Lyft nothing.
How exactly does it work?
On the way from MCO to your resort do you book it ahead of time or can you just walk outside and get one on the spot?
And the way back if we need to leave the resort at 6am are there Uber drivers that early in the AM?
From a cost standpoint I'm reading pricing is pretty comparable with Mears being $33.60 round trip per person and Uber for a standard size vehicle being about $35 per way so I don't think that's really going to factor into my decision.

I'm never a fan of trying something out for the first time at WDW. You're already in a high-anxiety situation and there's no need to make it worse on yourself. I would do one of two things:

- Make a $10 investment and try out Uber at home, before your trip, so you are somewhat familiar with how to use it
- Use what you know, even if its not the absolute most ideal solution

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I'm never a fan of trying something out for the first time at WDW. You're already in a high-anxiety situation and there's no need to make it worse on yourself. I would do one of two things:

- Make a $10 investment and try out Uber at home, before your trip, so you are somewhat familiar with how to use it
- Use what you know, even if its not the absolute most ideal solution

I live in a city that barely offers Uber because its far enough away from the much more densely populated suburbs of the main city so really no way to try it at home.
I think maybe sticking to what we know even if its meh is the best option.

 

[focusondisney]

From a cost standpoint I'm reading pricing is pretty comparable with Mears being $33.60 round trip per person and Uber for a standard size vehicle being about $35 per way so I don't think that's really going to factor into my decision.

My son & DIL use Lyft both ways & have no trouble. My husband isn’t comfortable with ride share, so we use a car service, usually Tiffany Towncar. The driver texts as we’re exiting the plane & lets us know where to meet them. They do a grocery stop if you need that. Coming home their standard pickup is 2 hours before the flight. We like extra time so I always add about an extra 20 minutes. Also for pickup, the drivers are usually about 15 minutes early. We’re always ready & waiting by then anyway, so it works great. We don’t get that anxiety, are they gonna be here, will we be late for our flight, etc. There are several car services regularly mentioned here, just scroll back a page or so should show some of those posts.

 

[Miffy]

I've been using Mears Connect for most of my trips and have found it to be reliable. They do pick you up extremely early, but at least you get to the airport on time. I've never had the experience you had with the sleeping driver.

I fly JetBlue, so I arrive at Terminal C, and a few trips ago after I finally got my checked bag it was midnight. And I was the only passenger at the Mears counter. They sent a jitney-type vehicle over from Terminal B for me. I think I waited about 10 minutes, max. And I had a private ride to my resort. Very nice.

I have also used Uber and Lyft. It's not a big deal to do it. Just download the app on your phone before you leave. They'll ask for your info, including cc, so you won't have to enter it every time you want a ride. After you've retrieved your bags, just go to the area marked "rideshare" at MCO (it's very clearly marked), pull up the app, and order your ride. It's a very clear-cut, intuitive app. Nothing weird or difficult about it, assuming you're used to using apps on your phone.

However, I will say this: For 2 adults, Mears Connect is cheaper than any rideshare ride might be. I've had one-way fares from MCO to WDW cost nearly $70 and never as low as $30, which is about what Mears would cost. And of course town car fares are even more expensive.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I live in a city that barely offers Uber…
I think maybe sticking to what we know even if it’s meh is the best option.

No. We’ve got you though!

Listen, It’s 2024. You have a smartphone that can get text messages, you know apps exist. That’s all there is to Uber or Lyft. Download app, create account before trip. At MCO after you have bags open app and say I want to go to Disney’s Whatever Hotel. See prices, pick the type you want. App will tell you the car you’re assigned, you will watch it arrive on the app map and you’ll know it’s yours from the description & license the app will provide. Get in, buckle up, be a decent human being.

Easy peasy. Don’t let the discomfort of trying new things rob you of valuable vacation time! Mears is a time suck to be avoided if you don’t need to do it for cost or logistical reasons.

Rideshares are available 24/7 in Orlando.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Yes, get the Uber and Lyft apps. Both platforms background check their drivers, and your trips are tracked in real time, so they are both safer than shady legacy cabs (these days legacy cab drivers are often doing that job only because they are unable to pass the Uber or Lyft background checks).

 

[sponica]

Yes, get the Uber and Lyft apps. Both platforms background check their drivers, and your trips are tracked in real time, so they are both safer than shady legacy cabs (these days legacy cab drivers are often doing that job only because they are unable to pass the Uber or Lyft background checks).

I feel like the drivers were better pre-pandemic. I've never been pulled over in a cab or car service, but I have been in an Uber that was pulled over. Maybe the markets are different though between where I am and Orlando.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Cabs and car services are more regulated than Uber or Lyft, at least in Orlando. All drivers are background checked and their motor vehicle records are pulled before hiring and regularly thereafter.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I agree with people suggesting a ride share. Either Uber or Lyft. For two adults it will be the easiest and quickest transportation. If you are uncomfortable with a ride share they do have regular yellow taxis. I don’t use ride share in my regular life but do at Disney. We also use it for dinner reservations to move between the resorts.

 

[Lewisc]

After you've retrieved your bags, just go to the area marked "rideshare" at MCO (it's very clearly marked), pull up the app, and order your ride

Ancient history. After you get your luggage turn around. The exit doors are numbered. Load the app and request your ride. Your pick up location will be the door number. Correct the app if they have the location wrong. You don't have to walk to a special location. Typical wait time is 5-10 minutes

 

[ExcitedForWDW]

Another vote for Uber! Super easy and much less expensive. Once we collect our baggage at mco we order the Uber and it arrives a few minutes later. On the return trip you can always schedule a pickup from the hotel well in advance as opposed to ordering one on the fly. As I said super easy!!