Transfer suggestions?

[kmdintx]

What's the least expensive way to get to WDW besides the Magical Express?

 

[CleveRocks]

Are you talking to a WDW owned-and-operated resort? Your only other options are taxi or car service. They'll cost about the same (maybe $60 or so one-way + tip), so I'd personally go with making a reservation with a car service, as the service they provide you will be superior to that of a taxi.

There used to be a Mears shuttle (bus) to WDW resorts, but they stopped that once DME started. Well, they stopped taking advance reservations for it. You can walk up to the Mears counter and buy a pretty inexpensive ticket for a bus ride to a WDW hotel ... but the irony is that they'll very very likely put you on a DME bus for this purpose, meaning that you'll be paying for something you decided not to take for free (assuming you're named on the reservation at a WDW owned-and-operated resort).

If I may ask, why not take DME, since cost seems of paramount importance to you?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

What's less expensive than free?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting... let me first stress I have NO idea what the policy is on luggage (I know Disney's is "no luggage on the buses"), but you can apparently take the 111 Lynx bus from the airport to the Grosvenor across from Downtown Disney, for $4.00 per person one way. Of course, then - as indicated above - you can't take your luggage on the Disney buses so if you're going to a Disney-owned resort you would need to take and pay for a taxi from the Grosvenor to your resort...

 

[Edd]

Cleve,

They will not very likely put you on a DME bus if you purchase a Mears shuttle ticket. I have talked to Mears officers (VP) and Mears workers and that does not happen. If you buy a Mears shuttle ticket you will either go on a Mears shuttle van, or on rare possibility in a town car or taxi.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Interesting... let me first stress I have NO idea what the policy is on luggage (I know Disney's is "no luggage on the buses"), but you can apparently take the 111 Lynx bus from the airport to the Grosvenor across from Downtown Disney, for $4.00 per person one way. Of course, then - as indicated above - you can't take your luggage on the Disney buses so if you're going to a Disney-owned resort you would need to take and pay for a taxi from the Grosvenor to your resort...

The 111 goes all the way to the TTC http://www.golynx.com/assets/userfiles/routemaps/111.pdf depending upon where you are staying, that might be a better option.

 

[CleveRocks]

Cleve,

They will not very likely put you on a DME bus if you purchase a Mears shuttle ticket. I have talked to Mears officers (VP) and Mears workers and that does not happen. If you buy a Mears shuttle ticket you will either go on a Mears shuttle van, or on rare possibility in a town car or taxi.

My apologies. Thanks for the update.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks! I just put in "Walt Disney World" as the destination and first came up with the Dolphin/Swan. When I saw that route included a stop at DTD, I changed my search.

 

[goofy4tink]

Other than taking 'public' transportation, which I wouldn't recommend, you can take the Mears shuttle. But, if you are heading to a resort that is serviced by DME, you can't book it ahead. You have to do it when you get to MCO. It will cost about $30 r/t. If you go to the S/D, you can book it beforehand though.
As for whether or not you will be put on a DME bus....I have seen it done. But, when I was there in Sept, and taking the Mears shuttle to the Swan, they told me that only WDW owned resort guests were allowed on the DME bus, so no, those going to the S/D wouldn't be put on the DME bus. Whether or not they might put one, paying person, on the DME bus to a WDW owned resort...well, who knows.

I would imagine that the situation may be that the OP doesn't want to list someone on their reservation, hence no DME. But, be aware, that also means no EMHs, no room key, etc.

 

[Edd]

One reason given for not putting passengers of Mears on the DME bus is that WDW would not feel good about paying for a guest on the DME that also paid at the Mears shuttle. The count to WDW would not differentiate who paid for the shuttle so Mears may get payment from 2 sources. The reasons are probably much more complicated, but the above reason is just a simple answer.

My opinion, there may be guests who pay for the Mears shuttle and than would complain they were put on free transportation to WDW, maybe asking for a refund from the Mears shuttle. Second off, the Mears shuttle has to keep their presence known as the shuttle people.

 

[kirbsam]

you can always hitch hike or beg a ride from somebody else.