Transportation recommendations

[cruisehopeful]

Arriving MCO 5:30 pm (going to Polynesian)
Departing MCO 7:00am (leaving Beach club)

From my brief research, I am thinking of using Lyft when we arrive. Is that pretty easy? I'm not very familiar with the airport.

Since our flight home is 7am, I was thinking of using Mears because I believe they are reliable. Is it reasonable to get Lyft that early from Beach club? I'm assuming we'll leave the hotel about 4am?

Any better ideas?

 

[Sandi]

I would do Lyft or Uber for both. At the airport, after I collect my checked luggage and then check pricing for both Uber and Lift and choose the price and wait time that works best. The app will direct you to choose the door at which you want to be picked up.

For your trip back to the airport, you can reserve a particular time for pickup with Uber and Lyft. However, there always seem to be cars ready to pick you up within 10 minutes no matter the time of day.

You’ll be fine.

 

[VGCgroupie]

For me Mears leaves way too early. Recently we have done private car 1x at arrival 6am and Lyft 3x both arrival at 6am and departure around 3pm.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Lyft or Uber, whatever is cheaper. Many drivers drive for both and this will help if surge pricing starts hitting.

I would not book Mears for the return. They leave way too early. Rideshares are readily available in Orlando at all times of day. I’ve had early morning flights and no issues getting a ride. One time I booked moment of and car arrived in like 10 mins. Another time I scheduled it because I was offered a big discount by the platform. No issues on that one either. Scheduling tends to be more expensive than in the moment but it will put your mind at ease if you’re still worried about availability.

 

[kylenne]

Rideshare is super easy. I would not bother with Mears. As pp said rideshares are plentiful and I’ve never waited more than 10 min for one on property, with 10 at the very extreme end for early rope drop at AK. Most times it’s like 5 min.

tbh I only reserve rides in advance if there’s some kind of promo running on them—Uber had one recently where you got 1000 Bonvoy points for booking a reserve. I also get discounts on reserving airport rides via Lyft. But mostly I find it unnecessary.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’m still traveling with Mears.
Short wait time for bus arrival (longest was 15 minutes in the recent past) and on same level as luggage pickup at MCO. Price is right too- think it’s 16.00 per adult o/w.
Pick up time has dropped an hour since MCO began suggesting 2 hours before departure arrival.
Finally, I boarded the bus in May thinking the Disney cartoons were no longer played and realized that info was wrong; vintage MM cartoons made the littles happy.

Agreeing with a poster above. Check Lyft and Uber apps after you pick up your luggage for best price.
Have fun.

 

[EACarlson]

I’m still traveling with Mears.
Short wait time for bus arrival (longest was 15 minutes in the recent past) and on same level as luggage pickup at MCO. Price is right too- think it’s 16.00 per adult o/w.
Pick up time has dropped an hour since MCO began suggesting 2 hours before departure arrival.
Finally, I boarded the bus in May thinking the Disney cartoons were no longer played and realized that info was wrong; vintage MM cartoons made the littles happy.

Agreeing with a poster above. Check Lyft and Uber apps after you pick up your luggage for best price.
Have fun.

Did Mears move? Mears and before it Magical Express were on level 1, one level down from baggage claim, and only on one side of the airport, at least for the main terminal building.

 

[Lewisc]

Did Mears move? Mears and before it Magical Express were on level 1, one level down from baggage claim, and only on one side of the airport, at least for the main terminal building.

It can't move. My understanding is buses are only allowed on level 1.

There are a few carousels on level 1. People without checked luggage may not realize most luggage claim is on level 2. Some guests may not remember going down one level.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Did Mears move? Mears and before it Magical Express were on level 1, one level down from baggage claim, and only on one side of the airport, at least for the main terminal building.

Apparently in my mind’s eyes they did
It was all so seamless I completely forget the elevator ride!
Thank you for the correction

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Apparently in my mind’s eyes they did
It was all so seamless I completely forget the elevator ride!
Thank you for the correction

Also, when it was Magical Express, we never collected our luggage from the carousel, since the ME service included luggage delivery all the way to our resort room. We’d go from the gate to the ME loading area on level 1, riding the escalator down two levels and completely bypassing level 2.

 

[pooch]

Just to be the contrarian here. I was ASSURED by multiple cruise board posters that Ubers were plentiful and easy to get out of the Port of Miami. Don’t worry, it’s a breeze! Well that breeze turned into a hurricane quickly for us as our ride went from “confirmed” to “cancelled” with no driver availability between getting off the ship & arriving at the rideshare area, a space of maybe 10 minutes. Took 75 minutes and an additional $30 over our original booking to get picked up. It works great until it doesn’t. Not saying not to use it but be aware stuff happens sometimes.

 

[Miffy]

OP, if you're planning on leaving BC at 4 a.m., you might as well book Mears Connect, because that is about the time they will pick you up. If you want to know the exact time they'd pick you up before you book the ride, just email Mears or call them and they'll tell you

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

JMHO but for a 7:00am flight home, I'd spend that last night at the Hyatt inside MCO for the extra hour of sleep and probably costs less than BC too. It's about a 2 minute walk to security.

 

[Lewisc]

Just to be the contrarian here. I was ASSURED by multiple cruise board posters that Ubers were plentiful and easy to get out of the Port of Miami. Don’t worry, it’s a breeze! Well that breeze turned into a hurricane quickly for us as our ride went from “confirmed” to “cancelled” with no driver availability between getting off the ship & arriving at the rideshare area, a space of maybe 10 minutes. Took 75 minutes and an additional $30 over our original booking to get picked up. It works great until it doesn’t. Not saying not to use it but be aware stuff happens sometimes.

What was your destination?
Asking the obvious, where there any traditional taxis available?

 

[pooch]

FLL and not that we were able to flag down. They all seemed to be occupied. I’m sure that was not really the case but having a confirmed ride cancelled AFTER the pick up time (and this was my first attempt at Uber), I was a little frazzled. My point in posting was that nothing is a guarantee. Ship can and does happen.

 

[jimmymc]

Uber and Lyft are available at 4 am for your departure. They're also easy to get at MCO and will pick you up just outside baggage claim.

 

[FrancisK7]

Since we travel up to 7 people and Uber XXL are not available available we use Magical Orlando Rides every trip.