What's a good time to schedule Mears pickup to Universal

[Nikki21]

Hi all!

I will be staying at POP. I have paid for the Dreams Unlimited Universal Ticket and Transportation.

My question is- what is a good pickup time for the Mears shuttle from POP to Universal? I will be going in September and would like to get there for rope drop

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I would ask for a p/u time of around 7:30-8. That gives you plenty of time just in case the bus makes other stops..which it usually does. Then, it's a fairly long walk from the bus stops to the entrance to the parks.

 

[Nikki21]

Thank you!!!

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

Fair warning the bus may make A LOT of stops.. I was on the 8:00 AM bus....was there for 7:45 and the bus left promptly at 8:00 AM...due to the 4 resort stops and a stop at Sea World we didnt pull into Universal until 9:10 AM...slightly missing park opening...

I would take the earliest one you can get and if your there early just relax and grab a coffee...

The bus ride home was even long... 1 hr 25 min from Universal back to my resort again making a stop at Sea World and 5 other resorts before mine...

Now I have taken Mears before where they have only made on other stop but this experience was bad enough I may pay the $20 more and hire the town car from Mears next time and know that I have dedicated service and no stops...

 

[Nikki21]

Eek! That doesn't sound so great. I guess I'll have to just take my chances this first time and hope for the best.

Do you think it makes a difference in the time of year you go? Was it more crowded for you (took longer) in the summer or something?

 

[goofy4tink]

Eek! That doesn't sound so great. I guess I'll have to just take my chances this first time and hope for the best.

Do you think it makes a difference in the time of year you go? Was it more crowded for you (took longer) in the summer or something?

I have used the Mears/DU offer many times. It has worked out fine. We even used it once to get over to Royal Pacific Resort to spend the night..used only backpacks since luggage is not allowed on the bus. We were able to get from our WDW resort to US/IoA early enough to walk to the RPR, get checked in, drop our stuff off at Bell Services, and head to the front gates....and got there about 15 mins prior to park opening at 9! I believe we got the 7:30 bus.
Now, that was on a weekday, in probably December. Sept is going to be fairly uncrowded. Try to get a pickup time of about 7:30. That has always had us arriving in time for park opening.

Does it take longer to use Mears vs a towncar? Yes. The towncar is going to take about 25 mins to get to US/IoA. But it will cost you about $50 for one way, and around $90 r/t. The Mears shuttle will cost you $19 r/t, and will take up to an hour to get there in the morning, but probably over an hour for leaving. I've had very good luck in that it has never taken me more than an hour to get back to WDW after a day at US/IoA. Then again, I tend to leave that area mid to late afternoon, vs park closing.

My one suggestion is this...do NOT make an ADR for the night you return from US/IoA unless you are planning on leaving prior to 4ish. You could find yourself on a bus that has to make many stops, in some out of the way areas, which could have you late for an ADR at WDW.

 

[Nikki21]

Thanks for the suggestions!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I took MEARS from Pop to Universal on two trips... and both times it stopped at one resort only (coronado), after that it was seaworld, then universal. Just to be safe, a pickup of 730-8am should be good.

 

[Nikki21]

Thank you all! I think I'll go with. 7:30 pickup. Does it matter when I call to arrange? I know it says call 24 hours in advance but can i cal 2 days before (I'll be traveling 24 hours before). Does it matter?

 

[goofy4tink]

You can book at any time...just as long as it's no later than the day prior! When I've used the special parks and transportation deal, I've made my p/u times then...months before I get there!!!

 

[SDTeaGirl]

I have used the Mears/DU offer many times. It has worked out fine. We even used it once to get over to Royal Pacific Resort to spend the night..used only backpacks since luggage is not allowed on the bus. We were able to get from our WDW resort to US/IoA early enough to walk to the RPR, get checked in, drop our stuff off at Bell Services, and head to the front gates....and got there about 15 mins prior to park opening at 9! I believe we got the 7:30 bus.
Now, that was on a weekday, in probably December. Sept is going to be fairly uncrowded. Try to get a pickup time of about 7:30. That has always had us arriving in time for park opening.

Does it take longer to use Mears vs a towncar? Yes. The towncar is going to take about 25 mins to get to US/IoA. But it will cost you about $50 for one way, and around $90 r/t. The Mears shuttle will cost you $19 r/t, and will take up to an hour to get there in the morning, but probably over an hour for leaving. I've had very good luck in that it has never taken me more than an hour to get back to WDW after a day at US/IoA. Then again, I tend to leave that area mid to late afternoon, vs park closing.

My one suggestion is this...do NOT make an ADR for the night you return from US/IoA unless you are planning on leaving prior to 4ish. You could find yourself on a bus that has to make many stops, in some out of the way areas, which could have you late for an ADR at WDW.

We are going Dec 4-15 we are planning on using mears also. We do have adrs one night after universal lark closes at 7 and we have a 8:30 adr at Gf 1900. What time do we have to leave lark to get there in time.