Would it be worth it to buy a ticket?

[C.Ann]

My flight arrives in Orlando this Saturday evening around 5pm.. I will be taking the Mears Shuttle to Pop Century..

From what I have been able to glean on these boards, getting to Pop could take as much as an hour or more.. Check-in could be quick or very slow..

Let's say everything is good to go by 8 o'clock.. Would it be worth adding that day onto my ticket for the 3 hours I might be able to sueeze out of MK?

Or should I just do some resort hopping that evening?

I'm only going to be there till sometime Tuesday so I'd like to make wise use of the time I have available to me..

Thanks!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I got to check-in during check-in time and I think it took me only 20 minutes to get to my room.

As for me, about buying the extra ticket...I'm going to, even if I don't make to the park the day I get there. This is only because buying a 7-day expiry is only $2 or $3 more than buying a 6-day expiry. This way, I have the option of going to the park if I want to.

 

[buzz2400]

I would just resort hop or go to downtown disney.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I would just resort hop too, or go to DTD. I think I'd be kind of tired from the trip and wouldn't feel too much like taking in the parks.

 

[addicted2disney]

We are ones who make the most of our time.. if we have 3 hours.. we go to a park for 3 hours. I just want to make a suggestion... you say you are taking Mears.. have you looked into the towncar services?? Is it only you on your trip? The service I use is called Sunray Transportation and they guys that run it are great!! If you are going solo, it will be cheaper to go mears, but for less than 80 bucks with the discount, your driver will meet you at the bottom of the steps in the airport, go with you to get your luggage, take it out for you and in about 30 minutes, you are at your resort. I will never never ever take mears again. We have had mears take over 2 hours on our first or 2nd trip.. thats when I discovered Bob my driver!!! If you want more info.. you can PM me!! With only 3 days in Disney, Im sure you dont want to wasted a few precious hours sitting in the airport waiting for your shuttle bus to take you, and a bunch of other families to the resort. You may even be the last one dropped off... which stinks.. trust me.. Ive been there!!!

 

[DMRick]

3 hours is a lot of time, when you are person who doesn't care about the rides with the long lines. Plus, you will have some time after the park closes, to walk down inside the main street shops, which I love, while I wait for the buses to be less crowded. Sometimes, we'll get an ice cream or candy apple in the candy shop and sit and watch the crowds go by..and that can be another 1/2 to an hour. Of course, I'm assuming you'll still have time on another day to resort hop..if not, then I would do that (go see Bob at POR!), although I don't enjoy it as much at night, since it's dark outside (at least until Sunday).

 

[ktglads]

If it were me, I would check my bags with luggage services if there is a long line at check in and head right to the park - maybe get more of the 3 hours in. Then again I have an AP so it is not costing me anything more. How about splitting the difference in cost between the towncar and Mears - towncar from the airport and a Mears return? Depending on what time you are flying back, you may be able to pick up an extra hour or so if you do a towncar versus Mears since the towncar runs on your schedule and Mears runs on their own. What I am thinking is towncar from the airport will get you to the resort by 5:45 (if you checked luggage). If you don't check in right away you can get on the next bus to MK and be at the park by 6:30 (assuming you just miss a bus). Then it would definitely be worth it.

 

[C.Ann]

The problem with the town car vs Mears Shuttle is that I only need transportation one way as my sister will be meeting me on Tuesday (with her van) and then I'll be heading up to Lady Lake till the 16th.. I'm not sure I can justify the cost of the one-way town car just to gain an hour or two extra at the parks..

I DO have to make up my mind SOON though so I can reserve one or the other and get some kind of email comfirmation..

 

[MagicalMom]

I would add the extra day onto the ticket. For us, it was an additional $3.00 to add the day on. It's worth 3.00 for us just to walk into the park & see Wishes.

 

[the kabuki]

The difference between a 3 day tix and a 4 day tix is only $15.

One way Mears shuttle is $17, One way Florida Tours town car is $60 -Difference of $43.

Total price difference $58.
MK is open till 11pm that night. If you do the town car, you could conceivably be at MK by 7 or 8 pm. Is it worth it? IMHO, for $58 it would be. It's going to be pretty crowded while you're there so any extra time to squeeze in would be good.

 

[addicted2disney]

Sunraytransportation.com has a oneway price of only 50 bucks. Ive used them about 8 times.. and they are great!! You will be at the resort fast. Let them take your bags on the sidewalk of your resort and dont even bother checking in if there is a line. Just walk to the bus stop and get to a park!!!

 

[gigi1313]

i'd take a taxi or sunray from the airport and ask them to wait for me while i check in (or stow luggage w/luggage svcs, depending on the line/whether or not you need to pick up tix) and have them drive me to MK 'cause waiting for the bus at that time of night at pop may take awhile, they may be few and far between!

 

[Leota]

I agree - take a taxi or a towncar from the airport (I believe a taxi is roughly $40 & Tiffany Towncars whom I use, is $55) and add a day to your ticket. Very worth it.
I would avoid Mears like the Plague! You have a short trip, I've read from your posts that this is a sort of Transitional period for you & that you are trying to help yourself heal. You deserve better than waiting on & dealing with 2+ hours of Mears. Go for it! You'll give yourself more time in the Parks, More Magic.....

 

[DMRick]

Has Mears changed that much? We haven't used them in a couple of years, but we got right in a van type bus, and left the airport. Everyone in our van was going to the same resort and we were there one hour after after landing. I personally don't think it's worth all that money to gain a little bit of time. Better she check in her luggage, if there is a line, and come back and check in afterwards...and get off to the parks. But of course, C.Ann, you really have to decide moneywise, which is worth it for you.

 

[LoraJ]

The only time I bought a ticket was for E-ride nights on the day I arrived. But that was only $17 or whatever it was.

I think I would just go to downtown Disney or relax after your flight by the pool.