But here's the thing: when I get off a plane, I'm tired, and I don't always want to worry about calling an Uber. And then I think, oh crap, when it's time to leave, what if the Uber is canceled and I don't make it BACK to the airport on time for my flight.
Yes, I can get anxiety when I'm traveling.
If you're a worrier like I am, that's where Mears Transportation comes in.
Located in Ground Transportation in the B terminal (or in C!), it's an easy bus system that'll take you to and from your Disney Resort. Or some select non-Disney hotels nearby.
And hey, if buses freak you out, yes, there are private options. And limos. Imagine pulling up to All Stars Movies and emerge from a limo? That sounds pretty incredible to me.
But buses do not freak us out. We travel on a budget. The limos will have to wait.
Getting to the Mears Shuttle is easy. We flew in at A terminal, so we pick up our luggage and cross the airport to B. Simple.
Head to Ground Transportation and follow the Mears Shuttle signs. They repeat and are hard to miss.
If you're in B terminal, you'll notice they are set up where Magical Express used to be. Ah, I miss Magical Express. It was free. Glorious. They handled the luggage. Memories.
Anyway, you might be like, hey, how much is this?
👉Children under 3 are FREE
👉Children ages 3-9 are $13
👉Everyone older than 10 are $16
Yes, you can book ahead OR you can simply head to the Mears area and purchase tickets after you arrive.
Plus, bonus, there is no surge pricing like Uber does.
So after you check in, you'll be told what line to get into.
We only waited about 5 minutes before we were led to a bus. Then we were only on that bus for maybe 5 minutes before we started to move.
There is a program on the TVs to keep kids entertained:
It takes about an hour to get to the Disney resorts depending on traffic. And yes, there might be stops before your resort. We were stop #2 and I believe our bus was making a total of 4 stops.
It was a smooth and easy ride.
And getting back? Well, that's just as simple. Most pick ups are right in front of the hotel. You'll notice this sign at the Disney Resorts:
An email will be sent the day before reminding you of your pick up time and our bus arrived right on the dot. I also received a text to track our bus before it arrived which was cool.
There was only 1 stop after ours and then we were on the way to the airport. The pick up time is generally 3 hours before your flight. Some people don't like all that time, but I'm one of those who like to be at the airport early. You never know what is going on in security. And I'm one of those who have to check to make sure my gate exists before doing anything else.
So was it worth it?
I think so. We'd book Mears again. And be sure to follow them on social media since they'll sometimes run deals. For example, we got one ride free with a special they were running.
Check Mears Transportation out at the following:
Posts
I use Uber, although as a single, this is a less expensive option!
ReplyDeleteThis is so helpful! Navigating transportation from the Orlando airport can definitely be overwhelming, especially with kids or lots of luggage.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great option for getting to Disney World. I like taking buses over urbers
ReplyDeleteWe might be going back to WDW in the next two years, so this is good to know! We used to take Disney's Magical Express (it was free) from the airport to our hotel, but they discontinued it. We took an Uber once and also rented a car, but I'm glad there is another option for us, since it gets expensive!
ReplyDeleteI also get anxiety when travelling so totally get it that you need to make sure that travel is all sorted in advance and that there will be no issues. Sounds like you found a great alternative to Uber for your travels.
ReplyDeleteTraveling can be stressful, so having clear options for getting from Orlando Airport makes planning so much easier! I am okay with buses, no probs 🙂.
ReplyDeleteNatural Beauty And Makeup ❤️
this is so good to know. i will have to keep it in mind for when we plan a trip like this (hopefully soon)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post! I get so much travel anxiety and it's good to know there's a reliable transport option that won't let you down. Thank you for the lovely photos as always.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great guide. The hardest part about a trip to Disney for us has always been getting from the airport to the hotel/resort.
ReplyDeleteThis is really helpful information, especially for families who like having transportation planned before they arrive. I love that you can book ahead, avoid surge pricing, and get reminders about your pickup time. It definitely sounds like a much less stressful way to get to and from the Disney resorts!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Tampa so am very familiar with your recommendaitons. Traffic is awful, so your post is very useful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a convenient service to know about. Travel can be exhausting, and this sounds like a great option.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an easy option after a long flight. I especially like that they send a reminder and let you track the bus for the return trip. That would definitely take away some of the stress of worrying about getting back to the airport on time.
ReplyDeleteWhen solid transportation is offered, take it. I choose the easiest option for me when I travel, too. Sometimes it's an Uber, or Lyft or local taxi.
ReplyDelete