Mears Connect Standard – Late Night Arrival

We tested out Mears Connect Standard transportation last week from the Orlando International Airport, MCO, to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Before we get into the trip, let’s review a few basics.

What is Mears and Why Does it Still Hurt Our Feelings

Disney’s Magical Express has been gone since January 1, 2022, and we have yet to meet a Disney adult who does not bemoan this fact. Disney used to include luggage delivery with this complimentary transportation service. Sure, bags might turn up several hours after you were at your resort, but you didn’t have to worry with baggage claim or fumble with luggage carts. The buses were clean, Disney themed, and played a lovely welcome message and Disney cartoons during your ride.

When Disney decided to end this service, trip budgets and schedules needed adjusting. Mears took over the MCO ⇒ Disney Resort ⇒ MCO bus route, but with one huge difference – it was no longer an included perk. Sunshine Flyer, another bus service that had train-themed buses, entered the arena shortly after Mears took over, and the companies merged in July 2023. At the same time, ride-share options like Lyft and Uber grabbed a larger share of the Disney transportation market. Since August 13, 2025, Deluxe resort guests have the option to use Minnie Van service for airport transport, but it’s expensive: $199 + tax & tip. In short, Disney guests needing a ride from MCO to their hotel are paying for a service that used to be included in their vacation package.

Mears Connect Options

Mears offers two types of transportation: Standard & Express. Neither option includes luggage transfers. You’ll need to grab your own luggage no matter which option you pick.

Standard service is more like the old Magical Express. You’ll share a bus or a van with other guests heading to your Disney resort or another resort in the same area. You may be on the bus for several stops before you reach your destination.

Standard Pricing 

• One Way: MCO to Resort or Resort to MCO = $17.60 / Adult, $14.30 / Child (ages 3-9)
• Round Trip: $33.60 / Adult, $27.30 / Child (ages 3-9)

Express Service is also a shared service, meaning you might have a shuttle or car to yoursel,f or you may have other guests in the vehicle. Mears advertises Express Service as “minimal wait,” and it is only available for booking round trip. One-way Express Service is not available, and there is no child rate. Children under 3 travel for free with a Standard booking, but they are included in the total count for Express.

Express Pricing

• Round Trip: $250 for up to 4 people, each additional person is $55.00 extra

It’s important to note that Mears Connect does not have surge pricing. This is a big deal if you’re arriving during a busy time and are considering a ride-share option that does have surge pricing. A $35 Lyft ride can easily hit $50 during busy periods like spring break or Christmas. This is the part where I add a shameless plug for our 12-month Crowd Calendar. If you see 8’s and 9’s for a stretch of a few days, then budget for surge pricing.

Our Trip

We decided to try out Mears Connect Standard for our late-night arrival last week. Having spent many hours at MCO timing Mears bus and shuttle departures in the past, it wasn’t a surprise that the process took a while. Here are the details:

As you can see from the chart above, the entire process from check-in to feet on the ground at Caribbean Beach took 64 minutes. The arrival and check-in process was very easy. There are rows of scanners at the entrance to the Mears Connect section of the terminal, and a customer service associate is manning the desk for anyone needing assistance.

When you scan your boarding pass, you’ll be directed to the appropriate corral depending on your destination. We were sent to the corral for Art of Animation, Gaylord Palms, POP Century, and the Riviera since they’re all in the same area as Caribbean Beach.

Shortly after arriving at the corral, we were told that we would need to wait for a shuttle van since the buses, which were stationed outside, would not run for just a few passengers. It should be noted that the folks working that evening were very kind and solicitous. They kept checking to make sure we were ok, they kept giving us updates on when they thought the shuttle should arrive, and even offered us seats a few times. Additionally, we know this example is not representative of all Mears Connect trips since this was so late in the evening.

In total, we waited 28 minutes to be on our way to our resort and paid $17.60 plus tip. A standard Lyft at MCO is typically available in 2-3 minutes and runs around $35 during off-peak times. We paid $33.45 plus tip for our return trip from the Caribbean Beach to MCO at 4:15 am on Saturday, August 30th.

Summary: Since we weren’t in a rush and had napped and snacked on the plane, the 64-minute trip wasn’t uncomfortable. We can acknowledge that it might be too much with small children or even adult partners after a long travel day.

How do you get to your Disney Resort from MCO? Does your transportation preference change with your arrival time? What other factors contribute to your decision? Group size? ECV or wheelchair accessibility? Car seats? How much do you tip for shared service? What about private ride share? We’d love to know your thoughts in the comments!