After Using 2 VASTLY Different Disney World Magical Express Replacements, I’m Shocked at the One I Liked Best

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Let me tell you a little story about my last trip to Disney World. I landed at Orlando International Airport, and as soon as my feet hit that iconic green carpet, I knew what I had to do. I had to get myself to Disney World!

Orlando International Airport

Now, several years ago, I used to be able to stroll right down to the Disney Magical Express zone, hop on a bus, and go straight to my Disney resort…for FREE. Yeah, that’s not a thing anymore (shocker). Instead, you’re on your own, people. YOU decide how you’re getting from the Orlando Airport (or any airport in the area) to Disney World. I recently tested two of the most popular options, Mears Connect and Uber, and I’m here to give you my honest thoughts on both services.

Uber

Let’s start with my trip from the airport to my hotel, Disney’s Pop Century Resort. After my flight landed in Orlando and I got my bags, I was ready to call a ride. I strolled out the doors, pulled up my Uber app, and requested a ride. Within seconds, Uber found a driver! SCORE! I only waited about five minutes for my driver to circle the airport and pick me up.

Orlando Airport

The ride was seamless! I called the Uber at 5:22PM, my ride arrived at 5:27PM, and I was dropped off at 6:03PM. Once we got to the resort, I was taken right to the front of Pop Century. My driver helped unload my bag from the trunk, and I was on my way to my room in no time. Easy, eh? Well, here’s where I tell you how much I paid for my ride. For that roughly 30-minute ride, I paid $64.98 BEFORE a tip.

©Uber

Keep in mind that rideshare services like Uber and Lyft use a system called surge pricing, so depending on the time (and location) of your ride, you may pay a little more for the same trip.

Rideshare sign at EPCOT

Mears Connect

Fast-forward a few days, and it was time to go home. Boo! This time, I decided to use Mears Connect to go from my resort, Disney’s Pop Century Hotel, to the Orlando International Airport. This is the closest thing to the old (free) Disney’s Magical Express Service that currently exists. OK, now it’s time to compare it to my Uber ride. Same distance, same price? NOPE! Not even close.

Mears Connect

My ride to the airport with Mears was, drumroll, please…$16 (before tip)! Now, there are a few caveats since this isn’t a true apples-to-apples comparison. For one, my ride with Mears was NOT private; I shared the bus with about five other families.

Inside a Mears Connect bus

Additionally, it was not a direct ride to the airport. The bus stopped at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort before going to the Orlando Airport. Depending on where you’re staying, you may make multiple stops at other Disney hotels before leaving Disney World.

Caribbean Beach

At the airport, the bus also stopped at Terminal C before dropping me off at Terminal B. So, yes, you have to be a little more patient if you’re using something like Mears Connect. Still, I got to the airport at least two hours before my flight took off, so it’s not like I was on a time crunch.

Terminal C

The Verdict

Let’s be honest. People don’t like sharing. People also don’t like waiting. So, you might think I am Team Uber over Team Mears, given all the extra stops you have to deal with on the bus. But, come on, it’s $16! For one person, the difference between a ride on Mears Connect is WAY cheaper than an Uber ride. It’s a no-brainer for me — I prefer Mears!

Mears Connect bus

Here’s where things may look different for you, though. Number one: you might have a family of four (or more). Suddenly, your cheap ride via Mears is not so cheap. In fact, as a family of 4+, you could end up paying about the same price as an Uber ride. In that case, it might make more sense to just call an Uber; it’s a direct, private ride to the airport, after all.

Mears Connect at Orlando International Airport

Really, if price is the biggest factor for you, the decision might come down to the number of people in your party. While services like Uber and Lyft use surge pricing, the price isn’t based on the number of people in the car. Mears, on the other hand, charges a per-person ticket price.

Mears Connect is one of the airport shuttle services available.

The good news is that Mears offers child rates for those ages 3–9, and children under three ride free. So, if you feel more comfortable riding on a bus than in an Uber, this might be the better choice! Ultimately, there are pros and cons to both services. Price it out before you leave and see what’s best for your family.

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

Small World Vacations

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Which service do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!

The post After Using 2 VASTLY Different Disney World Magical Express Replacements, I'm Shocked at the One I Liked Best first appeared on the disney food blog.

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