Getting to Walt Disney World from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is your first step to a magical vacation.
While Disney no longer provides its own transportation to and from your hotel, many options are available. One such option is Mears Connect, a busing service that shuttles you to and from your hotel to the Orlando airport.
The Mears Connect shuttles are actually run by the same company that previously ran the Walt Disney World Magical Express service. If you utilized that service to get from the Orlando airport to Walt Disney World, the process of using Mears Connect will be very familiar.
It is also helpful to know as you're planning your Walt Disney World transportation that both Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer, the two major airport shuttle services for Walt Disney World, have merged into one service called “Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine.” For our purposes in this guide, we still refer to it as Mears Connect as the service has remained unchanged although has opened up more flexibility in last-minute availability with the added drivers/shuttles. You can read more about the Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer merger in our initial announcement.
This article has been checked for accuracy for 2025 and updated with all currently available information.
Planning a Disney World Vacation?
Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!
Booking Mears to Walt Disney World
After you confirm your airfare, visit the Mears Connect website to make a reservation. The website recommends booking online versus over the phone. You will choose between Standard or Express. Standard transportation has set ride departure times with longer waits than Express, which claims limited to no wait times and guaranteed first stops. In each situation, you are sharing the bus with other guests traveling to Disney World.
You will then input your details, specifying if you need a round or single trip and your pick-up/drop-off locations. At this point, you will also indicate the number of adults, children, bags, and wheelchairs you will be bringing. Have your airline information handy, as it is needed for the company to schedule your bus. You can then pay for your booking. Overall, the process is straightforward and easily navigable.
Free Walt Disney World Quote!
Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, offers the best Walt Disney World discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Walt Disney World services! These services include having Get Away Today's Walt Disney World expert Brooklyn take care of all your dining reservations, FastPass+ reservations, and more! This really takes all the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!
Get a Free Walt Disney World Vacation Quote!
Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.
Mears Connect Orlando Airport to Disney World Pricing
Pricing varies a little based on your travel needs and the ages of your party. As of 2025, a one-way ticket was $17.60 per adult and $14.30 per child. A round-trip ticket is $33.60 per adult and $27.30 per child. An adult is anyone 10 years and up, and the children rate is for ages three to nine. Children under three years old ride for free.
Express Service is more expensive at $238 for a group of four, with $52 per additional person. The standard trip costs $118 for a group of four (two adults and two children). But with Express Service there is hardly a wait, whereas Standard Service can have you waiting a long time heading to and from your hotel.
Mears Connect Arrival & Departure Times
When we booked our last vacation using Mears Connect, we received a confirmation email with our arrival tickets. At the beginning of our trip, we received arrival updates on a phone through text. Texts came in 24 hours before our flight and as our plane touched down into MCO. It is important to note that only one guest will receive texts and not the entire family, so make sure you have the correct phone number with your reservation!
During our last trip, our flight was delayed and had us worrying that we would miss our bus. But, we found that the schedule is generous and waits for a long time. Even though we were late for our boarding, we still waited for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. It is by no means the speediest service, especially when you are anxious to get to Disney World, but it was nice knowing there was no rush.
On the second-to-last day of our vacation, we received an email from the company indicating our departure time. Mears Connect departs Standard tickets for domestic flights 3 hours in advance and 4 hours for international fights. Express service arrives 2.5 – 3 hours before a domestic flight and 3.5 – 4 hours before an international flight. Inside our departure email was a boarding pass, which was easy to pull up for scanning.
A Note For Time-Sensitive Schedules
We had an unfortunate incident with Mears Connect that almost made us miss our flight. Our flight was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the bus was scheduled to arrive at 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, due to rush hour, the bus was late and there were several other Mears Connect buses that could not pick us up despite being at the hotel. The customer service line was kind enough to give everyone in that scheduled pickup time a taxi to the airport. What was supposed to be a seamless service turned out very stressful and left a bad taste.
If your flight is scheduled around a busy time, like a rush or lunch hour, then you may want to pay for an uber to MCO. This is also a good option if you want to avoid an early pickup time.
Where to Board Mears Connect at Orlando Airport
After taking the air train back to the main terminal and walking out of security, follow the signs for ground transportation down to Level 1 of Terminal B. This is where Mears Connect is located. You'll have the option for an elevator or escalator to get down.
You'll see big signs pointing you in the right direction for the service.
You will be greeted at the front desk when you arrive at the gate and your passes will be scanned. They were able to scan the Mears Connect shuttle boarding pass directly on our phones. The attendant will then tell you your designated lane, and another attendant will tell you which bus to board based on your hotel.
Considering we had the Standard Service, we waited an additional 35 to 40 minutes before our bus left. There are several stops when using this service, and the bus stopped at three other hotels before reaching our destination (Disney’s Pop Century). The length of time waiting for the service and length of time that the service takes to get to your hotel will vary. Sometimes we have gotten lucky and been dropped off first and been the last to arrive before our bus left so we ended up with the shortest wait and drive.
The driver was personable and enthusiastic, especially when driving through the gold and blue Walt Disney World arch. They were also quick to unload bags and answer any travel questions. Make sure you have all of your belongings when you leave the bus, as our driver was quick to leave after the guests’ bags were unloaded.
When departing from your hotel, expect there to be a general loading/unloading area (likely the same one you arrived from). You can check with the hotel staff to make sure you are in the proper location. The Mears Connect service provides tracking information showing where your bus is en route. Similar to arrival, your pass will be scanned and you will be dropped off at MCO. There might be other pickups on your way.
Here's a map for finding the Mears Connect service in the Orlando Airport.
What Walt Disney World Hotels Does Mears Connect Service?
Mears Connect arrives and departs from all Disney World and Disney Springs area resorts. If you plan on staying at Walt Disney World for a portion of your trip and at another theme park, like Universal Studios Orlando, then make sure to arrange your tickets properly. In that case, we suggest arranging a one-way trip for either your arrival or departure.
Below is a list of all resorts serviced by Mears Connect from the Orlando airport:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House & Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas
- The Cabins & Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter & Riverside)
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Resort
- B Resort & Spa
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World
- Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace – Disney Springs
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs
- Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs
- JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort
- Orlando World Center Marriott
- Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort
- Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet reek
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Walt Disney World Swan & Swan Reserve
- Walt Disney World Dolphin
- Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Disney Springs
Who should use the Mears Connect service?
Solo travelers or couples will find Mears Connect to be a cost-effective option, especially if there is no itinerary. There is no group rate for the bussing service. Groups or families might want to consider a rideshare like Uber or Lyft at Walt Disney World, as you are paying for the car versus per passenger. However, peak tourism times can cause premium pricing. In this case, Mears Connect would be the better option because the rate does not change.
When I am landing at Walt Disney World for a solo trip I quickly check the prices for the Uber and Lyft rideshare services and if they are reasonable will use that and if they are far above the $16 one-way charge for using Mears Connect I will quickly book a Mears Connect shuttle from my phone. Typically I end up taking Mears Connect from the airport to Walt Disney World and then taking either Uber or Lyft back from Walt Disney World to the airport. The Mears Connect early pickup times from the hotel lead to headaches and lots of early waiting time at the airport. I like to be in control of when we leave for the airport based on expected traffic patterns so always prefer rideshare over Mears Connect here. For those utilizing TSA PreCheck the amount of time that Mears Connect drops you off before your flight is crazy. You end up waiting on the other side of security for awhile before your flight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mears Connect
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Mears Connect!
Is Mears Connect 24 hours?
Yes, this is a 24/7 service.
Does Mears Connect service Universal Orlando?
Mears services include theme park transportation to all Orlando area theme parks which includes Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida Resort.
Is Mears connect cheaper than Uber?
It can be especially if there is Uber surge pricing when you arrive at the airport- which has been known to happen!
How much do you tip for Mears Connect?
This is always a personal decision but the general convention is 10% for coach buses and 15% for smaller vans.
Is Mears Connect owned by Disney?
No, Mears Connect is a separate company.
Plan Your Disney World Vacation!
Consider subscribing to our FREE Deals newsletter to ensure your travel runs smoothly. Inside are helpful planning tips and exclusive deals for Disney tickets, hotels, and experiences. You can read more about Disney and airport transportation here:
- Ultimate Guide to Disney World Transportation- Including Tips on How to Navigate Travel at the Resort
- How to Use Lyft and Uber Disney World Guide, Minnie Vans Return
- Renting A Car At Walt Disney World
- Walt Disney World Planning Guide: Experience More, Save Money at Disney
- Walt Disney World in the Spring: Enjoy Seasonal Festivals, Events, Avoid Crowds
Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses
In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.
