Mears Connect is the official shared shuttle service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World hotels, operated by Mears Transportation - the same company that ran Disney's Magical Express. Standard one-way fares start from $16 per adult before fees, with children under 3 travelling free. We've used the service on multiple trips and would book it again, though there are a few things worth knowing before you commit.
Article Summary
- Our rating: 4 out of 5
- What we tested: Standard service, arrivals and departures, Terminal B and Terminal C
- Price (standard, one way): From $16 per adult / $13 per child (ages 3-9) before fees - see pricing section for what you actually pay
- Under 3s: Free on standard service
- Express option: Available - round trip only, from $250 for up to 4 people
- Where to find it at MCO: Level 1 of Terminal B and Level 1 of Terminal C
Haven't booked your Disney World trip yet? Search packages here or find the best price on Disney World tickets here
Read on for the full breakdown including what you actually pay with fees, how to find it across different terminals, and the honest verdict on whether it beats Uber.
What Is Mears Connect?
Mears Connect is a shared coach shuttle service running between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World hotels. It's operated by Mears Transportation, a company that has been the airport's preferred transport provider for over 40 years - and the very same operation that ran Disney's Magical Express before it was discontinued in 2022.
When Disney's Magical Express sadly ended in 2022, Mears Connect stepped in as a standalone paid service to fill the gap - which made sense given Mears was the company that had been operating the Magical Express all along. A little while after, a competing shuttle called Sunshine Flyer also launched. The two merged in 2023 to form what was briefly branded "Mears Connect Driven By Sunshine," though it has since settled back under the Mears Connect name. Some of the colourful animal-themed branding from the Sunshine era - dolphins, manatees, flamingos on the sides of the buses - stuck around, which the kids tend to enjoy.
It's a shared service, meaning you'll be on the coach with other guests heading to different Disney hotels. Mears also offers an Express private transfer option for those who'd rather go direct, which we'll cover later.
If you haven't yet booked your Walt Disney World trip, it's worth sorting that first before arranging transport - check our Walt Disney World deals guide for current offers, or search available packages here.
Mears Connect Prices
Mears Connect advertises its headline fares as one-way prices per person, but there are a couple of extras to factor in. On top of the base fare, Mears adds a Privilege Fee Recovery Charge (PFRC) - essentially an airport fee passed on to the passenger. There's also currently a 3% fuel surcharge being applied to all reservations until further notice. So the number you see advertised isn't quite what you pay.
Here's how the standard service pricing breaks down at the time of writing:
- Adults (10 and over): $16 base + $1.60 PFRC = $17.60, plus current 3% fuel surcharge - approximately $18.08 one way
- Children (ages 3-9): $13 base + $1.30 PFRC = $14.30, plus fuel surcharge - approximately $14.69 one way
- Children under 3: Free on standard service
Always verify current pricing when you book as fees and surcharges can change. The fuel surcharge in particular is listed as "until further notice" so it may or may not still apply when you travel.
To give a rough sense of the total cost: two adults travelling return would currently pay around $72 all in. A family of four with two children aged 3-9 would be looking at around $130 return including all current fees.
How to Book and Cancellation Policy
You can book online at mearsconnect.com, selecting your resort, dates, number of passengers and preferred times. Booking in advance is worth doing, particularly in peak season, though Mears does also accept walk-up bookings at their desk at MCO - something not all shuttle services offer.
On our first trip, we needed to change our pick-up hotel after adding a resort to the end of our stay. At the time there was no way to edit a booking online - you had to email customer services to cancel and rebook. They replied quickly and processed a full refund within days, so no complaints there. Since then, Mears has updated the system and you can now cancel online directly.
The cancellation policy allows a full refund if cancelled more than 24 hours before your scheduled travel time, with no charge. Always verify the current terms on their website when booking as policies can change.
Where to Find Mears Connect at MCO
Mears Connect has two check-in locations at Orlando International Airport - one on Level 1 of Terminal B, and one on Level 1 of Terminal C. Which one you need depends on which terminal your flight arrives into. Most UK airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus operate out of Terminal C, so for most British visitors reading this, the Terminal C directions are the relevant ones.
Terminal A or Terminal B Arrivals
Terminals A and B are two sides of the same building - you can move between them on Level 3. After landing, all passengers take the tram to the main arrivals hall on Level 3. If you have checked luggage, follow signs to Baggage Claim on Level 2 to collect your bags, then return to Level 3 via the escalator or elevator. From Level 3, follow signs to Terminal B (the green side). Once you're in Terminal B, take the elevator or escalator down to Level 1 Ground Transportation, turn left, and look for the large blue Mears Connect digital sign at the end of the hall. Check-in is inside - no need to go outside into the heat.
Terminal C Arrivals
After landing in Terminal C, follow signs to Level 6 Baggage Claim if you have luggage to collect. Once you have everything, go through customs, walk straight ahead and then take the elevator down to Level 1 Ground Transportation. The Mears Connect check-in area is right by the sliding glass doors as you exit the elevator - you can't miss it.
Our Experience - Arrivals
On arrival at Terminal C, following the signs to Level 1 was easy enough. The Mears Connect desk was easy to spot, staffed by two friendly team members. On one occasion a bus was about to leave when we arrived and one of the staff ran out to hold it - a small thing, but it made an impression after a long flight. After checking in, the bus that was waiting turned out to be a Disney Cruise Line-branded coach. Mears runs both the shuttle service and the Disney Cruise Line transfers, so you occasionally get their coaches rather than the standard blue Mears Connect ones.
On the Bus
The coaches are comfortable and well maintained, with the colourful animal-themed branding some of the buses carry - a legacy of the Sunshine Flyer merger - adding a bit of character. There's in-ride entertainment on board, though like all shuttle TV screens it tends to cycle through promotional content. The air conditioning is very welcome after stepping out of the Florida heat.
Being a shared service, the coach makes multiple resort stops before reaching yours. On our trips we had five stops in total. The upside of this is getting to see a few other Disney resorts on the way - after a long flight it's actually quite pleasant to sit in the air conditioning and take it all in. The downside is it adds time to the journey.
Don't forget to tip your driver. Around $1 per bag is standard, and $2 per bag if they've been particularly helpful with luggage.
If you haven't sorted your Walt Disney World tickets yet, FloridaTix is a good option for UK visitors - often cheaper than buying direct. See our Walt Disney World ticket guide for a full breakdown.
Our Experience - Departures
On the return, you're given a specific pick-up time to be outside your resort. The first thing to know is that when a Mears Connect coach pulls into your hotel, it can be difficult to tell if it's arriving to collect guests or dropping off. On one trip from Disney's Pop Century, two coaches came in with blank digital displays at the front, leaving everyone standing around trying to work out if either was theirs. We had to go and ask the driver directly each time - slightly frustrating when you're anxious about making your flight. Mears has since introduced real-time tracking by text, which takes a lot of the stress out of it. On our second trip from Disney's Wilderness Lodge we received a text letting us track the coach en route, and the driver arrived on time. A significant improvement.
One other thing worth knowing about flexibility: if a coach arrives that isn't your allocated one but the driver has space, they'll often let you board. On one of our trips a couple whose coach was running a few minutes behind were offered a spot on ours. Handy if you're cutting it close.
Terminal C - What You Need to Know
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus all operate out of Terminal C at MCO, so this section is particularly relevant for most UK visitors. Mears advertises that it is the only shuttle service covering both the Main Terminal (A/B) and Terminal C for arrivals and departures - which is accurate, but our first experience on departure didn't quite live up to that promise.
On that first return trip, after boarding the coach, the driver told us he wasn't going to Terminal C - only to the Main Terminal. If we wanted Terminal C we'd need to find a minibus or use the indoor tram inside the airport. We opted for the tram, which added around 20 minutes to the journey at a point when we were already watching the clock.
We raised this with Mears Connect after the trip and their response was clear:
"All of our drivers should be dropping off at terminal C for all passengers departing on those airlines. At the time of vehicle boarding, the drivers are supposed to confirm the passenger's airline so that they are aware of the need to stop at terminal C. Any drivers not dropping at terminal C are violating our service policy."
- Mears Connect
On our second trip the coach did go to Terminal C, stopping there before the Main Terminal. Several readers got in touch after we first published this to say they'd experienced the same issue on that first trip, so it wasn't an isolated case. The situation appears to have improved since, but our advice would be to confirm with the driver when you board that they'll be stopping at Terminal C if that's where your flight departs from.
Mears Connect Express Service
In addition to the standard shared shuttle, Mears Connect offers an Express Service - a direct transfer to your Walt Disney World resort with no other stops. It's round trip only and priced per vehicle rather than per person. For up to 4 people the total is $250 including all fees. For groups of 5 or more it's $55 per additional person. Mears say it operates with minimal wait time, though they note it may still be a shared ride at busy periods depending on demand. For a family of four, $250 return works out at $62.50 per person. For two adults the standard service return currently comes to around $72 all in, versus $250 for Express - so the premium is significant for smaller parties.
In our view it's impossible to justify. If a direct transfer is what you're after, shopping around for a private transfer company will almost always get you there for considerably less, often in a nicer vehicle.
Is Mears Connect Worth Booking?
For most families, yes. There's no surge pricing, no uncertainty about vehicle capacity, and you're dropped directly at your Disney resort. After a long flight from the UK, the simplicity is worth something in itself.
For a couple travelling light, Uber or Lyft might actually work out cheaper for the one-way fare, and you'll get there faster without resort stops. The unpredictability of surge pricing is the main drawback of the rideshare option, especially if you're landing during peak hours. Mears gives you a fixed price you can budget for in advance.
The Terminal C situation is worth keeping in mind but appears largely resolved now. Just confirm with your driver when boarding. The coach tracking by text on the return journey is an improvement and takes away the main frustration of the departure experience.
Overall we'd recommend Mears Connect as a solid, reliable option that does what it says. It's not as seamless or magical as Disney's old Magical Express was - nothing has been - but it's a good service at a fair price for families heading to Walt Disney World.
If you're still in the planning stage, check our Walt Disney World deals and offers guide for current package discounts, or search available Walt Disney World packages here. For flights, search cheap flights to Orlando here.
Mears Connect Review: Your Questions Answered
Is Mears Connect good?
Yes - it's a reliable, comfortable service with friendly drivers. The main limitations are the multiple resort stops adding journey time and the historical Terminal C inconsistency on departures, though the latter appears resolved. Overall we'd recommend it, particularly for families.
How much does Mears Connect cost?
Standard one-way fares are $16 per adult and $13 per child (ages 3-9) before fees. A Privilege Fee Recovery Charge (PFRC) is added to each fare, and at the time of writing a 3% fuel surcharge applies. In reality adults are currently paying around $18.08 one way and children around $14.69. Under-3s travel free. Always check current pricing when booking as surcharges can change.
Is Mears Connect the same as Mears Transportation?
Yes - Mears Connect is the shuttle service operated by Mears Transportation, the same company that ran Disney's Magical Express. The two names refer to the same organisation. You may see either name used.
Does Mears Connect go to Terminal C at MCO?
Yes - Mears Connect serves both the Main Terminal (A/B) and Terminal C for arrivals and departures. On departures, confirm with your driver when boarding that they'll be stopping at Terminal C if that's where your flight departs from, as we experienced an issue with this on one early trip, though it appears to have been resolved since.
What is the Mears Connect cancellation policy?
Cancellations made more than 24 hours before scheduled travel time are fully refunded with no charge. You can now cancel directly online. Always verify the current policy on their website when booking as terms can change.
Is Mears Connect better than Uber for Disney World?
It depends on your group size and priorities. Mears Connect has fixed pricing with no surge and drops you directly at your resort, making it predictable and stress-free after a long flight. For couples travelling light, Uber can sometimes be cheaper one way and faster without resort stops. For families with children and luggage, Mears Connect often makes more sense.
Should I tip my Mears Connect driver?
Yes - around $1 per bag is standard, or $2 per bag if the driver has been particularly helpful with your luggage. Tipping is customary in the US and the drivers do handle bags.
What is the Mears Connect Express Service?
The Express Service is a direct private transfer to your Disney World resort, round trip only. It costs $250 total for up to 4 people, and $55 per person for groups of 5 or more. It operates with no resort stops, though Mears note it may occasionally be shared depending on demand.
