I get paid to talk (and talk, and talk, and talk) about Disney. I know more than the average (normal?) person, and I probably talk about Disney too much. In fact, let me do a little impression of my family for you: “You’re going to Disney World…again?” It’s around this time when I try to justify my decision by explaining that my trips are educational; I’m here sharing my tips with you, aren’t I?! So, please, for my sake, listen to my advice, and tell us if you learned something. Maybe then my frequent trips to Disney World won’t seem so bad.
Pop Century Resort
OK, so why am I here? Well, I’ve been doing some reflecting, and I’ve come to a few conclusions in the never-ending Uber vs. Mears debate. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, basically, there are two main ways to get to Disney World from Orlando Airport: 1.) Rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, or 2.) Mears Connect (a shuttle service). I’ve used Uber, Lyft, AND Mears to get to Disney World, but there are a few things I wish I had known about my Uber experience.
1. There’s no “Regular Uber”
When I’m trying to get to my Disney hotel from the airport, I don’t need anything fancy. I don’t need the V.I.P. treatment; I just need a safe, reliable way to get from Point A to Point B. Translation: give me the cheap, regular Uber, not the premium Uber Black.
©Uber
Looking at a sample trip from the Orlando Airport to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, there are several types of rides available at any given time. You’ve got the “Premium” category with Uber Black. Then, there’s the “Economy” category, which might sound like the cheapest option, right? WRONG. This is where things get confusing.
©Uber
Believe it or not, in most cases, UberX is the cheapest option. With a name like “UberX,” you (like me) might think, “This is the fancy one.” But it’s not! Uber gets a failing grade from me regarding the names of its rides — it can be confusing!
©Uber
So, if you want to take a “regular Uber,” your best bet is to go with the UberX. It’s described as an “affordable ride all to yourself,” and this option seats up to four people. If you’ve got a bigger group, you might need the XL, which seats up to six. The good news is that the prices are typically sorted from lowest to highest, so just do a quick scroll down the line to make sure you’re getting the best deal based on your needs.
2. Don’t trust the prices — ever
Remember how I said Uber can be confusing? Well, I hate to say it, but the confusion doesn’t end with the names. Let’s say you want to estimate the cost of your Uber ride, so you run a sample trip from the airport to your hotel on the app before your trip. Let’s say the price for an UberX is $38. Not too bad, eh? Well, don’t trust that price.
Uber
Depending on the time of day, available drivers in the area, and the demand, the price for the SAME DESTINATION can SKYROCKET, thanks to surge pricing. I ended up paying close to $65 for a ride previously listed at $38. And before you ask, yes, that was the cheapest option at the time.
©Uber
Admittedly, this makes it hard to build a budget for ridesharing in Disney World. One day, your trip could be under $40, the next, it could be double that price.
3. Sometimes, it’s just about luck!
Now, I have also used the Mears Connect shuttle service to get to Disney World several times, and that service has its own set of pros and cons. On one hand, it might be cheaper than Uber or Lyft. On the other hand, you might have to visit multiple stops before the bus driver drops you off at your hotel, which can add a lot of time to your journey.
Inside a Mears Connect bus
That said, I’ve been lucky enough to hop on a Mears bus with NO extra stops (even without paying for a private ride through Mears), so sometimes, it all comes down to timing and luck. The same thing goes for Uber — you might time it juuust right and find an Uber driver right where you need them with no wait. Either way, you’re at the mercy of the service you select — that’s the cost of going to Disney World without a car!
Mears Connect
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
In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
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Thank you for this information as everything is still going up so high! This will help me make a better choice on my upcoming April 2025 trip. I was at Disney World in December 2024 and I noticed that Uber now has a $7.88 transportation fee tacked on to every ride. I was at Disney World in July 2024 and that fee was NOT there at that time.
For my past two trips to Disney, I’ve used the Mears van service from the airport to my Disney hotel. It costs more, but you don’t have to schlep your luggage from one end if the airport to the other. The driver met us at baggage claim and even assisted with our luggage. The van was parked in an alcove nearby. This worked well because one time I was traveling with small children, and the other time I was traveling with my 80-year old mother. If it was just able-bodied me, I would probably opt for the bus – even though it requires the schlep across the airport and does take longer to get to the hotel.
I was staying at Disney springs area hotel in January 2025 only had carry on luggage. I used the lynx express bus from MCO to Disney Springs $2 a person. Only two stops so it was not much longer than an Uber. It’s a newer option.. Saw someone get on with bigger luggage it was later at night so maybe that was ok
I took the bus from the airport to Disney springs and then an Uber from there and it’s a huge savings
Been a rideshare driver for 7 years. UberX is the regular Uber ride. Always look between Lyft and Uber and see what is the cheapest. Most drivers do both platforms. It is still the most convenient method to get to the resorts. We pick you straight from the door and drop you off right at the front of your resort or your building if allowed. Please remember to tip your driver. We work hard and always try to help with your luggage to make your trip more enjoyable.
Really enjoying this discussion and I think the information will be valuable, giving people options on what transportation options there are. Lyft , Uber and Lynx bus all are options and would depend on your specific needs. Last trip in January 2025 as I mentioned in this thread was my first time taking Lynx bus. I plan on using it again if I only had carry on luggage and are staying at Disney springs or say the hub it stops at (Hilton Orlando Area). The $2 a person price to Disney Springs on the express bus made sense. I am glad Lynx added the express bus, I can imagine it will fill a nitch for those shorter trips.