Pre-booked bus rides from MCO to Disney hotels and beyond
Mears Connect runs shared shuttle buses from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to major Orlando and Disney-area hotels, so you lock in airport-to-hotel transport before you land. Service focuses on resorts around Walt Disney World plus many International Drive and Lake Buena Vista properties; always check that your exact hotel appears on the Mears Connect list at booking.
Pickup sits on the Terminal B side of the main terminal at Ground Transportation Level 1, which matters if you arrive into Terminal A with strollers, scooters, or heavy luggage. From Terminal A, you follow signs across the main landside atrium toward B, then down to Level 1; plan 10–15 minutes walking time if you move slowly or are wrangling kids.
Mears Connect is a paid replacement for the old Disney’s Magical Express bus, using large coaches with underfloor luggage bays so your suitcases stay off your lap. Pricing is per person each way; recent reports peg typical round-trip rates in the $30–$40 range per adult and lower for kids, but you need to plug in dates and hotel on the Mears Connect site for exact totals.
Shuttles operate daily with schedules tied to flight arrival times, and you pick a window during the online booking process tied to your airline and arrival time. The ride from MCO to the Disney resort area usually runs 30–45 minutes once you leave the airport, but add time for potential hotel stops before yours; you might share with several families going to different resorts on the same side of property.
On arrival, you check in at the Mears Connect counter near Terminal B Ground Transportation Level 1, then queue for your specific route; staff scan your confirmation number or barcode. For the return to MCO, you get a pickup time several hours before flight departure, commonly 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international, and the bus drops you at the main terminal departures curb.
One practical tip: if your flight lands in Terminal C, budget extra time to reach B’s Ground Transportation Level 1 via the automated people mover plus the main terminal walk, or consider requesting wheelchair assistance in advance if long walks are tough.