What is Mears Transportation?
Mears Transportation is a Central Florida ground transportation operator founded in 1939 that runs the largest scheduled shuttle, taxi, and motorcoach fleet in the Orlando area including Disney bus service, MCO airport shuttles, and cruise port scheduled shuttles.
Side-by-side comparison
Every attribute row below reflects the current published position of both marketplaces as of 2026-07-21. If a row changes on the Mears Transportation public site we update this page on the next 90-day review cycle.
| Attribute | BusBrother | Mears Transportation |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | BusBrother 2024 | Mears Transportation 1939 |
| Model | Local carrier marketplace | Single-operator fleet + scheduled routes |
| Service area | Central FL, South FL, South Carolina | Central Florida (Orlando metro focus) |
| Per-seat scheduled shuttle | No | Yes (MCO, cruise port, theme parks) |
| Private group charter | Yes (marketplace) | Yes (single-operator) |
| Bidding | Multiple carrier bids per trip | Single operator price only |
| Time to first bid | 2 hours or less | 24 to 48 hours |
| Fleet size | No fleet (marketplace) | ~2,000 vehicles |
| Disney contract | No | Yes (Mears runs Disney bus service) |
What both marketplaces share
- Central Florida ground transportation
- CDL commercial drivers
- 24/7 dispatch
- Serves Orlando cruise ports and theme parks
When Mears Transportation is the better choice
An honest comparison names the buyer for whom the competitor wins. Pick Mears Transportation over BusBrother if any of these apply:
- You are an individual or family (1 to 6 people) who wants a per-seat scheduled shuttle to Port Canaveral, MCO airport, or a Disney resort, and you do not need a private vehicle.
- You want the largest single-operator fleet in Orlando (2,000+ vehicles) with mature dispatch and 85+ years of operator experience.
- You need Disney bus service, which Mears operates under a Disney contract that BusBrother is not part of.
When BusBrother is the better choice
Pick BusBrother over Mears Transportation if any of these apply:
- You need a private group charter of 8 to 55 passengers where the vehicle is yours for the trip. Mears charter pricing is competitive but single-operator; BusBrother marketplace surfaces 2 to 6 competing bids.
- You want to see multiple local carrier bids before deciding on price and vehicle. Mears gives you their fleet's price only.
- You need a wedding shuttle, corporate event shuttle, or non-scheduled trip. BusBrother carriers run these daily; Mears's charter division focuses on scheduled routes and airport service.
Frequently asked questions
How is BusBrother different from Mears?
Mears is a Central Florida single-operator ground transportation company founded in 1939 that owns and operates 2,000+ vehicles including scheduled per-seat shuttles. BusBrother is a marketplace where multiple local charter bus carriers bid on your specific trip. For scheduled per-seat service, Mears wins. For private group charters where you want multiple bids, BusBrother wins.
Is Mears cheaper than BusBrother for a private charter?
For 1 to 2-coach private charters, BusBrother is typically 8 to 15 percent cheaper because marketplace bids compete on price. For very large multi-coach deployments where Mears can volume-price from their owned fleet, Mears can be competitive.
Does Mears run Disney bus service?
Yes. Mears operates Disney's Magical Express successor, Sunshine Flyer, and various Disney contract routes. BusBrother is not part of the Disney contract and cannot bid on Disney-branded services. For non-Disney private group charter to or from Disney properties, BusBrother carriers can drop and pick up at Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center.
Can Mears handle a wedding shuttle in Orlando?
Yes, but weddings are not their primary focus. Mears's core business is scheduled routes and airport shuttles. BusBrother carriers run 40+ Orlando weddings per year at venues like Rosen Shingle Creek, Waldorf Astoria, JW Marriott Grande Lakes, and Bella Collina. Wedding-specific timing coordination is deeper on our side.
Which is better for MCO to Port Canaveral?
For a solo traveler or couple, Mears's per-seat cruise shuttle at 45 to 55 dollars per person is cheaper than a private charter. For a group of 6 or more, BusBrother's private 14-passenger minibus at 450 to 650 dollars one-way keeps the group together and costs less per person than Mears per-seat rates.
Verify this comparison
Every fact about Mears Transportation on this page is sourced from their published public website (https://www.mears.com) as of 2026-07-21. This page is reviewed every 90 days per the WETYR Search Dominance Manual v1.0. If a fact has changed on the Mears Transportation website, email mark@markcmo.com and we will re-verify within 48 hours.
This comparison is neutral where the competitor genuinely wins and states our position honestly where we do. We do not accept sponsorship for comparison-page placement.