If you’ve been an avid reader of the My Life @ Riddle blog (yay, thank you!), you may recall a blog from over the summer where I discussed ways for students to get from the ERAU campus in Daytona Beach to Orlando International Airport (MCO), the closest major airport. There are many ways to get to the airport from campus, but one of the most popular that I mentioned is the SGA sponsored shuttle bus to the airport, a service that I have used every break since my freshman year! With the beginning of the spring semester, tickets have gone on sale for the Spring Break shuttles to MCO, so I figured I would detail my experience on this process for you all!
Purchasing the Tickets: Tickets usually go on sale at the beginning of the fall semester for Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break, and the beginning of the spring semester for Spring Break. It’s usually about $15 in each direction (which is way cheaper than an Uber), and there are always many times throughout the day available to choose from. The window to purchase tickets usually closes a few weeks before the respective break.
Boarding the Bus: The bus at ERAU parks at the Student Union pick up circle. You should plan to get there about a half hour before the bus departs in order to have ample time to check in, place your bag under the bus, and find a seat. Once you’re on the bus, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the hour and a half ride to MCO. For the pickup location at the airport, be sure to check the confirmation email on your tickets for the specific pickup location.
Some Helpful Tips: This is a super easy way to get to the airport, but here are some helpful tips. My biggest advice is to not book your flight too close to the shuttle departure time at MCO. There have been a couple times where my flight has landed but been delayed getting to the gate by a half hour, and I have been forced to run through the airport to make the shuttle in time. Always try to leave a least an hour and a half between your scheduled landing time and the shuttle departure time. Also note that if you are at not at the shuttle, they will leave without you. So make sure you make it to the shuttle early in both directions. Finally, note that there are not shuttles for fall break, so if you have a scheduled flight during that time you must find alternative transportation options to the airport.
Final Thoughts: Overall, I recommend this shuttle for all students. It is a super easy way to get to MCO for a very cheap price compared to the alternative options. Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments, and if you’ve tried the SGA MCO Shuttles.
