Definitely do the Groome home pickup. Only $5 if you schedule it yourself online. Or both Lyft and Uber have scheduled rides available so you can plan your pickup in advance.

Price?
 

And how much did Uber from home to MCO cost? Thanks.

Uber in The Villages
 

There is no need to give wrong information. I have used uber on several occasions and my ride is usually here within 10 minutes - never more than 15.

What was the cost for uber to MCO? It would seem that taking Groome from home to Brownwood and then transferring to a bus to MCO would add additional time to the trip and you now have another carrier's schedule to deal with. Uber or driving and parking in economy long term lot at MCO would seem to be most direct and time efficient.

Time wise Groome was much faster when we could be picked up at home and delivered directly to the airport.

Even worse now you have to wait for pickup at Orlando than transfer to shuttle home and somehow we are usually one of the last to be drop offed.

We have used Groome's home pick-up several times and it has generally been reliable. Two caveats:

1) Depending on where you are on its route, it may pick you up an hour before your bus leaves; and

2) Last time it arrived late to pick us up and only just made the bus - on its previous circuit it missed the bus (despite calling ahead and saying it was on its way) so there were earlier passengers at Lake Sumter Landing who were not too happy.

On expenses?
Rent a car one way to MCO. Puts you in charge of all timings. Done it many times. Easy peasy.

I have reserved an Uber ride for 2AM Del Mar to MCO. Arrived on time and cheaper than Groome. Groome will NOT pick you up overnight.

I have been wanting to try the one way car rental. Where do you pick up the car and what rental company do u use,?

I like the rental car idea. I'll look at it for the next time the company demands a Wisconsin appearance from me.

For those who are interested, the 3:15 Uber reservation arrived right on time....no issues.

Why don't you just have Groome pick you up?

I have been staying at various Marriott properties near the airport for those early morning flights and then leave the car and take their 5-10 minute shuttle to MCO. They have park and fly rates. The latest was a rate at the Courtyard for 14 days. Most are for 7 days but also have a rate to add extra days. Right now, it’s $149 to stay one night and leave the car for up to 14 days. Round trip on Groome is what, $150 or so… sounds like a deal to me.

OP, you may want to do a search on the forum for "Groome". They have declined a lot of the last year or so and there have been many threads from people who were left standing at the airport. Trip advisor gives Groome a whopping TWO stars.