How To Get To Disney World From Orlando Airport (5 Ways!)
As a travel agency that specializes in Disney vacations, we help hundreds of guests plan the perfect start to their trip every year.
And one of the most common questions we hear is how to get from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Walt Disney World.
After a long flight, everyone just wants to get to the magic quickly and stress-free – and I totally get it!
With multiple transportation options available, choosing the right one can make a big difference in how smoothly your arrival day goes. Below, I’ll break down each choice so you can find the best fit for your family. 🙂
If you require a car seat, make sure to go to the end. I break down each option when it comes to car seats!
Transportation from MCO Comparison Chart:
| Option | Approx. Cost (One-Way) | Travel Time to Disney World | Car Seat Available? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mears Connect | $16 adult / $13 child | 45–75 mins | No | Budget and convenience |
| Uber/Lyft | $60+ | 30 mins | Uber only (1 seat max) | Flexibility |
| Taxi | $60–$80 | 30 mins | Sometimes | People who don’t trust rideshares |
| Private Car | $100–$150 | 30 mins | Yes (included) | Comfort and convenience |
| Rental Car | $80+/day | 30 mins | Yes (rentable) | Freedom |
#1: Mears Connect shuttle bus
One of the easiest ways to get to Disney World from the airport is to take a bus! These motorcoach shuttles are operated by Mears, which is the company that used to offer the “Magical Express” service.
The Mears Connect Shuttle ONLY goes to Disney World Resort Hotels. If you’re staying off-site, then skip this section. But, if you are staying on property, it is an easy and affordable solution.
Taking a shuttle bus offers many advantages:
• You can book, plan, and pay for your bus beforehand. Then, all you need to do is arrive at the airport, show them your ticket, and get on the appropriate shuttle to your Disney resort.
• Mears Connect offers round trip service. On the way back to the airport, the bus will pick you up right at your Disney resort when your vacation is over.
• There are large, comfortable seats to relax in while you drive. All of your luggage is stored underneath the bus until you arrive at the resort, where the driver unloads it for you.
• You board the Mears bus at a convenient location, right at the airport near baggage claim. They have locations in Terminals A & B. There are signs everywhere pointing to where you need to go.
Here are the rates for One-Way / Roundtrip:
Adult: $16 / $32
Child (3-9): $13 / $26
Children Under 3: Free
The biggest disadvantage to taking the Mears Connect shuttle is the extra amount of time it can take.
First, you may have to wait at the airport until all of the scheduled guests have arrived.
Second, it’s very possible that you will stop at other Disney World Resorts before getting to yours. Mears does offer an Express Service that costs more, but you are guaranteed to go directly to your resort. Last time I checked, the cost for Express Service was $250 round-trip for up to 4 passengers. Add $55 for each additional passenger.
#2: Use a rideshare service (Uber/Lyft)
One of the most popular ways to get to Disney World from the airport is to use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. Most of the time, this is the option our family uses!
Normally, we pay about $60 for a ride. But remember that these prices are ONE-WAY! You must also consider the cost of using a rideshare to get back to the Orlando Airport. Please be aware that prices CONSTANTLY change depending on the day and time. The prices also vary based on how big a vehicle you require or if you want a car seat.
- Uber price estimate calculator – enter pickup and dropoff location.
One advantage of taking a rideshare is that you won’t have to wait long for your ride.
At almost any time of day, you should wait less than 5 minutes for your driver!
I love that once we collect our luggage and walk outside to the curb, we are on our way to Disney a few minutes later. No waiting for a shuttle bus or standing in line for your rental car!
The rideshare pickup is easy to find at MCO
I know this part can seem a little intimidating, but don’t worry too much. With the popularity of services like Lyft and Uber, it is easy to find the location where your driver can pick you up.
First, you need to pay attention to your Terminal. MCO has three terminals: A, B, and C.
- Terminal A: The rideshare pickup is on Level 2 (Arrivals) unless it’s between 9:00 pm and 2:00 am, then it’s on Level 3.
- Terminal B: The rideshare pickup is on Level 2 (Arrivals) unless it’s between 9:00 pm and 2:00 am, then it’s on Level 3.
- Terminal C: The rideshare pickup is on Level 6.
Once you are on the correct level and outside by the curb, you should see signs showing where to stand for “Ride App Pickup.” The Lyft app even shows you which door to meet your driver based on the Terminal.
Disadvantages to rideshares:
The biggest disadvantage to using a rideshare is that you can’t plan it ahead of time, and the cost isn’t fixed. You have to trust that once you get to MCO, you can use the app to order a vehicle and find the correct pickup location.
Also, the costs can increase drastically due to “surge pricing.” If you arrive in Orlando on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the prices tend to be higher because many other people are arriving at the same time for their vacation.
#3: Take a taxi
Yes, it is still possible to take a normal taxi! Some people like this option because they trust a taxi more than a driver from Uber or Lyft since the cab is associated with a local company.
And as you can see above, there are plenty of taxis waiting for you at the Orlando Airport!
The taxi driver can’t tell you the exact price to get to Disney World, as flat fares are prohibited by law. All fares are determined by the meter inside the taxi, which depends on the total length of the trip. And the rate is the same, regardless of how many passengers you have (up to 9).
However, it’s estimated that a one-way taxi ride from the airport to the Disney World area will cost $60 to $80.
A taxi will typically cost a bit more than Uber or Lyft. But many taxis have car seats available, especially some of the bigger vans, so this is a great option if you have toddlers.
Here are a few taxi companies that operate from the Orlando Airport. There should be plenty of taxis available when you arrive, but you can also try to schedule ahead of time if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Where can you find the taxis at MCO?
You will need to head to the following area, depending on your Terminal. You can find the most up-to-date information on the airport’s website.
- Terminal A: Ground Transportation Curb (Level 1) in spaces A22-A25
- Terminal B: Ground Transportation Curb (Level 1) in spaces B30-B34
- Terminal C: Arrivals Curb (Level 6)
#4: Private car services for extra comfort
Do you know the people at the airport holding a sign for someone near the baggage claim? These are often private car services waiting to take their clients wherever they need to go!
Here are some advantages that private car services offer:
• You can schedule and pay for a private car service beforehand, so you have one less thing to worry about on your travel day.
• They will meet you directly at the airport, often with a sign with your name on it, ready to take you DIRECTLY to Disney World. No waiting for a ride share, shuttle, or taxi. And no sharing the ride with anyone else.
• Many companies include a short grocery store visit on the way!
• Help with your luggage.
• FREE car seats! You should be able to use car seats for as many children as you have included in the package.
How much does a private car service cost?
It depends on which company you select, but the average cost is between $100 – $150 one way. Typically, you will get a discount for booking a round-trip.
Booking a private car service will cost a bit more, but it’s worth it for many families. Especially if you consider the time you will save and the stress you won’t have, or if you require a car seat.
Here are a few options in Orlando:
Ace Luxury Transportation / Quicksilver Transportation / Mears
#5: Rent a car at MCO
If you don’t like any of the options above, you can always rent a car to get to Disney World!
The advantages are that you have complete freedom for your vacation to go wherever you want. Renting a car might be a great option if you plan to visit places other than Disney, such as Universal, Sea World, or other areas in Orlando.
I would not recommend renting a car if you ONLY need it to get from the airport to your hotel and back again. This would be a crazy amount of money just for a few trips. Any of the other options on this list would be a cheaper solution.
But if you decide to rent a car, there is one really nice perk. If you are staying at a Disney World resort, you get FREE PARKING at any of the theme parks and water parks.
Also, there are no daily parking fees at your resort, which is nice. To compare, Universal Orlando charges fairly high fees to park at all of their hotels.
Since Orlando is one of the biggest markets for rental cars in the world, every major rental car company operates here. In addition, Enterprise, Hertz, and the other big carriers are located right at the airport on Level 1 in Terminals A and B and Level 4 in Terminal C. This means you don’t have to deal with an additional shuttle to get your rental car! 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the best option for car seats?
If you have toddlers, I know it is important to find transportation that includes a car seat. So here is a brief rundown of everything the above options can provide:
- Mears Connect Bus Shuttle: Car seats are not available, as they are not required when riding on a motorcoach bus.
- Uber: It’s easy to request a vehicle with Uber that has a car seat you can use. While in the Uber app, scroll down to see the car seat options.
Uber Car Seat vehicles only provide ONE car seat. Also, there may be limited availability for an Uber Car Seat vehicle, so you may have to wait for one at MCO.
- Lyft: As of this writing, Lyft does not have the option to request a vehicle with a car seat. Therefore, you must bring your own car seat to travel with Lyft.
- Private Car Service: Car seats should be no problem if you hire a private car service. Make sure to let the company know what you need before arrival.
- Taxi: Many taxi vans have a car seat if needed, but it’s not guaranteed.
- Rental Car: If you decide to rent a car, you can also rent car seats or boosters from your provider for an additional daily cost.
- Bring an Inflatable Car Seat: It’s also easy to bring an inflatable car seat, which you can use while riding in any of the options above. Check out some of the best options here on Amazon.
Just so you know, all the options above are exempt from child passenger laws in Florida.
It is completely up to you to determine if you wabt a car seat, but you’re not breaking a law if you don’t use one. Below is what the current law states:
(6) The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.”
How long is the drive from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World?
The distance between MCO and Disney World is approximately 24 miles (38.6 km). The drive should take about 30 minutes, assuming there is not much traffic. It also goes faster if you are riding in a rideshare vehicle or taxi versus a motorcoach shuttle bus.
Please note that the answer to this question varies slightly depending on which Disney World resort you are going to. It also changes a bit if you are going straight to Disney Springs, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios.
What is the CHEAPEST option?
It’s hard to say which option is the least expensive. It depends on the number of people in your party. Also, it depends on the current costs of taking a rideshare service (Uber/Lyft). Their prices constantly change depending on availability and “surge pricing.”
But in general, the least expensive option is typically either taking the Mears Connect Shuttle or an Uber/Lyft.
Another option that is less money than anything else on this list is the Lynx bus service, which provides public transportation in Orlando. It would only cost a few dollars per person!
But you have to figure out their route map. Basically, you can use the Lynx bus service to get to Disney Springs and then take the free Disney bus transportation to your resort or theme park.
In addition, the approximate time it would take is roughly 2 hours from MCO to most places within Disney World.
But if you are on a strict budget, you will LOVE the rates.
Does it matter which Disney resort I’m staying at?
No, as long as you’re staying at one of the Disney World Resort hotels, then you can choose whichever option above that fits your situation best.
Here is the full list of Disney World Resort hotels: All-Star Resorts (Movies, Sports, Music), Animal Kingdom Lodge, Art of Animation, Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, Caribbean Beach, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Fort Wilderness, French Quarter, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Polynesian, Pop Century, Riverside, Saratoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club.
If you’re staying off-property, the only transportation option that doesn’t work is the Mears Connect shuttle bus.
No matter which option you choose, the most important thing is starting your Disney vacation relaxed and ready for magic.
If you’re not sure which transportation choice fits your family best, I’m happy to help you plan every detail of your trip—from airport transfers to hotel reservations!
